Buy Home

Art.com - Posters, Art Prints, and Framed Art Leader. Search Over 300,000 Prints: advanced search Subjects · Artists · Collections · Best Sellers New to Art.com? Start here Explore 10000+ Subjects • Animals • Children • Educational • Motivational • Architecture • Cultures • Fantasy • more... Browse 7000+ Artists • Adams • Monet • Picasso • Warhol • Dali • O'Keeffe • Van Gogh • more... See our Collections • Thomas Kinkade Collection • Canvas Transfers • Vintage Original Posters • Hand Colored Prints • Limited Editions • Specialty Prints • more... Original Art & Photography • Find original art • Browse Select Prints • Join OAP now, it's free! • College Colors Call for Art Gift Ideas • Certificates • Gift Center Receive exclusive offers and find out cool art facts & info! -- • Abstract • Still Life • Scenic • Cuisine • Botanical • Artists • Grand Masters • Movie • Music • Sports • Humor • People • Television • Vintage • Comics • All Subjects Thousands of original works by artists from around the world! NEW ArtPad™ Beta v.2.1. » Express yourself now! » Shop Now! About Us · Contact Us · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Affiliates · Customer Support / Help © 1995-2005 Art.com, Inc. All rights reserved. Art.com the leading online print and poster retailer provides framing, mounting and laminating services, posters, art prints, paintings, canvas prints, vintage original posters, fine art prints, inspirational posters, giclee prints, art reproductions and original art and photography.

Real Estate Investment Course

Amazon.com: Real Estate Finance and Investment Manual: Books Your Store Books See All 32 Product Categories Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | Advanced Search | Browse Subjects | Bestsellers | The New York Times® Best Sellers | Magazines | Corporate Accounts | Amazon Shorts | Bargain Books | Used Books | Textbooks Search Amazon.com Books Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . or Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . More Buying Choices 51 used & new from $13.88 Have one to sell? See larger image Share your own customer images Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book. Real Estate Finance and Investment Manual (Paperback) by Jack Cummings (7 customer reviews) List Price: $34.95 Price: $23.07 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details You Save: $11.88 (34%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Only 1 left in stock--order soon (more on the way). Want it delivered Tuesday, January 3? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. See details 51 used & new available from $13.88 Other Editions: List Price: Our Price: Other Offers: Hardcover (Revised) Order it used! Better Together Buy this book with What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know... byFrank Gallinelli today! Total List Price: $54.90 Buy Together Today: $36.64 Customers who bought this book also bought What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow...And 36 Other Key FInancial Measures: Guidelines, Formulas, and Rules of Thumb for Making Money in Real Estate by Frank Gallinelli The Complete Guide to Real Estate Finance for Investment Properties: How to Analyze Any Single-Family, Multifamily, or Commercial Property by Steve Berges The McGraw-Hill 36-Hour Real Estate Investment Course by Jack Cummings Commercial Real Estate Investing 12 Easy Steps to Getting Started by Jack Cummings Investing in Real Estate With Other People's Money: 100s of Insider Strategies for Turning a Small Investment into a Fortune by Jack Cummings Explore Similar Items : in Books Product Details Paperback: 550 pages Publisher: Prentice Hall; Revised edition (April, 1997) Language: English ISBN: 0134933885 Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.0 x 1.6 inches Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds. ( View shipping rates and policies ) Average Customer Review: based on 7 reviews. ( Write a review. ) Amazon.com Sales Rank: Today: #33,828 in Books Yesterday: #178,763 in Books (Publishers and authors: improve your sales ) Other Editions: Hardcover (Revised) | All Editions Citations ( learn more ) 1 book that cites this book: Profitable Real Estate Investing : Making Big Money, Finding the Right Properties, Investing on a Shoestring by Roger Woodsonin Back Matter Customers interested in this title may also be interested in: Sponsored Links: What is this? Investment Manual Regulation of Investment Advisers 2005 Edition Only $396.50 Today west.thomson.com Real Estate Rehab Funding 100% REI financing of purchase and repairs for rehab homes. 