Dear All,

Having fairly recently sent you a Property Letter (17th February) and promised to follow up with some more properties, I am going to split this into two separate letters, aimed at two different audiences. You will receive both however as I can not know which you will find more interesting or relevant, and many of you will enjoy reading about both:

A “Property Letter” containing a selection of medium and low budget investment properties. But don’t let that detract from them for one minute – there are some gems amongst them, and some (which I have indicated) represent particularly good value in the market right now.

A “Platinum Properties” Letter with a small selection of luxury properties.

Cannes is a place which stands out in the world as home to luxury, and we have been able to source a number of truly exceptional apartments in the last few weeks and months. Properties such as these, for those who can afford them, are accepted as blue chip investments by wealthy and discerning people around world – they can not be duplicated or reproduced
elsewhere, they are rare and sought after, and they steadily increase in value while giving years and years of security and pleasure to their fortunate owners. They do not change hands regularly, and when they do they don’t generally come on to the market at all, but change hands amongst people who know each other.

There is no question that the market has awoken and sales are taking place at an increasing rate. The result is that there are some very good offers right now and it is ‘the time to buy’. Vicky and I attended a bank function (hosted by the Dutch bank ABN Amro) and some of the points made by the speakers were that FNAIM (the property industry regulatory body of which we are members) report that prices in France were up 1% in January, and that came
on the back of a 2% rise in the last quarter of last year. Their information is that the drop in prices in the Cote d’Azur was never as dramatic as in the rest of France anyway because; as they said “everyone anywhere in the world with money wants to buy a place on the Cote d’Azur”. Good news for us who have invested, and very nice to have banker confidence!

With kind regards,

Guy.

If you follow the links you will be able to read about the properties, look at a gallery of photos, and see the position of each property on a map.

Please know that if you are interested in any property or properties but don’t understand how the finances work; what total costs will be by the time you get to signing; what rental returns are likely to be compared to the running costs and the cost of finance; I will willingly send you a “financial” on any specific property or properties, answering your questions.

A great studio for the rental market in Cannes – situated just 200m from the beaches of the Croisette it suits either short or long term rentals. The apartment on the 3rd floor of a good building looks out unobstructed across a very open view of the pleasant suburb of Basse Californie. It has a living room with a very Provencal open plan kitchen, and a shower and toilet. But it also has a large terrace which has been glassed in adding significantly to the useable living space, and making a comfortable studio apartment into a large and comfortable studio apartment. It is double glazed, fully furnished, fully equipped, and comes with a garage in the basement and a cellar. A garage in this part of town has real value and can be sold separately (if desired) as it is a separate “lot” on the title deed. There is a tenant in the apartment paying a regular monthly rental and it is the buyer’s choice as to whether he stays or goes, but if it seems interesting to take over a “going concern” then we would recommend keeping him as he pays well.

Typical Petit Juas. Sea in the distance

Petit Juas is a quaint and old suburb on the hill overlooking Cannes from the north west. It is on the opposing hill to La Californie which overlooks Cannes from the north east. Behind Petit Juas one climbs further into the hills and into the exclusive suburb of La Croix des Gardes. Petit Juas is made up of little streets, many of them one way, and gorgeous houses which are proudly looked after and preserved. It is more “French” than La Californie and La Croix des Gardes which had a lot of foreign (English and American) influence a century and more ago, and some huge and wonderful villas and residences. Petit Juas is less imposing, and for this reason it is an up-and-coming suburb in Cannes. There is a great deal of building and renovation taking place and the character of the suburb is largely respected. We have seen values rise considerably in the area because it is very much in demand. A lot of young people live there because it is “vibey” and affordable, and very close to Cannes, considerably closer than our own suburb of Palm Beach in fact. The building is modern and well cared for, with a permanent guardian. It is only 700m from the Palais des Festivals The apartment on the 5th floor is quiet (the road five floors below is a single lane, one way local street) and spacious, and with a lovely open balcony and view it has much potential. As it is it is someone’s second home or holiday home, used for occasional visits to Cannes over many years. It would benefit from a facelift, and there is much value to be had. It consists of a large living room opening onto the east facing terrace, a bedroom, a bathroom and separate toilet, and a separate kitchen. It has a cellar in the basement and a garage too.

This large studio is a perfect rental property. It is on the first floor of a very good building so the entrance and common areas are modern, light and spotless. If one leans out of one of the large front windows and looks right, one can see the Palais des Festivals 200m away at the bottom of the street. If one looks left, the Cannes
central railway station is 200m away at the top of the street. This very pleasant apartment is in an absolutely ideal situation for the conference rental market. Position, position, position.

This ground floor apartment on the western slopes of the charming suburb of Petit Juas and looking directly south and west has a lovely garden terrace. From it one looks over the old and quaint suburb and the valley de Riou to the sea below. It is a 10 minute walk to the Old Port, the covered Forville Market, and the Palais des Festivals, but because it is hilly it seems further than it is. In reality it is no further from the Palais than the Martinez Hotel on the Croisette – in practice it’s a bit more daunting than that, particularly going home as it is quite steep in parts.

The building is a fairly modern six floor block of apartments in very good condition, with a guardian, and a large parking area. With this apartment comes a designated (numbered) parking space, but there is guest parking too. One enters a hall and a large living room, made larger by the knocking down of a wall to incorporate a third bedroom into the living area. This was a good idea because the bedroom was small and so was the living room. Now it has a very large and light living room and still had two bedrooms. The smaller of them looks out the back (north) and the main bedroom looks straight out at the gardened private terrace. Charming. There is a bathroom, separate toilet and an equipped kitchen with a small pantry Footnote: The terrace is delightful and faces full-south. The view is unobstructed and includes lovely old French architecture in some of the buildings one overlooks, and more than a glimpse of the Bay of Cannes is visible below. The building was constructed in 1964 so it’s relatively modern, it is in very good overall condition, and there is much to be said for having property in reasonable modern well maintained buildings. Old can be romantic, but not so old can be a lot less demanding.

The building has two entrances, one from the Avenue Lerins which splits the southern tip of Palm Beach peninsula up the middle, and the other from Boulevard Gazagnaire which is the eastern beachside boulevard. One can therefore exit the building straight onto the beach, or away from it and virtually directly onto the Place de l’Etang famous for its “boulles” and its charm and ever popular restaurants and village atmosphere.

The apartment on the 3rd floor looks away from the eastern beach at the buildings of Palm Beach and the Place below. It is not a sea view but it is a charming view, and many would favour the western aspect of the apartment anyway. The apartment is completely renovated, light and very bright, with a modern and pleasant kitchen and spacious bathroom and toilet. The living room and bedroom both open onto a very attractive balcony / terrace. The price is quite correct for the area but may be open to discussion, and as a holiday apartment it is perfect. Similarly, it is very well placed and equipped for short term holiday and conference rentals. It is being sold furnished and ready to work.

The position and the size in tiny pedestrian Rue Casanova right in the heart of Cannes is extraordinary from a rentals point of view. It is in the heart of the shopping and restaurant area, and only a minute or two to the Palais des Festivals. The apartment is situated on the side of the building which is away from the street and looks out onto its very own courtyard away from any roads, and therefore it is quiet!

It comprises three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a very spacious living room with an open plan kitchen – and it all opens onto a terrace of 40m² – with the ability to entertain with or without a gazebo, for which a frame is in place. The apartment is air conditioned and entirely renovated so there is nothing required to be done apart from furnishing.

The bedrooms are all spacious enough and two are air conditioned (and the third could be), but all are interior bedrooms with small windows and no view. If the bedrooms are well furnished with plenty of light this is not important to the rental potential, as the large light living room and terrace is where people will spend their time when not sleeping. Worth considering!

Certain reservation requests which come through 3rd party marketing sources (that we have been, and continue to actively develop) directly to the Property Owner and will allow the Property Owner direct and full contact with the prospective guest, allowing them to do a deal on an ‘Owner Direct’ basis.

(NOTE: This will NOT include requests that come through the http://www.everythingcannes.com and http://www.azur-online.com websites, since those are ‘Full Service’ websites, offering a packaged set of value additions to the rental price, including all servicing and taxes.)

How will Azure Everything Benefit?

1. We are constantly striving to improve our relationships both with property owners and renting customers, and to provide value to them both. (And to offer a bit more than they may find elsewhere!)

2. We see the market moving toward this model more and more, and we aim to provide a competetive and useful platform which will facilitate contact between property owner and renter on a fair, transparent and secure basis for both parties.

3. We are strategically moving toward the provision of Value Add services directly to the owner and to the renter which will be able to easily be offered alongside each booking taken, services such as

• Secure Credit Card Processing of payments
• Escrow services for Security Deposits.
• Provision of verified and tested templated contracts for the protection of both parties, and a mediation platform.
• Use of technology platform to facilitate exchange of said contracts, and more, in keeping with legal requirements
• Checkin & Checkout (Meet & Greet) services
• Houskeeping, cleaning, linen & Grocery services
• Guest Support and Concierge services

We  provide a platform for Owners and Renters both to be able to make use of all the above services, for a fair fee, should they wish. We thus envisage that Property Owners will be able to offer their apartment at the lowest possible price, making the decision on a case by case basis on which services they will take care of themselves, and which they will use our company for. We aim to make it as easy and as competetive as possible for a property owner to use our professional, guaranteed services, but realise that ‘DIY” can often be much cheaper and thus we will not force it on anyone!

Likewise, the Renting Customer will have the opportunity to use any of the services above (if not already offered by the owner) allowing them to custom-design the level of servcie and support that they wish to receive, and allowing them to choose whether the owner provides this service, or whether they wish our professional service-focused company to do this.

We believe that this is a new and innovative business model, and we are betting the bank that it will be of superb benefit to both Property Owners in Cannes and surrounds, and to people renting accommodation in Cannes.

From the various tradeshows from the Cannes Film Festival through MIPIM, Cannes Lions and MIPCOM, business delegates find it a great tool to keep up with the local buzz and to communicate on a handy platform with others at the same show.

For pleasure visitors to the region, there are handy hints, Videos, streaming up to date blog articles on must-do’s, events and local news.

For details on where to download, visit the EverythingCannes.com website by clicking the link, and follow the instructions!!

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).

Many of us don’t feel knowledgeable or confident enough to make these big decisions, so we act on what we can see before us or “know”, especially if the alternative is to lapse into paralysis.

What do we know today?

• The market on the Cote d’Azur bottomed last winter and is slowly recovering. It didn’t fall anywhere near as hard as in the rest of France, and France in turn didn’t fall as hard as the UK and the USA for example. Together with Germany it was able to emerge from recession fairly quickly and return to growth. The property market is moving upwards again too.
• Finance is being offered and interest rates are attractively below 4%.
• One does not need to “cash in” ones US$ or sterling (both remain low against a strong Euro) in order to borrow in Euros. There are alternatives to this and these alternatives may be worth investigating. (If you are interested I will supply you with information and reliable and professional contacts for further discussion).
• The South African Rand remains strong and seems unlikely to get stronger (most predict that it will weaken over the next couple of years). Add to this the fact that the South African government has just increased the “once in a lifetime” allowance from R2m to R4m, the annual allowance per person from R500 000 to R750 000, and the business allowance for external investment from R50m to R500m (as I understand it) and one has a situation that for South African investors abroad looks very much brighter. (This regulatory change, welcome as it is, might be partly aimed at weakening the Rand to help exporters?)

With all things considered, is it a good time to invest? I think so. There are some very good properties coming onto the market.

NEW BUILDS

We have visited some very interesting sites for future new builds recently, some with work underway and some yet to start. I don’t normally feature these programmes in my Property Letters but I feel that there are some who might be interested, and I invite you to contact me directly if you are.

We have access to apartments in buildings under construction and off plan by some of the most well respected developers nationally, at constructors’ prices, in Cannes and in Juan les Pins.

• Excellent positions.
• Guaranteed delivery dates in 2010 and 2011.
• Finance options available.
• Staged payments.
• Rental options (if required).
• A choice of price and size options still available.
• Sophistication inside and out.
• Materials with a touch of charm.
• High quality amenities.

Prices are fairly predictable for this type of investment, and a rule of thumb says that the price upon completion is normally better than that paid (and often a lot better). Transfer and notary charges are about 2 – 3% instead of 7%, and there is by law a 10 year constructor’s guarantee on the building.

Please contact me for much more detail on specific projects if you are interested.

INFORMATION SNIPPETS

Credit Cards in France.

In recent Property Letters I have pointed out that “the French do not have a culture of credit” which has helped them weather the storm of our current recession better than most. Yesterday Vicky was at the bank enquiring on behalf of an owner as to whether he might be able to have a French credit card, and the answer is that “yes, he can, but interest is charged from the day of the transaction at 18% – 20%”. No wonder the French don’t do much credit! All French people carry their “Carte Bleu”, as we do, but it is a debit card. Credit cards are still largely unknown in France.

Long term visas for non-EU citizens.

Another owner recently took the trouble to attempt to clarify their position in respect of long term visas with a senior Consul. We are so often asked for our advice on this issue that I thought it worth relating what they discovered.

The longest visa one can apply for is 5 years, and that is issued at the discretion of the Consul. It would be influenced by whether one has had a French visa previously and for how long. If the previous visa was for 6 months then the next visa might be for a year, and if the previous one was for a year, the next might be for two years and so on. In essence one has to prove to the French that ones intention is not to stay permanently in France. At the end of the day though – it’s at the Consul’s discretion.

