Showing posts with label real estate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label real estate. Show all posts

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

How to choose your perfect rental property

Finding your perfect villa rental for a holiday can be daunting, especially for a group of people. The array of locations and companies to choose from can get confusing and hard to sort through when trying to find the best choice. What do I need to ask? How do I decide where is best? We have created a helpful checklist to ensure a smooth and simple booking process before arriving at your dream villa. 

Pip-point what most important to you

Beautiful modern villa VF-VB terrace at night
Have a clear vision in your mind of what you want from your holiday experience. Would you prefer a quiet, private hideaway or a villa that is seafront? Are you looking for something with modern interiors and design or traditional features and charm?
If you need staff, drivers or private security it is best to let us know in advance so that they can be easily organised in good time before your holiday. It is important to communicate your needs as clearly as you can to a specialist rental company such as Elegant Address South of France, so that our experts can efficiently match you with your ideal rental property for the perfect holiday experience.

Location, Location, Location

ST-001 is a stunning beachfront villa in St Tropez
You may prefer to be ‘close to a beach’ but there are a few to choose from along the French Riviera coastline so you’ll need to be sure where you would prefer to be. People enjoy visiting particular areas for different reasons, for instance if you want to see the Grand Prix you need to be in, or near Monaco, and if you want to be close to beaches, shopping and glamour you would choose Cannes or St Tropez. Even if you prefer a more quiet and cultural trip there are beautiful medieval towns that will charm you and invite you back each year. There really is a place for every taste on the Cote d’Azur, just try to narrow it down to your top 3 to help rental specialists find your perfect villa.

Have a budget in mind

It can be difficult to create and set a specific budget, especially if this is your first time visiting this region. You don’t have to divulge this information straight away, but it is always a helpful indicator for the specialists to know the limits of what you are willing to spend for the level of villa and lifestyle that you are looking for. A price range will really help narrow down our search, helping us to give you a clear overview of the market and what we can offer.

Pick up the phone

The team viewing properties in May 2016
Browsing villas on an agent’s website can give you a good idea of the property with images and description, but to find out the finer details and inside knowledge it’s best to talk to a specialists – That’s what they are there for! We know the regions inside out. We pride ourselves in our unrivaled level of knowledge of each region on the French Riviera and can recommend villas first-hand and answer questions you might not have thought of such as “Where is the nearest grocery store? What is the best local restaurant? How long is it to drive to the nearest beach?” Our specialist consultants also has access to more rentals that are in our private portfolio or that are new to market that they can offer to you after your ideal property.

Take advantage of extras

Villa ST-VS has its own helicopter
There are many of our rental properties that offer additional services and luxurious extras such as private chef, helicopter transfer, personal driver or even sometimes a boat with the villa. When enquiring about a property it’s always useful to see whether there are any of these services included in the rental price or if the rental has any trusted companies they regularly use or could recommend at a fair price. We have a great team of trusted contacts on the ground, allowing us to organise concierge services or any special requests with ease and discretion, allowing you to sit back and relax, with the arrangements in place to allow you to focus on enjoying the very best of the French Riviera. 

Friday, 12 August 2016

5 steps of buying property in France


France is one of the most popular countries to buy property abroad, and it's not hard to guess why with the countries fantastic landscapes with coastlines and countryside, rich history, incredible food and of course the world famous wine. 

Whether you are looking for a holiday home or want to relocate; buying a property in France is straight-forward as long as you know the process! Here are our five top things to consider when buying a property in France. 


1. You need a 'Notaire'

Notaires is very similar to UK solicitors, they represent and act on behalf of the buyer and seller during the purchasing process of any piece of land or property in France. They are a mandatory if you are thinking of buying a house as their primary role is to ensure that everything about the sale is legal, follows the correct protocols and the appropriate taxes are paid on purchase of the property. 

Taxes can vary from 2.5% for a new build, up to 8% depending on the property's value. A proportion of the taxes also involve the french equivalent of stamp duty. 

2. Survey the property
Surveys are not common in France but it is possible to arrange one and we would advice you having one done before the inital contract. This is so there can be conditional clauses added into the contract if needed, on completion of the survey. If you do not choose to conduct a survey, sellers are still required by law to provide reports on lead, asbestos, termites, gas, energy efficiency, water drainage and natural/technological risks. 


3. Compromis de Vente

A compris is the preliminary contract between the buyer and the seller which is drawn up by the notaire once an offer has been accepted. There can be 'suspensive' clauses added into this first contract which means there are conditions to the sale, such as the buyer obtaining a mortgage. If the conditional clauses are not met then the seller does not have to accept the offer. 


4. Cooling off period
Once the Compris de Vente is signed by both parties, there is a 10 day cooling off period to allow the buyer to withdraw from the sale if they wish, without loss of their deposit. The deposit is usually 10% of the property price. 


5. Acte de Vente

This is the final contract which is signed by both parties. If the buyer cannot attend for any reason, they can appoint a power of attorney to sign on their behalf. This is then the stage when the final sale price is paid, along with the fees/taxes. 

We are award-winning specialists in the South of France who offer luxury properties for sale and rental. We will happily search the market to find your perfect property and personally assist you in the purchasing process! Contact us today to talk to our dedicated French Riviera specialists today for more information on how we can help.