65% ARV www.rehabfunding.com Investment Property Loan Purchase or refinance investment property. No brokering accepted. www.USLandlord.com Feedback Customers who viewed this book also viewed Investing in Real Estate, Fourth Edition by Andrew James McLean Financing Secrets of a Millionaire Real Estate Investor by William Bronchick The Pre-Foreclosure Property Investor's Kit : How to Make Money Buying Distressed Real Estate -- Before the Public Auction by Thomas Lucier Real Estate Finance & Investments + Excel templates CD-ROM (Real Estate Finance and Investments) by William B Brueggeman Real Estate Finance and Investments with CD and Powerweb (Real Estate Finance and Investments) by William B Brueggeman Explore Similar Items : in Books Spotlight Reviews Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 80 of 81 people found the following review helpful: Good for individual investors, less useful for professionals , December 30, 1999 Reviewer: A J Southwell (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews Focused on real estate deals in the <$2MM category, this book offers a treasure trove of helpful tips about how to work the angles to create maximum wealth from real estate investing. Especially useful are sections on goal-setting, negotiating, dealing with banks, and secondary financing. The book is less useful for development professionals dealing with larger developments such as office buildings, apartment communities, etc, as it omits extended discussion of the institutional players. Both individuals and development professionals will find Zuckerman, Real Estate Investment and Acquisition Workbook a useful adjunct, with development professionals perhaps more intested in Brueggeman & Fisher, Real Estate Finance and Investments than this offering. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 10 of 10 people found the following review helpful: Solid , April 26, 2004 Reviewer: J. Daily (Fort Worth, Tx United States) - See all my reviews Cummings is one of my favorite R.E. authors. He is very thorough. This one has chapters on conventional and creative financing, tax exchanges, land development, discounting mortgages, sale-leasebacks, how to get started and even dealing with foreclosure. Table of contents is very thorough and makes it very easy to go to the exact page you want to to find specific information. He is good with the numbers and doesnt leave much to the imagination like many authors do. I recommend anything by this author. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 23 of 24 people found the following review helpful: Excellent "Creative Real Estate Financing" manual , February 18, 2002 Reviewer: This "no-nonsense" book, by a seasoned investor and broker, is mostly focused on non-traditional real estate financing vehicles. Bits and pieces on the subject have previously taught by various gurus, but this book covers ALL of them. If every Realtor and investor read this, we would all be better off. Other recommended RE investing reads: The Unofficial Guide to Real Estate Investing Landlording by Leigh Robinson 5 Magic Paths to Making a Fortune In Real Estate Investing The Income Stream by Robt. Goodman Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 19 of 19 people found the following review helpful: Solid, comprehensive, but a bit verbose , January 5, 2002 Reviewer: C Boyle (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews This and Landlording, by Leigh, are my two fave's so far as a real estate investor. This one tends towards overkill with many, many examples but other readers may want that more than I did. There are one or two strategy recommendations I disagree with rather heartily, but it's clear, pretty much accurate, and very readable. The no-nonsense writing reminds me a bit of T. Dallow or J. Reed, both also recommended. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 7 of 24 people found the following review helpful: Great book, but overpriced , February 19, 2000 Reviewer: John M Garrett (Lake of the Ozarks) - See all my reviews Great book, easy to read, too pricy Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 7 of 9 people found the following review helpful: Rock Solid Info on Finance Structure , December 5, 1999 Reviewer: PeteH (NYC) - See all my reviews Cummings brings 30+ years of creative RE finance experience to bear with specific examples of techniques that the average buyer/investor won't be familiar with but that work in the real world (particularly with commercial property). Could have used one more round of proofreading, but well worth studying just to expand your awareness of how to acquire property and how to get the best price when selling. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 7 customer reviews... Listmania! Earn real money in real estate : A list by Lisa Banghart Real Estate Books : A list by "universal_tech" Real Estate : A list by Ahsen Abro Create a Listmania! list So You'd Like to... Work Less and Earn More : A guide by carlamarie , Business Guru take another look-see IV : A guide by Melody Davis , mostly do-it-yourself style books give MOM'S MILLION DOLLAR BATH (for $99). : A guide by Jenni Moore , wife, mom, "kid sister" to 3 big brothers Create a So You'd Like to... guide Look for similar items by category Subjects > Business & Investing > General Subjects > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Real Estate > General Subjects > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Real Estate > Investments Subjects > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Real Estate > Mortgages Look for similar items by subject Business & Economics Business / Economics / Finance Business/Economics Finance Handbooks, manuals, etc Mortgage loans Real Estate - General Real Estate - Investments Real Estate - Mortgages Real estate business Real estate investment i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ... This Book and You Sign in to rate this item Write a Review | Write a So You'd Like To... Guide | Tell a Friend About This Item | Rate This Item Spec tacular Readers Never misplace your reading glasses again with the hip and stylish magnetic readers from CliC . Suggestion Box Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. If you've found something incorrect, broken, or frustrating on this page, let us know so that we can improve it. Please note that we are unable to respond directly to suggestions made via this form. If you need help with an order, please contact Customer Service . Please mark as many of the following boxes that apply: Product information is missing important details. Product information is incorrect. Propose corrections using our Online Catalog Update Form . The page contains typographical errors. The page takes too long to load. The page has a software bug in it. Content violates Amazon.com's policy on offensive language . Product offered violates Amazon.com's policy on items that can be listed for sale. Comments or Examples: Examples: Missing information such as dimensions and model number, typos, inaccuracies, etc. Where's My Stuff? • Track your recent orders . • View or change your orders in Your Account . Shipping & Returns • See our shipping rates & policies . • Return an item (here's our Returns Policy ). Need Help? • Forgot your password? Click here . • Redeem or buy a gift certificate. • Visit our Help department . Search Amazon.com Books Popular Music Music Downloads Classical Music DVD VHS Apparel Yellow Pages Movie Showtimes Toys Baby Computers Video Games Electronics Camera & Photo Software Tools & Hardware Office Products Magazines Sports & Outdoors Outdoor Living Kitchen Jewelry & Watches Beauty Gourmet Food Musical Instruments Health/Personal Care Pet Supplies Travel Cell Phones & Service Outlet Auctions zShops Everything Else Automotive for Amazon.com Home | Directory of All Stores Our International Sites: Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | Japan | France | China Help | Shopping Cart | Your Account | Sell Items | 1-Click Settings Investor Relations | Press Room | Careers Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1996-2005, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

Buy Property

Amazon.co.uk: The "Which?" Guide to Buying Property Abroad ("Which?" Consumer Guides): Books BOOK SEARCH BROWSE CATEGORIES SPECIAL OFFERS TOP SELLERS AUDIO BOOKS Paperbacks 3 for £12 NEW & USED TEXTBOOKS HARRY POTTER SELL YOUR BOOKS All Products -Books -Used Books -Collectable Books All Subjects -Art, Architecture & Photography -Audio Cassettes -Audio CDs -Biography -Business, Finance & Law -Children's Books -Comics & Graphic Novels -Computers & Internet -Crime, Thrillers & Mystery -Fiction -Food & Drink -Gay & Lesbian -Health, Family & Lifestyle -History -Home & Garden -Horror -Humour -Mind, Body & Spirit -Music, Stage & Screen -Poetry, Drama & Criticism -Reference & Languages -Religion & Spirituality -Romance -Science & Nature -Science Fiction & Fantasy -Scientific, Technical & Medical -Society, Politics & Philosophy -Sports, Hobbies & Games -Travel & Holiday -Young Adult All Subjects Art, Architecture & Photography Audio Cassettes Audio CDs Biography Business, Finance & Law Children's Books Comics & Graphic Novels Computers & Internet Crime, Thrillers & Mystery Education & Languages Fiction Food & Drink Gay & Lesbian Health, Family & Lifestyle History Home & Garden Horror Humour Mind, Body & Spirit Music, Stage & Screen Poetry, Drama & Criticism Reference Religion & Spirituality Romance Science & Nature Science Fiction & Fantasy Scientific, Technical & Medical Society, Politics & Philosophy Sports, Hobbies & Games Travel & Holiday Young Adult BOOKS INFO At A Glance Reviews Customer Reviews See more by this author E-mail a Friend About This Item Recommendations If you already own this, rate it and improve your recommendations , Not Rated Visit the Music shop X&Y ~ Coldplay Find a huge selection of books at 30% off Become an Associate Join our Associates Programme and make money from your website! The "Which?" Guide to Buying Property Abroad ("Which?" Consumer Guides) Jeremy Davies Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book. List Price: £10.99 Our Price: £6.26 & eligible for Free UK delivery on orders over £15 with Super Saver Delivery. See details & conditions . You Save: £4.73 (43%) Availability: usually dispatched within 24 hours. 