As always, please let me know if you would rather not receive these Property Letters and I’ll remove your address from the list.

Please have a look at our website – comments would be welcomed:

www.azur-accom.com

With kind regards,

Guy.

A RARE PIECE OF CONSTRUCTIBLE LAND FOR SALE IN MOUGINS

When one imagines the perfect situation for an exclusive villa in Mougins, one thinks of “space”, “panoramic views of sea and countryside”, “ancient olive trees”, “timeless terraces”, and “quiet”.

If that’s your ideal, then please read on:

Ancient terraces
Ancient Olives

There is not much constructible land that meets those criteria left in Mougins, but here we have:

• 3 500m² of land.
• COS : 0.15 (meaning a house can be built with floor space of 0.15 of the land area, or 525m²)
• Wide views of the sea, mountains including the snowy Alps, the rolling hillsides of Mougins district, and the Mediaeval Old Town of Mougins on the hilltop opposite. Wow factor complete!
• The aspect of the slope and the view is predominantly south and west, with views of the Alps in the east.

Alps in the east	Hilltop Old Mougins south east	Sea in the south west

The land consists of ancient terraces and some (14) beautiful old olive trees, citrus and figs. Those trees that need to be removed for construction
purposes can be re-planted to suit the landscaper’s needs. Centuries old olives are relocated regularly and successfully now, with mechanical help and
lifting.

Existing house	Existing studio

Living room of existing house	View from the window

• Existing buildings: – at the bottom corner of the plot is a house built in Napoleon’s time (200 years old). It has a lovely picture window (added later) looking south from a large living room, a kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. It is still used by the owner’s family for holidays and is in perfect order, if dated. Below it is a huge cellar carved into the rock, perfectly dry and as the seller points out with conditions ideally suited to storing wine.
  There is also a two car garage and a studio apartment adjacent. The house is about 80m² and the studio about 20m², and in theory if all this is preserved it should be deducted from the 525m² of construction allowed, leaving 425m² (still a big villa). However there are other options:
  • One might apply to the municipality for planning permission for 0.15 new (the entire 525m²).
  • One need not necessarily buy the buildings which are in the bottom corner – the sellers are prepared to apply for a sub-division of the
    buildings and keep them.
  • One could (perhaps) destroy existing buildings and start again.
• Three big advantages already exist:
  • The plot is linked in to municipal sewage disposal.
  • Water is connected.
  • Electricity is on site.
• Although the plot stands at the very end of a virtually private narrow cul-de-sac the fire department have issued a certificate – their vehicles can turn there! However they will require the installation of a hydrant.

Construction costs for new buildings which include landscaping, a swimming pool and driveway, range from 2 500€ to 3 000€ per m². Therefore the
cost of construction of a full sized villa is in the 1m€ to 1.5m€ range.

Asking price for the land only – 935 000€.

Asking price for the land and buildings – 1 210 000€.

The numbers speak for themselves – for less than 2.5m€ you will have the villa of your dreams.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/205

PLEASE NOTE – The properties below are listed in ascending price order.

• The prices quoted are asking prices only.
• The selection offered represents a few properties chosen from many, so if what you are looking for is not here, we can tailor-make our search for you.

Please remember that if you follow the links you will be able to read about the properties, look at a gallery of photos, and look at the position of the properties on a map.

• 43m² of living space.
• Little balconies.
• 23m² of private garden.
• Bourgeois (late 19^th / early 20^th century).
• Aspect east and west.
• Views of the old Petit Juas and rooftops – and a tiny bit of sea.
• Asking price – 214 000€.

This is a charming apartment on the first floor of a two storey house, down a little cul-de-sac barely wide enough for a small car, amongst equally charming little houses all around. It is a gorgeous area. The apartment itself has been renovated and comprises a living room with small balconettes, a bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom and separate toilet.

Downstairs one passes on foot through a (head high) tunnel below the building to exit in the front south facing garden which has been partitioned into three lots, one for the owner of each of the floors. The building is on a slope of course – it is a very hilly little area on the edge of central Cannes. The garden allocated to the first floor is adjoined by a workshop and a little studio with water and electricity at basement level, and one can easily envisage the area as a summer kitchen, a popular practice here, or taking out the partition to create a single larger room.

The area is quiet, quaint, and has an “old France” character and feel. Parking is a nightmare as you expect in these narrow streets, but somehow the atmosphere is very relaxed and happy. People living in Petit Juas never want to move! The apartment is fine for longer term letting, but just a little out of range for conference rentals.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/201

Boulevard Carnot.

Two bedroom apartment.

• 90m² of living space.
• 1^st floor of 5.
• Exposition east and west.
• Views of the city.
• Terrace over the street.
• Asking price – 267 000€.

Look at the living space and look at the price!

This very spacious apartment has been cheaply renovated, so it all needs to be done again (in my opinion), but at this price one can afford to. It is on a busy
street leading to the centre of Cannes, less than 5 minutes walk to the railway station and eight minutes to the Palais des Festivals. However, the building is not gracious as many in this street are, but a 1960’s building in need of some care. That doesn’t mean there’s anything structurally wrong with it. I
don’t think there is. It just needs some t.l.c. and perhaps it’s on the cards – one can find out.

The apartment traverses the building, and there is a lift. There is also air conditioning in the two big bedrooms which face the hillside on the western side (no
traffic), and in the living room which opens via a balcony to overlook the bustling street below. It has one big bathroom and a separate toilet. There is very obviously potential here at this price, for someone brave wishing to “turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse”! It can certainly be done and someone will inevitably do very well here.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/197

Freres Pradignac (again) One bedroom duplex apartment.

• 42m² of living space.
• Top floor of 4. (Lift – yes)
• Exposition north.
• View across the city.
• Asking price – 325 000€.

What this little street has is position and great character. Just a few months ago I wrote about an apartment in Rue des Freres Pradignac and it sold almost
immediately. Here is another.

The street is named after two brothers, heroes of the Resistance who died at the hands of the Nazis, and it is only two blocks long and one block removed from the Croisette, and it is right in the centre of town, close (two minutes) to the Palais des Festivals. It consists of early 20^th century character buildings with cast iron filigree balconettes lining a tiny one-way street that almost never sees a car. Apart from deliveries it is to all intents and purposes pedestrianised. It buzzes with life and local colour issuing from the string of small cafes and restaurants that spill out onto the pavement for its entire length. It’s a very good little street, and a very attractive position for rentals to conference delegates.

The apartment on the 4^th floor (with a lift) has been renovated and includes air conditioning and double glazing. I think all existing furnishing which has been provided for the conference market could be included if required (to be confirmed). It comprises a living room and open plan kitchen on the main floor and a bedroom and shower on the mezzanine.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/198

Croix des Gardes. Two bedroom apartment.

• 70.59m² of living space.
• Ground floor of 3.
• Aspect south and west.
• View of gardens and the sea.
• Terrace 22m².
• Garage.
• Cellar.
• Asking price – 465 000€

Croix des Gardes is the suburb west of Cannes and against the hillsides with lovely views across the Bay of Cannes and the Esterel mountains to the west. It has very well maintained residences, a little far from Cannes to benefit from conference rentals although only 10 minutes away by car. It is a suburb full of lovely homes and holiday homes, and of course has longer term rental prospects if rentals are the objective.

This apartment is in a very well maintained residence of standing built in 1991, with security. It is on the ground floor and benefits from views across the lovely gardens to the pool (there are two pools in the complex), and has lovely sea and mountain views beyond. It comprises a living room, equipped kitchen, two bedrooms (one of which opens onto the terrace) and a bathroom and separate toilet. There is a garage in the basement and a cellar.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/203

Guy’s Pick of the Month. Palm Beach Lerins. Two bedroom apartment.

• 80m² of living space.
• 20m² of terrace.
• 4^th floor of 5.
• Aspect west.
• View unbroken across central Palm Beach.
• Asking price – 490 000€.

This is a very good option right in the heart of Palm Beach. It is on the 4^th floor of a good building and traverses it from east to west so benefits from a through current of air. It is also on the end of the building so only has neighbours on one side.

The entrance hall is large and the living room also spacious (the two could / should be combined to make a really spacious living area). Both bedrooms are also spacious and the main one, as the living room does, opens onto a lovely wide terrace on the western side of the building. The second bedroom opens eastward onto a gardened area separating the residence from another which faces east and looks over the beach. There is a bathroom and a separate toilet, and an independent kitchen.

The balcony is the real bonus, being large and with views from the hills in the north to the Place de l’Etang in the south, across a school and a playing field
which can and will never be developed. Therefore the view, which includes a tiny bit of the Croisette and the sea between buildings, is unobstructed for hundreds of metres in all directions. It really is extremely open by Palm Beach standards and has the elevation to best benefit from the fact.

The apartment is in its original state – clean but dated and uninteresting inside. It lends itself perfectly to a moderate upgrade. It needs the hall and living room to be combined in order to maximise and make use of otherwise wasted space. It also needs a new kitchen and a second bathroom and toilet, a coat of paint, and some electrical upgrading. The floors are generally fine and don’t need to be touched.

The apartment in this position, close to beaches on both sides, right on the bus route to the centre of town which is anyway only a 15 minute walk away, and in the heart of the most desirable Palm Beach peninsula is a perfect investment property, a perfect holiday home, and a perfect rental option – or combination of all three. The asking price is very reasonable.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/206

Tristan Bernard – Presque Croisette. Two bedroom apartment.

• 84.75m² of living space.
• 2^nd floor of 5.
• Exposition south and east.
• View unobstructed including Croisette and some of Port Canto.
• Terrace – 13m² south facing.
• Asking price – 630 000€

This was two apartments, a studio apartment having been incorporated to enlarge an originally one bedroom apartment. It is very spacious with two bathrooms with toilets, and a guest toilet. The equipped kitchen is separate and opens onto its own north facing balcony. The living room and separate dining room are large and open onto a lovely south facing terrace. The possibility exists to very easily close the opening from the living room to the dining room to create a very pleasant third bedroom if desired. It would have its door, which already exists, on to the entrance hall, and would open onto the terrace via the wide glass doors.

The apartment has two cellars in the basement, and a very large garage. It is air conditioned, double glazed, the building is well maintained with a guardian and has a lift. It does require some renovation and modernisation as it is dated – however the position at the Cannes end of Palm Beach, overlooking Port Canto and the Croisette, and just a few short metres to the beaches is wonderful. A final advantage – it is about 100m from the little supermarket and the patisserie and shops of the Village Sablons.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/199

Palm Beach Ground Floor. Two bedroom apartment.

• 71.3m² of living space.
• 170m² of garden and driveway.
• Ground floor of a superior 4 floor block.
• Aspect – west.
• Views of the garden.
• 4 Cellars (yes, four! I don’t know why).
• A garage in the basement of the building.
• Asking price – 630 000€.

The apartment in the heart of Palm Beach peninsula is just a stones throw from the village and shops, the beaches east and west, and the Croisette. It has position. It has also been very recently renovated to a high standard, with a lovely big living room opening onto a deck in the garden and air conditioning.

There are two bedrooms and two bathrooms and a very modern and fully equipped kitchen. The apartment traverses the ground floor and the garden wraps around from west, to north and east, and both bedrooms also open onto it. The garden is simply and economically designed to be clean and easy to look after. There is a garden gate so it is quite possible to drive many cars into the premises if required. One has an overriding impression of being in a villa, or a house and not an apartment.

The building was constructed in 1965 and is very sound, clean and looked after with a full time guardian.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/202

Gazagnaire. Two bedroom apartment.

• 66m² of living space.
• 20m² of terrace.
• 2^nd floor of 5.
• Aspect south west.
• View of the sea.
• Swimming pool.
• 2 Parking spaces.
• Cellar.
• Asking price – 640 000€

This sea front apartment is in a high quality 1970 building with a guardian. Lovely gardens are very well maintained and the swimming pool is one of the few in Palm Beach. It is on the eastern edge of Palm Beach overlooking the rocky coastline just 200 metres from the beaches of Gazagnaire (a short walk along the sea’s edge to the beach). It is a beautiful situation and will make a wonderful holiday or second home.

The entrance hall leads to a large living room and kitchen, both of which open onto the glorious terrace with spectacular views of the sea, the Islands of Lerins and the Castle which was prison the “The Man with the Iron Mask” for 14 years, and immediately below the apartment the lovely gardens and pool. Both bedrooms are on the opposite side of the building so the apartment benefits from a through current of air. A bathroom and separate toilet is shared between them.

It has electric blinds and shutters and double glazing, and although it is used by the owners for holidays, it needs a freshening coat of paint and some minor repairs before occupation – possible new bathrooms and kitchen if one wanted to modernise them. There is a cellar and two private parking spaces.

TRAMONTANE – JUAN LES PINS. FOUR BEDROOM VILLA.

• 222m² of living space on two levels.
• Total roofed area 368m².
• 80m² of attic of which 30m² can be converted to habitation.
• 1009m² of garden.
• 36m² of terrace.
• Aspect south and west.
• View of garden & pool, Juan les Pins, and a tiny sea view.
• Heated pool and Jacuzzi.
• Covered parking for 2 cars.
• Total parking for 6 to 8 cars.
• Asking price – 1 100 000€.

Juan les Pins is at the neck of the Cap d’Antibes and is most famous for its beaches.

