Maison Bize
200-year-old beautifully restored village house in Southwest France
THE HOUSE:
Maison Bize
4 Bedrooms / 2.5 Bathrooms
Located in Bize-Minervois in the Southwest of France
Here’s your opportunity to own a share of a 200-year-old beautifully restored village house set in a romantic, medieval riverside village, surrounded by vines and olive groves just a short distance from the Mediterranean Sea.
The River Cesse runs through the village and provides an idyllic, freshwater swimming hole with crystal clear, mountain water and a pebbled beach area, just a two-minute walk from the house. It’s a perfect spot for a refreshing dip or for families with children as there is a lifeguard on hand in the summer months.
Ideally situated for the perfect holiday or extended stay, the village is well equipped with several great restaurants, a bar with a pizzeria and large outdoor terrace, an excellent takeaway burger bar offering homemade buns and burgers (summer seasonal), a boulangerie, a “brocante,” mini-supermarket, pharmacy and much more.
A QUIET, PICTURESQUE SQUARE
The house is a 150 square-meter (1,600 square feet) three-story home, professionally designed, and fully furnished, with plentiful parking in the center of the village.
In the front outdoor space, you can enjoy a fresh-baked croissant from the local boulangerie amidst the spectacular glow of the French morning light. Other outdoor areas on the property include a small, shady terrace with a café table and chairs on the first floor, and a large, private, sunny terrace on the top floor with a built-in BBQ and dining table with seating for eight. The top floor terrace is west-facing, ideal for enjoying a French apéritif with the backdrop of one of southern France’s majestic sunsets.
A FULLY EQUIPPED AMERICAN KITCHEN, DOWNSTAIRS POWDER ROOM AND COMFORTABLE LIVING ARE ON THE GROUND FLOOR
A light and bright foyer leads into the house with a coat hanging area and downstairs powder room. Set to the backdrop of 13th-century ramparts is a large, modern, fully-equipped kitchen including a built-in dishwasher, dual oven and induction hobs, a large American-style fridge/freezer, kettle, coffee/tea maker, Nespresso and toaster. All kitchen and entertaining essentials are also included.
The dining area comfortably seats eight. Off the dining area is a pantry and a utility room with a washing machine, dryer, microwave and additional storage.
A spacious, open-plan living room adjoins the dining area with two large windows, high ceilings with recess lighting and a Smart TV. In the winter months, a wood-burning stove creates a warm and inviting ambiance.
FIRST FLOOR:
An open-plan curved staircase leads from the living room to the first floor. Here you will find 3 double bedrooms, a bathroom, and an outdoor terrace
SECOND FLOOR:
A curved staircase leads to a spacious second-floor salon with parquet flooring and a high, wood-beamed ceiling with a skylight and recessed lighting. Enjoy ample lounge space during the day and sleep two more at night on the comfortable, sleeper sectional sofa with chaise. A Smart TV, a Victrola record player with records and a console filled with board games also adorn this wonderful space for family and friends to gather.
Highlights on this floor also include a fourth bedroom with bunk beds and built-in wardrobe, a bathroom with shower and a roof terrace with “Piazza” lights, built-in BBQ and peek-a-boo river views.
LOCAL AMENITIES & TRANSPORTATION
Local amenities include an artisan bakery, several restaurants, pizzeria, Burger Bar. Local open-air markets are located in Saint Chinian on Thursdays and Sundays, in Olanzac on Tuesdays and in Narbonne (30-minute drive) on a daily basis. In the village is a pharmacy and a supermarket. A large supermarket is in Argeliers a 7-minute drive away.
There are two ways to get here by train from Paris: Beziers or Narbonne, then by bus or car. Five hours is the shortest route. Or, take a scenic 8-hour drive from Paris.
PRICE OF SHARES:
10 Shares are available.
- Shares 1 -3: €64,700
- Shares 4 – 7: €68,700
- Shares 8 – 10: €72,700
5 Weeks of usage annually.
4 Bedrooms / 2.5 Bathrooms.
Annual Dues: $750-$800 per share each year.
As one of only 10 Member Owners (shareholders) of the LLC, you will own a share of the limited liability company, which owns and manages the property. The shares are easy to purchase, transfer or resell as defined in the LLC Operating Agreement. By using a LLC based in the United States, the Member Owners are governed by U.S. tax and inheritance laws. The LLC fractional property is a member-formed company which allows the shareholders to own and manage real estate in accordance with the conditions of the Operating Agreement.
The shares will be sold on a first-come/first-served basis.
