French Property the American Way

Last week, The Local ran an article that answered a reader’s question: Can I find an American-style real estate agent in France? The journalist, byline unknown, did an excellent job of describing the real estate landscape, but clearly they just didn’t want to point any fingers to the obvious and best answer: US (not U.S., but US…the Adrian Leeds Group)!

“French Property the American Way.”

When we say “American,” we refer to North Americans, not to exclude Canadians. We can also effectively work with any Anglophone, but our target market are North Americans who are used to the MLS system that puts the real estate agents working more for the buyer than the seller. In France, the opposite is true. The agents work for the seller and not the buyer, so the buyer is not protected unless working with consultants such as ourselves.

Sure, you can do it on your own, but there’s a risk that is removed working with professionals who have only your interests in mind. The seller’s agent does not. We think of it as “insurance.”

To learn more about our services, visit our website!

SCARFED-UP

One day, a silk scarf showed up in my mailbox—a gift from Lisa Vanden Bos and Shari Leslie Segall, of FUSAC—for having written about the publication a while back. It reminded me of the mountain of scarves folded as well as possible in three sections of my closet in Paris, with another stash in Nice. I wear a scarf every single day except in the high heat of summer.

Over time, I have collected so many scarves that once years ago I brought a big bag of the ones I could bear to part with to Après-Midi and offered them up to anyone who wanted them. Within moments, they were all gone. I was glad to see them get upcycled!

Scarves are a major part of every woman’s (and most men’s) French wardrobes. Not just because of the cool weather, but because a scarf can dress up any mundane outfit in a flash. We all admire the French for the innate art of tying scarves in a zillion ways to look totally fashionable.

Lisa and Shari’s article about scarf-wearing, titled What do Air France flight attendants and Hermès shoppers have in common with cowboys? Silk Scarves!, has some great suggestions on ways to tie scarves. I’ve never mastered it like a “Parisienne”—who may have been born with a scarf around her tiny neck and who knows just how to take a square piece of fabric and dress up anything—but I resigned myself to doing a half-assed job and enjoying them anyway.

MEET THE AUTHORS…IN NICE!

Set your calendars for Saturday, June 3rd from 3 to 5 p.m. for our annual Meet the Authors in Nice!

Join us in the Caribbean atmosphere of La Havane in Nice to meet a group of local authors, and discover their books and their stories. They will talk about their recent works, read a bit from them, and answer your questions. You will have an opportunity to purchase their books and get signed copies! I’ll be there to emcee the event and share my own experiences.

Ella Dyer, author of Nice in Nice, is the organizer (since 2014) and I’m the moderator. Authors will have a few of their books for purchasing and signing, but to be sure, you may want to pre-order your copy and bring it with you for your own personal signed copy!

Meet some of the authors…

• Lynn Heyman, “Paris Moments”
• Janet Hulstrand, author of “Demystifying the French: How to Love Them, and Make Them Love You,” and “A Long Way from Iowa: From the Heartland to the Heart of France”
• Caroline M. Ohanian, author of “La Biche Esseulée” (The Lonely Doe)
• Lisa Pepin, author of “The Dark Side of Black Truffles”

Participation is free (but we ask that you purchase at least one drink to show the host venue how much we appreciate their hospitality). Don’t miss this special event in Nice! No need to register in advance.

Meet the Authors
3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
La Havane
32 rue de France
06000 Nice

For more information, visit our events page, or email Ella Dyer.

A la prochaine…