Peter Sarstedt’s 1969 hit “Where do you go to my lovely” contained the lines:

“When you go on your summer vacation

You go to Juan-les-Pins

With your carefully designed topless swimsuit

You get an even suntan on your back and on your legs”

The good news is that nothing’s changed in the last 40 years – they’re still flocking to Juan les Pins for an even suntan, for the world renowned annual jazz festival that features the likes of Joe Sample, Tracy Chapman and George Benson, for shopping, top class restaurants, the famous casino and much more. It is just 8 km from Cannes, the other side of the bay and clearly visible from Palm Beach.

The villa is in a secure and gated “domaine” with about 12 others, and set back from the coast but only about a five minute walk away from the front, and
from shops and schools. It is very well situated for residential or holiday use. It is close to the main road from Cannes to Antibes and from the top floor one is aware of some sound of traffic – less so on the ground floor. The sound however is not invasive, and the domaine is so well surrounded by dense hedges and vegetation that it is very muffled.

There is a lovely big entrance, living room and a separate kitchen on the ground floor, as well as a bedroom, and a completely separate studio apartment with its own entrance. On the first floor are three spacious bedrooms, the main bedroom and bathroom being huge. All open onto lovely south facing balconies.

The garden is well established, automatically irrigated and contains some hundred year old olive trees which are a lovely bonus. The pool and Jacuzzi are delightful, and there is an equipped and well utilised summer kitchen outdoors, with an eating area under cover. The feel of the place is of a very well loved and happy home – we really felt comfortable there. There is nothing that needs doing – it is ready to move into.

• 140m² of living space.
• 40m² of south facing terrace.
• 15m² of east facing terrace.
• 11^th floor of 12.
• Aspect full east and south and west.
• View 270º – Panoramic from the snowy Alps in the east, through Nice and Juan les Pins, the Cap d’Antibes, the Iles de Lerins and Cannes, to the Esterel Mountains in the west.
• Swimming pool.
• Tennis courts (2).
• Two very big lock-up garages in an immaculate basement.
• Large cellar.
• Sophisticated and discreet security.
• Asking price – 2 000 000€.

The residence is amongst the most exclusive in Cannes. It is 12 floors high (the 12^th accessible only to the owners by private lift) but has only 48 apartments. It is set in its own beautifully gardened park of 12 hectares on the hillsides of La Californie, with some of the most spectacular views of the French Riviera imaginable, from the snowy Alps in the east to the red Esterel Mountains. One can clearly see Nice in the distance, and the whole of the Cap d’Antibes, Juan les Pins and Cannes just below. The Isles de Lerins; St Honorat with the oldest working monastery in Europe and St Marguerite home to the fort in which The Man with the Iron Mask was imprisoned for 14 years are just offshore. The views are simply breathtaking.

The residence is beautifully maintained with guardian and staff, all common areas are immaculate, and security is paramount but discreet. Many small touches of detail impress, such as a covered area close to basement lifts and garages, with trolleys provided in case one needs to offload shopping or luggage.

The apartment itself has the most wonderful living area 80m² in extent, opening onto the balcony which wraps around the apartment, south and east. The master bedroom also opens onto the balcony with exquisite views east and south, and the second bedroom with a private balcony looks east towards Nice and the Alps. The current owners only require the main bedroom so the second one is furnished and used as a study and second more intimate living room. Both bedrooms have a bathroom en suite, and there is a third, guest toilet. The spacious kitchen is fully equipped, and sweeps through the building to open onto the undeveloped and natural hillside behind.

There is an integrated sound system with speakers set in to every room, central locking and blind and shutter control, double glazing, and security door and alarm. I don’t think any detail has been overlooked.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/200

Cannes Californie. 3 Bedroom apartment.

• 200m² of living space.
• 20m² of terrace.
• Construction – Bourgeois.
• 1^st and top floor.
• Aspect south.
• Views across Cannes to the sea.
• Two separate 25m² studio apartments.
• Garage.
• Asking price – 2 460 000€

This is a wonderful Bourgeois (late 19^th century) building in Californie overlooking some of the most noble suburbs and homes of Cannes. The residence is part of a security “domaine” which comprises the main villa now divided into four apartments, and about 10 quality villas in extensive and luxurious grounds, all beautifully maintained with a high degree of discreet security. A guardian looks after the domaine.

The apartment is exceptional, and measures 150m² with a 20m² terrace, but it comes with two studio apartments and a garage and cellar.

It has been renovated to a very high standard and comprises a large entrance hall and grand living room with fireplace, which opens onto the spacious terrace with sweeping views across Cannes to the sea. It has an equipped open plan kitchen and two large and one small bedroom each with bathrooms; one bedroom opens onto a beautiful terrace.

The studios are on the ground floor and one has been renovated, the other requires some renovation. Both have kitchen and bathroom, and both are suitable for rental if that is an attractive option. They are not connected to each other, or to the main apartment.

• 250m² of living space.
• 3000m² of land.
• Aspect south.
• Views of the countryside and village.
• Stone construction – 1975.
• Swimming pool.
• Pool house.
• Independent apartment.
• Double garage.
• Parking for 8 cars.
• Asking price – 2 500 000€.

This is a lovely villa built of quality materials in the 70’s. It has been upgraded, renovated and loved, and has all the additional amenities one would expect
such as electric shutters and blinds, automatic gates etc.

The villa feels spacious with large volumes – it comprises an entrance hall and large living and dining room with fire place, and an office on a mezzanine with
access to a terrace. There is an independent equipped kitchen, and three bedrooms each with bathroom en-suite. A large terrace leads onto the pool, and there is a pool house with shower (and possibilities for an extra apartment or summer kitchen), and an independent studio apartment with its own entrance.

The well maintained garden has established and lovely trees, and there is a double garage and parking for about 8 cars if required.

This villa should be seen.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/204

It’s my breakfast – Garth pass the toast.	“C’est chez nous” – our place in the sun.

PL 84: PROPERTY LETTER 20^th 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.

In fact the market has visibly come alive. Our girls in
the agency are working overtime and at weekends handling enquiries, showing product and making sales. We now find ourselves looking for new properties to meet demand where only a few months ago we had properties on the shelf. Three of the last five properties that Vicky and I have personally been involved in never had a “for sale” sign on them, were never advertised, and didn’t make it into a Property Letter – because they sold as soon as they appeared on the market. A further two that we tried to secure for S.A. investors were “lost” because we didn’t move quickly enough. That is something we hadn’t experienced for a couple of years.

I have always maintained (through my Property Letters) that the French Riviera is a special market, different to the rest of France, different to the rest of Europe. It has its own dynamic. I have some figures (below) which refer to France as a whole. They are interesting to compare with wherever you might live, be that the UK, the USA, Ireland, Australia or South Africa. I suspect that the property market has fared a little better in France than in many of your own countries for reasons I have explained in previous Property Letters i.e. the French don’t have a culture of debt. When I have figures available for our own little sector (the Alpes Maritimes, Cote d’Azur) I think I will be able to show that we have fared better than the rest of France.

Credit Foncier Bank is one of France’s biggest mortgage lenders and they support my contention. They have assessed the supply and demand in all areas of
France, together with an evaluation of local demographic, economic and infrastructure factors in 76 main centres. They report a migratory trend towards the south due to strong economic development and good transport links. They divide France into five levels and Cannes, Nice, Toulouse and Montpellier in the south form the top band with Lyon, Strasbourg, Nantes and Caen further North, all recording a fall of at worst 5% in property prices. Only these 8 of the 76 centres fall into the top band. The suburbs of Paris are relegated to a second division place with up to 10% fall, with the fifth and worst affected hovering around the 20% level.

MORE GREEN SHOOTS IN THE AUTUMN.

L’Agefi is a reputed publication which appears in print and online and is the first serious port of call for news of business and finance, corporate, investment, property, wealth and asset management news, and so on.

At the end of September they carried an appraisal of the property market in France today, and this is a summary:

The summer brought its share of pleasant surprises, illustrated by the unfreezing of a paralyzed real estate market. The value of transactions in second hand residential real estate rose by 39% inthe 2nd quarter compared to the 1st quarter, although it was still well below the figure for the 2nd quarter 2008, and that was below 2nd quarter 2007.

The net lowering of prices of second hand residential property (across France) was 9.3% in the year ending 2^nd quarter 2009, the most heavy reversals having taken place at the end of 2008 and in the first months of 2009. The decline was more pronounced for houses (10.2%) than for apartments (8.4%).

At the end of March 2009 the number of transactions for the year was 25% down on the previous year. Indications are however that in the period July – August 2009 there are 20% more signings than in the same two months in 2008. (The final sales statistics will reflect in three months time as transfers go through the system).

Experts believe that the factors boosting the market are the easing of the conditions for obtaining credit, and the fact that interest rates have become attractive again, combined with sellers having accepted the need to reduce their prices, and buyers no longer waiting and hoping to buy at a lower price.

THE RENTALS BUSINESS IN CHANGING TIMES.

How is it doing?

Critical to short term rentals in Cannes is the conference market.

If we took a “photograph” of the major conferences and festivals as they were in 2009, we would see them down on 2007 and 2008 by 5% to 40% depending on the industry. For example the real estate conferences were way down in terms of attendees, but the TV and communications conferences were only marginally down. In addition the average “spend” of delegates and visitors to Cannes is down as much as 30%.

On the other hand our own share of the rental market, particularly during the Film Festival, has increased dramatically, and some conferences are growing in spite of the recession. The Boat Show in September is growing nicely year on year, and the MIPTV and MIPCOM conferences are already on the rebound. Indications are already that MIPIM is going to be better and bigger than in 2009 because we are taking bookings, whereas this time last year we were only taking cancellations.

What are all these Conferences?

There are many, from dental and medical conferences, to gaming, magicians’ and circus gatherings, but some of the bigger ones are:

MIPCOM: The World’s Audiovisual Content Market

Month: October
Duration: 5 days

No of attendees: 11 000 from 522 companies representing over 95 countries.

MIPCOM is a TV programme market, where mobile networks, character licensors, merchandisers and advertising companies, producers and distributors build alliances for the future; existing producers find new sources of revenue.

Tax Free World Exhibition:
Month: October
Duration: 5 days
No of attendees: 5289 people from 2638 companies.

TFWA World Exhibition brings together the industry’s most prestigious luxury brands and attracts thousands of key buyers, airport authorities, agents,
distributors and journalists from around the world. The exhibition is the industry’s key event for recognising new trends & acquiring a global view of the
international market.

MAPIC: The International Market for Retail Real Estate
Month: November
Duration: 3 days
Number of delegates: 6 458 delegates from over 55 countries.

MAPIC is the leading market for the expanding industry of international retail real estate. It attracts all the key players, creating a unique community in one
place at one time. MAPIC provides an exclusive platform for companies to showcase new concepts and developments.

International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM)

Month: December
Duration: 3 days
Number of delegates: 52 countries.

The Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) is the only global trade event dedicated to enabling specialist luxury travel buyers from the world’s top 52 outbound
countries to meet with the worlds leading luxury travel suppliers. Specialists in the luxury travel market have very specific needs which cannot be satisfied by their mainstream counterparts. It is therefore a trade medium that is focused exclusively on this sector.

MIDEM: The World’s Music Market

Month: January
Duration: 5 days
Number of delegates: 10 000.

MIDEM’s music conference brings the heart of this ever-evolving industry to Cannes. It enables people involved in the music industry to discover new sounds and services, explore business opportunities, learn about tomorrow’s industry, make deals, enjoy live musicÉ. and party!

MIPIM: The World’s Property
Market
Month: March
Duration: 5 days
No of attendees: 18 000 from 2051 companies.

MIPIM is The World’s Property Market where advisors, developers, regional authorities, investors and corporate end-users gather information about new building projects and initiate deals and partnerships.

MIPDOC: The International Showcase for Documentary
Screenings
Month: March/ April
Duration: 2 days
Number of participants: 1000 participants from 386 companies & 61 countries.

A relaxed two-day event in the lead-up to MIPTV

MIPTV featuring MILIA: The World’s Audiovisual Content Market
Month: April
Duration: 5 days
No of delegates: 12 000 delegates from 99 countries.

The World’s Audiovisual and Digital Content Market attracts all the global movers and shakers in the world of television. This annual event is the context for
negotiating programme rights, co-productions and partnerships

Cannes Film Festival

Month: May
Duration: 10 days
No of attendees: 30 000.

The Cannes Film Festival is the world’s most prestigious forum for the exposition of all styles, schools and genres of film. As well as being the most
special place for film industry professionals to meet, the festival is especially concerned with recognising the talents of the artists that contribute to the growth of the medium.

Cannes Lions Advertising Festival
Month: June
Duration: 7 days
No of attendees: 75 countries.

The Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival is the only annual gathering of the world’s advertising, creative, direct marketing, interactive, film, radio, media, sales promotion and marketing communities.

Cannes Boat Show
Month: September
Duration: 5 days
Size: 50 000 visitors, 650 Yachts!

For exhibitors from the luxury yachting and pleasure boating community this is the industry’s premier event. There are at least 50,000 boating enthusiasts that visit the show and one can expect to see 450 boats in the water – including 360 motor boats and 90 sailing boats – and 200 boats on land.

DO FACE TO FACE MEETINGS MATTER IN TODAY’S WORLD?

These Well Known Companies Think They Do.

