Weekly insights about property in France!

Subscribe and don't miss an issue!

You've Got Nothing Toulouse

Volume VII, Issue 10

Today we travel to the region known as the “Midi-Pyrénées” — inspired by France Monthly’s feature of this region to which we have not paid enough attention. The cities of this part of France are some of the most beautiful and livable…Albi, Cahors, Lourdes, Millau and Toulouse, to name just a few. Be sure to read all about the region as well as visit the Hot Properties of some of our favorite cities.
We’re happy to announce that our newest House Hunters International Episode will be airing for the first time at the end of this month: “Vacation Home in Paris.” The apartment featured in the show is the “Beau Marais” rental apartment (wwww.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apartments/rentals/beau_marais.html) as offered on Parler Paris Apartments (www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apartments). Scroll down for details so you won’t miss the program.
On the subject of rental apartments, owners who purchased prior to the economic crisis are quite pleased as rentals remain strong in spite of the weakening economies. In today’s FPI, read all about the current rental market, why it’s holding up and how now is such a great time to make an investment in an income-producing property.
The most expensive property in the world is back on the market…the Villa Leopolda that sits high above Villefranche-sur-Mer, the Institut de Français and the lovely apartments offered by Riviera Experience. Read all about all three in today’s FPI.
There is also more information on the fractional property market — all the good reasons for owning a fraction if not a whole and the properties we are offering in which you can have a share.
Next week, after delivering French Property Insider’s issue, I’m heading first to New York City to see my daughter’s newly-renovated studio apartment in the West Village for the first time and then we’re both heading south to New Orleans for the Living and Investing in France Real Estate Conference March 21-22. For those of you in the New Orleans area, feel free to join us at the Celebration Dinner at Tujague’s, the city’s second oldest restaurant. Click here for more information and to register:
www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/conference/LIF_NOLA_2009/index.html.

A bientôt,

Adrian Leeds
Adrian LeedsEditor, French Property Insider
Email: [email protected]


P.S. Don’t Miss Parler Paris Après Midi this coming Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. Visit www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apresmidi.html for more information.


Volume VII, Issue 10, March 5, 2009
In this issue:
* Paris Vacation Rental Market Still Strong
* Latest Episode of House Hunters International to Air
* Midi-Pyrénées Home to Toulouse
* Seats for NOLA Conference Almost Filled
* Taking a Look at Toulouse
* Fractional Ownership and Oysters
* A Closer Look at Fractional Ownership
* The Latest Fractional Property Offerings
* France Goes Rental
* Discovering the Allure of Albi
* Villa Leopolda Goes Back on the Market
* More Luxury on the Riviera
* A Stunning Villa for Adult Education
* Currency Update from Moneycorp: Latest Information on the Dollar
* Parler Paris Apartments: Les Portes de Notre Dame
* Notaires in Public to Answer Your Questions
* Hot Property Picks: Tantalizing Toulouse and Amazing Albi
* The Recent Notaires’ Auction Results
* How You Can Obtain a Mortgage in France
* Additional Conferences in April and May
* Parler Paris Après-Midi: When and Where We Meet Next
* Managing Your FPI Subscription
* Subscribers Receive Discount on Insider Paris Guides


Rentals Still Generating Strong Revenues
By Adrian Leeds

With the current economic crisis, one might think that the
re are less travelers, less t
ourists coming to France and therefore, less rental business. This is a logical assumption to make and it would be easy to think that those who own rental properties are suffering.

“Au contraire!” In fact, our own rental business at Parler Paris Apartments (https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/apartments) is holding up very well. John Rule, Rental Manager, confirmed that request activity at this time is quite strong, but no doubt, renters are price sensitive. Vacation renters are seeking alternatives to hotels, where having a kitchen can save them the cost of breakfast and other expensive restaurant meals. Plus, staying in an apartment makes them feel more like a “true Parisian,” than a “tourist.”
January is normally one of the lowest occupancy months of the year, yet my own studio apartment, “Le Provençal,” recorded a rate of 71%, “Portes de Notre Dame,” a one-bedroom in the Latin Quarter, recorded 86% and “La Terrasse du Temple,” a one-bedroom in Le Marais, recorded 100% that same month. On the average, all apartments yielded 50% during a month when we expected much less.
Last October, one of the year’s strongest months, which came just after the economic crisis surfaced, average occupancy for all apartments was 71%, with three out of ten apartments achieving 100% and Le Provençal achieving 90%. Our goals are to first reach 50% occupancy and ultimately to reach 70%. Apartments reaching occupancy rates higher than 70% are considered to be among the best rental properties.
John further noted that future bookings appear to be consistent and while some renters are making last minute requests, others are booking very far in advance. We believe that another reason for the good results we’re showing is the consistent high quality to all the apartments offered increasing return business. Many renters return year after year if they are were satisfied with their stay, contributing to strong growth and increased occupancy rates.
Owners who made their purchases prior to the economic crisis are pleased that their investments in Paris properties are not only solid, but that their mortgages and expenses are still being covered by rental revenues…”OPM” — “other people’s money!” A purchase made in today’s economic climate would benefit even greater — as property prices have softened and banking interest rates have lowered, coupled with a stronger dollar providing more purchasing power.
There is no doubt that today’s climate is a perfect time to make an investment in an income-generating Paris property, given the positive outlook of the rental market, the further softening of the market, the reduced interest rates projected to go even lower and the stable rate of exchange.


