French Property Investor Number One: "Mr. Normal"

Hollande’s Paris apartment buildingHollande’s Home in MouginsAerial view of MouginsSimon ZutshiJustine Trueman

On Tuesday, “Mr. Normal,” François Hollande, was inaugurated as President of the French Republic. On that day, his plane headed
to Germany to meet with Angela Merkel was struck by lightning forcing it to return to Paris, delaying his meeting with the German Chancellor. Already in opposition, she advocates austerity for Europe while he advocates spending and growth. More lightning is likely to be struck between them.
Meanwhile, the Socialist President, is actually hugely wealthy, in spite of his campaign casting a disparaging light against the “Bling-Bling” Nicolas Sarkozy. The man who “dislikes the rich” and wants to highly tax the wealthy and go up against the banks is actually one of them. Perhaps it will be a benefit to those of us interested in investing in French property that he owns three holiday homes himself on the Riviera in Cannes and his assets are valued at $1.6 million.
The press is making a big deal of it. They are calling him a gauche caviar, (“Left-wing caviar”)… the Gallic equivalent of a “champagne Socialist.” But when you stop to think about it, that’s not so “hugely wealthy,” at least not in my book. New York Michael Bloomberg is worth $22 billion and Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger is worth $800 million.
So, what would the French think of that? What’s $1.6 million in assets? The price of a 100 square meter apartment in central Paris.
Still, in France, it’s ‘gauche’ to have any wealth at all and those who voted for his anti-wealthy approach to politics will see fault in his property portfolio, even though he owns no stocks and he apparently does not own a car…just a three wheel Piaggio scooter.
Meanwhile, the wealthy are heading for the hills of Belgium and other havens, along with the heads of state-controlled companies whose salaries have been threatened (he proposes that the top salary cannot exceed 20 times the lowest salary). Some will see pay cuts of as much as 69% (the head of EDF). How does he propose to run these companies with just a happy workforce and no head?
Our only hope is that he will come to realize, that if none of his French constituents have money, then neither will the French government, as they can’t tax the proverbial turnip.
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PIN. Remember this acronym. No, it does not stand for “Personal Identification Number.” It stands for “Property Investment Network.”
It was started by Simon Zutshi in the UK — a Property Investment Professional, Speaker, and Networker ‘extraordinaire.’ Here in Paris PIN will be launched May 24th, hosted by Justine Trueman, a Professional Investor and Finance Writer/Editor who is the author of Detox your finances: the ultimate book of money matters for women.
And I’m one of their “Working Partners.” This means I’ll be speaking at every meeting providing an update on the market and from time to time going into depth on other topics…such as how to create a high return rental property (with information about the recent rental laws), fractional property development and investments on the Riviera.
PIN meetings will take place on the 4th Thursday of the month — with the exception of June when it will be Monday June 25th, and August and December when no meetings are scheduled. Simon and Justine will be there, of course, along with other speakers who will be discussing:
* What is going to happen to the property market in the next 12 months…
* The huge mistake most amateur investors are making right now…
* When is the best time to invest in property…
* How to earn up to £4000 per hour from your property investing…
* What are the best strategies to use in the current market…
* How to minimize the risks of investing…
* How to completely pay off your own home mortgage in 8 to 10 years!
The good news is, that the first time you come it’s FREE for my readers! Book your seat now and make sure you bring plenty of business cards with you for some great networking with other like minded, successful property investors. For your free seat, all you have to do is register using the promotional code “Adrian.”
Paris May 2012 PIN Meeting
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Networking and Registration 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Meeting 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Hotel Le Lotti, 7, rue de Castiglione, 75001 Paris
Price: £20.00 GPB OR FREE WITH THE SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL CODE “ADRIAN”
Here’s how you sign up:
– Go to PIN Paris
– Click “Book using a voucher code”
– Enter contact details
– Enter “adrian” into the voucher code box and click apply
– £20 will reduce to zero
– Click “Click Here to book your place now”
– Name will be added to the list and a email confirmation will be sent.
A bientôt,
Adrian Leeds
Editor, French Property Insider
Email: [email protected]
(photo by Michael Honegger)

 
 
 
P.S. We’re filming yet another House Hunter’s International episode this coming weekend! The latest one, “Sizing up the Parisian Suburbs, Episode HHINT-3803H” is airing May 29, 2012 at 10:30 PM e/p and 1:30 AM e/p, so be sure to tune in. Discover more information on all our House Hunter’s International Episodes. And to any of you who have the ability to record it so we can see it (it doesn’t air in France), please do so and send it our way! Many thanks!