Recently British Airways commissioned the Analytic Services of the Harvard Business Review to find out the answer to that question. The survey analysed returns from 2 211 businesspeople, 70% of whom are executives in companies that operate in multiple countries. Across the board, face to
face meetings were seen as the most effective method for conducting business with key stakeholders, compared with videoconferences, teleconferences and webinars. Fully 95% said that face to face meetings are the key to success in building long-term relationships and 87% believe that face to face meetings are essential for “sealing a deal”.

A number of such analyses have been commissioned recently, in a time when cost cutting has been high on corporate agendas. The Hilton Group
used International Marketing Research for their investigation and discovered that in a time of low business morale, these cuts appear to be making
matters worse. Fully 81% of the 600 executives from France, Germany, the UK and the US said that face to face meetings increase business productivity and results. 90% of those polled in Germany and France said that crucial business relationships are not possible without meeting in person, compared to 75% in the UK.

In February of this year a remarkable advertisement appeared in the New York Times.  The Chairman of Wells Fargo responded to criticism in the media of an “employee recognition event” planned to be held in Las Vegas; criticism which led to the cancellation of that booking. He asked “Who loses besides our team members? The workers who depend on our business. The hospitality industry. Housekeepers. Restaurant servers. The airlines. The problem
is that many media stories on this subject have been deliberately misleading. These one-sided stories lead you to believe every employee recognition event is a junket, a boondoggle, a waste, or that it’s for highly paid executives. Nonsense! For many it’s the only time in their lives that they’re publicly recognised and thanked for a job well done. This recognition energises them. It inspires them.”

I think it is fair to surmise that we will not see the end of business “events” and congresses in Cannes anytime soon! Therefore we will continue strive; to improve and develop our services to business and holiday visitors to this great jewel of the Mediterranean.

As always, please let me know if you would rather not receive these Property Letters and I’ll remove your address from the list.

Please have a look at our website – comments would be welcomed: www.azur-accom.com

With kind regards,

Guy.

PLEASE NOTE – The properties below are listed in ascending price
order.

• The prices quoted are asking prices only.
• The selection offered represents a few properties chosen from many, so if what you are looking for is not here, we can tailor-make our search for you.

Please remember that if you follow the links you will be able to read about the properties, look at a gallery of photos, and look at the position of the properties on a map.

A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF “PALM BEACH” CANNES

(Adapted from a Property Letter I wrote in February 2009, but worth repeating.)

Because quite a number of the apartments featured are in Palm Beach, I want to tell those of you who don’t know Cannes about it.

Firstly Vicky and I happen to live and work in Palm Beach and we love it (we also get access to apartments as they come onto the market). Secondly every visitor we ever have to Cannes falls in love with Palm Beach too. It is the little suburb on the peninsula that forms the eastern end of the Croisette, and points like a finger from the hills above Cannes to the Islands – the Isles de Lerins – a few hundred meters offshore. It is only three blocks wide with two streets running north-south through it, and three (or four depending on where you draw the boundary) running across it from the beaches and Port Canto on the west looking at Cannes and the Bay of Cannes, to the beaches and Port Moure Rouge on the east looking across the Golfe Juan to Juan les Pins and Antibes.

Palm Beach is prime real estate in France – it is beautiful, safe, warm and sought after, and whereas Cannes has razzmatazz, Palm Beach is quiet and is really a “village apart”. Yet it only takes 15 minutes to walk from our apartment to the very centre of Cannes, along the famous, well lit and lovely Croisette, all the
way through lovingly tended gardens along the waters edge. It is truly a beautiful walk.

At the tip of Palm Beach is the famous 1930’s Palm Beach Casino, venue for many world class concerts and events. Just a little closer in is the Place de
l’Etang which is the heart of world “boule” petanque). Surrounding the lovely Place are at least five restaurants ranging from a top-class seafood restaurant (Fred l’Ecailler – Google it) to local and affordable French and Italian, and a variety of small shops serving the neighbourhood. A little closer in still is the Village Sablons which has Cesarine the best boulangerie-patisserie in the world (!) (baking the best baguette) and serving magnificent coffees and pastries, two small groceries, two traditional butcheries, a post office, pharmacy, hairdresser, laundry, newsagent, etc. It is all charm and one could be a hundred miles from Cannes, not just a stones throw.

There is no more land to build on and only one Palm Beach this side of the Atlantic. Safety and quality of life are the phrases that probably sum it up best,
and it is quite beautiful too, whichever way you look.

• 30m² of living space.
• 4^th floor of 5.
• Exposition east.
• View of the city.
• Terrace.
• Private parking in the basement (amazing at this price).
• Asking price – 135 700€.

All that I can really say about this apartment is – look at the price, look at the map and where it is. The building is reasonable, with a lift. The area is not
the most popular, but it’s OK. One would rent this apartment on an annual basis and the numbers would work – quite well in fact. And for someone wanting to get a foot in the door at a low budget near the centre of Cannes, this is not at all bad. The view is fine – right across the boulevard without any particular
vis-ˆ-vis and the apartment is even double glazed. It does need a little uplifting but it is a small area and the work doesn’t need to be expensive.

What is most interesting perhaps is that this very area – Boulevard de la Republique – has been targeted by the City for uplifting. The improvements started a few years ago, and the central Place Commandant Maria was re-opened in 2006 with fountains and palm trees. The road itself is now lined with attractive hanging baskets and the facelift is ongoing – buildings are improving, and roads are upgrading. On Saturdays artists now display in the open at the Place. If anyone is seriously interested I will send them a four page special edition of our local Nice Matin newspaper which shows clearly what the plans are and how they are progressing.

If you are interested in buying something in an area that is “up and coming” this may be for you.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/191

• 34m² of living space.
• 4^th floor of 4, plus a bedroom in the loft.
• Bourgeois building (1900).
• Exposition south and east.
• View rooftops and the old town (but see below*).
• Asking price – 205 000€.

Lovely old building on Rue Clemenceau which winds its way up from the Old Port of Cannes into the Old Town (Le Suquet) on the hill. The apartment is on the top floor of the building which has been charmingly renovated inside.

The position suits rentals as the apartment is just a few minutes walk from the Old Port, the Croisette and the Palais des Festivals. It is also a charming and
character filled second home or “pied a terre” in Cannes.

The living room, open plan kitchen and bathroom are on the main floor, and in the loft is the bedroom. The main room has a fireplace, but it also has reversible air conditioning (heat and cold).

The view through roof-top windows is south and over other rooftops of Old Town Cannes, but there is an eastern wall and the owner has permission to open it up* for a picture window over the Old Port. Beautiful!

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/185

• 27m² of living space.
• 3^rd floor of 5.
• Exposition north.
• View of the Rue d’Antibes.
• Balcony.
• Asking price – 224 000€

This little apartment right on the Rue d’Antibes and very close to our rental offices (an advantage) is in a good building and set up for conference rental. Of course it can also be used by owners when they are in town, but as an investment in the best part of Cannes, right in the “banane” as it is called, it has a lot going for it.

It comprises a main room with an open plan kitchen that leads to a very pleasant balcony overlooking the bustling street from a good height, and a shower room and separate toilet. It has electric shutters and is double glazed. It has been renovated so there is nothing requiring to be done to it.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/188

• 54m² of living space.
• 1^st floor of 5.
• Construction 1960’s.
• Exposition east.
• View of garden and college sports ground.
• Two balconies.
• Parking for residents.
• Cellar.
• Asking price – 250 000€.

This apartment is in a well maintained block just 200m from the Croisette, in a quiet street in Basse Californie suburb. It is really very quiet as the apartment
block is set right back from the already quiet road. It overlooks (beyond a leafy hedge) a sports ground and track belonging to a local college, well maintained and not over-used.

Both the bright and spacious living room and the lovely bedroom open onto an individual balcony (meaning there are two), and there is a gated approach and a free parking area for residents.

The apartment has been renovated throughout, with a lovely kitchen, attractive bathroom, very pleasant light tiled floors, and is furnished in a very light and
clean style – if desired the furnishing can stay.

If you do the maths, the price is excellent, and the seller is motivated so I don’t expect this apartment to be around for long.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/193

---

Another on the Place de l’Etang. One Bedroom Apartment.

Every apartment we get which overlooks the leafy Place de l”Etang is snapped up quickly, and I don’t see this one being an exception. It is such a popular, colourful place that time and again we see people fall in love with it. It is busy with boules (petanque) players and local village life most of the time, and
surrounded by little shops and five excellent (and not necessarily expensive) restaurants – and then the beaches are only 100m away to the east and 200m away to the west. To top it all it is a 20 minute stroll through gardens and along the beach walk to the Palais des Festivals, venue for the conferences, and the major and famous shopping streets of Cannes.

• 45m² of living space.
• 1^st floor of 5.
• Exposition east.
• View across the Place de l’Etang.
• Lovely terrace.
• Asking price – 318 000€.

The apartment is in good overall condition and light and bright although changes spring to mind as it has not been updated for some time. We would recommend opening up the kitchen to the living room, either entirely or leaving a breakfast bar in place to separate the two. The effect will be to give a feeling of far more space. The bathroom is tiled (walls and floors) in the original pinkish marble which is lovely, but the bath, basin and toilet could be changed and the bathroom spruced up. It would not be a big-budget renovation, but low budget uplift.

Both the bedroom and the living room open through sliding doors onto the spacious balcony. It’s a lovely outlook over the Place, leafy, interesting, and very
alive – although quiet at night as there is only a tiny road around the square below, and that is not directly below as gardens separate the building from the
road.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/189

Banane with a Terrace. One Bedroom apartment.

• 40m² of living space.
• 2^nd floor of 7.
• Exposition south.
• Views of cityscape.
• 51m² of terrace.
• Cellar.
• Asking price – 340 000€.

This apartment is in a great position close to the centre of town and the Rue d’Antibes. It is in a well maintained although unremarkable building with a guardian. It is renovated, air conditioned, double glazed, and both the living room and the bedroom open through double sliding doors onto a terrace, and it is the terrace that is remarkable for the centre of town measuring over 50m² and relatively quiet, facing full south, and really almost private. I say “almost” because it can’t be private in the city, but it is not overlooked by surrounding buildings and with its covered portion and a large extendable awning, it’s as private and as quiet as it is possible to get.

This has great potential as a rental apartment.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/195

Montrose Panoramic. Two Bedroom Apartment.

• 65m² of living space.
• 8^th floor of 9.
• Exposition north, south, east.
• Views panoramic and unobstructed of Cannes and its hillsides. (Distant
  sea)
• 25m² of terrace.
• Garage.
• Cellar.
• Asking price – 373 000€

This is a lovely eighth floor apartment in an excellent and quality building at the base of the hills surrounding Cannes. It is too far out really for conference
rentals although only just. It’s a case of perception rather than actual distance though. If you go onto the website and look at the map you’ll see that
it’s actually far closer to the centre of Cannes than Palm Beach is! Half the distance in fact, so it is a 10 minute walk instead of the 20 minutes from Palm Beach to the centre.

The apartment is beautifully maintained and the living room, kitchen and main bedroom all open onto a glorious terrace. The second bedroom looks north and opens onto its own small balcony. The apartment is air conditioned and has electric blinds and shutters. There is a garage and a cellar, and the residence is secure, gated, and has a full time guardian.

The price is very attractive, and as a long term rental proposition (one year) it has great merit, as it does as a very desirable second or holiday home. Excellent “lock up and go” for people wanting to be able to fly in and out at will.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/190

Palm Beach Garden Flat. Two Bedroom Apartment.

• 70m² of living space.
• Ground floor of 5.
• 150m² of garden.
• Exposition east and west.
• View of garden (not overlooked).
• Two garages in the basement.
• Asking price – 450 000€.

This is a very interesting find. It is towards the city end of Palm Beach (hence close to Cannes) and a stones throw from the quaint shopping centre of Sablons. Village Sablons caters to all the needs of the residents and visitors to Palm Beach – patisserie, groceries, butchers, pharmacy, laundry, hairdresser, post office etc. It is also just a couple of minutes walk to the beaches and the Croisette on the western edge of Palm Beach Peninsula, and a couple of minutes walk to the beaches of Gazagnaire on the eastern side. The Croisette side is “glitzier”, and the Gazagnaire side is more “family” – your choice!

The apartment needs renovation and so does the garden. There is the space and the potential to do so much! At the very least it begs for two good bedrooms with bathrooms en-suite, and a double living room and kitchen opening on to a lovely west facing terrace and garden. The garden is big enough to accommodate a Jacuzzi and even (if the co-propriety allowed it) a small swimming pool. The neighbour has a similar garden that has been created to be clean, and easy to maintain, with paving, pot plants, and easy outside living space. There are various options available. There are apartments blocks visible from the garden but none overlook the garden directly.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/186

Rue d’Antibes. Two Bedroom Apaprtment.

• 65m² of living space.
• 1^st floor of 6.
• Construction 1975.
• Exposition north and west.
• 10m² of terrace.
• Parking in the basement.
• Asking price – 498 000€.

The apartment isn’t on the Rue d’Antibes but just off it. It has a very useful balcony which does look at the Rue d’Antibes obliquely, but from 10m away.

There are two bedrooms, a bathroom and a shower room, a separate kitchen, and a main and spacious living room. It is an ideal rental property close to our rental agency, and very close to the Croisette.

It has all the extras, electric shutters, double glazing, air conditioning and very importantly a parking place in the basement. It is quieter than it would be if
it overlooked the Rue d’Antibes directly, and is being sold fully furnished – ready to work.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/184

Carnot Surprise. Two Bedroom Apartment.