Measures taken by France, an Advanced Country in Tourism
By Koji Ishida (visiting consultant)

Monthly JTM Report: Jan 2009
www.tourism.jp

France, the country most visited by tourists in the world has been upset. France accounted for 11.9% of the international tourist arrivals in 1990 but its share fell to 9.1% in 2007. In terms of international tourism receipts, too, the country has ranked third since 2002 when Spain overtook it. This report covers efforts made by the big power in tourism amid increased global competition.
France is the world’s number one in international tourist arrivals. In 2007, the number of people who visited the country was 81.9 million. The tourism industry ranks first in earning foreign currency among its domestic industries. The tourism sector accounts for 6.2% of its GDP, compared to the global average of 3.8%. The number of tourism industry workers is 196,000.*…
To read the entire article go to www.tourism.jp/english/report/2009/01/16/2009-jan-01.php.


HOUSE HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL!…
NEW EPISODE, NEW DATES AND TIMES!

SEE ADRIAN LEEDS AND FRENCH PROPERTY CONSULTATION ON HOUSE HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL!
***NEW: “Vacation Home in Paris” – Episode HHINT-1A05
AIR TIMES:

March 27, 2009, 10:00 PM ET/PT
March 27, 2009, 2:00 AM ET/PT

New Yorkers Jeff Ballinger and Mary Schiller recently began the first steps toward making their dream together a reality. After honeymooning in Paris, they knew they wanted their own vacation property in France. Now, they’ve moved out of their house and into a smaller condo in the Bronx, NY, and have begun their search for a pied-a-terre in Paris.
House Hunters International Episode HHINT-402: http://www.hgtv.com/house-hunters-international/vacation-home-in-paris/index.html

***”Settling Down in Paris” – Episode HHINT-1A05
Angela and Ben met in 2003 when they lived in Los Angeles working for the same clothing company. Now, the two are engaged to be married. When Ben started receiving frequent overseas work, the company believed he’d be more valuable in Paris, so they happily relocated. They immediately moved into a cozy rental in the 17th district near the Arc de Triomphe and started to explore the different neighborhoods of Paris. The pair
is now
ready to take the big leap and purchase an apartment to stay for good. Property consultant Adrian Leeds is enlisted to help.

House Hunters International Episode HHINT-402: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/shows_hhint/episode/0,,HGTV_24956_50766,00.html
AIR TIMES:
March 10, 2009 10:30 PM ET/PT
March 10, 2009 2:30 AM ET/PT


France’s Midi-Pyrénées Region Home to Toulouse
Compiled by Schuyler Hoffman

The mountains of the Pyrénées form a physical border between France and Spain, stretching 435 km (270 mi) from the Bay of Biscay (part of the Atlantic Ocean) to the Mediterranean Sea. Andorra, wholly within the Pyrénées, straddles the French-Spanish border, which generally follows the crest of the range. The highest peak, 3,404 m (11,168 ft), is Pico de Aneto, on the Spanish side in the center of the chain, which has a maximum width of 160 km (100 mi). Many passes are more than 1.5 km (1 mi) high. Railroads cross the mountains at the ends of the range. Major rivers rising in the Pyrénées include the Garonne and Adour of France and the Ebro of Spain.
Toulouse is located in the department of Haute-Garonne. The department is crossed by the upper course of the Garonne River (hence the name) for nearly 200 kilometers (125 miles). The borders of the department follow the river. The Garonne enters France from Spain at the town of Fos, goes through Toulouse and leaves the department. The highest elevation is the Peak of Perdiguère, at 3,222 meters (10,571 ft) above sea level. Toulouse is the largest population center of the department.
Editor’s Note: See full articles on Toulouse and Albi below. For France Guide’s guide to the cities of the Midi-Pyrénées, visit uk.franceguide.com/maps/france/regions/midi-pyrenees/Most-beautiful-cities-in-Midi-Pyrenees.html?nodeID=164&EditoID=82236#Albi.


