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HUD foreclosures - all HUD foreclosure properties. HUD Foreclosures & HUD REO's Search For all HUDForeclosure properties & HUD Homes across the country. Home Oahu Real Estate Kauai Real Estate Big Island Hawaii Real Estate Maui Real Estate Contact Us Welcome to the HUD Foreclosure & HUD Bank owned (reo) real estate center! HUD Foreclosure and HUD REO listings! Search Foreclsore listings What is a HUD home? The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is a part of HUD--the part that provides federal mortgage insurance. If a foreclosed home was purchased with a loan insured by the FHA, the lender can file a claim for the balance due on the mortgage. FHA pays the lender's claim, then transfers ownership of the property to HUD, which sells the home. Will HUD make the repairs? HUD homes are sold as-is. The new owner is responsible for all repairs and improvements. How do I find a HUD? HUD foreclosures are our specialty. My staff and I are committed to making the buying and selling of HUD foreclosures a pleasurable and rewarding experience. Our website allows you to search all active HUD Real Estate listings. The site is easy to use and navigate through property searches. Featuring the best HUD foreclosure and bank owned (REO) homes, condos and land for sale. Contact us today ! To find out how we can be of assistance to you. Find HUD foreclosures the easy way with American Dream Realty, the leader in online HUD property data. If you are looking for a HUD foreclosure, you are sure to find one . Our database of HUD foreclosures is updated daily! Whether you are looking for a new home, an investment property or a place at the beach, American Dream Realty can help you find it! |Home| |Oahu Real Estate | Maui Real Estate | | Kauai Real Estate | | Big Island Hawaii Real Estate | |Financing| |About Us| |Contact Us| |Maui Featured Homes| | | Oahu Featured Homes| |Kauai Featured Homes| |Big Island Featured Homes| |How We Sell Homes| Foreclosures - Hawaii Foreclosures - HUD Foreclosures Jeff Manson's Team Serving all of Honolulu county, Hawaii on Oahu. Providing Realtor and Real Estate services for: Honolulu, Diamond Head, Kahala, Lanikai in Kailua, Hawaii Loa Ridge, Portlock in Hawaii Kai, Waialae Iki, Kaneohe, North Shore of Oahu, Mililani and Waikiki.

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Inman Real Estate News - Loss from real estate loan fraud soars to $1 billion FBI launches mortgage fraud-fighting initiative Loss+from+real+estate+loan+fraud+soars+to+%241+billion FBI+launches+mortgage+fraud-fighting+initiative %3ca+href%3d'http%3a%2f%2fwww.inman.com'+target%3d'_blank'%3eInman+News%3c%2fa%3e 2005-12-16T00%3a00%3a00.0000000-08%3a00 49246 HOME | NEWS | JOIN | PRODUCTS | CONFERENCES | ADVERTISE | ADVICE | ABOUT US | CONTACT US | SUBMIT A TIP Member Resources Members Home Search Inman News Content Warehouse Cartoon Database Weekly Newsletter Special Reports Audio Files Inman Blog Feedback Connect Registration Audio Conference LETTERS TO THE EDITOR There's no denying real estate bubble Re: ' Worst-case scenario for housing next year ' (Dec. 28) Dear Editor: I have been a real estate investor since I was 19. I am now 54. To deny a real estate bubble is to ignore the obvious market fundamentals. Obviously, there are different factors in different markets, but as a longtime investor/Realtor/broker there is no logical argument against real estate prices declining 10 percent to 30 percent in the "hot markets." The South Florida condo market will be a blood bath. The median income cannot buy the median house in most markets; interest rates will continue creeping up; speculators have driven prices to insane levels and when the going gets rough they will walk from a lot of residential properties. Most "hot" areas are becoming alarmingly overbuilt with residential inventories rising; lenders have ticking time bombs in their ARMs, negative equity and interest-only mortgages. Do your homework. Be wary of those whose opinions are tainted by the fact that they or their company have a stake in this insane market continuing. Michael H. Mosieur Mosieur Business Brokers Re: ' America closes doors to architectural expression ' (Dec. 26) Dear Editor: This is one of the most insightful articles I've read in a long time. We might add, "And what are we doing to our children as we worship at the altar of the mundane?" Years ago I read that about 1,000 children were tested for creativity just prior to entering kindergarten. Eighty-five percent of the children tested "creative." Twelve years later the same group was tested, and only 35 percent of the students tested "creative." What happened to the children along the scholastic way, and does the country even care? Where's the outcry? Isn't the creativity of our generations one of our most precious resources? It's been said that we're only one generation away from losing our freedom. Could it be that with escalating offshore competition in view, and stultifying U.S. scholastic models utilized, that the above advisory could also apply to our