Get Two More Months When You Take Two Years…

At the beginning of this past May, I wrote you that I was finally taking my own advice…and I did.

I purchased a sweet little studio apartment on rue Charlot that I affectionately call “the baby” although it’s official name is “Le Provençal.” At a mere sixteen and one-half square meters, it’s just large enough to accommodate a small, but complete kitchen including a washer/dryer, a bath with shower, built-in storage, TV/DVD/Internet and all the luxuries of home. Three windows facing a lovely Marais courtyard with southeast exposure allow for the light to pour in, but the noise to stay out.

On June 1st I signed the Acte de Vente and began the renovation work immediately. I hired a contractor I have worked with on other projects that I trust and a friend who is an expert “mosaiiste” (mosaic artist) to create an exciting bath and kitchen in tile. By the end of this week, the renovation will be complete and ready for me to equip with the furnishings.

We started to expose the 17th-century stone of one wall only to discover it wasn’t as pretty as we hoped and closed it back up. When we opened the ceiling, we found beautiful old beams. Replastering the ceiling and refinishing the beams was a long, tedious and expensive proposition, but a lot of ceiling height was gained and there is no way to place a value on the charm the centuries-old beams add to the ambiance.

One alcove became the home of the hot water tank and loads of closet space outfitted with mirrored doors to enlarge the visual expanse of the small space. Ikea supplied the kitchen cabinetry for the larger kitchen alcove with two large white cabinets with glass doors and a shelf unit on the end to show-off the multi-colored plates and glassware that await the guests. It is complete with a refrigerator, two-burner ceramic stove, microwave, toaster/oven, washer/dryer and electric kettle.

In mosaic, all of original design and construction, the kitchen splash wall was tiled and a bottom panel that faces the main room. I chose a base color of yellow with accent tiles in green, lavender, red and orange. The bathroom was a total recreation in mosaic tile of the same design and colors, with a free-formed shower (with rain shower head) and wash stand that supports a bright red glass basin. As an added bonus, the artist created a café table in the same motif and washed the walls in a golden mottled patina.

We added mirrors and molding to the bathroom door, inside and out. The appointments throughout the apartment are in black wrought iron of a spiral motif. Shelving is of glass and every inch of space is being utilized.

The is no question the added expense of the original work was well worth it. In spite of the small space, the ambiance is sheer heaven. The bath is small, but it’s completely luxurious and delicious. As you can imagine, I am more than pleased to have reached my goal — to create the most charming and inviting 16.5 square meters one could possibly imagine in the heart of Paris.

In the next few weeks, I’ll add the finishing touches and prepare it for the first renters. Rental rates vary with season and length of stay and are less than the price of an equivalent hotel room. (See Parler Paris Apartments at /parlerparis/apartments/rentals/provencal.html for the details.)

A 50% occupancy rate is all it needs to more than cover the mortgage and expenses. Everything over that is pure “gravy” (it could easily net close to 10% return on investment) and meanwhile, the property will appreciate (Paris property appreciated 14% on the average in 2005!).

The ability to purchase this property is 100% the result of the apartment I purchased almost six years ago — the apartment I live. It has tripled in value in that time, providing me with enough of an equity release to purchase not only this little studio, but another I’ve had my eye on (I just made an offer on it!).

There is no doubt that these are good investments. These properties will provide the financial security I’ve always dreamed of and perhaps the ability to afford even more sometime in the near future, growing a valuable portfolio that will provide an income during retirement and eventually leave to my daughter.

In the last five years, since discovering the world of real estate in Paris (and throughout all of France), my carefully formed team of property professionals and I have helped hundreds of people realize the same dream…at Living and Investing in France Conferences, through one-on-one consultations, providing property searches and purchase assistance programs and through our various publications.

Six years ago when I made that first property purchase in Paris, I was pretty naive. Not any more. Now after years of working within the industry, there’s very little about the property purchase process I don’t know, and what I don’t know, I know who to ask and how to find out. In fact, I’ve made it my business not only to know, but to share this information with you.

It’s called French Property Insider.

It’s our weekly electronic magazine (e-zine) devoted to educating its readers on how to effectively, efficiently and profitably purchase property in France.

Every issue (50 per year) is packed with information…

* How to find great properties in Paris and France…
* How to structure your real estate purchase…
* What pitfalls to look out for…
* How to work with your “Notaire” (property attorney)…
* How to minimize your capital gains tax obligations…
* How to rent and earn a profit from your French properties…
* Plus how to build a rich and fulfilling life in France.

French Property Insider also contains listings of apartments and homes for sale as of each writing — that provide a sampling of what’s on the market at the time. Property prices are reported regularly — as often as the Chambre de Notaires updates them (quarterly). New laws and changes to existing laws are brought to light. The ins and outs of purchasing specialty properties, such as the “viager” or 1948 rent controlled apartments is often on the roster.

You’ll also find articles on culture and lifestyle to help you learn those important things necessary to “fitting in,” wherever you choose to rent or buy.

It’s all at your fingertips…every single week! And today we have a special offer for you in TWO parts.

Special Offer Part One:

With your subscription, you will receive FREE reports to help you make your dreams of living or retiring in France a reality…

“The Paris Property Report”: Designed to answer all your questions about buying in Paris…

And…”The French Leaseback Program: Are Leasebacks for You?” This report gives you the background and history of the program, the ins and outs, ups and downs, pros and cons — the truth about the French Leaseback “scheme.”

Plus…as a subscriber to French Property Insider, you will be invited to run FREE 3 months of online classified text ads on our Web site or 3 FREE text messages inside the weekly newsletter. You can use your free ads to advertise a property you have to rent or to sell.

Plus…as an FPI subscriber, you’re entitled to a special discount price on our highly informative electronic Insider Paris Guides!…the
“Insider Paris Guide for Good Value Restaurants,” online since 1996!; the “Insider Guide to Practical Answers for Living in France” by Jean Taquet with more than 200 questions from real people and all the practical answers for Living in France; the “Writers Insider Guide to Paris” by Elizabeth Reichert, for novelists, journalists, poets, dreamers, and doers alike! And the “Insider Guide to Black Paris” by Melinda Herron — the first guide of its kind, totally devoted to Black Paris.

That was all just Part One! Now for Part Two.

When you subscribe today for TWO years at the low price of $79.50, you will receive TWO EXTRA months of issues of French Property Insider! Not only will you get 100 weeks of great reading over the course of two years, but you’ll also get an extra 8 weeks so you won’t have to miss a single word!!

FPI gives you all the ways to make buying property in France a successful proposition. At less than 74 cents an issue, ($79.50 ÷ 108 issues = 73.6¢), reading this important information could save you THOUSANDS of dollars on such an important purchase as a home in France.

Ridiculous, isn’t it?

For the lover of France…the would-be French property owner… the dreamer of a new life in this glorious country…it doesn’t get much better than this. For a pittance, you’ll get all the services and benefits I’ve described, including 108 opportunity-packed and informative issues of French Property Insider.

Right now, and only until August 31st, the opportunity is yours. Take TWO years and get TWO EXTRA months, absolutely FREE!

Click here to read a sample edition to be sure French Property Insider is right for you! /frenchproperty/insider/fPI_Sample_Edition.html

Or, click here to subscribe!
frenchproperty/insider/members/signup.php

It’s that easy — and you’ll be on your way to making your dream come true! Become a subscriber today.

Adrian Leeds
Editor
[email protected]

P.S. Of course, if for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your subscription to French Property Insider, you have my personal guarantee. You can cancel at anytime for a pro-rated refund, no questions asked.