REGISTER FOR THE LIVING AND INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE CONFERENCE AND SAVE UP TO $400 OR MORE!
Living and Investing in France Real Estate Conference
March 21-22, 2009 New Orleans

There is nothing else you can do in less time and as inexpensively to learn all you need to learn to make your dream to live and invest in France come true. Produced by Adrian Leeds and John Howell is the 23rd conference of the series, which was the first ever of its kind to be offered both in Paris and the United States. Take advantage of this two-day power-packed conference with expert speakers from France, Europe and the U.S…and these two days of conference activities include the coffee breaks, the cocktail and five course dinner at Tujague’s(!).
Reference materials and a tote bag filled with FREE gifts from Paris!
If you register now, you can SAVE $100 off the registration fee. And when you bring along your spouse, partner or friend, you can SAVE AN ADDITIONAL $200! Plus, if you bring a third person, we’ll EXTEND THE SECOND PERSON DISCOUNT!
Living and Investing in France Real Estate Conference
March 21-22, 2009, New Orleans

For more information visit
www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/conference or email: [email protected]


Toulouse the Capital of Good Life
Compiled by Schuyler Hoffman

La Ville Rose (“The Pink City”) of France – Toulouse is the capital of good life, a city of students, and a center of cutting-edge European technology, located between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic coast, with a rich and diverse culture, taste for celebrations and fine food to attract a growing number of new inhabitants.
The counts of Toulouse supported the Cathars in the 12th and 13th centuries. But in three centuries later, the city sided with the Catholic League during the Wars of Religion. During the 16th and 17th centuries, many Toulouse merchants were becoming wealthy from the blue dye trade, but it was later collapsed when the Portuguese began to import indigo from India.
During WWI, Toulouse focused on the manufacture of arms and aircraft, hence it became a center for both. And after WWII, Toulouse was heart of the country’s aerospace industry.
Finally, Toulouse has recently continued to lead the way in European high-technology manufacture, with infrastructure development ongoing, and the second metro line under construction.
Old Toulouse is effectively quartered by two nineteenth-century streets, the long shopping street, rue d’Alsace-Lorraine/rue du Languedoc, which runs north-south; and rue de Metz, which runs east-west onto the Pont-Neuf and across the Garonne. It’s all very compact and can easily be walked, although the city does have a metro. In addition to the general pleasure of wandering the streets, there are three very good museums and some
real architectura
l treasures.

Development within Toulouse has been controlled, respecting the city’s all-important quality of life. With its jumble of old streets, lively café terraces, colorful markets and russet roofs, this ancient city has become home to a unique mix of high-tech industry and the arts.
The property market in Toulouse is somewhat similar to Paris. The town is a bustling university town with a large tourist industry. Property, while not as high as that in Paris, is still a larger investment than would be found in other cities of the region. That being said, the rental market is solid and pretty much year round. I wise investment could still be a profitable one here.
Editor’s Note: See this week’s Hot Properties for some insight into the Toulouse market


Second Homes: The World Can Be Your (Fractional) Oyster
By Larry Olmsted

USA Today
www.usatoday.com

A For most people, a home overseas is a fantasy, be it a Parisian pied-à-terre or Scottish golf cottage. But now those considering second homes abroad are discovering that if you can’t have it all, you can still have part of it.
Fractional ownership splits a residence into six to 10 shares, allowing buyers to spend less and use it only a portion of the year. (Unlike a traditional timeshare, in which typically set weeks are bought for each year, fractional ownership offers larger chunks of time, which often rotate from year to year.)
This is more attractive overseas for several reasons: most people cannot use a far-off property more than a few weeks a year, it offers hassle-free maintenance, and in some countries, traditional ownership is legally and logistically difficult…
To read the entire article go to www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/secondhomes/fractional-ownership .


