There are many footprints in the sand but most are from the birds!

They say that the weather doesn’t matter – but it does!  Come visit us soon.

The financial storms plaguing the rest of the world seem also to have bypassed the French Riviera ……. at least for now.  Many economists believe that the banking system in France has been more prudent than in other countries – more on this in a later blog.

Meanwhile, if you would like to visit, French Riviera Property Search can find you the perfect holiday apartment or villa – and maybe whilst here you would want us to search for your own ideal dream property? We very much look forward to hearing from you – and will introduce you to a marvellous quality of life.

But now there are hundreds of people on the beaches, on the sail boats, swimming in the sea, basking in the sunshine and fresh breezes.

The Film Festival last month was hectic as usual. I call it the Carnival!   Cannes is turned into a madhouse and apparently 250,000 people come into Cannes from all over the world to experience this huge business convention. It is true that people outside the industry do think it is 90% “glitz and tits” and 10% business, but actually it’s completely the other way round. The big stars are brought in for the publicity and press reporters but it is the business that creates the festival. Little known is that, if you have a badge, you can see over 100 films per day. Most people only know of the Competition for the Palm D’or award, and the red carpet screenings. A fascinating, if slightly mad, time is had by all.

The music and cultural time of summer is now upon us – from Jazz under the stars in Juan les Pins, to Opera in the 2000-year-old open auditorium in Orange, to concerts in the Prince’s Palace in Monaco, to the small village concerts in front of town halls everywhere. It is a wonderful time of year.

I wish you a beautiful summer wherever you spend it, and will welcome you here to this very special area if you can visit.

CÔTE D’AZUR: A MULTICULTURAL METROPOLIS

The second most popular destination in France for foreigners after Paris, the Côte d’Azur has long had a multilingual and multicultural population. Not only do thousands of English, American and Scandinavian people reside here, but more than nine million tourists and business travelers visit the area each year. These residents and visitors benefit from a wealth of local and international services — from real estate agents, insurance companies and banks to numerous international schools and foreign-language media.

CÔTE D’AZUR: THE WORLD AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Everything is close on the Côte d’Azur. The Nice Riviera Airport serves more than nine million passengers a year and has more international connections than any French airport outside Paris. There are 46 airlines serving 90 destinations throughout the world. In addition, the Cannes Mandelieu Airport is the second most important facility for business jets in France, and more than 100,000 passengers each year take helicopters between Nice and Monaco, Cannes and other destinations.

Choose the Côte d’Azur and opt for a lifestyle

With over 300 days of sunshine a year, a countryside stretching from the mountains down to the sea, a rich heritage and a cultured, diverse population constantly buzzing with life, the Côte d’Azur is truly a dream destination.

You can enjoy both a busy professional career and a great lifestyle with plenty of leisure activities and relaxation. There are more than 100 km of beaches, 18 golf courses, 14 ski resorts, 125 different sports to choose from, and a dynamic cultural scene. The Côte d’Azur has something for everyone all year long.

In addition, each summer the Côte d’Azur is transformed into an immense international stage for every form of entertainment from classical to baroque music, jazz, contemporary and classical dance, opera and theatre.

Facts and Figures

From the Mediterranean coast to the summits of the Alps: a 4,299 km territory..

• 163 communes.
• 1,040,000 inhabitants.
• The growth rate of the population is twice the national average.
• Nice, the regional capital, is the fifth largest city in France.
• Nice/Cannes/Grasse and Antibes form the largest metropolitan area in France, thanks to the growth of its active population.
• an area of exceptional natural beauty and a famous cultural heritage:
  • 84 museums
  • 3 million visitors a year
  • prestigious events
  • 300 days of sunshine a year
  • 115 km of coastline and beaches
  • 18 golf-courses
  • 14 ski resorts
  • 125 types of sport
  • 3,000 restaurants from small charming addresses to famous 3-star chefs
    

    
    

It’s really no surprise. We live in an attractive region, sunny, with many cultural and sporting activities and thus attracting people from many countries.

There is a shortage of property in this area, particularly new properties, so it is anticipated that property values will continue to increase. It has been noted that homes are kept for longer with the average duration of ownership at 5 – 7 years. Owners are concerned that if they sell they may not find something to equal what they had, so they stay put. This in turn makes finding your ideal property more difficult and will keep the values rising – and maybe continuing to rise at twice the country average.

Some facts and figures are given in my next blog. Come and enjoy the area. Jackie

The net amount received is transferred direct into the owner’s local bank account and these amounts will cover property tax, local tax, maintenance charges, utilities, and often also the interest on a low-rate French mortgage, leaving the owners to enjoy their apartment free of charge for unrented periods throughout the year.

Buyers can put 30% down on a 15 – 20 year mortgage (application permitting); have time each month throughout the year for free personal use; and look forward to their capital gain!

I will find you the ideal location; negotiate the best price; provide you with a complete costing and potential rental income statement; find you the right mortgage; introduce you to the right rental agent; follow through on the purchase; and advise you every step of the way for a hassle-free investment.

I look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you to the growing number of other satisfied and happy owners of rental apartments in central Cannes.

