Why We Chose The 19Th!

Last Sunday during French Property Insider’s subscriber conference call, Jay Scaramazzo, long time reader, client and friend, who after lots of searching for his perfect pied-à-terre in Paris, purchased a studio in the 19th overlooking the Parc des Buttes Chaumont. His story about “why” he chose the 19th was quite touching…

“Last June I walked the 19th for five days morning to night. I had viewed 25 apartments and one Saturday late afternoon I saw an apartment at the foot of Parc des Buttes Chaumont. Upon seeing the apartment I knew that it felt right. I couldn’t let the Agent Immmobilier see my excitement, so I told him I would get back to him. I sat in the bar across the street from the apartment, run by Arabs, to contemplate my strategy. At that time of the day the Jewish Temple in the neighborhood was letting out and as the Hasidic neighbors were passing the bar they all stopped in for their daily lot of conversation and Kir.”

“What was astounding and exciting was that the bar was then full of religious Jews having just left the Temple carrying on conversations with veiled Muslim women, asking how the kids were that day. I saw laughing and true caring on all sides from men and women alike. I saw no divide.”

Jay further went on to add, “It was this religious, cultural and human diversity along with the homogenous neighborhood that convinced us that the 19th was the place to be. We’ve had no regrets since then, for anybody wishing to taste the Paris without tourists, please do yourself a favor and look at the 19th.”

-J.A.Scaramazzo

The story prompted us to look further at the 19th arrondissement, often sadly overlooked.

Thirza Vallois, in her article “Which Arronidissement is Yours?” at /frenchproperty/conference/wlif/arrondissements.html adds “For living purposes, the one neighborhood you want to look into is around the gardens of Les Buttes Chaumont. Not much is available here, unfortunately, but the park is stunning and there are some glorious side streets, once humble working-class bungalows, today the expensive houses of the very happy few. Wander off into rue de Mouzaïa and the enchanting streets on either of its sides, among others. There are quite a number of secrets to discover here. And if you are interested in the sociological development of the city, this part of the 19th arrondissement has become very popular with the Orthodox Jewish community in recent years.”

For lovers of Paris Open-Air Markets, the 19th is brimming with them:

* Villette: boulevard de la Villette between the no. 27 and no. 41. Wednesday
and Saturday.
* Crimée-Curia

l: at the corner of the rue de Crimée and the rue de Curial. Thursday and Sunday.
* Jean-Jaurès: avenue Jean-Jaurès between the rue de l’Ourcq and the rue des Ardennes. Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
* Joinville: the corner of rue Joinville and rue Jomard. Thursday and Sunday.
* Place des Fêtes: the place des Fêtes. Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.
* Porte d’Aubervilliers: avenue de la Porte-d’Aubervilliers. Wednesday and Saturday,
* Porte Brunet: avenue de la Porte-Brunet between boulevard Sérurier and boulevard d’Algérie. Wednesday and Saturday.

As Paris’ second most important China Town, one of my long time favorite Asian restaurants is there: Lao Siam, Chinese, Thai, Laotian and Vietnamese cooking at 49, rue de Belleville, 01.40.40.09.68, Métro Belleville or Pyrénées (I suggest exiting at Pyrénées, noting the great view of the Eiffel Tower from the top of the hill and then walking downhill to the restaurant). You’ll spend well under 20 euros a person and while the service is often less than perfect, the menu is extensive and absolutely everything is great. For something you may never have tried before, order the “Liseron d’Eau” — a green straw-like vegetable in a garlic and soy bean sauce, the “Moules au Basilic” — again lots of garlic, “Calamars Grillé Sauce Relevé”– perfectly tender grilled squid with again, a spicy green garlic sauce. Yum. The best tables are the round one in the window (seats 6) and the big round one just in front of the aquarium (seats 8 to 10!), both in the non-smoking room, and be sure to ask for these specifically.

Prices in the 19th are the LOWEST average per square meter in the city at 2885 euros, but showed a 14.8% increase in 2003, the 3rd highest. Keep in mind when comparing this reported average with actual prices, that they could be as much as 80% higher, as evident by the properties listed below. The reasons for this: The averages are published quarterly, and it takes up to three months for a sale to be final from the initial signing of the “Promesse de Vente,” which means there’s a six-month lag. Plus, partial payments are often made in cash (entirely illegal to do, but done), and declared sales prices sometimes don’t indicate the full amount of the cash payment. Not only that, furnishings, appliances and anything not part of the walls is often listed apart from the purchase price, again reducing the amount reported and lowering the average further.

