Insights about the property market in South of France & Monaco
Search that’s more than smoke and mirrors…
Mirrors are fascinating. From the moment someone first saw their image in a pool of water we have loved looking at ourselves. There’s something magic about a mirror. Snow White’s Queen talked to hers. The Lady of Shalott was forced to look at the world reflected in...
As safe as houses
The rights and wrongs of the Cyprus bailout by fellow Eurozone members and the IMF have resulted in many column inches of discussion in the press and elsewhere. Whatever the moral hazard with any given point of view on this subject there is no doubt that it has been a...
Perspective and truth: South of France property at the end of 2012
Too good to miss! Buy now! Amazing bargains available! Stay away from France! The worst time to buy property in 25 years! Both propositions are extravagant, and unlikely to impress or persuade. But is there any truth in either? It has been said that there is no such...
Sauce Hollandaise…
As we’ve mentioned before, there is a French expression “à quelle sauce serons nous mangés”. Literally, what sauce will be served when we are gobbled up by the government, the taxman or any other entity we disagree with. Unless there is a huge surprise next Sunday,...
South of France Property Market 2012 mid year update
A small but noticeable increase in confidence In our market commentary at the beginning of the year we concluded that while there had been a reduction in transactional volumes, 2011 had seen a small but noticeable uptick in activity and confidence and the early signs...
French Tax alert
Thank you to our friends at Lawrence Graham LLP, Monaco for this update. Trustee’s filing requirements: What deadline? On 23 December 2011 the French Tax Authorities issued a Tax Ruling regarding the filing obligations applicable to Trustees under the new law....
Analysis of the French Property Market during the ongoing Eurozone crisis
‘annus horribilis' It is already very clear to everyone involved in the top end real estate market in France that 2012 is shaping up to be the ‘annus horribilis’ that many feared. The euro crisis, together with a deleveraging market, are causing problems on a major...
Buyer beware? Buyer be ruthless!
When the fundamentals of a property market such as that which exists in the South of France have not changed in decades what suddenly modifies the all important balance between supply and demand? A very frothy sellers’ market in 2007 changing to a painfully subdued...
The Historic Grand Prix of Monaco 2012 is just over a week away!
This fantastic event is very much an antidote to the ‘real’ Monaco Grand Prix and is much more relaxed and sociable. It just oozes style, charm and fun. Encapsulating the lifestyle that Monaco and the Cote d’Azur have to offer; it is a superb ‘advert’ for the region....
A Country House dilemma, the Cotswolds or Provence?
That was the question that I pondered for many years, married to a stockbroker with a dream to leave the City and retire to the country! Well, as far as I was concerned having a house in Gloucestershire and looking through the windows at a garden that could rarely be...
South of France property investment hotspots 2012
Overview The South of France property market has not been immune to post Lehman difficulties and has seen a significant reduction in the number of transactions as well as prices achieved in almost all market sectors. That said, activity levels picked up in 2011 and...