This was the heading of an article which appeared in the Real Estate section of The Riviera Times (a local newspaper printed in English, Italian and German) as follows:

“A sellers’ market.  Buyers are many but hard to please because they want the best and the properties to offer are not numerous.  Our advice is don’t hesitate to buy the house you like even if you have to compromise – that dream property is expensive!

Jackie Pressman, an English business woman who helps people find what they want and sees them through the buying process says “I found two apartments in the Marina Baie des Anges for a family. They couldn’t decide between them and lost both – and that was within three days”

Jackie is not a property agent and for those not sure where they want to be on the Cote, she can advise and save them all the legwork. “If they are only going to come for a few weekends a year, I’d recommend an apartment in Cannes as it’s easy to rent out. If they take a mortgage with 30% deposit, and provided the apartment is in the right location, then with the income they derive from the year-round congress and conference market they can cover all expenses, taxes, bills etc. and often also the interest on the mortgage”

Pockets of desirability In her view, the prices in pockets of high demand, like Cannes within ten minutes walk of the Palais des Festivals, are still increasing fast.  “This area of the Riviera has a lot of micro-situations: highly desirable places which if priced in line with the current market go very quickly, whereas those in the hills can sit there for a year or more. That situation hasn’t changed.  For example Cap d’Antibes and Salins beach between Antibes and the Cap are still very desirable too”, she says.”

In this article the following is also important for potential buyers to note:

“Those who have bought as an investment do not need to worry too much as it’s unlikely that prices will actually fall.  The Chambre de Notaires believes all indications are that people will continue to be attracted from the north to the south.  In the Alpes-Maritimes, the price of desirable houses and apartments by the sea will continue to be higher because of increasing new demand from eastern countries.”

Jackie’s comments: It is to be noted that in this area of the French Riviera, property prices are not solely governed by the French economy.  When someone makes money in their own country one of the first things they want is a place on the French Riviera.  My company French Riviera Property Search is here to help you.

They liked isolated areas of the coast but had young teenage children. Their budget was reasonably high at 600 – 700K euros.

I showed them several personally pre-selected properties which matched their criteria, but then gently pointed out that their children wouldn’t thank their parents for keeping them very isolated and perhaps in the forthcoming years would cease to want a holiday with their parents.  I showed them an apartment in an area that suited both the parents and the children, which they all loved.

I gave them the price expressed in cost per square meter and how that compared to other similar properties in that area. I advised them on an offer bid and saw it through with negotiation on their behalf.  With their written authority I signed the first legal document, the Compromis de Vente, on their behalf, checking each clause and ensuring that all necessary aspects were properly included, i.e. garage, storage celler, legal size of the habitable area.  I ensured all legal searches were properly carried out and supplied – i.e. for termites, lead, asbestos, climate diagnostic, etc.

I advised my clients on many aspects that local French Agents seldom do – how to buy in a way that avoided exposure to annual French wealth tax; which local rates and property taxes would be applicable; what service charges were payable and what they included.  I introduced them to an English-speaking bank so that they could open their local account; arranged a low-cost French mortgage for the amount they needed. I then introduced them to a local English-speaking Notary who explained how they should structure their purchase in the most legally-efficient way.  It should be carefully noted that if there are any children from a previous relationship then they inherit under the strict French inheritance laws and cannot be removed by a will – there is a simple way to overcome this at the outset but it cannot be changed later if someone has bought wrongly.

I acted on my clients’ behalf in arranging the insurance and attending at the Notary for the final signing.  As they could not be present I had arranged that they signed an authority for the Notary to sign the documents on their behalf with me present.

Finally I assisted my clients with many local moving-in requirements – movers, transfer of electricity and telephone, local knowledge of the best bread and coffee in the vicinity! The best local markets.  Local cultural events for the parents and amusement activities for the children.  They know they can still contact me for advice on any aspect.

The whole family is very happy in their new holiday home and look forward to every visit.

Tomorrow – 1st December – the Christmas lights go on and the main streets of Cannes, Nice, Monaco etc. become a fairyland. The Christmas Villages open. The celebrations start.

One of our favourite restaurants in Cannes sells more oysters over the season than for the rest of the year!

Everyone is planning their activities – the ballet season, the opera season, parties, family get-togethers and seasonal cheer.

Two weeks ago all the wine bars offered free Beaujolais Nouveau tastings, which was fun whilst doing the shopping in one of the great markets. We go to the Marché Forville in Cannes which is like a circus – the special lady who sells the best freshest salad and mixes to your chosen desire; the egg lady with the warm eggs of the morning; the cheese man with his meters of fresh and seasonal delights; the pasta man (truffle tortelini at this time of year); all the amazing roses in the large flower section next to the fresh fish section! But fresh fish doesn’t smell of anything or it wouldn’t be fresh! And acres of amazing-tasting fruits and vegetables which change with each season.

A walk along the sea-front or a drive into the beautiful countryside completes our weekend.

As the sun sets, the sky turns bright streaked red and the sea reflects the colour. There is no coincidence that all the great artists and painters were drawn to this amazing winter light.

Enjoy your time, wherever you are, and come to visit us whenever you can.

French Riviera Property Search can assist you to find your own dream home here on the French Riviera – we look forward to hearing from you.