economic freedom? A. Bruce Belfield III Associate real estate broker Hurricane, W.V. FREE website content! Make Inman.com your homepage Get the Inman News Toolbar Link to Inman News Consumer News Commercial News Real Estate Articles from Inman News Already a Member? Log in below to view full story: User ID: Password: Lost Password? Loss from real estate loan fraud soars to $1 billion FBI launches mortgage fraud-fighting initiative Friday, December 16, 2005 Inman News To read this article, become a Member of Inman News now! JOIN NOW TO BECOME AN INMAN MEMBER 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed Group discounts available First Name: Last Name: E-mail: User Name: Call 1.800.775.4662 x128 8am - 5pm Pacific Time to order by phone or to get a discount group membership for your company or colleagues. View News Article Sample Hear Sample View Newsletter Sample Connect Info View Audio Conference Schedule Back Top © 2005 Inman News Home | Privacy | Editorial | Legal | Site Map

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Amazon.com: Home for the Holidays: DVD: Holly Hunter,Robert Downey Jr.,Anne Bancroft,Charles Durning,Dylan McDermott,Geraldine Chaplin,Steve Guttenberg,Cynthia Stevenson,Claire Danes,Emily Ann Lloyd,Zack Duhame,Austin Pendleton,David Strathairn,Amy Yasbeck,James Lecesne,Angela Paton,Randy Stone,Sam Slovick,Susan Lyall,Shawn Hatosy,Jodie Foster Your Store DVD See All 32 Product Categories Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | Advanced Search | Browse Genres | Top Sellers | New & Future Releases | Television Central | Life & Learning | DVD Essentials | Blowout DVDs | Movie Showtimes | Used DVDs Search Amazon.com DVD Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . DVD Information Explore this item buying info editorial reviews customer reviews cast and crew fun facts Listmania! Thanksgiving Movies & Spec... : A list by Jakki Add your List Ready to buy? Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . MORE BUYING CHOICES 59 used & new from $8.78 Available for in-store pickup now from: $14.99 Price may vary based on availability Enter your ZIP Code Have one to sell? Home for the Holidays (1995) Starring: Holly Hunter , Robert Downey Jr. Director: Jodie Foster Rating: See larger image Share your own customer images List Price: $14.94 Price: $9.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details You Save: $4.95 (33%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Want it delivered Friday, December 30? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. See details 59 used & new available from $8.78 Edition: Other Versions and Languages Other Versions (VHS Tape) List Price Price Other Offers: VHS Tape Home for the Holidays $19.98 26 used & new from $3.00 VHS Tape Home for the Holidays $9.94 10 used & new from $3.97 Other Versions (Audio CD) Audio CD Home for the Holidays $11.98 15 used & new from $5.95 Better Together Buy this DVD with The Ref DVD ~ Denis Leary today! Total List Price: $24.93 Buy Together Today: $16.98 Customers who bought this DVD also bought The Ref DVD ~ Denis Leary Mixed Nuts DVD ~ Steve Martin National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Special Edition) DVD ~ Chevy Chase Once Around DVD ~ Richard Dreyfuss Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Music , and in Video Storyline Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance Tagline: On the fourth Thursday in November, 84 million American families will gather together... And wonder why. Plot Synopsis: After losing her job, making out with her soon to be ex-boss, and finding out that her daughter plans to spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend, Claudia Larson has to face spending the holiday with her family. She wonders if she can survive their crazy antics. Plot Keywords: Dysfunctional Family | Dysfunctional | Christmas | Family | Homosexual | Thanksgiving | Acceptance | Argument | Holiday | Farting Scene | Gay Interest | Mother Daughter Relationship | (Show all 15 plot keywords recommended by customers) Product Details Actors: Holly Hunter , Robert Downey Jr. , Anne Bancroft , Charles Durning , Dylan McDermott , See more Directors: Jodie Foster Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc, Widescreen Anamorphic Region: Region 1 ( U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats. ) Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Number of discs: 1 Rated: Studio: MGM (Video & DVD) DVD Release Date: September 4, 2001 Run Time: 103 minutes Average Customer Review: Based on 85 Reviews DVD Features: Available Subtitles: Spanish, French Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) Audio commentary From IMDb: Quotes & Trivia ASIN: B00005LOKR Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,183 in DVD Theatrical Release Information US Theatrical Release Date: November 3, 1995 MPAA: for thematic material, language and brief drug use. Production Company: Egg Pictures, Paramount Pictures, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment USA Box Office: $18 Million Filming Locations: Baltimore, Maryland, USA| Los