Part-Ownership: Taking a Fair Share Abroad
By Xanthe Whittaker

www.thisismoney.co.uk
The one thing we learnt from Sex And The City: The Movie is that, even on the most modest salary, you can clutch the latest Louis Vuitton handbag.
And this isn’t about buying fakes on eBay – everything from private yachts to exotic pets are becoming available to own on a part-time basis. Or, through ‘fractional ownership’, as the marketing people like to call it.
When it comes to property, we’ve all heard of timeshare and its association with sleazy sales reps and cramped quarters in third-rate resorts. So is fractional ownership of property the rebranding of a tired and discredited old game?
…With most fractional ownership schemes, you are buying an annual, time-based share in a property, as well as a share in its value or in the company that holds the property.
So you have the potential to make returns on your investment – or lose, if the property depreciates in value.
…But with fractional, whether it turns out to be a good investment doesn’t only depend upon the market, it also depends upon how the scheme is set up.
John Howell is senior partner at the International Law Partnership and has extensive experience drawing up fractional ownership agreements on overseas property.
“If you’re buying a share in a company, you need to make sure your rights are protected. And it is more complicated than simply buying a property in your own name,” he says.
…Mr Howell sees this as key to getting the most out of your property. The ownership agreement will determine how much control you have over your property – such as how the property can be used, and how and when it’s maintained. With all the administration, management and contracts, ultimately it is the buyer who owns the property and so they should get some say in these matters.
To read the entire article go to www.thisismoney.co.uk/mortgages/homesabroad/
Editor’s note: John Howell will make key presentations on buying property in France, including fractional ownership at the upcoming Living and Investing in France Real Estate conference in New Orleans March 21 and 22. For details go to www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/conference/LIF_NOLA_2009/index.html or email: [email protected].


Fractional Property Offerings from French Property Fractional
www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/fractional
If you are interested in traditional fractional ownership properties currently offered by our Fractional
Ownership partners, see below:

Place des Vosges  ***NEW!!!
Paris: LE PALACE DES VOSGES
www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/fractional

 
Chez la Tour Paris: CHEZ LA TOUR
https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/fractional
Paris: La Rsidence Luxembourg
www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/fractional
Le Petit Tresor Paris: LE PETIT TRESOR
www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/fractional
Maison Bleue Languedoc-Roussillon: MAISON BLEUE
www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/fractional

Going Rental About France
Assetz Property News Service
www.news.assetz.co.uk

When it comes to buy-to-let overseas, some might raise an eyebrow about the prospects for France. With lower tourist numbers (at least from overseas), an unfavorable exchange rate between the pound and the euro and a general economic downturn, now may not seem a good time to invest.
However, while it may be the case that there will be better times for tourism, the economy as a whole and the exchange rate, it has been suggested that the French property market is still providing plenty of good investment opportunities…
To read the entire article go to news.assetz.co.uk/articles/4664.html.


Albi, A Postcard Image of a City
Compiled by Schuyler Hoffman

France Monthly
www.francemonthly.com

It’s often while strolling around a town that you discover the charm of a monument, a fountain, a statue or simply a small street. Albi is different in that all it takes is one look to catch all the beauty and radiance of the city.
Maybe it was the fortress-like image of the cathedral that juts out over the banks of the river Tarn? Maybe it was the impression that its almighty power seems to draw the houses under its wing? Maybe it was the light on the bridge that delights the visitor by emphasizing one of the most beautiful urban panoramas in France? Or was it simply the magnificent harmony that the red colored brick of the city’s buildings gives to the whole ensemble? Whether it seems real or just a postcard image, you are always under its charm.
Albi was a wealthy and prosperous trade city in the Middle Ages, thanks to its strategic crossroads position linking Cahors to the Mediterranean sea on one side, and Toulouse to Lyon on the other. The city minted its own currency, and the Pont-Vieux, built in 1040, only further stimulated its development. This bridge was made of 8 arches that spanned the Tarn over a length of 492 ft, but it was then too narrow for carts to cross it. Goods were transported on the backs of men or animals.
The fragility of this bridge became worrisome and so it was rebuilt in the 13th century, then later enlarged in the 14th century to finally allow carts overloaded with goods to get through.
The Basilica of Sainte-Cécile. Bernard de Castanet, Bishop and Lord of Albi, laid the building’s first stone on August 15, 1282, right in the middle of the crusade. The purpose of the structure was twofold. On one hand it was to mark the power of the bishops and the triumph of the church over heresy; on the other it was to operate as a citadel in case enemies attacked the city.
It was a real fortress that was built in the middle of the golden age of brick. More than 4 million bricks were used in its construction, which is probably what lends it an air of architectural unity, despite the fact that it took 200 years to finish it because of work delays brought on by the 100 Year War and plague epidemics.
Albi is a very beautiful place in which to search for French property as a holiday home or permanent residence. In the town itself are many fine buildings dating back several centuries. Across from the 13th century cathedral, near the bridge in the old town is some exquisite Albi property overlooking the Tarn River. Outside the town in the surrounding countryside Albi property is cheap. A 6-bed villa in France between Albi and Castres to the south can be acquired for around 200,000 euros.
Editor’s Note: See this week’s Hot Properties for some insight into the Albi market.


