Buy Property

Buying Property in France Web TransitionsAbroad.com Home Work Study Travel Living As seen in Transitions Abroad Magazine March/April 2000 Related Topics Living Abroad Related Articles Legal Living in France Moving to France Buying a Home in France Property in France How to Find It, Buy It, And Live in It By Phyllis Cohen Buying property in France is not just for movie stars and celebrities. Ordinary people with a passable knowledge of French (or a friend who speaks it) and a lot of patience can acquire a bit of magic too. But before you attempt it, arm yourself with knowledge of how to find your special place, how to buy it, and how to live in it. Finding the Place As you look for what you want, here are several things to bear in mind: Don’t expect American state-of-the-art appliances, floor layouts, or conveniences. Part of the charm of old buildings is that they are old, and that includes the kitchens and plumbing. Decide if you want a pied-à-terre (a small place where you can comfortably stay for several weeks or months at a time) or a year-round residence. Generally, an apartment is sold with an empty kitchen—four walls and a water outlet. There are stores that will help you design and install your own kitchen, ranging from pre-fabricated cabinets at IKEA to a kitchen created by cuisinistes . Get at least three estimates as well as references before selecting your vendor. If you will be in a city, decide whether or not you will have a car. Parking in Paris is difficult; having a parking place can greatly increase the resale value of your place. France offers a wide variety of locales. Before you go to the effort of buying something, you really need to explore. Paris itself is divided into 20 arrondissements , each with its own character. If you are willing to live in the banlieue , or suburbs, prices drop dramatically. Properties in the countryside are considerably cheaper. Finding the right house or flat is more complicated than in the U.S. There is no such thing as Multiple Listings in France. Only 30 percent of real estate transactions occur with the help of realtors; the rest are directly between buyer and seller. As a foreigner, you might be more comfortable working through an agent, or agent immobilier , who knows the laws of France. Getting Started Let’s say you’ve decided to buy an appartement in Paris. Walk the streets to find an area you like, then hunt down some agencies that look promising. You can also check out the listings and realtors in various magazines, newspapers, and on the Internet. There is relatively little new construction in Paris. Those apartment complexes that are being developed are usually sold when ground is first broken; in other words, you basically buy an apartment two years before it is completed. Occasionally, you will find almost-completed apartments listed in newspapers and real estate magazines.If you are truly brave, you can buy a place at auction. Notices appear in newspapers such as Le Figaro and the International Herald Tribune. Let the buyer beware. At least take an architect with you when you go to look at the offering. Reading Listings No matter where you find your listings, they will all be posted as À Louer (For Rent) and À Vendre (To Buy). They will also tell you what arrondissement (if in Paris) or département (if in the rest of the country) the property is located in. Perhaps most importantly, they will give you the size in square meters and the number of rooms. Most apartments in Paris are small. Studios are 100-200 square feet, some smaller. Three-bedroom apartments are frequently under 1,000 square feet. Listings will tell you how many rooms there are other than the kitchen. A studio is one room. A one-bedroom apartment will have two pièces, or two rooms, plus the kitchen. Bedrooms are almost uniformly small, while the living rooms are comparatively large. Bear in mind that the French follow the European convention of counting the first floor as the ground floor (Rez-de-Chauseé or RdC); the second floor in American terminology is the first floor in Europe. Generally, the higher the floor, the more expensive the property. Closing the Deal Once you have decided on a place you like at a mutually-agreed upon price, you and the seller sign a document known as a promesse de vente . This is a legally binding document that confirms that the seller must sell the property to the buyer. The buyer, however, has 11 days to change his mind. The seller must also provide to the buyer an accurate floor plan of the apartment or house. All sales in France are conducted with notaires. Both the buyer and seller has his own notaire and they confirm that all aspects of the sale are done according to law. If you are buying a condominium, there will be a set of rules that govern the building. As an owner, you are a co-proprietaire and are bound by the laws of the building. Owners collectively determine such things as whether you are allowed to install