Angeles, California, USA Editorial Reviews Amazon.com Holly Hunter plays a Chicago-based single mom who--on the day before Thanksgiving--loses her job and is informed by her daughter of the latter's intention to surrender her virginity while on a weekend-long affair. If that's not enough, Hunter's character then has to fly to Baltimore to join her fractious family for another difficult Thanksgiving. Robert Downey Jr. is terrifically charming as her prankish, gay brother, and Anne Bancroft and Charles Durning show plenty of comic resilience during the predictably interesting Thanksgiving dinner scene. The script by W.D. Richter ( Brubaker ) avoids the usual clichés in family dramas--the deepest, darkest secret revealed here involves the painfully sweet revelation of a 40-year-old crush. Jodie Foster, directing her second feature, focuses instead on the inevitable softening of old grudges and disappointments with time. This is a wise as well as wonderfully fun movie. --Tom Keogh Customers who viewed this DVD also viewed Scrooged DVD ~ Bill Murray A Christmas Story (Full Screen Edition) DVD ~ Yano Anaya Living Out Loud DVD ~ Holly Hunter Pieces of April DVD ~ Katie Holmes Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Music , and in Video Spotlight Reviews Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 22 of 23 people found the following review helpful: Going home again , December 1, 2002 Reviewer: J.A.H. "Poetlinus" (Virginia) - See all my reviews "Home for the Holidays" is a quiet, fun little film that I dust off once or twice a year (usually around Thanksgiving!) and sit back and absolutely enjoy. It's become a comfort film for me, one of honesty, predictability, and enjoyment. It's a wonder more people haven't discovered this mini-classic. Holly Hunter plays Claudia, a forty year old woman forced to endure calamity after calamity on her way to her parent's house for the Thanksgiving holiday. Hunter has her role sewn up from the moment we see her; she encapsulates Claudia and makes her very real as she is conforted with mini-nightmares. These problems plague her, only to define her life as unrealized, possibly misdirected. That Hunter refuses to play her as a sack sad, or someone pitiful, is a testament to her understanding of Claudia. The script avoids usual the "family cliches" by showing us a dysfunctional family that functions quite well. Gay brother Tommy, so perfectly mastered by Robert Downey Jr., always the family clown, removes his "make-up" and shows incredible sensitivity when he rescues his sister from her holiday horror. Dylan McDermott charms his way quietly as Leo Fish, and you believe his sincerity towards Claudia. Cynthnia Stevenson and Steve Guttenberg rock as the high strung power couple so insistent on perfection in their imperfect lives. And the wonderful Charles Durning and Anne Bancroft as the parents, so beleaguered, so joyful, so real. While the performances shine, the script shines even brighter, offering little solutions with much insight. You understand Claudia's trauams, but know that none of them are resolvable within a two hour film, and that's ok. Even the ending, which suggests that even daring to dream is enough, is absolutely perfect for this film. A less experienced screenwriter would have fallen into the cliche trap and wrapped everything up in a neat bow, which this film suggests, is simply not possible. "Home for the Holidays" is a signature piece by Jodie Foster, one that people who enjoy a truly good film won't be there to pass up. I hope Foster follows up by directing more classics such as this; American cinema would be better for it. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 10 of 11 people found the following review helpful: Home Anyone...........??? , December 8, 2004 Reviewer: V. Marshall (North Fork, CA USA) - See all my reviews Ahhh the holidays....that wonderful time of thankfulness, love and laughter, NOT!!! This movie will have you in stitches each and every holiday season if you suffer from that ever present disease of dysfunctional family syndrome. Claudia Larson (Holly Hunter) is wallowing in self-pity for good reason, she was fired from her job, her daughter is about to have sex for the first time and she is traveling back home for the holidays. What more could a girl ask for, a cold? She arrives to a snowy existence and a family of little understanding. Her father Henry (Charles Durning) and her mother Adele (Anne Bancroft) are seemingly oblivious to all of the turmoil they have created and that now resides within their children. Soon the house is filled with love and lots of arguments! Gay brother Tommy Larson (Robert Downey Jr.) appears to torture the entire clan with mischief and in tow he has a co-worker/friend, Leo Fish (Dylan McDermott). And of course what family would be complete without the crazy aunt (Geraldine Chaplin) and a branch of perfection that breaks off and becomes the norm, sister Joanne (Cynthia Stevenson) and her [...] husband Walter (Steve Guttenberg). So sit back and have a toast with a perfectly normal American family for the