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

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Vacation Rentals, Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and More - Rentalo.com -- Vacation Rentals, Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts Testimonials | Contact Rentalo | Help (Live) Enter a destination: Subscribe "This service is amazing!!! I live overseas, and was planning to meet some family members and stay with freinds in Vail free for my holiday. Two weeks prior to the holiday, my freinds informed me the house was no longer availalbe; wed have to find other accomodations. After three days and many hours of searching through websites, sometimes getting responses and sometimes not, I stumbled upon your service, sent one form off, and over the next 3 days received over 20 responses with places that I would have stayed at any one of! We ended up with a great home, at a VERY reasonable price, and NO STRESS. This service is FANSTASTIC for the renter/user." Cynthia Cupak "I THINK THIS IS A GREAT THING. IT SAVES HOURS OF SEARCHING!!!!" Wendi Kirby " I just wanted to tell you how much time and money your service saved me! Your excellent way of breaking down the listings was great! I did not have to deal with excess verbage. Keep up the good work! Thanks again, Mike Donohue" Mike Donohue "Just wanted to pass along my thanks. This service worked extremely well and I was able to find exactly what I was looking for in Mexico. What I liked best was not having to search for anything and having exactly what I requested sent to me. I have already recommended your service to several of my colleagues and friends who were equally impressed." Sue McGregor "Thanks so much for your help. We were able to book a condo for the dates we required to accomodate our needs. It is still winter in MN so we are really looking forward to visiting Florida. Thanks again for a great site that did the leg work for us." P Rehder "Great service, extremely friendly contact with everyone who has responded." Ty Miller "Thank you very much, you did a great job in making up this web page. Now to hear from potential customers........It is great!" Art Nunes See more testimonials United States Orlando Mammoth Lakes Miami Beach Poconos South Lake Tahoe Beech Mountain Ft Lauderdale Kissimmee Ocean City Las Vegas More... Europe London Zermatt Geneva Paris Interlaken Amsterdam Zuerich Rome Barcelona Dublin More... Canada Mont Tremblant Whistler Blue Mountain Banff Canmore Toronto Vancouver Montreal Victoria Shell Lake Prince Edward Island More... Caribbean Aruba St John St Maarten St Martin Cayman Islands Negril Bahamas Turks And Caicos Islands Bermuda San Juan Ocho Rios More... Mexico Puerto Vallarta Playa Del Carmen Mazatlan Cancun Rosarito Bucerias Tulum Acapulco Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Troncones San Felipe More... Asia Bangalore Jaipur Tokyo Agra Goa Chennai Hyderabad Mumbai New Delhi Singapore More... South America Rio De Janeiro Belo Horizonte Buenos Aires Punta Del Este Georgetown Quito Bogota Brasilia Margarita Island Lima More... Central America Belize Quepos Bocas Del Toro Managua Manuel Antonio El Salvador Antigua Puerto Viejo Limon Puntarenas San Jose More... South Pacific Sydney Gold Coast Auckland Byron Bay Perth Melbourne Coogee Beach Fiji Fiji Island Goroka More... Africa Cape Town Durban Cairo Cameroon Yaounde Egypt Somalia Algeria Libreville More... About rentalo.com - Rentalo is the largest, fastest growing, most relevant global directory for vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, hotels, and other lodgings, with over 100,000 property listings in close to 15,000 destinations worldwide. Travelers & Vacationers - In Rentalo you find the best values in vacation rentals, bed & breakfasts, hotels, and other lodgings. Property owners & managers - With Rentalo you receive the best return on investment (ROI) for your rental or lodging business. Enter your email to view the rental offers you have received help Search New Destination | Vacation Rentals | Press | Affiliates | Newsletter | Site Map | © 2005 Rentalo.com | Legal Disclaimer | Privacy