Most Expensive Home Villa Leopolda Still On The Market
www.overseaspropertymall.com
Mikhail Prokhorov, Russia’s richest man had to pull out on the much reported deal to purchase Villa Leopolda, a $750 million estate in Côte d’Azur, the South of France after seeing a good portion of his amassed fortune lost in the current global recession.
The much reported sale was widely speculated over around August last year and now it seems that all the excitement has been for nothing. But the saga continues as the current owners of the villa simply refuse to hand Prokhorov back his initial deposit of €44 million.
Even though his lawyers are seeking a refund, they might be out of luck since the French law states that purchasers lose their deposits if they pull out after the sales agreement has been signed…
To read the entire article go to www.overseaspropertymall.com/regions/european-property/french-property/most-expensive-home-villa-leopolda-still-on-the-market
Editor’s Note: Originally built by King Leopold II of Belgium at the beginning of 1900, the cream-colored villa is set in 20 acres of gardens overlooking Cap Ferrat, near Villefranche-sur-Mer. King Leopold II bought the land for a bargain and the estate soon become a magnet for high society.


“Riviera Experience”
Riviera Experience Luxury Apartments
in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Villefranche-sur-Mer is one the most charming and authentic French and Niçoise fishing villages on the French Riviera, in the heart of the Cote d’Azur. With Monaco on one side and Nice on the other, it is home to the famous language learning Institut de Français, a favorite resort of the rich and famous and is steeping in Riviera history. Choose from a select group of luxury apartments offered by Shelley Dobyns Benton. To reserve your stay, go to: www.rivieraexperience.comand be sure to tell Shelley Adrian Leeds sent you.


LEARN FRENCH IN FRANCE IN A FRENCH LANGUAGE SCHOOL FOR ADULTS
OFFERING TRUE FRENCH IMMERSION
L’Institut de Français, Villefranche-sur-Mer

Learn French in the warmth of a stunning villa overlooking the lovely fishing village of Villefranche-sur-Mer on the Côte d’Azur in a full immersion program with like-minded adults…For more information, visit Institut de Français (www.parlerparlor.com/institut_de_francais.html) or contact Fréderic Latty at [email protected] and be sure to tell him Adrian Leeds sent you.
 


       
TODAY’S CURRENCY UPDATE
www.Moneycorp.com
US Data:
Monday 1:30 p.m. Core PCE Price Index for January. Previous 0.0 index
Monday 3:00 p.m. ISM Manufacturing Survey for February. Previous 35.6 index
Tuesday 3:00 p.m. Pending Homes Sales for January. Previous 6.3%m/m
Wednesday 1:15 p.m. ADP Employment Survey for February. Previous -522k
Wednesday 3:00 p.m. ISM Non-Manufacturing Survey for February. Previous 42.9 index
Thursday</stron g> 3:00 p.m. F
actory Orders for January. Previous -3.9%m/m
Friday 1:30 p.m. Non-Farm Payrolls & Unemployment Rate for February. Previous -598k & 7.6%.

The Dollar remained buoyant last week on the back of safe-haven demand as speculation over the health of the global banking system intensified and US GDP was revised sharply lower in the fourth quarter. Government data showed the US economy suffered its deepest contraction since early 1982 in the final three months of 2008, shrinking at a much worse than expected 6.2% annual rate as exports plunged and consumers reined in spending. Adding to concerns surrounding the banking system, the US government committed to holding up 36% of Citigroup’s shares to bolster the fallen financial giant’s capital base, sending US banking stocks to twelve-year lows. This week’s data highlight will be Friday’s February non-farm payrolls figure, where initial claims data suggests an even deeper pace of job losses, while the unemployment rate is seen closer to 8%.
Visit the FPI Web site and click on the link on the left panel or click here for Currency Currency Convertor by Moneycorp Global Money Services by Moneycorp: Moneycorp Currency Conversion Tool for up to the minute conversions of all major currencies.
Compare currency values easily and quickly by visiting:
www.Moneycorp.com/agent/parlerparis/Currency Convertor by Moneycorp Global Money Services.asp

Charts: www.Moneycorp.co.uk/members/charts.asp The charts are updated every ten seconds.
The prices shown are “inter bank” exchange rates and are not the rates that you will be offered by Moneycorp. Your rate will be determined by the amount of currency that you are buying. Please speak with an Moneycorp dealer or your consultant for a live quotation.