holidays but get ready to laugh uncontrollably too! Jodie Foster directed this film about the typical dysfunctional family during the holiday season and she brings both a sensitive understanding and a full blown sense of humor to this holiday table. Holly Hunter is really wonderful as the hopeful but often misunderstood sister in a clan of crazies. Despite his drug induced performance, Robert Downey Jr. is perfectly cast as the troubled brother with secrets to protect from a family that can't accept modern life. Dylan McDermott is the pretty boy of the film but offers much more than a cute mug in his role as the charming outsider. Charles Durning and Anne Bancroft are brilliant as clueless parents who are stuck in the roles they took upon themselves many years ago; both are unknowingly hilarious just like most parents who prefer to keep their eyes closed. Cynthia Stevenson is great as the perfectionist sister that seems to lurk about in every family and marries a nerd so that she can pretend to be happy. But the true scene stealer of this film has to be Geraldine Chaplin as crazy but oblivious Aunt Gladys, you cannot watch her performance and not fall on the floor in hysterics! Overall this is the perfect holiday movie to bring good cheer where little may truly exist.....after all if you can't laugh at yourself what is the point in holiday reunions, isn't that what brings us back home year after year? Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. Home for Thanksgiving , December 20, 2005 Reviewer: Kim Possible Finicatata "Jen" (Grand Blanc,MI) - See all my reviews I also saw this in one of my classes in college.I think it was the 2nd movie we've seen. The 1st was nobody's fool.this was the 2nd. It's about a woman,who gets fired on Thanksgiving Eve,and goes home to her family on Thanksgiving. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 1 of 3 people found the following review helpful: what's the story? There is no story , November 23, 2005 Reviewer: Rottenberg's rotten book review (nyc) - See all my reviews "Home for the Holidays" is meant to be a post-modern response to years on crudely bogus holiday specials that nobody takes seriously. Somebody must have thought it was high time for a story that actually depicts the mean spiritedness that comes out whenever family gets together, and it's too cold outside to escape. Unfortunately, it's a weird dish of a story that tosses everything at you, but never comes together. Holly Hunter is Claudia, a single mom dragooned by fate to face the weekend with her parents. Forced to sexually service her boss on pain of getting fired, Claudia winds up unemployed nonetheless. Her parents are a compulsively edged-out Anne Bancroft and a terminally mellow Charles Durning - a former airline worker who watches old movies in the basement and keeps a sweet song handy in his head for when scenes get too involved. But Claudia's sibs aren't any help either - with Robert Downey Jr. as Claudia's gay brother and the cute Cynthia Stephenson playing against type as Joanne, Claudia's sister, a button-down, bad-tempered type at odds with her brother's lifestyle. The story traps them all within Durning's house - 5 characters in search of a story. Part of the problem is that the tone is so uneven, you're never sure what kind of story "Home" is meant to be - it could be a bittersweet comedy, but it's never all that funny, and the characters never suggest sufficient depth needed for a decent drama. Some parts are just too cute to be belived - including Dylan Mcdermott as a straight friend of Downey's character who will be drawn to Claudia; Geraldine Chaplin as Claudia's batty aunt Gladys; also David Straithairn as Russ, a boiler repairman having a horrible year. According to IMDB.com legend, Robert Downey Jr. went through the flick hopelessly stoned and, unable to keep him clean & sober, director Jodie Foster just ratcheted up the film's speed to match its star. Claudia's parents are very conventional, but not so much as to be intolerant of their madcap son - if you were gay, you could do worse than Charles Durning's character as your father. On the contrary, it's Joanne with her straitlaced ways that suffers being on the outs with her family and the story, suffering just about every indignity the weekend can throw at her and her dim-witted husband (Steve Guttenberg). What really kills the story is its focus on Claudia who, unemployment aside, is so otherwise normal, it's difficult to understand what she's doing there - she plays little if any part in the weird stuff that goes on that weekend, she's the main character in a story that doesn't much involve her. That said, I'm not going to outright slam the story - it's a holiday story that's watchable as long as you don't think about too much. I first caught this flick on TV around Thanksgiving about 8 years back when I lost my job, so it's a bit of a sentimental fave, and sentimentality means seldom having to ask yourself what you're watching. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 2 of 3 people found the following review helpful: "What's the point?" "There is no point..." , November 22, 2005 Reviewer: A viewer (NJ) - See all my reviews Ten years after I first saw it in the theatre, I'm about to pull out my DVD for my annual screenings (almost on a continuous loop) beginning a few days before and ending a few days after Thanksgiving. Who needs the Thanksgiving Day Parade when you can watch Home for the Holidays? This is one of my holiday favorites and a staple every year at Thanksgiving. The script is unique, the performances spot-on, and the soundtrack is classic (from Nat King Cole and Tom Jones to Rusted Root's impeccable cover of Evil Ways). The actors deliver spectacular individual performances, all of which are praiseworthy--- my favorite may be Robert Downey Jr's outstanding portrayal of brother Tommy, which may be my favorite role of his in any movie, Chaplin notwithstanding--- right down to the smallest roles of the beleaguered co-passengers in the airport. This movie, above all, makes me feel that our modern American family, however wacky they may be, however much our parents make us nuts, is really just that--- the modern American family. And it's okay to be wacky, because family (however it's defined) is just that. And we love them and they love us. The movie makes a point of asking "What's the point?" several times, only to be told there is none. But the point is that we keep our sense of humor, we love our family, and we accept that we'll probably never understand them-- or they us. Just have fun, have some turkey, and have some love. I love this movie. It makes a great pairing with Love Actually as Thanksgiving ends and Christmas begins, if you want to keep smiling and feel the holiday love. Happy holidays! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 3 of 4 people found the following review helpful: Enjoying the Humor of family and holidays! , October 17, 2005 Reviewer: M. Alley (Arkansas) - See all my reviews This movie is a must for those that dread the family gatherings. It touches on so many aspects of life it is amazing the movie is not 6 hours long. I recommend this for viewing all year long. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 85 customer reviews... Listmania! Treasured Dysfunctional Thanks... : by Invisible Lizard "ardent reade... Thanksgiving movies : by mijacogeo22 "mijacogeo22" Thanksgiving Movies & Spec... : by Jakki So You'd Like to... Enjoy Reality-based, twisted, dark Holiday Movies : by MontezumesRevenge , Victim of the perfect fantasy media family, sooo ... "See The Films Contributing To My State Of Sloth : Pt 8" : by youngrhi , "Room Filler" Know the Queens of Comedy! : by reelgood , movie critic Fun Facts from IMDb.com: Nominations Click here to see more Nominations GLAAD Media Awards: GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film Young Artist Awards: Young Artist Award for Best Young Leading Actress - Feature Film Trivia Click here to see more Trivia Robert Downey Jr. publicly admitted to using drugs during the making of this film, and to having great difficulty filming his scenes. Jodie Foster tried to intervene but could not. Goofs Click here to see more Goofs The whipped cream on Claudia's father's pie. Movie Connections Click here to see more Movie Connections References: Shaft | Silkwood | Jurassic Park Features: Wheel of Fortune Quotes Click here to see more Quotes Joanne : You're calling me a freak? Tommy : No, I'm calling you a product of baboon lovin'. There's a distinction. Tommy : Well, that was absurd, let's eat dead bird! For more information about "Home for the Holidays" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) Look for similar items by category Browse similar items in: DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( B ) > Bancroft, Anne DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( C ) > Chaplin, Geraldine DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( D ) > Danes, Claire DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( D ) > Downey Jr., Robert DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( D ) > Durning, Charles DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( G ) > Guttenberg, Steve DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( H ) > Hunter, Holly DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( M ) > McDermott, Dylan DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( P ) > Paton, Angela DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( P ) > Pendleton, Austin DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( S ) > Stevenson, Cynthia DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( S ) > Strathairn, David DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( Y ) > Yasbeck, Amy DVD > Directors > ( F ) DVD > Genres > Comedy > By Theme > Family Gatherings DVD > Genres > Comedy > General DVD > Genres > Kids & Family > Holidays & Festivals > Christmas Suggestion Box Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. 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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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