• 100m² of living space.
• 1^st floor.
• Bourgeois building (1900).
• Exposition east and west.
• Terrace and protected courtyard of 50m².
• Cellar and possibility of a garage.
• Asking price – 595 000€

This beautiful apartment very close to the centre of Cannes was a three bedroom apartment. However one bedroom has been sacrificed to create a vast 60m² living room leaving two bedrooms of which one has a glorious bathroom en-suite, and the other a shower. The kitchen is open plan and beautifully equipped. All windows are double glazed, shutters are electric, and the apartment is air conditioned.

There is a balcony off the living room, but the “piece de resistance” is a lovely private interior courtyard that gets the sun for most of the day. The current owner has made it into a lovely space and she (and her cats) clearly adores it. It is tiled and clean, gardened through the use of many pots of lovely plants, and she has comfortable furniture under a gazebo shelter. Both the apartment and the courtyard are quiet and one would not know that one was near the heart of a modern city. That is the surprise.

There is a cellar in the basement, and a garage is rented on a permanent basis at a very affordable rate in an adjacent building – an arrangement that can
continue if the buyer wishes it.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/183

• 240m² of living space.
• Villa on 3 levels, converted into apartments.
• Construction 1920.
• Exposition south.
• Views of the neighbourhood and gardens and some sea.
• Front garden with parking.
• Asking price – 745 000€

This old villa has been divided into three apartments – one on each floor, with each one measuring about 80m². Each has been set up as a two bedroom
apartment with separate kitchen, and a large bathroom and separate toilet, and all three apartments are in need of renovation.

What one is buying here is potential. The building is sound and there is no sign of any leaking from the roof. The property comprises a garden in the front with established trees and space for parking cars. There is a brick-built garden shed for storage and two large cellars. Each floor has working fireplaces.

The position is close to shops and commerce, and right at the very base of the highly sought after suburb of Basse Californie, on the road linking Cannes with Golfe Juan and Juan les Pins. It is a two minute walk to the sea front east of Palm Beach, and a five minute walk to the beaches of Palm Beach. It suits a medium renovation of all three floors to create three very desirable apartments for residential rentals. It could be used for conferences but that would require special marketing to larger delegations – not out of the question, but I would favour the residential option.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/192

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

PL 83: PROPERTY LETTER 14^th 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.

If you have more time for reading however I hope these Property Letters are educational, serving to give you a very thorough overview of the entire market from top to bottom. I would remind you that every property that I include in these letters has been selected from many, and the trash thrown out. So what you are seeing is an “interesting” cross section of the market – properties that are really worth considering. Some are priced to sell and some are priced ‘optimistically’, but we can look at them on a case by case basis as nearly all would be subject to at least some negotiation

Before the recession I used to write a bit about Cannes, The Cote d’Azur, and France….To make these letters more interesting and newsy! And I will get back to that. (More promises for me to keep!)

However, since the middle of 2008:–

“It’s the economy, stupid!”

The phrase was coined by Bill Clinton’s campaign team in 1992 when George Bush (senior) seemed unbeatable and American eyes and thoughts were fixed on the end of the Cold War and the War in the Gulf. The fact was that America and the world were also trying to emerge from a recession (as we are today) and the phrase struck a chord with the people; Americans sat up and listened, and Clinton beat Bush!

Maybe the phrase was the precursor to:-

“Yes. We. Can.”

This now famous phrase (used in a song by the Pointer Sisters 1973) re-emerged in January 2008 after Obama won the South Carolina primary! This is how his victory speech ended:

And where we are met with cynicism and doubt and fear and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the
spirit of the American people in three simple words: Yes. We. Can.

Isn’t it amazing what a phrase can do? It is the sheer positive power of it that got into the heads of the American people. They carried the phrase to the ballot boxes with them, and there is no doubt it helped carry Obama and his “yes we can” team all the way to the White House!

We can all be terribly afflicted, especially in tough times, by negative thinking – we can just freeze! We can simply stop doing anything at all for fear that it might be the wrong thing! The President of the South African Creativity Foundation Dr Kobus Neethling summed up this condition as follows: “One of the greatest stumbling blocks for the entrepreneur is negativity. It’s a subtle disease that sends the brain into problem-mode thinking. Others around you realise it and are influenced by it, to the disadvantage of everyone and the business. And when times are hard people are even more likely to express negativity – every day we are told how bad the economy is – and eventually that becomes part of our belief system.”

News of the Recession 2008/09.Thankfully the news is changing:

It’s been tough but France and Germany were officially out of the recession in the 2^nd quarter – by a meager +0.3%, but out of it none the less. The 16 member Euro-Zone as a whole which excludes the UK and Switzerland (who don’t use the Euro) was still slightly negative at -0.1 %, brought down largely by Spain and Italy who are the third and fourth largest economies, and they are still in trouble.

It has been a deep recession and it is not entirely over yet, however the FTSE, Wall Street and markets around the world are up, some of them recently recording consecutive daily increases not seen for many years. House prices in the UK were up 3% in July, and mortgage approvals up 23% so it seems some of the most extreme doomsayers might have been wrong. The French National Association of Estate Agents (FNAIM) reports that the level of enquiries has risen 63% – 23% coming from investors. Banks are far from out of the woods but the major ones such as Barclays and HSBC are posting modest profits again. On the down side, and militating against the recovery, unemployment and house repossessions will continue to rise as they inevitably do post-recession for another year or two.

The truth is though that nobody wants to listen to a pessimist, recession or no recession. Nobody wants to hear whining and complaints and Clinton and Obama (who both came in on a recession) and all great leaders before them learned to look for the positives – and that is what made them into winners. We can all learn from them as we look towards emerging from this recession “on top” – whatever that might mean to each of us individually.

FRENCH FANTASY.

(Courtesy of Marianne Heron writing in the Western Cape edition of PROPERTY MAGAZINE, July 2009)

“An incomparable lifestyle and a stable property market make buying in France an attractive proposition”.

I am so pleased to read a feature length article such as this in a leading publication. Much if not all of what she says is precisely in line with what I have been writing in Property Letters since the early days of this recession.

• How is the property market faring in the light of what the French refer to as “la crise”? The comforting answer is: considerably better than the US or
  the UK.
• France is a model of fiscal rectitude where banks’ lending policy is concerned, so the market there hasn’t been hit by the boom-and-bust experience.
• Historically the country has had stable prices with increases in line with inflation.
• Although the country has a high level of public debt, private households are less indebted, helped by the French habit of “petites épargnes” (saving for a rainy day)
• France is not a speculative market, such as Dubai or the UK, and French property legislation does not encourage speculation.
• The level of enquiries from investors suggests that because of the state of the market it could be a really good time to buy, as you have good negotiating power.
• Homebuyers are well protected in France. Regulations require technical reports, paid for by the vendor, to show: the condition of the building on sale; how much energy is required to heat the property; that it is free of asbestos or termite damage; and so on.

In short owning property in France for pleasure or as an investment earning a reasonable return, or a healthy mixture of the two is not necessarily “French Fantasy” at all.

With a dose of “yes we can” and the want to do it, it doesn’t take much to start. Very few of us start with the property of our dreams, but once we are in the market the best way forward is “up” and many of us are doing just that after a few years – trading up to bigger and better things. French banks are lending, interest rates are low, and some people who are unable to go it alone are forming small teams to achieve a foothold in France with family or like minded friends. There are many ways to do it if the will is there.

As always, please let me know if you would rather not receive these Property Letters and I’ll remove your address from the list.

Please have a look at our website – comments would be welcomed:

www.azur-accom.com

With kind regards,

Guy.

PLEASE NOTE –

The properties below are listed in ascending price order.

• The prices quoted are asking prices only.
• The selection offered represents a few properties chosen from many, so if what you are looking for is not here, we can tailor-make our search for you.

Please remember that if you follow the links you will be able to read about the properties, look at a gallery of photos, and look at the
position of the properties on a map.

Palm Beach. Studio Apartment.

• 22m² of living space.
• 2^nd floor of 5.
• Construction 1975.
• Exposition – west.
• View uninterrupted – gardens and nearby apartment buildings.
• West facing balcony.
• Asking price – 180 000€.

This little apartment will be a fine renter for someone looking to get a foot in the door in Cannes. It is close to beaches on both the east and west sides of the Palm Beach peninsula, and very close to the lovely little shopping centre of Sablons with what we call “the best little patisserie in town”, grocers, pharmacy, butcher, post office, newsagent, hairdresser and laundry! It’s our local shopping village and it has everything, including village atmosphere.

The apartment is light with a sunny terrace, has an equipped kitchen, and a bathroom and toilet off the main living room. It is double glazed already but would need some work to upgrade the kitchen and bathroom before renting it out. What is most surprising (and valuable) is that it has a parking below the building and a cellar. It is unusual for a small studio apartment to come with a parking and it adds significant value.

It has potential and can be a nice little investment.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/168

Boulevard Alexandre III.

Studio Apartment.

• 28m² of living space.
• 3^rd Floor.
• Construction ‘60’s.
• Exposition north.
• View unobstructed of the suburb of bas Californie.
• Balcony enclosed.
• Garage in the basement.
• Asking price – 191 000€.

This apartment on the third floor of a very well maintained 1960’s or 1970’s block with a guardian and lifts is a good investment property. It is just two minute’s walk from the Croisette and the main public bathing beaches although you can’t see them because it looks the other way. It is a hundred metres from shops and cafes, and the view across a school and the suburb of Bas Californie is very pleasant.

It has a bathroom and an open plan kitchen leading onto a living area which is greatly enlarged and enhanced by a closed-in and double glazed balcony, effectively creating a second room. It is very neat and tidy, and is being sold fully furnished, so there is absolutely nothing to spend on it after transfer. It also has a garage in the basement – a most unusual and very valuable addition to an apartment of this size and this close to the centre of Cannes.

It is quite possible to rent this apartment for conferences as it is so close to the Croisette and just a 12 minute walk along the front of Cannes to the Palais des Festivals. But it is also a very good little long term renter if a more regular income stream is what is needed.

We have looked after this apartment since it was bought by the current owner five years ago, first in the ‘seasonal and conference’ rental role and later in the ‘12 months at a time’ role, to young working residents of Cannes. The owner has decided to move onward and upward as many of us do, and buy something bigger. This little investment apartment was his foot in the door to property on the Cote d’Azur, and it has done him very well and allowed him to move to bigger things. It can certainly do the same for the next person. It is exactly how many of us got our start and this property is perfect for it.

(Web reference not yet available – coming soon)

One Bedroom Apartment.

• 30m² of living space.
• 6^th floor of 7.
• Construction 1970’s.
• Exposition east.
• View unbroken of old suburb and hills.
• Large 15m² terrace.
• Asking price – 192 000€.

The well kept building with a guardian has a lift (that’s important to know when you’re on the 6^th floor!) and is positioned just a stones throw from the wonderful Marche Forville. The covered food market where Vicky and I do all our produce shopping most weekends (fruit, veggies, fish, meat, pastas, cheeses, flowers) is open mornings from Tuesday to Sunday. On Mondays it is an antique market. Just below the Market are the Old Port, the Croisette and the Palais des Festivals. Immediately to the west of the market one climbs up ancient staircases through a gauntlet of fine restaurants to the old walls of the town and the church which tops it.

The position of this apartment for rentals is very good.

The apartment itself consists of a living room and open plan kitchen, a bathroom and toilet, and a small bedroom. The living room and bedroom both open onto the very (relatively) large east facing balcony with pleasant view across the older suburb of Petit Juas, and the hills beyond. There is an oblique view of the old port and the sea. There is a cellar in the basement and no parking although there is a municipal parking garage right next door.

The apartment does need some work to raise its standard to acceptable for renting – not a lot of work, but some tidying up.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/181

Small Two Bedroom Apartment.

• 42m² of living space.
• Ground floor.
• Construction 1900.
• Exposition south and north.
• Views of green fields north, small street south.
• Asking price – 199 000€.

This apartment in a quaint and very quiet little street (cul-de-sac) just a few minutes drive and 20 minutes walk to the centre of Cannes is a very interesting proposition as a rental property – to a young family or couple – or as a small and affordable holiday apartment on the Riviera, 10 minutes from beaches and within an hour of almost anywhere – Nice, Monaco, San Remo in Italy, the ski slopes of the lower Alps, Aix, St Tropez, and so on.

It occupies the ground floor (and has the basement) of a charming building. There’s a little garden but the occupants do not have exclusive use of it as it belongs to everyone in the building. The basement however is very useful space and owners use it for storage and as their laundry.

The apartment itself has a living room and a kitchen, bathroom and toilet, and two bedrooms. It is very well renovated and organised to utilise space to the maximum, so they look very comfortable in it.

It has a great deal of charm and appeal, but is out of the conference rental area, so long term (annual) furnished rentals is the answer, and would be viable, unless it is to be kept for private use.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/169

Studio Converted into a One Bedroom Apartment.

• 30m² of living space.
• 5^th floor of 6.
• Construction 1970.
• Exposition – east.
• View unobstructed over the Place de l’Etang.
• Very good 10m² balcony.
• Asking price – 200 000€.

This little apartment is in a very good building with a guardian, in the heart of Palm Beach and it overlooks the busy and vibrant Place de L’Etang. It is a perfectly good little rental unit – needs very little work to get it going.