PARLER PARIS APARTMENTS
www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apartments
Parler Paris ApartmentsWelcome to your home in Paris. Home is how you will feel in a private apartment in Paris that has the “seal of approval” from Parler Paris Apartments and me, Adrian Leeds.
Parler Paris Apartments offers high quality accommodations to make your stay in the City of Light as enjoyable and memorable as possible. We at Parler Paris know each and every apartment owner or manager personally, and stand behind the quality of those we represent. We understand your needs and desires, all the small details that make a rental apartment a warm and welcoming home ­ and a much better alternative to an impersonal hotel!
Parler Paris Apartments is administered and serviced by the same great team as Parler Paris, French Property Insider and French Property Consultation. You can trust that Parler Paris Apartments and all those with whom it is associated will do their best for your 100% guaranteed satisfaction.
SPOTLIGHT APARTMENT: Les Portes de Notre Dame
Rue des Trois Portes, 5th Arrondissement
Latin Quarter — Two Steps from Notre Dame

One-Bedroom Apartment, Duplex
Sleeps up to 4, Two on Each Level

Les Portes de Notre Dame is a charming and spacious one-bedroom duplex apartment centrally located just one block from the Seine and only a few steps from the cathedral of Notre Dame.
Another one block away to the west is the oldest church in Paris, Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre, which marks the beginning of the busy pedestrian streets of the Latin Quarter. The city’s oldest tree is in the park adjacent to the church. Two blocks southwest is the legendary intersection of the Boulevard St. Michel with the Boulevard St. Germain.
In the other direction, also just one block from the apartment to the south, is Place Maubert, famous for its frequent open-air markets.
The location is so ideal, that many of the city’s most famous sites are within easy walking distance — the Panthéon, rue Mouffetard, the Île de la Cité, the Louvre, the Ile Saint-Louis and the Marais.
The apartment is located on the rue des Trois Portes, a street which dates to 1202. Surprisingly, there is very little vehicular or pedestrian traffic on the street itself, making the apartment remarkably quiet. Located on the second and third floors (European, with elevator) of a traditional 17th-century building, the apartment is bright, looking south to the picturesque corner of the rues LaGrange and Dante.
The apartment has a secure digicode entry system and separate entrances on each floor. An antique circular staircase links the bedroom on the lower level to the living/dining/kitchen on the upper level. Each level has a full bathroom. The bedroom offers a king-size bed and in the living room, a full-size sofa bed offers additional accommodation, making this an ideal unit for one or two couples – or a small family up to four. Because of the circular
staircase, children under 4 yrs are not permitted.

The primary entrance to the apartment, on the third floor, leads to an open living and dining area. The living room has a leather sofa that easily converts to a comfortable bed for two. A folk-art armoire from the Spanish Pyrenees looks like it might be out of North Africa. In this armoire is a CD player with an eclectic selection of jazz, classical and world music. In the same armoire, you will find some games and extra linens for the sofa bed. Additional linens and a small dresser can be found in the entry hall closet. An antique glass bookcase offers a nice collection of guidebooks on Paris and France, as well an assortment of art books and a miscellany of English language novels. You can settle into the 1930’s Art-Deco club chair by the circular staircase to read them.
A handsome Balinese dining table seats six, with capacity to comfortably seat eight. The American-style kitchen comes fully equipped, with a “Miele” brand dishwasher, a four-burner electric stovetop, microwave and regular ovens, coffee maker, electric tea kettle, toaster and all pots, pans, cutlery and dishes. There is additional kitchen storage in an antique Chinese buffet. There is a laundry closet next to the kitchen with a Whirlpool washing machine and an extendable drying rack. In the entry hall, there is a collapsible rack for drying larger items, so you can have clean, fresh clothing during your stay.
The third floor bathroom is located off the entry hall and includes a toilet, sink, large shower and an over-scaled black Baroque mirror.
From the living room you descend the circular staircase to the bedroom on the floor below, which has its own separate entrance from the elevator lobby. This floor has a king-size platform bed. An African folk mirror hangs above a chest with twenty-seven(!) drawers, offering lots of storage. There is also a closet in the entry hall by the bathroom. This bathroom is larger than the one on the floor above, with an extra-long tub/shower, sink, toilet and plenty of additional cupboard space below the spacious countertop.
As an added feature, in the bedroom you can write postcards or plug in your laptop at a curious writing desk from the 1940’s. High-speed wireless Internet access (WiFi) is available throughout the apartment, but the signal is strongest at this desk. Opposite the bed is a flat-screen TV, which has channels in many languages, including CNN International, BBC News, BBC Prime and other English-language stations. There is a DVD player and a selection of international films, in English or with English subs, many of them with Paris themes. The apartment’s telephone service provides free local and international long-distance calls to land lines in twenty-eight countries, including the U.S., Canada, Australia and all of Europe.
For more information and to reserve your stay in Paris now, visit www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apartments/rentals/portesdenotredame.html or email: [email protected]