Land For Sale

LandAndFarm.com - Land for sale, Farms for sale, Rural Property for sale Advertise here Search Properties Wanted Auctions Newsletter Quick Start Register About My Properties Number of visitors online now: 217 Thursday, December 29, 2005 Ad Prices Help Contact Login Subscribe to Rural Property Bulletin Last Few Listings Most Viewed Least Viewed Recently Updated Search by USA Map Rural Property Sites Tool Box Get new properties in your email box! Newsletter Sign-up: yourname@xyz.com HTML TEXT For fun: old listings Contact Us Community Stats Seller emails: 102,892 Property emails: 110,227 Property Views: 13,028,620 Newsletter Subscribers: 14,850 Site Statistics Property 1761 Brokerage 15 Finance & Mortgages 3 Wanted 1 Businesses For Sale 7 Livestock 1 Rural Living 16 Miscellaneous 3 By Land Use: commercial land : 117 dairy farm : 22 fish - aquaculture : 15 forest - natural : 283 forest - planted : 116 historic : 41 horse farm : 380 hospitality : 61 hunting property : 610 livestock operation : 129 mobile home park : 4 oil or minerals : 7 orchard : 17 organic uses : 20 pasture : 319 permanent crops : 43 poultry farm : 33 recreational property : 677 residential land : 844 row crops : 107 undeveloped land : 377 vegetable farm : 15 vineyard : 15 waterfront : 152 By Country: United States : 1709 Canada : 39 South Africa : 34 Zambia : 5 Botswana : 5 Chile : 4 Argentina : 2 Belize : 2 Brazil : 2 Mozambique : 2 Australia : 1 Namibia : 1 Kenya : 1 By Price Per Acre: <$100: 8 $100 to $500 : 34 $500 to $2,000 : 280 $2,000 to $5,000 : 402 >$5,000 : 734 By Acres: <50 : 991 <200 : 1460 200 to 500 : 182 500 to 1,000 : 78 >1,000 : 108 By State/Province: Alabama : 24 Arizona : 11 Arkansas : 14 California : 20 Colorado : 29 Connecticut : 4 Florida : 88 Georgia : 283 Idaho : 12 Illinois : 29 Indiana : 7 Iowa : 9 Kansas : 17 Kentucky : 58 Louisiana : 13 Maine : 32 Maryland : 6 Massachusetts : 7 Michigan : 7 Minnesota : 16 Mississippi : 14 Missouri : 76 Montana : 6 Nebraska : 4 Nevada : 6 New Hampshire : 5 New Jersey : 16 New Mexico : 7 New York : 75 North Carolina : 59 North Dakota : 38 Ohio : 61 Oklahoma : 9 Oregon : 6 Pennsylvania : 6 South Carolina : 64 South Dakota : 22 Tennessee : 293 Texas : 27 Utah : 11 Vermont : 11 Virginia : 123 Washington : 11 West Virginia : 49 Wisconsin : 18 Wyoming : 6 Alberta : 1 British Columbia : 3 Buenos Aires Capital Federal : 1 IV Coquimbo : 1 Manitoba : 1 Mendoza : 1 New Brunswick : 11 Nova Scotia : 12 Ontario : 3 Para : 1 Quebec : 3 Queensland : 1 Saskatchewan : 5 VII Maule : 1 XI Aysen : 2 Not In USA or Canada : 1 Properties by: Land Use Country State/Province Acres Price Per Acre New York RESULTS Sort by: price size Total records: 75 Showing records: 1 to 20 Go to page : 1 2 3 4 New Search Beautiful Horse Farm ( horse farm, residential land, livestock operation) A 60 acre property with an asking price of $248,500. This property is for sale. Country: Other. State/Province: New York. County: St. Lawrence. Autumn Land Sale ( recreational property, residential land) A 5.79 acre property with an asking price of $295,000. This property is for sale. Country: Other. State/Province: New York. County: Dutchess. 13acre Farm 80x40 Hbarn ( horse farm, orchard, commercial land) A 13.00 acre property. This property is for sale. Country: Other. State/Province: New York. County: Oswego. Lakefront Property ( waterfront, undeveloped land, residential land) A 4.00 acre property with an asking price of $74,900. This property is for sale. Country: United States. State/Province: New York. County: Madison. New Hunting Cabin ( hunting property, recreational property) A 6.05 acre property with an asking price of $74,900. This property is for sale. Country: United States. State/Province: New York. County: Chenango. 