Cannes Real Estate

Cannes – an accommodation, services and Real Estate Blog in Cannes

Cannes Property Letter 85

Posted on | November 17, 2009 | No Comments

Apartment “Cannes Californie” – See details below.

Dear All,

This is likely to be my last Property Letter in 2009, so I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas, and health, happiness and prosperity in
2010.

TO INVEST OR NOT TO INVEST

There are “extra issues” surrounding people’s already difficult decisions as to whether and when to invest in property in France, how much to invest, how much to borrow, and over how long a period. They are issues that are out of our control – and they change all the time. So one might say that judgements are required, and these can be wrong, slightly wrong, slightly right, or very right, either by accident or through financial brilliance, a faculty that we don’t all possess!

These “extra issues” are such things as relative strengths of currencies, changing rates of interest, and foreign currency restrictions (especially in South Africa).

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CANNES PL 84: PROPERTY LETTER 20th October 2009.

Posted on | October 22, 2009 | No Comments

“Snapshots from the Med” – spot the odd one out!
Croatia Sept & Oct 2008 300
Croatia Sept & Oct 2008 442
My Car 006
It’s my boat – want to argue?
It’s our scooter, couldn’t be cuter.
It’s my Porsche – and I’ll poop if I want to.
IMG_6089
Azur Eden 002
It’s my breakfast – Garth pass the toast.
“C’est chez nous” – our place in the sun.

PL 84: PROPERTY LETTER 20th October 2009.

Dear All,

RECESSION RECEDING

The last few months of 2008 and the first part of 2009 were very tough, butwe’re still here. We had almost no sales at all through our agency or personally from about September to April. Rentals too nose-dived and major congresses shrivelled to look like very small ones.

That’s all changing thankfully and we and our staff and colleagues have a spring in our steps again.

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Cannes Property Letter 83

Posted on | August 18, 2009 | 1 Comment

The final property in the letter today is in this historic building. Scroll to the end to read about it.

PL 83: PROPERTY LETTER 14th August 2009.

Dear All,

KEEPING MY PROMISES.

In my last Property Letter (which was my first attempt at separation and entitled “Just Villas”) I told you that we had quite a number of very interesting apartments becoming available, including some in the most affordable price range. Today you have them – a very good selection of interesting apartments arranged in price order. I recommend that if you are pressed for time you find your level and look at properties in that range rather than reading through properties that are of no relevance to you – being either far too small, or far too expensive.

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Tax change to impact on European property market

Posted on | August 3, 2009 | No Comments

The dynamic of the European property market is set to change considerably in the New Year, with the UK potentially the biggest loser, according to Pierre & Vacances (P&V) Group.

From 1 January 2010 next year, companies and trustees managing investment funds in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and British Virgin Islands will be able to invest in French property free of the French annual 3% tax on their open market value. This will radically alter the flow of funds within Europe.
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Just Villas

Posted on | July 16, 2009 | No Comments

Just Villas (First issue – 9th July 2009)

Dear All,

For just over seven years I have been sending “Property Letters” from Cannes and the Cote d’Azur to interested people, but as I noted last time (in P.L. no. 82) I am increasingly torn between different types of product: Workhorses and income generators, strict investment properties, luxury apartments, and villas. Obviously someone looking for rental studios might not be interested in villas or luxury penthouses on La Croisette, and those looking for a retirement home don’t want to wade through pages of studios on offer.

I promised to attempt a separation and here is my first issue of “Just Villas”. I really hope you find it interesting. Even if we can’t all buy the villa of our dreams, we can aspire to one, and my philosophy is that knowledge is valuable, so if you can’t buy, then perhaps you will learn and that might be of use in the future.

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The Zimbabwean Advertisement wins at Cannes

Posted on | June 26, 2009 | No Comments

Cannes Property Letter 16th June 2009

Posted on | June 24, 2009 | No Comments

PROPERTY LETTER 16th June 2009.

IMG_0410

Photo by Mandy Jarvis

WHAT IS THE PROPERTY MARKET DOING ON THE COTE D’AZUR?

Everyone wants to know the answer to that question, and I can relate what I see in the marketplace, and what I’ve heard or read.

Internationally it is becoming accepted that we are through the worst. Britain has officially returned to growth (the recession therefore is officially over) although recovery will be slow and unemployment will continue to rise, and businesses will continue to close for another year or more. Europe is likewise returning to growth. Mortgage lending is on the increase in the UK and France, and house prices are edging upwards. The pain is far from over, but there is hope again.

This quote is from Edmund Conway writing in The Daily Telegraph on 10th June 2009:

“The recession is almost certainly over. The economy will return to growth imminently, if it isn’t doing so already. The evidence surrounds us: surveys show that the services sector, worth three quarters of our national output, is growing again, and it emerged yesterday that the manufacturing sector is doing the same. Having slimmed down, and cut costs and inventories, companies are making money once more; banks are even starting to lend more freely to households and businesses.”

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Property Letter 81: PROPERTY LETTER 5th March 2009.

Posted on | March 6, 2009 | No Comments

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Winter Morning in Forville Market – Cannes.
(Photos – by Mandy Jarvis)

PL 81

PROPERTY LETTER 5th March 2009.

Dear All,

As we head out of winter the Bay of Cannes is filling with the multi coloured sails of small yachts in early competitions, the brilliant gold of Mimosas line every roadside and splash across the hillsides and spring flowers are bursting into bloom. A greyer than normal winter (in more ways than one) is giving way to the sunshine that we expect on the Cote d’Azur. The last two weeks of February at least were lovely, and a timely reminder of just why we are all here.

I had an enormous response to my last Property Letter which was very pleasing, and many asked whether the market was softening? Are prices coming down “yet”? Are there particularly good deals and bargains to be had? I have answered each of those letters individually, but now in general terms, for what they are worth here are some thoughts:

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TVA/ VAT and bookings

Posted on | March 3, 2009 | No Comments

For  bookings made through Azure Online UK there is no VAT on the invoices made out since Azure Online is not a VAT registered company.

For bookings made through SARL Everything Cannes, prices are inclusive of TVA, & customers may get a TVA invoice on completion of the rental

Whether Customers can claim back their TVA or not, we are not qualified to advise on. They need to see their own accountant or seek specialist advice

Cost of doing business in France

Posted on | February 25, 2009 | No Comments

We provide a large range of services, some of which (Houskeeping, for example) are very labour intensive. We have been asked in the past to ‘Justify’ the prices that we charge for these labour intensive services, and to that end herewith some broad information and explanations in the spirit of transparency and accountability!

Noone gets rich in France on labour intensive businesses. Not even us! :-)

We choose to operate 100% legally and by the book, employing full time staff on CDI’s (permanent employment contracts).

A CDI offers better protection and conditions to the employee, and it affords the company more trust and confidence between us and our employees. But is is expensive, and it is less flexible to the employer than employing temp staff.

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