28 Used & New from £6.18 See larger photo Edition: Paperback Get up to 50% off more great New Year, New You titles. More Product Details Perfect Partner Buy The "Which?" Guide to Buying Property Abroad... with A Place in the Sun: Buying Your Dream Home Abroad today! Total List Price: £23.98 Buy Together Today: £15.35 Customers who bought this item also bought: Buying Property Abroad ("Sunday Times" Buying a Property S.) ;Paperback~Ben West The Complete Guide to Buying Property Abroad ;Paperback~Liz Hodgkinson A Place in the Sun: Dream Homes Within Your Reach ;Paperback~Fanny Blake Buying a Property in Eastern Europe 2005 (Red Guides) ;Paperback~Katy Pownall (Editor) Buying a Property: Turkey ;Paperback~John Howell Explore similar items ... Product Details: Paperback 256 pages(March 1, 2004) Publisher: Which? Books Language: English ISBN: 0852029705 Category(ies): Reference , Home & Garden , Travel & Holiday Average Customer Review: | Write a review Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 10,285 (Publishers and authors: improve your sales ) sign in to turn on 1-Click™ ordering. 24 New from 6.18 4 used from 7.33 Have one to sell? (We'll set one up for you) View my Wish List . Customers interested in this title may also be interested in: What's this? ( What's this? ) Feedback Which ? Online Latest Credit Check Info Up- to -date credit check guide . Expert assessment, test results, tips and buying advice to help you choose products and services. The premium Internet-only consumer research and advice site. trial.which.co.uk Reviews Synopsis For recreation, retirement, or investment buying property abroad has never been more popular. Over a million British owners now have homes in another country. Unfortunately, buying abroad is fraught with difficulties. Different cultures, languages, currencies and laws make expert advice essential. The Which? Guide to Buying Property Abroad takes an in-depth look at France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Florida and Greece. The book outlines the sort of property you are likely to encounter, looks at local taxes and how much you'll have to pay, examines local law and how this relates to matters such as inheritance, insurance, liability and land searches, and considers the true cost of holiday homes - assessing estate agents, building societies, euro-mortgages, lawyers, local officials, maintenance charges, utility bills, management fees and the commission charged by letting agencies. Finally, the book looks at the financial and legal implications of long-term residency, with particular reference to retirement, taxation, inheritance and health-care. Customer Reviews Avg. Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other shoppers! 20 of 20 people found the following review helpful: The best of the bunch , August 25, 2004 Reviewer: James Parker from Brighton I've been thinking of buying a place abroad as a holiday home and for rental income but wasn't tied to the idea of a particular country. Not knowing anyone who'd done it, I thought I should read up before going any further and had a look in a couple of bookshops. As far as I can see most of the books on buying abroad are either really superficial and normally linked to one of the TV shows, or focus just on one country - which is no good if you're not sure where to buy. This one gives you the best of both worlds - it gives plenty of detail but covers most of the countries you're likely to want to buy in as well. I've now found a lawyer to advise me, and am on my way out to Italy to have a look at places in September Was this review helpful to you? 11 of 11 people found the following review helpful: A useful guide , August 17, 2004 Reviewer: prunella_mortimer_harvey from Manchester I had always wanted to buy a property abroad and a couple of months ago I embarked on a trip to France with the intention of finding a cottage in the countryside (Dordogne). Before going I bought this book- and it proved to be an excellent companion with plenty of useful information - epecially about taxation and banking/finances. I would thoroughly recommend it to everybody Was this review helpful to you? 