a satellite antenna on your balcony, whether the building as a whole will subscribe to cable TV, how often and how much money will be spent on repainting the walls, etc. Do not make the mistake (as we did) of not personally reading all regulations before you sign. As a foreigner, it is advisable to hire an avocat , or lawyer, who specializes in real estate. In case of a disagreement, you are far better off having someone who knows the law and knows how to speak French. Tax Considerations Before buying property in France, you should know that the Government of France has very specific inheritance laws. By law, on your death your property is divided equally between your spouse and your surviving children. There are some steps you can take to ensure that the surviving spouse can continue to live in the house or flat. Speak with a lawyer about this before you buy the property. You will pay between 8 and10 percent in taxes and fees. If you buy an apartment less than five years old, however, you will pay only 3 to 5 percent or less. Ask also about property taxes, which tend to be less in Paris than in the country. Generally, you will be responsible for both a land and a habitation tax. A larger question is your residency status. If you reside in France full time and earn a living here, you will become part of the French social system. The taxes are extraordinarily high (more than 50 percent). Again, you should seek the advice of a tax attorney who is familiar with both the American and French taxation systems. You can get a list of attorneys from the U.S. Consulate. Financing If you are able to pay cash for your new home, you will not need a mortgage, and many properties for sale in the country might well be within reach of your savings kitty. If you need a mortgage, things become a bit more complicated. A French bank will issue a mortgage to expats as long as you can show regular income. By French law the total of all of your mortgage payments worldwide cannot be more than 30 percent of your total income.Lastly, you must have mortgage insurance for a large mortgage and a physical examination at the bank’s expense. If you do not fall neatly into an income category (e.g., you are retired without a fixed income), Banque Woolwich is a good resource. The staff are used to dealing with expats and speak excellent English (Banque Woolwich, 9, rue Boudreau, 75009 Paris; 011-331-42-684-221, fax 011-331-474- 203-23; www.woolwich.co.uk ). Mary Fort is branch manager.The good news is that mortgages in France currently have excellent rates. Most mortgages (or “prets”) are for 15 years and currently run 4.5 percent annually. Once you are here in France, an excellent book to read is At Home in Paris , published by the Junior Service League of Paris. It gives all sorts of hints on differences of living in the States versus France (like how to make sure your laundry pipes don’t clog up with deposits). Living in France is a free publication, in English, that gives useful information on housing, employment, banking, insurance, etc. It can be found at various establishments around Paris that cater to foreigners. To absorb the flavor of a buying experience, read Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence or Francis Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun. Both give agonizingly accurate pictures of the adventure of buying property abroad. All in all, buying property in France might seem like a daunting experience, but it is not an unpleasant one. Contrary to France’s reputation of being inhospitable to foreigners, we have found the opposite to be true. With the notable exception of a few surly cab drivers, we have found the French to be polite and helpful. And as we take our evening walks across the Alexander III bridge we can’t help but be amazed that a small part of this City of Lights belongs to us! Real Estate Listings De Particulier A Particulier (From Buyer to Seller), published weekly on Thursdays, is the most popular nationwide resource. L’Hebdo Immobilier (Weekly Realtor), published weekly on Wednesdays, also has an Internet site at www.immobilierenfrance.com . Demeures de France, a bi-monthly publication that specializes in upscale offerings, is in English and in French and also has an Internet site at www.demeures.com . Demeures de Charme is similar to Demeures de France, and is also in English and in French. FUSAC , a bi-weekly free publication for English-speaking residents of Paris, has advertisements for rentals, purchases, and agencies which can help you do either. FUSAC is available at many locations around the city including W.H. Smith and Brentano’s, two English-language bookstores. PHYLLIS COHEN and her husband Bob have taken a year off from their software company, packed their bags, and moved to Paris (See " Moving to France " in the January February Issue of Transitions Abroad Magazine). Web TransitionsAbroad.com Home Work Study Travel Living Disclaimer ©Transitions Abroad

