Ma Maison Miron
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The Earful Tower podcast just broadcast a Season Six podcast (Oliver Gee does two a week) with Diana, from The Land of Desire, about “Where to find the oldest houses in Paris“…At THE VERY MOMENT I HAPPENED TO BE SITTING IN ONE OF THE OLDEST HOUSES IN PARIS — the one at 11-13 rue François Miron in the 4th arrondissement, just near the Hôtel de Ville and Saint-Paul in Le Marais, and close to the Seine. It seemed so synchronistic!
I was there because I was sitting in an apartment on the third floor facing the street (with beautiful views) waiting for the diagnostics technician to do his thing — the diagnostics required by law when a property is being sold. It’s the responsibility of the seller to have this done, in lieu of what we know of as an “inspection.” In this case, the property is being transferred into the structure of an SCI (Société Civile Immobilière, or property company) in preparation for “fractionalizing” the property.
Let me go back a step or two. As it so happens, I’ve had a number of clients buy properties in this particular building. We recently taped a House Hunters International episode here that will soon air and a past show taped with Lisa Anselmo, too. This is thanks to one of our best, long-standing real estate agents whose family has owned apartments in this building and has shared “inside information” with me about what apartments have become available from time to time. When they do, they get grabbed up, for all the obvious reasons…like the incredible intrinsic value of owning in one of Paris’ oldest buildings!
This building, as the podcasts demonstrates, is one of the three oldest, but it’s tough to know actually which is THE oldest. It’s an age-old argument here in Paris, as no one seems to know for sure. This one, that gets most of the attention because of its location on a bus route, was once two buildings that have since been combined and it boasts of an elevator! So, it looks old from the outside, but it’s quite modernized on the inside. All of the apartments in it are studios, in the 15 m2 to 18 m2 range (161.5 square feet to 194 square feet). By American standards, that might be the size of a bedroom or a walk-in closet, but by Paris standards, it’s a studio apartment and quite capable of being fully equipped, as this one is. Many thousands of people live comfortably and happily in these small spaces, as do our clients who purchased in this one.
Now, let’s go back to why I was there in the first place…fractionalizing the property. What that means is that this apartment will be sold in parts to 13 different owners who will share its usage four weeks per year each. We’re hot and heavy into the process of changing the title, writing up all the legal documentation and renovating the apartment. Actually, it was renovated completely and beautifully by our illustrious designer, Martine di Mattéo in early 2014, but is going to undergo another small facelift with additional storage added, new fixtures, new accessories and everything “haut de gamme” so that even the most discerning owner will love every inch and every minute of usage. Trust me: it will be missing nothing.
In general terms, the way this will work is that the owners will have the rights to four weeks a year. The calendar of usage is brilliant (if I must say so myself) — two weeks of usage, then six months later, two weeks, then a delay of 10 weeks the following year so that the owners will always experience a different season. After 13 years, it fully rotates. Owners can trade weeks among themselves. Owners who want four weeks together, can easily position their share next to another owner who wants four weeks together, so that all they have to do is trade off the two adjacent weeks and accomplish what they want. Easy peasy.
A professional concierge will take care of the housekeeping and maintenance, so that the owners don’t need to do anything but unpack and settle in. 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.
Prices of the shares are now being set. The first four shares will be the least expensive. The next five shares will be an average price and the last four shares will be the most expensive. This is an incentive to secure your share early on and take advantage of a big savings. Shares will start in the €50,000 range. And no worries about making a good investment…as shares can be easily resold at any price you like when you decide to move to Paris and buy your own home!
BTW, we’re calling it “Ma Maison Miron!”
The documents aren’t quite ready for signing, and many of the details are yet to be confirmed, but we’re now taking a waiting list on a first come, first serve basis giving you a first right of refusal. I have a feeling these shares are going to fly out the door, so if you are SERIOUSLY interested, reserve your share now and we’ll put you on the waiting list in the order of your response.
Once we have more details, we’ll be sure to share them with you. In the meantime, email us directly and pre-reserve your share: [email protected].
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A la prochaine…
Adrian Leeds
(circa 2002)
P.S. A special and beautiful ceremony organized by Elizabeth Rimington was held yesterday to put the ashes of our friend and Sunday Soirée host, Patricia Laplante Collins, to final rest at the Columbarium of the Père Lachaise Cemetery. Close friends and fans of Patricia’s were in attendance in the second lower level. A few people said a few words and others sang songs, one that had been written on her behalf. For those who want to visit her resting place, it’s number 17552, Galerie K, basement level -2 in division 87 at the Columbarium Pere Lachaise. The nearest entrance is on rue Rondeaux.
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