90 Acre Adirondack Mountain Retreat ( hunting property, recreational property, commercial land) A 90 acre property with an asking price of $350,000. This property is for sale. Country: United States. State/Province: New York. County: St. Lawrence. Beautiful Farmland ( undeveloped land, organic uses, hunting property) A 323 acre property with an asking price of $597,000. This property is for sale. Country: United States. State/Province: New York 79 ( horse farm, residential land, pasture) A 79 acre property with an asking price of $899,999. This property is for sale. Country: United States. State/Province: New York. County: Dutchess. Western New York (Rochester Area) ( horse farm, livestock operation, recreational property) A 82 acre property with an asking price of $465,000. This property is for sale. Country: United States. State/Province: New York. County: Livingston. Old Field Farm ( horse farm, horse farm, horse farm) A 34 acre property with an asking price of $1,750,000. This property is for sale. Country: United States. State/Province: New York. County: Orange County. 80 ACRES Orange NY ( horse farm, vineyard) A 80 acre property with an asking price of $1,299,000. This property is for sale. Country: United States. State/Province: New York. County: Orange. rare Commercial Property ( commercial land, residential land) A 11.00 acre property with an asking price of $398,000. This property is for sale. Country: Other. State/Province: New York. County: Seneca. Horse Farm With Lake View ( commercial land, horse farm, pasture) A 12.26 acre property with an asking price of $189,000. This property is for sale. Country: Other. State/Province: New York. County: Oswego. 40 Acres Connects To Stateland ( residential land, recreational property, hunting property) A 40 acre property with an asking price of $175,000. This property is for sale. Country: Other. State/Province: New York. County: Chenango. $100 Reward for Renting an Apartment Millions of apartment listings nationwide. No application fee. No registration fee. No broker fee. $100.00 reward card when you rent an apartment. ...continued... Country: United States. State/Province: New York Unwanted Houses Do you own an unwanted house and need to sell quickly? NEW YORK. NEW JERSEY. CONNECTICUT. VACANT HOUSES. FORECLOSURE. PLAIN UGLY HOUSES. Houses in ...continued... Country: Other. State/Province: New York Dish Pronto The lowest all digital prices in America! 25 movie channels for 3 months free for $21.33/month! 60 channels plus one month free movie channels ...continued... Country: United States. State/Province: New York Catskill Wooded Hillside ( forest - natural, recreational property, undeveloped land) A 63 acre property with an asking price of $120,000. This property is for sale. Country: United States. State/Province: New York. County: Schoharie. Horse Farm On 29.55 Acres ( horse farm) A 29 acre property with an asking price of $435,000. This property is for sale. Country: Other. State/Province: New York. County: Chenango. Home/Horse Barn 18.19 Acres ( horse farm) A 18.19 acre property with an asking price of $449,000. This property is for sale. Country: United States. State/Province: New York. County: Chenango. Total records: 75 Showing records: 1 to 20 Go to page : 1 2 3 4 LandAndFarm.com SPONSORED RESULTS 1. Looking For NEW YORK? Find New York and more at Lycos Search. No clutter, just answers. Lycos ? Go Get It! http://www.lycos.com 2. Find NEW YORK at eBay Looking for New York? eBay has great deals on new and used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods and more. If you can?t find it on eBay, it probably doesn?t exist. http://www.ebay.com 3. Shop for NEW YORK Looking for New York? MonsterMarketplace shopping directory has New York and everything else you?re looking for at one secure online location. Click to view top selling New York. http://www.monstermarketplace.com 4. Research NEW YORK at HighBeam. View free full-text articles and free premium archive previews at HighBeam Research. Find, organize and share information from 1,000s of trusted business, consumer and reference publications. http://www.highbeam.com ©1998-2005 - LandAndFarm.com - Contact Us - Privacy Notice - Disclaimer - UserAgreement - Advertise With Us

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