Texas Land Added to

Texas, Land Added to Endangered Bird Haven (TX): The Trust for Public Land - Select State - Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Col... Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Home View by Region Central Chicago Michigan Minnesota Ohio Oklahoma St. Louis Texas Wisconsin Mid-Atlantic New England Northwest & Rockies Southeast West About TPL Support TPL City Parks Research Conservation Services Initiatives Federal Programs Local Programs Newsroom Publications Activities Jobs TPL Store HOME View by Region Central Texas Land Added to Endangered Bird Haven (TX) Contact: Benjamin Larkin, (512) 478-4644; Deborah Holle, (512) 339-9432 Hill Country Views Photo by: AUSTIN, Texas, 3/26/04: The Trust for Public Land (TPL) announced today it has preserved 96 acres of Hill Country terrain, completing the protection of the 457-acre McKeever property. Located about 30 miles northwest of Austin, the property will be included in the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. TPL transferred the property from the McKeever family to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for permanent protection and management. The latest tract is a top FWS priority because the land provides ideal habitat for two federally protected songbirds—the golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo. The primary purpose of the refuge is to conserve the nesting habitat for these endangered songbirds and other bird species which visit the area during the annual migration from breeding grounds in the United States and Canada to wintering grounds in Mexico, Central and South America. The property was purchased by FWS with funds from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which was secured by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. "We Texans are lovers of nature and the outdoors," Senator Hutchison said. "Protecting our natural habitats and wildlife is a desire we all share. I was proud to help secure these funds to enhance the Texas Hill Country and its wildlife. This effort will help protect the endangered species and unique environment of the Balcones for generations to come." "Protecting such a unique place so close to Austin, with this partnership, has been very special," said Jenny Parks, TPL project manager. "We deeply appreciate the leadership shown by Senator Hutchison, which has helped protect this special place. It is exciting that Texans now have another place where they can experience the fascinating wildlife that pass through this region." "We're thrilled to have added this ideal songbird habitat to the Balcones Canyonlands Refuge, rather than lose it to development," said Deborah Holle, refuge manager. "We value our partnership with the Trust for Public Land, and are hopeful that this relationship will continue to produce significant conservation achievements for Balcones, and allow us to provide more recreational opportunities for generations to come." The McKeever property—owned jointly by three brothers: Grant, Clark, and John, has been owned by the McKeever family for more than 50 years and has been used for ranching and family recreation. In 2002, after meeting with officials from the FWS, TPL crafted a deal with the brothers to convey shares of their property to the Balcones Refuge for permanent protection. "This has always been a special place for our family, and we're very happy that we can now share it with others," said John McKeever, part-owner of the property. "There's so much to explore out here and no other place quite like it in the state." The Balcones Canyonlands NWR was established in 1992. Currently, only 19,000 acres of the 46,000 acres needed to complete the Refuge have been preserved. Additional funds are being sought this year from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund to purchase other significant bird habitat lands to be included in the refuge. The golden-cheeked warbler is a migratory bird that nests in only 33 counties in central Texas. Male warblers arrive in mid-March and establish territories of 3 to 6 acres. Females arrive a few days later and quickly select their mates. Male warblers sing loud and vigorously defend their territories in order to attract females. By the end of July, the warblers fly to the mountainous areas of southern Mexico and to the east-central Guatemala through Honduras to Nicaragua. During the winter, the Black-capped Vireo is found on the West Coast of Mexico. Often returning to the same area in subsequent years, male vireos arrive in Texas from late March to mid-April and set up territories that average 2 to 4 acres. Females chose mates as soon as possible after they arrive. Together, they build a single nest and participate in the incubation of the eggs. From August to September, the songbirds migrate back to Mexico for the winter. The Trust for Public Land is a national nonprofit land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. Since its founding in 1972, TPL has helped protect more than 1.9 million acres of land in 45 states. In Texas, TPL has protected more than 26,000 acres for communities, including areas in and around Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. The Trust for Public Land depends on the support and generosity of individuals, foundations, and businesses to achieve our land for people mission. Contact Us | Home | Donate Now | Site Map © 2005 The Trust for Public Land. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy

Home Mortgage

Chase Home Finance -- Thinking about purchasing your dream home? You've come to the right place. Chase is the name you can trust for a wide array of home financing solutions to make your dream come true. If you already own your dream home, perhaps you'd like to take advantage of lower rates and refinance. Chase has refinancing solutions, too! -- Thinking about purchasing your dream home? You've come to the right place. Chase is the name you can trust for a wide array of home financing solutions to make your dream come true. If you already own your dream home, perhaps you'd like to take advantage of lower rates and refinance. Chase has refinancing solutions, too! QUICK AND EASY HOME BUYING ADVICE We want to make the home financing process as easy as possible for you. So, here are some tips from the mortgage experts at Chase: Determine how much you can afford. Choose the right loan - a Fixed Rate Mortgage for security and safety - or an Adjustable Rate Mortgage for flexibility and control - or perhaps your situation requires a Special Mortgage for unique borrowing needs. You can check all of today's rates here. Get pre-qualified before you start looking for a new home. You'll get negotiating power and save a lot of time, too. First, fill out a pre-qualification form . Get together all the documents needed in advance. This includes tax returns, W-2s, paycheck stubs, financial statements, etc. This will save time and stress during the application and approval process. Already found your dream home? Apply now with our short online pre-qualification form . Whether you need a mortgage or want to refinance , you can feel right at home with the experts at Chase. We look forward to being your mortgage provider, so contact us today! SEE TODAY'S CHASE RATES HOMEBUYERS!   Get Started Today REFINANCING YOUR MORTGAGE? Get Started Here. Legal Disclosures