To learn more and purchase shares, contact us at [email protected].
An operating agreement sets out the rights, obligations and duties regarding the LLC, and typically includes provisions relating to Formation, Members and Membership Interests, Management, Budgets and Accounts, Meetings, Member Use Rights, Accounting and Records, Transfer of Interest, Distributions, Withdrawal and Dissolution, Indemnification and Amendments. The Operating Agreement outlines the rights and responsibilities of co-ownership in Maison Bize and is signed as part of the purchasing process.
The LLC is member-managed. One Member Manager coordinates the annual meeting, distributes financials, ensures that annual dues are paid, acts as the liaison with the property management agent in France, assigns visit slots to Member Owners and organizes the house calendar. The Member Manager accepts this role in exchange for not paying annual house dues.
ROTATIONAL USAGE FIVE WEEKS A YEAR
Each share owned by an individual Member Owner will carry with it the right to use Maison Bize for five weeks each year—two weeks in the low season (November 1st through March 31st) and three weeks in the high season (April 1st through October 31st). Reserving time is done on a rotational basis for each season.
For example, if Member Owner A chooses their high season period first in 2024, then they will choose their high season period last in 2025. In any given year Member Owners may release and donate their time to other Member Owners. Therefore, there is an opportunity to stay for even more time than the normally allotted five weeks and/or the opportunity to switch the time of your stay.
The LLC has a local property manager who is responsible for preparing the house for each Member Owner’s arrival so the house is always ready for Member Owners to drop their bags and enjoy. Following each stay, the property manager is responsible for cleaning the house and linens. Upon departure, each Member Owner is responsible for leaving a pre-arranged payment (approximately 75-100 euros) in an envelope for these cleaning services. The property manager also coordinates and oversees any maintenance appointments that may occur throughout the year.
The Operating Agreement does not allow for the property to be commercially rented, so you have peace of mind knowing the property is only being used by the small owner group and their guests. However, you will have the option of occasionally allowing your family or friends to use your time when you are not present so long as each guest has read, signed, and agreed to abide by the house rules and instructions.
The owners will share all of the annual costs of operating the property, which means spreading the costs thinly among them. They will all have a voice and share the responsibilities, making this virtually hassle-free.
Annual property expenses for Maison Bize include:
- Homeowners’ insurance,
- Property taxes, costs for property management in France and charges for the
- Internet and utilities.
- A small contingency fund to cover the costs of unexpected repairs.
Overall, Member Owners can expect to pay approximately $750-$800 per share each year. This amount is directly linked to actual costs, so it remains fairly fixed.
Each Member Owner to also asked to pay a small cleaning fee of approximately 75-100 euros following a visit to the house by that Member Owner.
Finally, from time to time, when the LLC may need to fund capital improvements or necessary renovations, including new appliances or repairs to the house, such expenses are first approved by the Member Owners at the annual meeting and then the costs are allocated based on the ownership interests.
AMENITIES:
GENERAL
- The property is equipped with high-speed wireless internet, heating and air conditioning. Each owner is also provided with a personal storage container.
- Roof terrace with “Piazza” lights and built-in BBQ
- Ample parking
- Dining area comfortably seats eight
- Pantry and utility room with washing machine and dryer
- Wood-burning stove
FULLY-EQUIPPED KITCHEN
- Dual oven and induction hobs,
- Large American-style fridge/freezer,
- Built-in dishwasher,
- Microwave
- Dual oven and induction hobs,
- Kettle, coffee/tea maker, Nespresso, and toaster,
- All kitchen and entertaining essentials are also included.
BEDROOMS:
- Bedroom One has a king-sized bed, two tall windows, a dressing table with a mirror and a walk-in wardrobe.
- Bedroom Two has a queen-sized bed, a built-in wardrobe and a small, shady terrace with a café table and chairs.
- Bedroom Three has a double bed and a dressing area with a dresser and mirror.
- The large bathroom includes a walk-in Italian shower with both a rainhead and handheld shower head, a towel warmer, a sink and mirror with storage and a full-size bath.
- Second floor:
- Sleeper sectional sofa with chaise,
- Smart TV,
- A Victrola record player with records,
- Console filled with board games
- A fourth bedroom with bunkbeds and built-in wardrobe
- Bathroom and shower
- All bed linens, hand and bath towels, wooden hangers and a hairdryer are also provided.
To learn more and purchase shares, contact us at [email protected].
Located at: 14 Rue Jaillet, 11120 Bize-Minervois, France
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