One thing that is always true: really good properties are sure to be at the higher range and likely worth paying for. The old real estate adage is true…location, location, location.

A la prochaine…

 

Adrian Leeds
Editor, Parler Paris
E-mail: [email protected]

P.S. I just got word from Porter Scott on our Special Last Minute IL Luxury Paris Apartment Rental Bargains — offers you can’t refuse!…

* 20, rue du Cherche-Midi in the 6th arrondissement, just down the street from the world famous Poilâne bakery. Métro: St. Sulpice. 45 square meters: bedroom, bath with tub/shower, kitchen, dining room and living room area with trundle bed (2 twins). Fully and elegantly furnished. Cable TV. Sleeps 4. Fully furnished. Decor composed of 18th century oak panelling. 2 flights up.

Last Minute Bargain Price: 150 Euros a night.

FREE MAY 14TH UNTIL THE MORNING OF THE 19TH
FREE MAY 25TH UNTIL THE MORNING OF JUNE 4TH
FREE JUNE 23RD UNTIL THE MORNING OF JUNE 26TH
FREE JULY 8TH UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST

* 23, rue Mazarine in the 6th arrondissement. Métro: Odeon

45 square meters: bedroom, bath with tub/shower, kitchen & dining area, living room with bedcouch. Sleeps 4. Fully furnished. Cable TV. Beautiful restored stone wall, beams, charm of 17th century building. 3 flights up, no elevator.

Last Minute Bargain Price: 150 Euros per night.

FREE MAY 15TH UNTIL THE MORNING OF MAY 24TH
FREE JUNE 2ND UNTIL THE MORNING OF JUNE 11TH
FREE JULY 20TH UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST

* 41, rue Mazarine in the 6th arrondissement. Métro Odeon

40 square meters: bedroom, bathroom with shower. Kitchen. Dining/Living room with bedcouch. Sleeps 4. Fully furnished. Cable TV. Restored interior brick wall. 2 flights up with elevator.

Last Minute Bargain Price: 155 Euros per night.

FREE APRIL 28TH UNTIL MAY 5TH
FREE MAY 19TH UNTIL THE MORNING OF JUNE 10TH
FREE JUNE 17TH UNTIL THE MORNING OF JUNE 24TH
FREE JUNE 28TH UNTIL THE MORNING OF JULY 3RD
FREE AUGUST 18TH UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST

To book any of these apartments, contact Porter Scott at [email protected]

FOR SALE:

Each week Paris Property Picks features a range of properties which we believe are on the market at the time of writing. These properties are featured in order to give readers a sample of what is currently available and a working example of prices being asked in various districts of Paris. As we are not a real estate agency, these properties do not constitute a sales listing. For those readers seriously interested in finding property in Paris or France, you can retain our services to do the whole thing for you. For more information, visit /frenchproperty/insider/propertyconsultation.html
or contact Jocelyn Carnegie at [email protected]

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* 2-ROOM APARTMENT 38 m2 IN THE 19TH
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In a small pierre-de-taille building of 1900 construction, charming two rooms on the second floor with a lift, on a courtyard with double exposure, very calm, apartment in excellent condition, with equipped American style kitchen. Digicode, security door, individual electric.

Asking Price: 157,020 Euro + 2% Finder’s Fee

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* 2-ROOM APARTMENT 50 m2 ON THE PARC DES BUTTES CHAUMONT
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Overlooking the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, two rooms in good condition, with double exposure in an old building (1930) well tended by a guardian. Elevator, independent kitchen, collective heat and hot water.

Asking Price: 258,200 Euro + 2% Finder’s Fee

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* 2- ROOM DUPLEX 82.06 m2 CLOSE TO PARC DES BUTTES CHAUMONT
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In a 1992 building of excellent standing, close to the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, a beautiful duplex, high ceilings, lots of space, 2 toilets, in new condition and highest quality appointments. elevator, balcony, digicode, guardian, interphone, independent equipped kitchen, individual heat and hot water, double paned windows, covered parking.

Asking Price: 370,000 Euro + 2% Finder’s Fee