Real Estate Listing

San Francisco Chronicle: Real Estate Thursday, December 29, 2005 Search By : County | City | Address Filter By : Chronicle Ads Open Homes County Select County ****Any County Alameda Contra Costa Marin Napa San Francisco San Mateo Santa Clara Solano Sonoma City Please select a county Min. Bedrooms Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedrooms 3 Bedrooms 4 Bedrooms 5+ Bedrooms Max. Price No Limit 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000 350,000 400,000 450,000 500,000 550,000 600,000 650,000 700,000 750,000 800,000 850,000 900,000 950,000 1 Million 1.5 Million 2 Million 2.5 million 3 Million Advanced Search E-mail Alerts Saved Listings -- New Home Developments New Home Videos -- Out of Bay Area Open Homes Recent Home Sales Search By : County | City | Address Enter City or Neighborhood Advanced Search Search By : County | City | Address Enter Address You may enter a full or partial address. Advanced Search Click on the map for Bay Area home sales listings. How To Guide Information to help you select and buy goods and services. - Advertorial Find a contractor and get tips from great professionals with ImproveNet.com, America's Home Improvement Resource. Bay Area school scores and profiles at Great Schools.net . SF Gate's SF and East Bay neighborhood guides. Bay Area Maps Real Estate and Rental display ads from the Chronicle. See the Chronicle's New Homes Section. Save Searches, Listings, & Activate E-mail Alerts! View All Featured Properties Today's Rates Product Avg. Rate 30-yr Fixed 6.020 15-yr Fixed 5.394 30-yr Fixed Jumbo 6.146 5/1 ARM 5.525 Current Mortgage Rates Mortgage calculators Apply to online lenders Rates current as of 12/29/2005 powered by MortgageTrak Surreal Estate An overwrought home for the holidays Carol Lloyd Best of a bunch Real estate authors were prolific in 2005 Robert J. Bruss At the end of each year, it is my custom to select the 10 best real estate books out of the hundreds of published that year. This article takes 52 weeks to prepare because I read at least one real est... Clarification on home-sale tax exemption Robert Bruss Q: I am confused about your answer to a home seller who wants to add her mother to the title. You said the mother would be eligible for an Internal Revenue Code 121 principal residence sale tax exempt... Normal wear and tear covers reasonable use of unit Robert Griswold Answers are provided by Robert Griswold, a property manager certified by the Institute of Real Estate Management and author of "Property Management for Dummies"; and lawyers Steven R. Kellman, directo... Transbay planners see new landmark Dan Levy Transbay Terminal planners are viewing their controversial idea for a new San Francisco high-rise as nothing less than the signature building of our time -- much like the Transamerica Pyramid defined ... Holidays evoke true meaning of home Carol Lloyd "I just want to bake a Christmas ham," says my friend, a slight note of desperation rising in her voice. "Is that so much to ask?" She has just confided that because of her husband's 8-year-long, self... HOME SALES FOR 5 BUSINESS DAYS Alameda County Total sales as of Dec. 7 484 Median price $590,000 . Contra Costa County Total sales as of Dec. 7 489 Median price $576,500 . Marin County Total sales as of Nov. 22 81 Median price $808... Perry turns pretty profit on compound Actor buys condo after selling his Beverly Hills home Ruth Ryon Former "Friends" cast member Matthew Perry has racked up his second big deal of the year. The actor, 36, sold his Beverly Hills-area home for $6.1 million. He purchased it in 1999 for $3.2 million. Wh... Real reading -- best of a big bunch Robert J. Bruss "Reverse Mortgages for Dummies" By Sarah Glendon Lyons and John E. Lucas Wiley, $16.99, 249 pages This is the best of several excellent 2005 books about the pros and cons of tax-free reverse mortgage ... ARM indexes CHART: BC: . Last Previous Year Index week week ago 6-month CD 4.62 4.61 2.67 6-month T-bill 4.22 4.18 2.46 1-year TCMS(Y) 4.34 4.35 2.66 3-year TCMS(Y) 4.39 4.42 3.18 1-month LIBOR 4.38 4.37 2.41 6-m... Ignorance no excuse in avoiding foreclosure Kenneth Harney What would happen if you got sick or suffered a drastic loss of household income in 2006, and then fell seriously behind on your mortgage payments? Think about that, even for just a moment, because no... Solar power for the home a hot deal in 2006 Tax incentives can help cut energy bills Jennie L. Phipps If the thought of rising energy bills has you rushing out to buy insulation, hold off a week until after New Year's Day, when the recently enacted Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005 kicks in. The act i... Real Estate: Neighborhood Homes Sold . Sunday, December 25, 2005 Back to... Help | Contact us | Privacy ™ ©2005 Hearst Communications Inc. --

