SPECIAL EDITION: For Sale: A Pied-à-Terre on “The Island” — The Ile Saint-Louis

Entry Hall and KitchenLiving RoomKithchenBedroom

What’s not to like about the Ile Saint-Louis? The Ile Saint-Louis is one of two natural islands in the Seine river, named after King Louis IX. It is connected to the rest of Paris by bridges to both banks of the river and by the Pont Saint-Louis to the Ile de la Cité and the back of Notre Dame. It is here that there is always free entertainment from street performers as the bridge is pedestrian only. The island was formerly for the grazing of market cattle and stocking wood until it was mapped and re-built from end to end during the 17th-century reigns of Henri IV and Louis XIII.

It’s a “peaceful oasis of calm in the busy Paris center” and has only narrow one-way streets — no Métro stations and two bus stops. While most of the island is residential, there are lots of restaurants, shops, cafés and ice cream parlors at street level, as well as one large church, the Eglish Saint-Louis-en-l’Ile.

The Ile Saint-Louis is the most requested location for a vacation stay in Paris. This means that properties on ‘the island’ have the best chance of getting booked before any others. It’s also a great place to live! Located in the very center of the city, you have acces to EVERYTHING just by walking in one direction or another…and no matter which direction you take, you end up crossing the River Seine to all that Paris has to offer.

One of our readers has been enjoying an apartment on the Ile Saint-Louis for more than 30 years into which she and her husband have poured their hearts and souls. They have easily rented it over the years and now it’s time for them to sell it (thanks to the 30-year capital gains tax exemption) and move to a smaller apartment. This presents a big opportunity for someone wanting a great investment in such a historic and charming part of the city.

This 47 square meter (506 square feet) one-bedroom apartment is situated on the street that runs the length of the island across from the Eglise “Saint Louis En l’Ile” on the first floor (one flight up) with a short staircase up higher within the apartment. As you climb the stairs within the apartment, you will pass the fully-equipped kitchen on the left open to the stairwell and open to the living room via a specially-built pass-through. The kitchen has a window overlooking a courtyard and adjacent tudor-style buildings creating an old-world feel. The kitchen is filled with personal hand-crafted touches created by the owner himself, a professional “ebiniste” (woodworker).

You’ll see his handywork everywhere you turn in the apartment — from some of the hand-made furnishings to the hand-crafted mezzanine and details throughout. The living room/dining room is a spacious room with a large window overlooking the courtyard and therefore the apartment is almost quiet to a fault! A mezzanine had been built to create storage underneath and a separate sleeping loft, so that the apartment can actually accommodate up to five people. There is a working fireplace in which the current owners have a stove that heats the room efficiently and beautifully.

Beyond the living room is a cozy bedroom and large bathroom. Overhead there is an opening skylight which not only lights the whole room, but provides lovely cross ventilation. The bedroom has an exposed stone wall and can accommodate a double-size bed.

The bathroom is a particularly special feature, as it’s large, spacious, with a big shower, washer/dryer, lots of storage and floor to ceiling mirror.

A special bonus is that the apartment comes fully furnished! So, for someone wanting a ‘turn-key’ property, with no ‘down time’ for renovation or decoration, that can be moved into with just a suitcase, this is a perfect opportunity. This is a major plus for a new investor because it’s totally hassle free. It’s all there, ready for you or your guests. Of course, this does not prevent you from adding your own touches!

In fact, if you were to want to change the access to the bathroom from the bedroom to living room, the doorway is already there — making it easy to remove the temporary wall and shelves that currently back-up to the mezzanine. (This is something we would recommend to make it more convenient for guests staying on the sleeper sofa in the living room or mezzanine).

The location of the property is better than great! Just next door and closeby on the street are groceries, speciality cheeses, wine shops, boutiques, restaurants, banks, etc…plus the famous Maison Berthillon for “Glaces, Sorbets” and their “Salon du Thé.” In fact, your biggest problem will be trying to avoid the delicious desserts!

The asking price is 750,000€ + a Finder’s Fee of 3%.

The Taxe Foncière is only about 550€ per year. Utility bills are between 20€ and 50€ a month, depending on the weather — but the utility costs are low because the walls are thick and the apartment is well-insulated. This keeps it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. With Internet/VOIP Phone and Satellite TV, add another 35€ a month. The annual homeowners’ association fees amount to under 1,500€. All in all the carrying costs are minimal making it a great ROI for a smart investor and we can assist you with financing should you desire to take a mortgage rather than tie up your savings.

If you are a serious buyer, email us as quickly as possible to be the first to make an offer. This sale is on a first come, first serve basis, so the faster you act, the better your chances: [email protected].

A la prochaine…

Adrian Leeds

Director of The Adrian Leeds Group, LLC

(picknicking on Ile St Louis) 

Respond to Adrian

P.S. This offer is exclusive to our readers for a limited time. With all these attributes, we are confident the apartment will sell very quickly. I do hope you’ll be the happy new owner! Again, IF YOU ARE SERIOUS, email us as quickly as possible at [email protected] and let us put you on the list FIRST!