Palm Beach suburb at the eastern end of the Croisette is only a short (20 minute) walk through glorious gardens and past pristine beaches to the Palais des Festivals right in the heart of Cannes. It is the safest and among the most up-market suburbs in Cannes, favoured for holiday and conference rentals, but also for second homes of the wealthy because it occupies a very unique peninsula, and beaches are to the east and to the west and never more than 200m distant. We find that people who visit Cannes and experience Palm Beach almost invariable say “this is where I would like to buy”. There are quaint and quality grocers, butcheries and patisseries in Palm Beach, and some traditional and some top class restaurants, yacht basins, harbours and a famous casino on the point – but it is also a quiet suburb out of the hustle and bustle of the centre. It has much to recommend it and property values are high.

The apartment was a studio but previous owners did away with the separate kitchen in favour of a small bedroom (just wide enough for a double bed). The new kitchen is now open plan and part of the living room which is spacious, and opening as it does onto a large balcony there is a feeling of reasonable space. There is a bathroom and toilet. The apartment is double glazed, and parking in the quiet gated street is for residents only.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/176

One bedroom Apartment Close to Moure Rouge.

• 35m² of living space.
• 4^th floor of 5.
• Construction 1970.
• Exposition west.
• View – other buildings across the street.
• Reasonable terrace – 8m².
• Asking price – 230 000€.

This little apartment in Palm Beach is close to the beaches of Moure Rouge – the eastern side of our peninsula. It is also close to the little village of Sablons with all its amenities, so the position is good. It is a good apartment as an investment and for the purpose of longer term rentals – a year at a time.

It is in good condition – but would need a little tidying up after the last tenant who recently left. It also needs basic furnishing for a long term rental. It has a living room, a small double bedroom with cupboards, an open plan kitchen and a bathroom and separate toilet. It is air conditioned and the building has lifts and a full time guardian.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/174

One bedroom apartment.

• 42m² of living space.
• 4^th floor of 5.
• Construction 1950’s.
• Exposition south and north.
• View unbroken across Palm Beach and some sea.
• 6m² of terrace with some sea view.
• Asking price – 238 000€.

This apartment is in a good building and a great position in the heart of Palm Beach. It is just a minute from the Port and beaches of Moure Rouge, being the eastern beaches of Palm Beach peninsula. They are the “family” beaches, relaxed, free, and having all the amenities such as pedalos, optimist class sailing boats for hire, wind surfers and kite skis. The restaurants down this beach are affordable and my favourite mussel dish is served right on the beach at the restaurant Moure Rouge. It is however just as close to the Place de l’Etang with its numerous quality restaurants and shops, and the village Sablons is 150m away.

For rentals both seasonal and conference, and longer term residential it is very well positioned. The choice is there. As a small holiday apartment, perfect!

The apartment itself needs work! It is in poor shape, so one must be able to appreciate potential to go into this – and if you do you will not be disappointed. It needs to be redesigned, with a new open plan kitchen in the entrance hall, a complete new bathroom and toilet, new floors and ceilings in the bedroom and living room. The result will be a valuable little jewel with a sea view in Palm Beach, and the finishing price will, in my opinion, be below market value. We look for apartments that need to be upgraded and renovated, and with the potential to add value and this is one that has that potential.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/179

Two Bedroom Apartment.

• 67m² of living space.
• 3^rd floor of 5.
• Construction 1960.
• Exposition south and north.
• View of the Church on the Old Town, and the Old Port.
• Spacious balcony.
• Collective parking for residents.
• Asking price – 304 000€.

This apartment benefits most from its position. We have another in this block, and it is such an easy walk to the Suquet – the Old Town, to Rue St Antoine with all its famous pavement restaurants, to Forville Market just a couple of blocks below the apartment, and to the Palais des Festivals, the Rue d’Antibes and its shops, and the Croisette with its beaches and glitzy boutiques and restaurants. It is very well situated for rentals or for holidays.

The apartment has just been renovated and comprises a spacious living room with a good south facing balcony with views of the Old Church and city walls on the hill opposite, and a small view of the sea and the Old Port. It has two bedrooms, a bathroom and a separate toilet, a large kitchen and storage room (pantry). It is double glazed, and with windows on the northern (bedroom) side of the apartment too, it benefits from a through current of air so air conditioning is optional to install, but not necessary.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/178

Two Bedroom Apartment.

• 80m² of living space.
• 2^nd floor of 3.
• Construction 1900 – Bourgeois.
• Exposition south west.
• View unobstructed over town, and a glimpse of the sea.
• Small balcony.
• Cellar in the basement.
• Asking price – 378 000€.

This spacious apartment is just five minutes walk from the famous, covered and colourful Marché Forville, open six days a week from very early until lunch time for all fresh produce from vegetables and fruit to fish, meats, cheeses, home made pastas, preserves and tapinades, and flowers. (On Mondays their only day off it is an antique market.) Most weekends Vicky and I do our shopping there, and then reward ourselves with a glass of cold rosé or bubbly, and a plate of oysters at one of the many pavement establishments around the square. This is the French doing what they do best! The apartment is therefore also just about eight minutes walk to the Palais des Festivals, the Old Port and the Croisette, all just below Marché Forville. Also just below the apartment is the Old Town of Le Suquet, with its many classic and wonderful restaurants, some of them open since the late 1800’s. Pedestrian Rue St Antoine which runs up the hill towards the Old City walls from Forville is a gourmet’s paradise, and throbs with life and character particularly in the evenings when the tables spill out onto the cobbled street.

The apartment has been completely renovated, and as it stands one bedroom has been taken over as a living room, and the living room as a dining room. The kitchen opens onto the dining room and (would be) living room and the two bedrooms are large with lovely high ceilings. The current owner has taken a lot of time and trouble to polish and retain the original hexagonal Provencal red brick floor tiles in bedrooms, parquet in living room, and to scrape down the original wooden doors, and has created a lovely bathroom with a separate shower. It is all very attractively done.

There is a small balcony which has a lovely view across town from a high position, and a small view of the sea in the south west (the bay towards La Napoule, Theoule and the Esterel Hills)

The apartment is double glazed, has a cellar in the basement, and generous stairs in a clean and well kept building – no lift. (Being on the second floor with good wide stairs this is not seen as a problem). It has windows on three walls allowing a through current of air, so it is very fresh, light and cool.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/171

One Bedroom Apartment.

• 45.63m² of living space.
• 5^th floor of 7.
• Construction 1965.
• Exposition south and west.
• Views of the Bay of Cannes.
• Big balcony – 13m²
• Asking price – 395 000€.

This is a lovely little apartment carefully maximised. Its position overlooking the centre of Cannes and the Old Port from a height make it very appealing. It also looks the right way – south and west. The building is good and there is a guardian. It is close enough to the Palais des Festivals and the centre of town to work as a rental apartment for long term tenants, or for the conference trade and holiday market (short term rentals), but would also make a lovely holiday venue or second home – or “lock up and go”.

The apartment comprises a living room with a lovely balcony, a bedroom, an open plan kitchen, a bathroom and separate toilet. The bedroom and living rooms are air conditioned, and there is a garage in the basement, and a cellar. All windows are double glazed. This is a good apartment – and I suggest a lower offer.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/175

Two Bedroom Apartment.

• 69.3m² of living space.
• 1^st floor of 5.
• Construction 1962.
• Exposition west and east.
• View of the Place de l’Etang.
• Huge west facing balcony – 30m².
• Priced to sell at 397 000€.

This is the first of two apartments overlooking the Place de l’Etang today, the centre of Palm Beach and the centre of boulles world-wide. It is on the first floor of a good block, with its expansive balcony on the eastern side of the Place, looking west. The apartment block is well maintained and has a guardian.

Palm Beach suburb at the eastern end of the Croisette is only a short (20 minute) walk through glorious gardens and past pristine beaches to the Palais des Festivals right in the heart of Cannes. It is the safest and among the most up-market suburbs in Cannes, favoured for holiday and conference rentals, but also for second homes of the wealthy because it occupies a very unique peninsula, and beaches are to the east and to the west and never more than 200m distant. We find that people who visit Cannes and experience Palm Beach almost invariable say “this is where I would like to buy”. There are quaint and quality grocers, butcheries and patisseries in Palm Beach, and some traditional and some top class restaurants, yacht basins, harbours and a famous casino on the point – but it is also a quiet suburb out of the hustle and bustle of the centre. It has much to recommend it and property values are high.

The apartment comprises two bedrooms, a bathroom and separate toilet, a spacious living room and dining nook looking eastwards, a separate kitchen – and the cherry on the top is the terrace. It is really spacious at 30m², westward looking, and each bedroom and the living room open directly on to it. This is a real bonus feature, light and inspiring and making the apartment quite special.

It has been in the same family for many years and is rather cluttered with beautiful antique furniture at present. When that has all gone the apartment will need at the very least a facelift – however it also begs to be transformed into a modern and comfortable apartment befitting its extraordinary position. The possibilities include a second en-suite bathroom which is simple to achieve, and breaking out the walls to open the closed and rather small kitchen up to the living room and dining nook, making everything feel lighter and more spacious. New floors, air conditioning, new paint, modern bathrooms and a new kitchen will transform this apartment into a beautiful and very valuable investment. It is a classic example of a property in which the value created by investing in a well planned renovation will significantly exceed the money spent to achieve it. This property has only recently come on to the market and I can confidently predict it will not remain on the market for long.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/164

Large One bedroom Apartment.

• 75m² of living space.
• 3^rd floor of 5.
• Construction 1939.
• Exposition south and east.
• Views unrestricted across Cannes and to the hills.
• Small terrace off the kitchen.
• Asking price – 398 000€.

This apartment is well positioned just off the ring road that separates the “banane” from the suburb of Montfleury. It does not overlook nor is it affected by the ring road (the Voie Rapide) but it is only a three minute walk to the Rue d’Antibes and therefore a five minute walk to the Croisette and the centre of Cannes.

It is situated on the third floor of a 1930’s building with character, and a lift. The building and the apartment have charm and are well maintained. The apartment is loved by the owners who live there but need to move to something bigger as the lady is pregnant with her second child.

It is composed of a very large (double) living and dining room, a lovely spacious kitchen with balcony and a lovely view of the hills, and a large bedroom. The bathroom has a shower and a bath. Because of previous renovations there are two attractive fireplaces in the living and dining room, one near the kitchen and one against the far wall, the floors are original polished parquet, and the ceilings are high and moulded.

There is a cellar in the basement, and if the buyer would like, there is the option of a “servants quarters” – a small room with water and electricity on the 5^th floor for an additional 20 000€ (subject to negotiation).

This is a lovely apartment, already double glazed and renovated, and with the space available it is tempting to put in another bedroom – but in reality it is difficult to see how it would be done. Perhaps an architect would have some ideas, but on the face of it, it does not look easy. As a very large one bedroom apartment right on the edge of Cannes and walking distance to everywhere, it is an extremely attractive proposition.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/170

(Think about it! A two bedroom apartment, renovated and fully furnished with parking in the heart of Palm Beach for under 400 000€! You don’t have to
be a rocket scientist to see that there is value here.)

La Bellita.

Two Bedroom Apartment.

• 57m² of living space.
• 1st floor of 6.
• Construction 1970’s.
• Exposition east and west.
• Views unbroken, plus small sea and Croisette view.
• Narrow balconies east and west.
• Gated private parking.
• A cellar in the basement.
• Asking price – 399 000€.

This apartment is positioned right between Palm Beach and the Centre of Cannes – on the town side of the suburb of Palm Beach. It is in the block which is La Croisette but faces away from it, so the Port Canto, the Croisette and the sea are visible between buildings on the bedroom side of the apartment. The living room side opens over the quiet road running parallel to the Croisette.

It is just 150m from the lovely little Palm Beach shopping village of Sablons with its patisserie, groceries, butcheries, post office, laundry, hairdresser, pharmacy and so on. It is also only 100m from the Croisette, Port Canto and the beaches. It is a 15 minute walk to the Palais des Festivals and less than that to the shops and the centre of Cannes. The Place de l’Etang is 5 minutes away with its selection of restaurants and the constantly lively boulles.

The building is an immaculate and typically “Croisette” block with a guardian – very well maintained. One enters the apartment through a hall with two spacious bedrooms on the western side, each opening onto the long balcony through double glass doors, this balcony overlooking gardens and the buildings on the Croisette. There are narrow views of the sea between the buildings. On the eastern side is a large living room with a modern open plan kitchen. The main bathroom and toilet is off the main bedroom and the second shower and toilet serve the second bedroom and guests.

The apartment is fully and well furnished and is being sold with everything, so there is no expense foreseen after transfer.

It has a parking space in the gated car park.

La Bellita suits perfectly someone wanting a second home right in the heart of holiday Cannes and a short walk to the centre. It is also perfectly suited to either type of rental, being short term and conference, or longer term and residential.

And the price is very good for this position.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/34

Three Bedroom Apartment.

• 85m² of living space.
• 1^st floor of 5.
• Construction 1965.
• Exposition east and west.
• View across the Place de l’Etang.
• Lovely big terrace – 15m².
• Big garage in the basement.
• Asking price – 530 000€.

This is a valuable apartment in the heart of Palm Beach overlooking the lovely, lively and traditional Place de l’Etang (spiritual home of boulles) is in a quality and well maintained block of apartments with a permanent guardian. Common areas are clean, spacious and light.

