August 2007
If southern France is one of your desired hot spots to purchase real estate, then read on!!

Nice is one of the most visited cities on the planet and a city where real estate is taking off again as more and more foreigners are swarming to the sunny skies and gorgeous landscapes of Nice.  Downhill skiing is only ninety minutes away; the southern coast of France is absolutely sumptuous with gardens, palm trees, exceptional ocean views, entertainment galore, sightseeing, amusement parks, golf and on and on and on!!  For the cultural vacationers and residents, there is architecture, museums, art galleries, theaters, operas, ballets, fine dining, and wine tasting for everyone’s tastes…

Monte Carlo is within a twenty five minute drive if the urge for gambling comes over you and the Italian border is a 40 minute drive to one of the most famous outdoor markets in Vintimille.  There are shuttle trains to Monaco and Vintimille all day long - about every 30 minutes.  Nice is under tramway construction at the moment and soon the city will be easier to get around; there will be fewer traffic problems and parking nightmares will be alleviated.

Now, ready to look for real estate? (de l’immobilier)  As an ex-pat in France with double nationality (French-American) originally from the great state of Iowa, I worked as a real estate agent in a prime location in the center of Nice (centre ville) for over a year.  Real Estate in Nice is turning the corner after a slow period at the end of 2006 and beginning of 2007, making it a buyer’s market, so there are loads of products on the market and if you know how to negotiate the price correctly, there are certainly deals to be made as a foreigner buying in Nice.  If you are a fixer-upper and do not mind renovation projects, you have your choice of buying, renovating, reselling, renting or using your investment as a vacation home once your project has finished.

At this point, you are probably wondering the obvious:  It sounds all so good, but if I do not speak French, if I do not know anyone in Nice to hire for renovation projects, juggle quotes for plumbing, tiling, deliveries of merchandise, etc….what is an English-speaker supposed to do?  Excellent question, but, of course, I have the response!!

I have been helping English speakers with their renovation projects in Nice for over a year now.  They can count on me to find all the necessary people to do the work at a reasonable price, to translate simultaneously during the project with workers, plans, designs, painting, tiling, plumbing; everything is covered for getting the job done economically, efficiently, and EXACTLY the way YOU want it done.  I have highly-respected contacts in various real estate agencies in Nice who are able to give me up-to-date information on the new products coming onto the market, what type of negotiating margins there are for specific properties and the best deals for the best prices available.  I can guide you through the buying process, I know all the ins and outs, all the French laws for foreign investors, how to make an offer on a house or apartment, how to negotiate the price according to the apartment size, exposition and advantages such as parking, garages and terraces.  I can also assist with the signing of the seller’s agreement after an offer has been accepted, assist with the transition period (normally you should count on approximately three months from the time you sign the seller’s agreement or “le compromis” to the actual transfer of keys at the signature with the title company (la notaire).

I can assist with all of your moving plans, details and appointments, assist with your utility hook ups (water, gas, electricity, telephone) and make sure that every aspect from A to Z is covered, making the buying experience a positive, economical and fun process!!  It is always an advantage to know someone who knows the ropes and the possible problems and hassles involved with buying real estate abroad and who speaks English and who is on YOUR side!!  I recently bought an investment property here in Nice as well, and I reside here year around.  Please do not hesitate to contact me through my email address for further details, references from previous projects and to get a grasp on what the market is doing throughout the year.

You can also send me your project idea for a real estate purchase and I will be more than happy to evaluate it, give you some quotes as to prices for apartments, best places to buy in town and what to expect.  I can also send you a map of Nice, show the areas in which properties increase the most in value, areas to avoid, areas for families, areas for singles and areas for sports activities, cultural activities and the best dining in town!!!

It is a perfect time to get in on a great investment property in Nice with all the advantages of being in a coastal city, perfectly located for the needs and tastes of everyone and a place where property values will continue to climb, giving you a substantial return on your investment.  There are many reasons why the English, Irish, Dutch, Italians, Scottish, American, and even Chinese are flocking to Nice to buy property.  Besides LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!  Don’t forget about the quality of European living, dining, culture, architecture, art, fashion, cheese and wine which are permanent attractions to foreigners, with the distinct and enormous advantage of being on the French Riviera!!

Also, if you are just a vacationer in Nice and in southern France, I also provide rental information for homes, apartments, cruise ship excursions, jet skiing, sailing, kayaking, biking and hiking outings as well as off-the-beaten-path places to visit and explore that no other tourist would ever experience on a typical French vacation.

I have been living in France for over twenty years after a successful pro basketball career in various cities in France. (Avignon, Montpellier, Reims, Valence)   I am now a Physical Education and English teacher in a middle school in Cannes La Bocca and reside in Nice full-time.  My first publication was in 2001 with “Developing Minds” by editor Art Costa. 
Looking forward to assisting you!! 

Paris Restaurant Guide  - Adrian Leeds has been scouting good-value restaurants in Paris for more than nine years. The Leeds Good Value Guide to Paris Restaurants is her on-going effort to bring you secrets to great dining in all the districts of Paris. There are more than 200 good-value restaurants in the guide -- and she samples each and every one and only recommends the best.  Parisians enjoy a wide variety of multi-national cuisine, so the guide includes lots of traditional French restaurants, plus authentic ethnic cuisine and specialty restaurants, too. Adrian purposefully ferrets out those restaurants not well-known by tourists and cater to a native Parisian clientele, so that you feel very at home in Paris among the Parisians.