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful: Buying property abroad- an excellent guide , August 5, 2004 Reviewer: lorenza_ponzoni from Manchester, Manchester United Kingdom The book is an informative practical guide to buying property abroad..it is easy to read,well written and clearly explained. It is packed with essential information- and it even contains details that you would not think you needed until you got there! I would recommend it to anybody who is considering buying property In Europe .... do not attempt anything before you read this book!! Was this review helpful to you? 14 of 15 people found the following review helpful: A MUST HAVE , March 25, 2004 Reviewer: A reader from United Kingdom This book is a very comprehensive guide to buying a house abroad. If you are interesting in this subject you would do much better to buy this than the country specific guides because here you get detailed stuff about all the different country. the overall message of the book is that you can make a success of buying somewhere to live in, use for holidays or rent out but it takes you through all the possible pitfall, and is very readable. Was this review helpful to you? Customers who bought books by Jeremy Davies also bought books by these authors: Fanny Blake Katy Pownall Liz Hodgkinson Ben West John Howell Look for similar books by subject: Browse for Books in: Subjects > Reference > Consumer Guides > Housing & Property Subjects > Reference > Consumer Guides > Publisher > Which? Books Subjects > Travel & Holiday > General Subjects > Reference > Consumer Guides > General Subjects > Travel & Holiday > Speciality Travel > Living & Working Abroad Subjects > Home & Garden > Buying & Developing Property > Property Guides Search for books by subject: Consumer guides & advice Household Management Housing & property for the individual Living & working abroad i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ... Comment on this title I have read this book and I want to review it. I am the author and I want to comment on my book. I am the publisher and I want to comment on this book. Correct errors and omissions in this listing. Where's My Stuff? • track your recent orders • view or change your orders in Your Account Delivery and Returns • see our delivery rates and policies • thinking of returning an item ? (See our Returns Policy ) Need Help? • forgot your password? Click here • redeem or buy a gift certificate • still have questions? Visit our Help Pages Search our shops All Products Books Used Books Collectable Books Electronics & Photo Popular Music Classical Music DVD Rental DVDs Video Software PC & Video Games Software & Games DIY & Tools Garden & Outdoors Kitchen & Home Personal Care Toys Auctions zShops for Text Only Top of Page : The "Which?" Guide to Buying Property Abroad ("Which?" Consumer Guides) International Sites:  United States | Germany | France | Japan | Canada | China Join Associates | Join our staff | About Amazon.co.uk | Help pages | Contact us Our Privacy Notice , Conditions of Use & Sale © 1996-2005, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates

Property Search How Fannie

Resources: Fannie Mae-Owned Property Search Our Business Is The American Dream Search Home Fannie Mae News Media Initiatives Issues & Commentary Translated Documents About Us About Fannie Mae Corporate Governance Investor Relations Careers For Business Partners Affordable Housing & Community Development Single-Family Multifamily Tools & Resources Debt Securities Mortgage-Backed Securities For Home Buyers & Homeowners Homepath Find a Mortgage Find a Lender Search Resources Calculators Checklists, Tip Sheets & Worksheets Counselors & Agencies Fannie Mae-Owned Property Search How Fannie Mae Saves Home Buyers Money Glossary Fannie Mae-Owned Property Search To help your search, please provide the state where you want to search for a property. Or, for a more specific search, provide the state and city; the state and ZIP code; or the state, city, and ZIP code. You can also search for a specific property type by selecting either single-family, 2-4 unit, or condo/co-op from the "Property Type" drop-down menu. You can sort your results by price, type of property, or ZIP code by selecting from the "Sorted By" options. Your use of the Fannie Mae-Owned Property Search is subject to the following terms and conditions. Price Range: No Minimum $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $325,000 $350,000 $375,000 $400,000 $425,000 $450,000 $475,000 $500,000 $600,000 $700,000 $800,000 $900,000 $1,000,000 More than $1,000,000 to $0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $325,000 $350,000 $375,000 $400,000 $425,000 $450,000 $475,000 $500,000 $600,000 $700,000 $800,000 $900,000 $1,000,000 No Maximum City: (To include multiple cities, separate each city by a comma.) State (required) : Select a State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware 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 Washington, DC West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Guam Puerto Rico Virgin Islands ZIP Code: Property Type: Any Single-Family 2-4 Unit Condo/Co-op Sorted By: No Sort City Price Type Zip ©1998-2004 Fannie Mae Contact Us FAQ Site Map Advanced Search Privacy Legal

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