Palm Beach suburb at the eastern end of the Croisette is only a short (20 minute) walk through glorious gardens and past pristine beaches to the Palais des Festivals right in the heart of Cannes. It is the safest and among the most up-market suburbs in Cannes, favoured for holiday and conference rentals, but also for second homes of the wealthy because it occupies a very unique peninsula, and beaches are to the east and to the west and never more than 200m distant. We find that people who visit Cannes and experience Palm Beach almost invariable say “this is where I would like to buy”. There are quaint and quality grocers, butcheries and patisseries in Palm Beach, and some traditional and some top class restaurants, yacht basins, harbours and a famous casino on the point – but it is also a quiet suburb out of the hustle and bustle of the centre. It has much to recommend it and property values are high.

The apartment has a large living room which opens onto an east facing terrace overlooking but set back from the Place. There is an entrance hall and a kitchen, both separated from the living room by dry wall, easily removed if one wanted to make the living room even bigger and the kitchen open-plan. A passage leads to a bathroom, a separate toilet, another shower and toilet, and three bedrooms. All of these look westwards with large windows allowing air to move freely through the apartment. They overlook a courtyard of shrubs and gardens which is quiet. There are generous cupboards and storage and
hanging space.

There is a large garage in the basement of the building.

The apartment has been a second home and holiday destination for the same family for 30 years, and it will need some renovation – the amount to be decided. It would be fine with a quick freshening coat of paint, but a new owner might decide to take out partitions to enlarge the living room, put in new and modern bathrooms, upgrade the kitchen, and install air conditioning. All of this would be optional rather than essential, but would add to the value of the apartment.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/162

Two Bedroom Apartment.

• 90m² of living space.
• Two French bay windows with balconettes.
• Construction 1900 (Bourgeois).
• First floor.
• Exposition – south and north.
• Views – city.
• Asking price – 850 000€.

This lovely apartment right on the Rue d’Antibes, the second most famous shopping street in France after the Champs Elysee and in the heart of downtown Cannes is superb. It is spacious, light and bright, and entirely renovated to a high standard throughout. The sellers areincluding all of the furniture right down to the teaspoons in the sale, so it sells exactly as you see it in the photos.

The vast living room opens onto two typically French balconettes overlooking the Rue d’Antibes which is a snapshot of French culture and style. It is pristine, chic, and apart from the voices of happy shoppers below remarkably quiet, because the Rue d’Antibes is a single lane (one way) road running east to west parallel to the Croisette, but it goes nowhere! It exists only for the street it is in. There is no through traffic, and what traffic there is, is very slow (frustratingly slow if you are driving) because pedestrians swarm across it. It is quite impossible to speed. The kitchen is luxuriously equipped and the two bedrooms are on the southern side away from the Rue d’Antibes, their windows looking the other way, across quiet square and other similar buildings (without any road) making the sleeping accommodation very quiet. Each bedroom has a lovely bathroom, one with a shower.

The apartment is double glazed throughout and air conditioned in all rooms.

This apartment has been on our rental books for some time and it is extremely popular, very close to the Palais des Festivals for conference goers, and in the warm heart of the most fashionable location in the South of France for anyone else. The position is superb.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/166

Three Bedroom Apartment.

• 129m² of living space.
• 2^nd floor of 6.
• Construction 1930’s – late bourgeois / art deco.
• Exposition – south and east.
• Views – unobstructed of the city.
• Asking price – 1 100 000€.

This apartment in a classic art deco building has been lovingly preserved and restored. All that could be retained of the original splendour has been retained – the cornices and mouldings, the huge double doors with the multiple panes of glass, the chandeliers and the perfect and original wooden floors. Where possible hidden and subtle lighting has been used and modern comforts have been fully catered for. The overall effect is grand and beautiful.

There is a huge central reception area, and a vast living room and dining room with original and working fireplaces. The kitchen is large and modern, and there are three big bedrooms with two bathrooms and three toilets.

This sort of space in this position is very unusual, and the restoration has been carried out to maximise it. It has air conditioning throughout, double glazing, a cellar in the basement and parking is available.

The position of this property in the centre of Cannes, just behind the Grand Hotel and the Palais Stephanie, and far closer to the Palais des
Festivals than the famous Carlton Hotel, make it highly desirable and nearly unique. With its space, luxurious finishes and status the apartment lends itself perfectly to high-end conference and holiday rentals. Equally it was and therefore can be a perfect second home again, or a holiday home or principal home for someone looking for style and luxury in the heart of the Riviera. Some rental income is always an option if desired.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/167

Californie / Super Cannes. 1.

Three Bedroom Apartment.

• 113m² of living space.
• 25m² of terrace.
• 1^st floor of 8.
• Construction 1975.
• Exposition – east, south, west.
• View – beautiful gardens and sea.
• Asking price – 1 220 000€.

This apartment is in a very large and prestigious group of apartment buildings set in extensive grounds with beautifully maintained gardens, pool, and unsurpassed panoramic views of the sea from Cannes to Juan les Pins, and the Cap d’Antibes. It is situated in the hills just east of La Californie and on the southern side of Super Cannes. The blocks have permanent guardians and staff.

The apartment has a huge living room leading to its wonderful south facing terrace, three bedrooms, with three bathrooms, and an equipped open plan kitchen. It has just been renovated entirely.

It has a cellar in the basement, a garage, double glazing throughout, air conditioning in all rooms, and armoured security doors.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/172

Californie / Super Cannes. 2.

Three Bedroom Apartment.

• 180m² of living space.
• 15m² of terrace.
• 1^st floor of 8.
• Construction 1975.
• Exposition – east, south, west.
• View – beautiful gardens and sea,
• Asking price – 1 600 000€

This apartment is in a very large and prestigious group of apartment buildings set in extensive grounds with beautifully maintained gardens, pool, and unsurpassed panoramic views of the sea from Cannes to Juan les Pins, and the Cap d’Antibes. It is situated in the hills just east of La Californie and on the southern side of Super Cannes. The blocks have permanent guardians and staff.

The apartment has a huge double living room, some of it having been reclaimed from a reduced terrace. The terrace remaining is still large and deep, and the reclamation exercise was logical as the apartment is on the end of its building and the terrace went around the corner, which seemed like wasted space. It has three lovely bedrooms each with its own bathroom, an equipped kitchen.

There is a cellar in the basement, two garages and a designated (private) parking bay. Of course the apartment has double glazing and air conditioning throughout, electric shutte and heavy security doors at the entrance.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/173

Two bedroom Apartment.

• 140m² of living space.
• 100m² of terrace.
• 5^th floor of 8.
• Construction pre 1900.
• Aspect full south.
• Views panoramic.
• Asking price – 1 900 000€.

The three photographs at the top of this letter show some of the earlier stages of this wonderful old building. It doesn’t look like that any more of course because the building has undergone an evolution over the years, but the “feel” is still there. The ceilings are high and original, staircases are grand, doors are vast, and the commanding position dominating Cannes remains as inspiring as it ever was. The gardens and the building are protected, and the gardens are lovely.

The apartment on the fifth floor is balanced by a similar space on the opposite side of the building, but they are the only two with the huge terraces. There are no others.

The building and its gardens are immaculately maintained, with a guardian of course, and in addition to a private garage that comes with the apartment, there is collective closed parking for residents and guests.

The apartment itself has a grand entrance hall, and a magnificent living room with a fireplace and a modern and fully equipped kitchen. There are two large bedrooms with their own bathrooms, but the “piece de resistence” is without doubt the terrace! The view is stunning right across the rooftops of Cannes, and the space quite unique. 100m² of outdoor space on the 5^th floor! The current owners have put up a very efficient system of awnings allowing them to use the terrace in all weather. Apart from their large outside dining area they also have their gym equipment on the terrace, and a fully plumbed Jacuzzi.

The position of this apartment and building is just a stones throw from the Rue d’Antibes and therefore very close to the Croisette and the conference facilities at the Palais des Festivals. The apartment lends itself to being a beautiful and important home or secondary home, but also has the potential to be extremely valuable as a “high end” and executive rental property during conferences, or for private usage, the huge and spectacular entertaining space and views placing it in a class apart.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/180

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.
In anticipation of the scrapping of the tax, P&V believe that funds that would otherwise make their way into the UK property market are already being earmarked for investment in France’s property market.

French property will not only provide added portfolio diversification for offshore investors but, with the investments being euro-denominated, a currency hedge. There are also a wide range of properties in France, such as alpine ski resorts and vineyards, which are bound to appeal to offshore investors.

The Pierre & Vacances Group, a listed French tourism property developer and manager, says that it has seen a sharp rise in enquiries from the three offshore territories since the beginning of the year, as investors brace themselves to move once the tax is scrapped.

“This seemingly small tax change is already big news in the investment community, with many private and corporate investors approaching us in advance of 1 January”, says Nick Leach, head of Pierre & Vacances Property Investments, UK & Ireland. “Suddenly, a big reason for not investing in France will be removed and the effect could be dramatic as more and more investors catch on.”

David Anderson, a chartered tax adviser at London-based Sykes Anderson Solicitors, adds: “The removal of this tax on 1 January will have a very positive effect on the French property market, specifically investment property, but could have a very negative effect on parts of the UK property market.

“From the New Year, a pool of capital in the Crown Dependencies will, for the first time, be able to flow, uninhibited, into France, with quality French property in good locations likely to do particularly well. So far, this looming tax change has passed largely under the radar, but even before its implementation it is already beginning to change investor mindsets. We have already exchanged contracts for several channel island investors on high value French properties, who are aware exclusive French properties will soon be harder to acquire as more wealthy buyers enter the market.”

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.

You are receiving this because you remain on my Property Letter mailing list. Rest assured that we are seeing some very interesting apartments right now if that is what interests you, some of them in the most affordable price range. The economy appears to be loosening up and people can feel it; summer is here and the crowds have not stayed away; banks are lending again and are in fact competing for business. Interest rates are at very attractive levels and sales are taking place – therefore product is coming on to the market again – and I feel and see a cautious re-awakening.

I am simultaneously working on a Property Letter (no. 83) whenever I get time at my desk, and hope to send it out in the next fortnight. I am very keen to do so because there are some great offers now, and rising interest from all sides.

As always, please let me know if you would rather not receive these Property Letters and I’ll remove your address from the list.

Please have a look at our website – comments would be welcomed:

www.azur-accom.com

With kind regards,

Guy.

PLEASE NOTE:

The properties below are listed in ascending price order.

• The prices quoted are asking prices only.
• The selection offered represents a few properties chosen from many, so if what you are looking for is not here, we can tailor-make our search for you.

Please remember that if you follow the links you will be able to read about the properties, look at a gallery of photos, and look at the position of the properties on a map.

460 000 € – A two bedroom completely renovated villa of 80m² in the old and quaint heart of Petit Juas, a lovely and sought after suburb just five minutes from the centre of Cannes. It is a little house to fall in love with, at the end of a cobbled lane far too narrow for any car. One would think one was in a village miles from any city. It has a large living area and two bedrooms, a bathroom, a shower, and importantly a lovely terrace and outside living area.

460 000 € – A three bedroom Provencal villa near Valbonne, but also very close to the Technology Park (Silicon Valley) of Sophia Antipolis. This lovely little villa of 100m² with its quiet and private garden is in a gated community with security and facilities such as a community and games centre and a lovely swimming pool. It is a popular community with Scandinavians who use this as a summer home or winter get-away.

477 000 € – A three bedroom and two bathroom villa of 100m² in a closed community of eight small villas near Grasse. Very quiet, close to commerce (shops), south facing terrace and 75m² of garden. Constructed in 2004 in traditional Provencal
style.

La Grande Bastide: An Early 19^th Century Mas in Provence.

• 150m² of living space.
• On 3600m² of land.
• Three bedrooms.
• Three bathrooms.
• A large terrace off each of the two main bedrooms (40m²).
• An office area or boudoir.
• Large open and light living room.
• Large modern kitchen.
• Swimming pool under construction (15m x 6.5m)

Asking Price 595 000€.

This lovely property belongs to very good (French) friends of ours who bought it two years ago for themselves. A huge amount of love and work have already gone into it and 60% of the renovation of what was a ruin is complete. Circumstances have changed, they are both working in Cannes, and it is just a little too far for commuting daily, so they are selling (while work on it continues) at what can only be described as an attractive price.

The Bastide – January ‘09.Tomorrow.

The house takes its name from the “Domaine Grande Bastide” of which it once was a part, and with whom it now shares a common boundary. The Domaine is a well known producer of fine Vins de Provence in the Department of the Var and is now owned by Danish people. One can (and we did) buy their wines and fine Provencal preserves and tapinades etc. in the beautifully appointed “farm shop” just down the road. Vicky and I are drinking their rosé and their red at home now, and they are lovely. (One can take one’s own container and buy their wines in bulk too, at €1.50 per litre!) Please have a look at their website on:

http://www.grandebastide.fr/ and on http://www.grandebastide.fr/contactA.html

The earliest written record of the house is a sub-division registered in 1880, but it is believed the house was built in about 1820. The setting in the middle of vineyards and with an uninterrupted view of the twin mediaeval villages of Tourettes on the hilltop on the right in the pictures, and Fayence on the hilltop to the left is true Provence. I’m sorry it was such a dull day for photography, but it is mid-winter! A third well known and much visited hilltop town is just a few kilometres east and also visible – this is the village of Montauroux.