Buy Property

Global-Investor Bookshop : The Complete Guide to Buying Property Abroad by Liz Hodgkinson Global Investor | GI Bookshop | Harriman House | Financial Conferences | Finance Glossary | Investor Education | Derivatives | Financial Gurus -- Home Search Shopping basket Search the bookshop Bestsellers New Bargains Bundles Classics Free stuff Recommendations Coming soon Gurus Investment research Global-Investor > Bookshop > Books > The Complete Guide to Buying Property Abroad by Liz Hodgkinson Review this product The Complete Guide to Buying Property Abroad by Liz Hodgkinson - OUT OF PRINT - As an alternative, consider The Complete Guide to Buying Property Abroad Product code: 16241, ISBN: 0749440260, 288 pages, paperback, published by Kogan Page , 2nd edition, 2003 Description of The Complete Guide to Buying Property Abroad This book covers all the financial, legal and lifestyle aspects of buying your perfect home abroad. The prospect of owning property abroad is tantalisingly seductive. At one time the preserve of the very rich, owning an enchanting hideaway home in another country is now becoming increasingly within the financial reach of ever more people. Its glamorous and exciting but there are also many practicalities to consider, such as: - How would I finance the purchase? - Am I looking for rental income? - How important is hot sun and good weather? - Which country should I choose and why? - Is it better to buy into a brand-new development, or go for a romantic tumbledown wreck? - Do I want just a holiday home, or somewhere in the sun to retire to permanently when the time comes? - Is it a good investment? - Will I have to pay tax? The answers to all these questions and more are to be found in this authoritative, informative and down-to-earth book that covers all the financial, legal and lifestyle aspects of buying your perfect home abroad. It is also packed with a wealth of exhilarating, inspiring and amusing real-life stories from those who have taken the plunge and made their dreams come true. Contents of The Complete Guide to Buying Property Abroad Introduction 1.Beginnings 2.The reality 3.The important questions 4.Money 5.France 6.Spain 7.Portugal 8.Italy 9.Greece and Cyprus 10.North America 11.The Caribbean 12.Other destinations 13.Timeshare and other options 14.Conclusion Resources Index About Liz Hodgkinson Liz Hodgkinson is a prolific author and journalist who has written over 40 books. She writes regularly on property matters for the Evening Standard and the Daily Mail, and also contributes to The Guardian, The Independent and various magazines and Web sites. She is the author of the highly successful Complete Guide to Letting Property and The Complete Guide to Buying a Property Abroad (both published by Kogan Page). « The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling property The Complete Guide to Buying Property in France » With Christmas fast approaching, we're doing some special offers on top books from 2005 and have some great ideas for stocking fillers. See Christmas offers » Last UK posting dates 1st Class Royal Mail 20th December 2005 CityLink courier 22nd December 2005 Please contact us if you wish to check stock availability and dispatch times. Need bulk copies? If you need bulk copies of The Complete Guide to Buying Property Abroad , please contact us for a quote. Spotlight Samos by Brian and Eileen Anderson Our price: £9.89 Normally: £10.99 Read more... Buyers of this product also bought The Midas Touch The Midas Touch See other products on Living Abroad Property Other books by Liz Hodgkinson The Complete Guide to Letting Property The Complete Guide to Buying Property Abroad The Complete Guide to Letting Property The Complete Guide to Buying Property Abroad The Complete Guide to Renovating and Improving Your Property The Complete Guide To Letting Property The Complete Guide to Buying Property Abroad Bargains! Market Rap Our price: £9.00 You save: 50.00% More bargains Free Company Reports Report service from WiLink FREE! - no purchase required Request your free: • Myplaceabroad.co.uk Email this page to as Text HTML View a print friendly version of this page Global-Investor 2005 | Ordering & Delivery | Terms & Conditions | Privacy policy | About us | Contact us