Salon National de l’Immobilier
March 19 – 22, 2009

The Notaires de Paris-Ile-de-France participate in the upcoming Salon National de l’Immobilier March 19 -22 to take place at the Porte de Versailles in Paris. On this occasion, the Notaires offer a stand (number 31) where someone will be there to answer your questions all day, every day of the fair.
 
To receive a free invitation, go to www.salonimmobilier.com


HOT PROPERTY PICKS: Tantalizing Toulouse and Amazing Albi
Each week French Property Insider 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 regions of France and 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 https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/consultation
This week our focus is on interesting properties found in and around Toulouse and Albi.
***Toulouse, Le Fousseret: 3-Bedroom, approx. 130mm²
In a quiet environment, this house of 130sqm, built in 1890, on two levels has a land size of 300sqm. It comprises six rooms including three bedrooms, one bathroom and one toilet. It is provided with a garage. Heating: electric.
Asking Price: 179 700€ + 2.5% Finder’s Fee
 
***Toulouse: 2-Bedroom, approx. 67m²
This apartment of 67 square meters was built in 1900 in a building of four floors. It comprises three rooms including two bedrooms, one bathroom and one toilet. It’s located on the 4th floor. Heating: individual gas.
Asking Price: 222 600€ + 2.5% Finder’s Fee
 
***Toulouse: 4-Bedroom, approx. 130m²
This house of 130 square meters was constructed in 1900. It has three levels and land size of 303sqm. It has five rooms including four bedrooms, one bathroom and one toilet. It has a living room of 35m, a separate kitchen and a cellar. Heating: individual electric.
Asking Price: 442 000€ + 2.5% Finder’s Fee
 
***Albi: 4-Bedroom, approx. 213m²
Renovated, old house in a very quiet, little hamlet. Large 213m2 of living space, kitchen of 45m2, sitting room of 50m2, tow shower rooms, three wc, garage and 1150m2 of land.
Asking Price: 269 300€ + 2.5% Finder’s Fee 
 
***Albi: 1-bedroom, approx. 51m²
Apartment in the historic center close to the cathedral. Superb traditional one-bedroom apartment, restored, with 51m of living space. Well lit, exposed beams and half-timbering. Consists of a large living room of 30m, a small converted kitchen and storage space. Electric heating and no shared living costs. This is a great apartment ideal for a first time buy or investment.
Asking Price: 94 994€ + 2.5% Finder’s Fee 
 
***Albi: 3-bedroom, approx. 350m²
15th century chateau in the Tarn that has undergone a full, quality renovation. Sitting room, study, huge kitchen with dining area. Three bedrooms with shower room. Caretaker’s apartment (two rooms). Three outbuildings with a total area of approx. 300m2 in excellent condition. 16000 m2 of land. Exceptional property in a quiet, rural setting only 40 minutes from Toulouse.
Asking Price: 1 385 000€ + 2.5% Finder’s Fee 


Results of Tuesday’s Notaires’ Property Auction
Notaires de Paris
Place du Châtelet
12 avenue Victoria
Paris 1st

Additional information on Les Ventes aux Enchères des Notaires can be found on the Web site at www.encheres-Paris.com. Though the site has a button for an English version, it isn’t necessarily reliable.
To read Schuyler Hoffman’s article about the property auctions in Paris, click on:
www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/insider/members/content/articles/auctions1.html

March 3, 2009
Beginning at 2:00 p.m. the following properties were auctioned off:

 

 
2009-03-02
3 Rooms 93m² 107 rue La Fayette – 75010 – PARIS
Starting Bid: 294 800 €
Sold For: 340 000 €

 
 

 
2009-03-08
2 Rooms 58,77m² 74 rue notre Dame des Champs 75006 – PARIS
Starting Bid: 459 000 €
Sold For: 464 000 €

 
 

 
2009-03-01
CHATEAU 600m² Lieudit Le Village – 89300 – LOOZE
Starting Bid: 429 000 €
Sold For: 429 000 €

 
 
 
Next Auction 31 March, 2009. Properties up for auction will be posted in next week’s issue of French Property Insider.