And there is much more information on the website…

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/126

A Villa in Mougins with a Sea View

• Bedrooms: 4.
• Balcony/Terrace: Yes (four).
• Floor area m2: 230.
• Land area m²: 800.
• Bathrooms: 3.
• Guest WC: Yes.
• Asking Price – 950 000€.
• Spacious gardens and pool.
• Neo-Provencal (traditional) style.
• Construction 1990.
• Aspect south.
• View over Cannes to the sea.
• Separate one bedroom apartment.
• General condition – excellent.

The villa is constructed in the provencale style and to high specifications.

The main house is on two levels with an extensive garden, terraces and swimming pool. On the lower floor the entrance leads into a large living room and dining area with a lovely working fireplace. The living room opens south and west to two spacious terraces with lovely sea views. The west terrace is covered and shaded with a barbecue and makes for a very attractive and sheltered outdoor living and eating area. Also on the lower floor is a fully equipped modern kitchen.

A staircase leads to the top floor which comprises three bedrooms, the main one having a bathroom en-suite, dressing room, and a terrace with sea views. There are two spacious secondary bedrooms, and a shower room and toilet.

At garden level there is a 60m² one bedroom apartment with its own shower, toilet, kitchen and living room. It opens onto the swimming pool and garden, and is or can be independent from the main house if required.

There is a wooden lockable garden shed, garages for up to 4 cars, guest parking, and the established gardens are equipped with automatic watering. In the charming back garden is an old stone well and grotto which are part of an ancient monastery.

This property has a great deal of charm and is in perfect condition. It is less than 20 minutes from Nice International Airport, and sits directly between Cannes and the historic Old Towns of Mougins and Grasse. It is close to the A8 motorway, although the motorway is not visible, and it sits well above it, shrouded in thick and well established greenery, hedges and gardens, the sound of the motorway is not obtrusive. The house itself is entirely double glazed and all rooms are air conditioned.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/141

Belle Villa D’Architect near Grasse.

• Five bedrooms.
• Four bathrooms.
• Floor area 230m².
• Land area 2000m².
• Asking price: 1 350 000€.
• Part of a secure “domaine” – a gated community.
• Lovely gardens.
• Beautiful solar-heated pool and sauna.
• Panoramic and uninterrupted views to the sea.

This beautifully situated south facing villa in a domaine with 24 hour security and guardian is built on two levels. It comprises an entrance hall and double living room of 50m² with fireplace. The living area opens onto a terrace with a dominating view all the way to the sea and the Bay of Cannes. There is a large equipped and separate kitchen, an office, five bedrooms and a dressing room, one bathroom and three shower rooms all with toilets, a separate guest toilet, and a sauna. 40m² of the terrace is glassed in and as it is today it serves as a sunny winter garden, an office and a gym, but may be used for any other purpose – it is simply lovely to have especially in winter.

The villa might need repainting on the inside?

The gardens are well developed and comprise olive groves and a large variety of plants and scented herbs of the Mediterranean, and the magnificent pool is maintained for the use of residents.

Villa in Mandelieu.

• Bedrooms: 3.
• Balcony/Terrace: Yes.
• Floor area m2: 170.
• Land area m²: 1500.
• Bathrooms: 3.
• Guest WC: Yes.
• Asking price – 1 390 000€.
• Spacious gardens and pool.
• Traditional style building.
• Construction 1960’s.
• Renovated as new 2008.
• Aspect south.
• Spectacular views over the Bay of Cannes and the Esterel Hills in the west.

This luxurious new villa has unbroken views across the Bay of Cannes and the lovely Esterel Hills behind which the sun sets in the evenings. The position above Mandelieu places it close to the town, close to Cannes, and to the beaches.

The villa is on two levels, the bottom level comprising a very large living room, dining room and open plan kitchen all opening onto large terraces.

The main bedroom and second bedrooms open onto a large south facing terrace with lovely sea views. The third bedroom faces west.

All rooms are air conditioned, there is an office space, cupboards are generous in all rooms, and shutters and awnings are electrically operated.

The 1500m² of garden includes a lovely infinity swimming pool, a boules court, and garages for two cars with automatic doors, automatic external lighting and automatic watering system in the garden. There is a lift between the levels.

There is a plan of the plot and of the ground and first floors of the house available on request.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/142

Villa Vallauris / Super Cannes.

• Bedrooms: 4.
• Balcony/Terrace: Extensive.
• Floor area m2: 196.
• Land area m²: 1670.
• Bathrooms: 4.
• Guest WC: Yes.
• Asking price – 1 390 000€.
• Spacious gardens and pool.
• Set amongst ancient olive groves.
• Aspect south.
• Fabulous views over Golfe Juan, and to the east, the snowy Alps.
• General condition excellent.

This villa delivers absolute tranquillity in the prestigious suburb of Super Cannes looking south over Vallauris and Golfe Juan to the sea. However to the east the spectacular perennial snows of the Alps rise above the coastline which is visible to Nice and beyond.

In addition to the 196m² of villa there are 70m² of outbuildings.

On the ground floor of the villa is a lovely double living room with fireplace and separate kitchen. Also on this level are two bedrooms with bathrooms all opening onto the terrace.

On the first floor are two bedrooms (one with dressing room) with bathrooms, a study, and a solarium. All windows are double glazed.

There is a double garage and ample parking, and of course a swimming pool with a barbecue and magnificent views, set amongst ancient olive groves.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/143

Contemporary Villa in Le Cannet.

• Property type: Villa.
• Bedrooms: 4.
• Balcony/Terrace: Yes.
• Floor area m2: 260.
• Bathrooms: 4.
• Guest WC: Yes.
• Asking price: €1,490,000
• 600m² of land
• Spacious gardens and pool
• Construction 1970’s – Renovated as new
• Aspect south and west
• View of gardens and greenery
• Parking

Le Cannet is a quiet suburb of Cannes popular with residents and for holiday villas and second homes. It is leafy, still partly agricultural, with lovely walks and views and overlooks Cannes from the surrounding hillsides. As such the centre of the City and the beaches are never more than 15 minutes away. There is a vibrant and historic Old Town of Le Cannet with a central square (Place Bellevue) surrounded by largely undiscovered and unspoilt fine French restaurants, quaint shops and narrow streets. Le Cannet existed above the reed beds, swamps and malaria that were once endemic to the coastline where Cannes is today, so it has a great deal of character and history, but is right off the tourist map!

This modern villa on four levels is in a residential area on the heights. The living area is composed of a large lounge and dining room with a fireplace opening onto an expansive teak terrace with solarium and a pergola. An equipped kitchen, an office and a guest toilet are also on this main living floor.

There are four bedrooms upstairs, two with en-suite bathrooms and dressing rooms and two with shower rooms.

There is cellar and a store room on the lower floor, as well as a games room that opens onto a lower terrace. It can be used as a fifth bedroom if required.

The lovely teak terraces extend around the pool area and pool house.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/147

In the Shadow of the Chateau.

• Bedrooms: 2
• Balcony/Terrace: Yes
• Floor area m2: 140
• Bathrooms: 2
• Guest WC: Yes
• Asking price – 1 490 000€
• 300m² of land
• Beautiful gardens and small pool
• Stone building
• Construction 1842
• Renovated as new
• Aspect south and west
• Spectacular views over the Bay of Cannes, the Islands and Cap d’Antibes

This stunning little villa forms a part of the original domaine of Chateau Scott which still stands graciously just meters away. The sellers have made a wonderful job of renovating it to maximise and preserve every detail of its charm, but to incorporate every modern comfort possible. They have spared nothing to achieve the home of their dreams. Personal issues have forced the sale.

To appreciate the charms of this villa one must imagine the ancient cedars that cover the hillside in the gardens of the Chateau, the twisting roads snaking their way upwards between ancient stone walls, and the views across the bay, the Isles de Lerins with the ancient fort which was prison to the Man in the Iron Mask for fourteen years, lit at night and clearly visible across the water. The oldest working monastery in Europe is on Isle St Marguerite, and the monks still produce wines and sell them from their 14^th century vineyards. Further east the yacht basin and Golfe Juan are clearly visible, with Cap d’Antibes laid out beyond it. It is a magnificent position, just five minutes from Cannes and the beaches.

The villa itself is on two levels looking south and west with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The kitchen is modern and fully equipped, off the spacious living room with a fireplace. The dining room opens onto a charming separate patio. The garden has a large “spa” pool, heated and with jets like a big Jacuzzi. There is a lift between the floors, the villa is air conditioned, and there is a 70m² solarium. There is automatic watering of the garden and lovely lawns, and an entrance on two levels, each fully securitised.

At the back and in the original stone and connected to the main house is another room with plumbing and power, as yet un-renovated. It can and should be renovated to create a separate studio apartment, or extension to the villa. So there is potential to develop this property further.

There is direct access from the Chateau Scott properties to the sea – to the little rocky coves and beaches at the eastern edge of Cannes.

Although the entrance to the property is from the main road between Cannes and Golfe Juan, and that is what the map shows, one enters through the old gates and drives up and up and well away from the road, so that it is neither heard nor seen.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/148

Quiet and Contemporary in Mougins.

• Bedrooms: 3.
• Terrace: 100m².
• Floor area of villa: 170m².
• Bathrooms: 4.
• Guest WC: Yes.
• Asking price: €1 950 000.
• Swimming pool.
• Open view of gardens and hillsides.
• 1500² of land and gardens.
• A boules (petanque) court.

The single level villa was built in the 1970’s or 1980’s and has recently been completely renovated to modern and high specs, and electric shutters have been fitted throughout, so it is described as contemporary. It is in a very quiet residential area and street. The entrance leads to a huge, open and light living area of 50m² with an equipped open plan kitchen. There are three bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a guest toilet.

The garden is attractive and there is a boules court. The very spacious terrace leads onto the lovely swimming pool.

There is a spacious cellar for storage. In the Heights Overlooking Cannes – La Californie with a Sea View.

• Five bedrooms.
• Four bathrooms
• Floor area 250m².
• 200m² of terraces.
• Asking price: €2 000 000
• 1700m² of land.
• Swimming pool – 12m x 5.5m.
• Spacious gardens and pool.
• Construction 1975.
• Panoramic views of the sea and Cannes.
• Separate studio apartment.
• Large garage.

This villa is situated right on top of the heights looking south over Cannes and the prestigious suburb of La Californie. It is quiet and has unimpeded panoramic views of Cannes, Palm Beach and the Bay of Cannes with its Islands.

The ground floor is made up of a double living room with fireplace which opens onto a 90m² terrace. There is also a dining room, an independent kitchen, a bedroom and dressing room and a bathroom, and a cellar and laundry.

The lower floor has three bedrooms, each opening onto the lower terrace, and each with sea views. There is a bathroom with separate toilet, and a shower and toilet, and a dressing room.

Also on this level is an independent studio apartment which can be used for family, for guests, for staff, or for rental.

The villa is in very good condition but it has been some years since it was renovated. Therefore it invites a revamping, redesigning and redecoration if desired. As such it presents a wonderful opportunity to create something to suit someone’s individual needs. The position and the views are superb and if it’s a face-lift that’s planned for it, the starting structure is more than there.

A Bastide (A Country House) in La Californie.

• Bedrooms: 4.
• Balcony/Terrace: Yes.
• Floor area m2: 260.
• Bathrooms: 4.
• Guest WC: Yes
• Asking price: €2,600,000
• Spacious gardens and pool.
• Construction 1920.
• Aspect south.
• View of gardens and the sea.
• Separate one bedroom guardians apartment.

This family home just a short walk to the centre of Cannes is charming. Some small improvements are required but overall this 4 bedroom and 4 bathroom villa is ready to move in. On the ground floor the kitchen opens onto the dining and living room which in turn open onto the pool patio and gardens. On the first floor there are three bedrooms and bathrooms and an office, and on the second floor the master bedroom and bathroom and “solarium”. In the basement is the flatlet. There is a garage and parking for another two cars.

This is a villa in a prestigious suburb a short walk into Cannes, with large grounds, lots of space, privacy, and its position just above Cannes, with sea views, make it a very attractive property.

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/83

A Dream Villa on the Cap d’Antibes.

• Bedrooms: 6
• Balcony/Terraces: Extensive
• Floor area m2: 300
• Land area m²: 1200
• Bathrooms: 3
• Shower rooms: 3
• Independent kitchen
• Guest WC: Yes
• Swimming pool
• Asking price – 3 180 000€
• Spacious gardens .
• Aspect south west.
• Fabulous views over Cap d’Antibes and the sea.
• General condition excellent

Cap d’Antibes is just about the most beautiful and exclusive “Cap” on the Riviera and along with St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is some the most sought after real estate on the planet. The Cap is remarkably well wooded in spite of the demands placed upon it by humans, and this atypical “bastide” measuring 300m² on the inside is beautifully situated amongst the greenery with fabulous views of the sea. The villa was built in 1982 and now sits amongst 1200m² of established and natural garden.

On the ground floor are a vast living room and dining room, a fully equipped modern independent kitchen, and two of the bedrooms. On the first floor there are two bedrooms with dressing rooms. On the lowest level there are two more bedrooms. All six bedrooms have bathrooms or shower rooms en-suite and ample cupboard space and / or dressing rooms attached.

Also on the lower level is a laundry and a cellar, and there are numerous outbuildings and garages.

On the top floor the XVII century floor absolutely has to be seen!

http://www.azur-accom.com/property/146