SEEKING A MORTGAGE IN FRANCE?
French Propety LoanWhen you make a purchase as important as a piece of real estate in a foreign country, you want to know that you can trust the people you are dealing with. Adrian Leeds has developed a network of professionals that meet only the highest of standards. With the expertise and experience of A
drian and her team, you can
depend on getting the best advice and support to feel completely confident that you are making an informed investment decision.

Let us help you secure a mortgage in France at a competitive interest rate. Visit www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/loan for more information or contact [email protected]


HELPFUL CONVERSIONS FOR REAL ESTATE

1 square meter = 10.7639104 square feet

1 hectare = 2.4710538 acres

For more conversions, refer to: www.onlineconversion.com/


Planning More Living and Investing in France Conferences
London
Sunday, April 26, 2009
The International Law Partnership
The Vaults, Holborn Hall
193-197 High Holborn
London WC1V 7BD
For more information, email [email protected]/london

Paris
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Chez Jenny
3, Boulevard du Temple
75003 Paris
For more information, email [email protected]/paris


Parler Paris Aprs Midi
Parler Paris Apres Midi
 
www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apresmidi.html
Come for a drink and to meet and chat with other readers in Paris…
The next gathering is March 10, 2009 and every second Tuesday of the month (except August).
 
 


Managing Your French Property Insider Subscription is Easy!
We receive many emails from French Property Insider Subscribers who want to change their email address, or update personal information. But did you know that you can make these changes yourself?
It’s easy…
1. Go to adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/insider
2. Click on “Manage Subscription.” You’ll find it under the “Subscribers Only” section in the sidebar.
3. Enter your username and password.
4. On the Welcome Page, go to “Manage Your Account” and click on “Change Password/Edit Profile”
5. Once you’ve made the changes, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “Save Profile.”
Simple!
Of course, we’re always happy to help, so if you do need assistance, send an email to [email protected]


THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

To access password protected pages: click on any of the links on the left panel of the home page of FrenchPropertyInsider.com under “Subscriber’s Only,” then type in your personal username and password.

Past issues of FPI are available on the Web site. You will find the
“Past Issues” link on the left under “Subscribers Only” or by going to
www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/insider/members

To receive your free French Leaseback Report or the Paris Property
Report, click on
www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/insider/members


We wanted better guides, So we wrote them!
insider paris guidesInsider Paris Guides are written for people who love the City of Light. You’ll get a Paris insider perspective on Restaurants… Making a Life… Black Culture… Expat Writers…and the newest guide, Practical Paris!
French Property Insider subscribers receive a discount of 10% off any guide and up to 25% off the entire purchase (if two or more guides are purchased at the same time). Here’s how it works:
1. Click on special Web link
we give you just for FP
I subscribers.

2. Then order one or more guide(s) and use the promotion
code “ED762.” This promotion code gives you 10% off your total
order.

3. If you order two or more guides, then an additional 15% will be
taken off automatically. There is no promotion code needed.

Here is the special “coupon” Web link just for you:
www.insiderparisguides.com/offer


SUBSCRIBE TO PARLER PARIS

If you’re not a regular reader of the Parler Paris daily e-letter, and would like to be, simply enter your e-mail address here (it’s free!): www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis


Copyright 2010, Adrian Leeds®
Adrian Leeds Group, LLC, www.adrianleeds.com

SHARE THIS POST

Leave a Comment




Let Us create a custom strategy for you

You can live or invest in France-now.

Property for sale

what's happening

Check out upcoming events, conferences, or webinars. Join us!

GET FINANCING

Learn about French Property Loan Information.

French Property Loan logo

Read & Subscribe

Dive into more by reading the Adrian Leeds Nouvellettre®

Better yet, subscribe to both and get the updates delivered to your inbox.

Adrian Leeds in red beret and sunglasses

Get started with your dream of owning property in Paris.

Join us on Youtube

Dive into more on how to live, invest & escape to France

Be sure to subscribe!

Advertise with Us

Deliver your message to 15,000+ Francophile readers in our Nouvellettres®

Save money on currency exchange. See who we use and recommend.