Mixing work with play, we spent 36 hours in Provence, visiting properties, and enjoying what spring has to offer in one of the most beautiful parts of the world!

So, France is cool again. Phew! There’s no doubt about it ; optimism is in, and a decade of ‘France-bashing’ has come to a welcome halt. Negative rhetoric has been replaced by phrases such as ‘nation of entrepreneurs’, ‘land of innovation’, ‘job creation’, ‘the place of choice for startups’, and ‘attractive to global talent’…. We…

An iconic name on the French Riviera, with a plethora of Palm Trees, Luxury Boutiques, polished Super Yachts, and some of the most lavish properties in Europe; Cannes is a little jewel in the crown of France. Inspired by The New York Times “36 Hours” series, we know that time is precious, and if you’re…

The latest addition to our growing Fine & Country network is Fine & Country Interior Design, a unique office mobilising a specialist network of international design firms to service the needs of our clients. Dedicated to delivering professional advice, we took the opportunity to get their top home staging tips to help you sell your…

That’s the Million Dollar Question everybody wants the answer to, and our advice based on the market today is – Yes, we believe it is.. The market started to move again in early 2017. Offers are being accepted. Sale agreements are being signed. Loans are being granted. SOLD boards are going up, and new properties…

IN HIS OWN WORDS: “France is back!” Obviously, he was not referring to rugby, although that might be on the agenda for later. At 39 EMMANUEL MACRON is the youngest French president since Napoleon, and starts his tenure facing some major issues, chief amongst them are: Unemployment, Franco-German relations, Social cohesion, Brexit. (and rugby of…

The French Property Market has suffered after the Security, Financial and Political turmoil in France over the last 18 months… Security was a concern in 2015 / 16 Financial markets were on a roller-coaster BIG Political question marks hung over us HOWEVER: “After a very bullish year in 2016, sales of older properties continued to…

Beneath the zest of Oranges and Lemons, lies one of France’s most beautiful Festivals. Having had its modest beginnings in 1933, Menton has reached “Lemon Festival N˚ 84” in 2017! Bravo! It has grown to be one of France’s biggest and best known festivals. Always held in February, this year’s event began on 11th and…

In the wake of the Brexit decision almost one week ago, many of our clients and colleagues have had a number of questions for us regarding our predictions for the Real Estate market in France. Below are the most frequently asked questions, and our comments “from on the ground”: 1.)Many buyers and sellers may think…

In France as a whole, property prices and sales in the last three years have fallen and while this applies to the French Riviera too, the region is enduringly attractive to wealthy buyers. Property on the French Riviera is generally seen as a long term investment, so gearing is very low, and owners are uninclined…

Just 2 hours down the road from Cannes, in the heart of Provence, is Nimes. (Photo). Nimes has the best preserved of the 70 Roman amphitheatres in the world – built in the 1st century AD it is 20th in size, but still big enough to have regularly hosted dreadful and bloody spectacles over nearly…

Anyone who has been to Cannes (or the French Riviera) will have at least seen, and most likely visited the “Lerins Islands” off the coast of Cannes, namely Île de Saint-Honorat and Île Sainte-Marguerite. These islands have a rich and fascinating history. One of the oldest working Monasteries in Europe, the Île de Saint-Honorat is…

WHAT A DIFFERENCE THE FX RATE MAKES! The recent fall of the Euro means that if you are thinking of purchasing a property in France, and you’re buying in £, US$ or CHF… then you just won, big time! You’re in the UK? SAVE £90 484! The Exchange Rate is VASTLY better for you than…

Information is at our fingertips, mais quand il est dans une autre langue it’s useless to many of us – and that’s where we come in. We have twin passions, Property and France – which makes us equally passionate about delivering the right information on both of these subjects, geared towards the needs of an…

Built just before the French Revolution, this rare and exquisite silk-worm farm has been recently renovated to the highest English/American standards. The Bastide was particularly well placed in the valley surrounded by vines and the Maures mountains. This three-story bastide provides large and luminous rooms, but still retains its original charm and character. The large…

Buying a property in another country is a big decision, and can seem a dauting undertaking. We ask Guy Watson-Smith, Managing Director of Fine & Country in Cannes, a few of the WHY, HOW and WHERE’S of buying property in France under the current climate, focusing specifically on the purchase of New Build Properties or…

Originally a “Bergerie” (Shepherd’s hut), this home was (re)built in 1930, by a famous British writer, and her husband (who, before moving to France was the King’s librarian). She wrote a number of books while living in the house, about her life in the South of France and daily encounters with the local people. The…

When thinking of the French Riviera, you would automatically presume that there are countless seafront properties, where you can wander down from your croissant, fruit platter and coffee breakfast on the terrace, straight onto your private beach or speed boat at the bottom of the garden. Well, there aren’t. With all the excitement of the…

What has JAZZ got to do with property on the French Riviera? Why am I writing about JAZZ on a real estateblog? Marsalis says “Jazz is not just ‘Well, man, this is what I feel like playing.’ It’s a very structured thing that comes down from a tradition and requires a lot of thought and…

I like to think that every single property we take on has something truly “special” about it. Something unique, that sets it apart, and that we can get really excited about. Our first “French Riviera Property of the Week” is for the ladies, and we’re setting the bar pretty high with Number 1! “Estee Lauder”…

危机  “The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger–but recognize the opportunity.” ― John F. Kennedy (It looks like a lot more than two strokes to me, but I wouldn’t argue with JFK. Anyway,…

“For Sale” to “Sold” in 9 easy steps. The real estate market is ever changing, but from buyers markets, to sellers markets, and from bear markets to bull markets, if you’ve decided you want to sell your house, here are 9 simple (and cost effective) steps you can take to make your home more attractive…

Provence in south-eastern France extends from the lower Rhône River on the west to the Italian border on the east, and from the Mediterranean in the south to the mountains in the north. Today it mostly falls within the administrative region known as Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. The coastline has some of the earliest known sites of…

Villas & Townhouses featured below are in descending price order There are some beauties! **** CHATEAUNEUF DE GRASSE – EXCLUSIVE 19th CENTURY MAS Price – 6 300 000€ Beautifully restored – Profoundly authentic – 21st Century comfort Discreetly elegant, this beautiful 19th century “Mas” is an original “Bergerie” with thick stone walls and beamed ceilings…

(Featured in price descending order) **** PENTHOUSE APARTMENT 324m² on La Croisette with 60m² of terraces P.O.A. Luxury Penthouse for sale on La Croisette Cannes. Situated in the heart of one of the best locations in Europe, Boulevard de la Croisette. The superb penthouse apartment has the most fabulous and uninterrupted panoramic views, and offers…

We are working with a long time (French) colleague who has identified a niche – well-priced Paris property being advertised outside the Estate agency circuit. This sector represents an astonishing 55% of the entire Paris market and the aim is to show the best properties available among the 4,200 private real estate offerings coming onto…

Boulevard Saidi Carnot Cannes – A short History. Cannes was connected to Paris by the railway line which was completed in 1883 and a rich cosmopolitan clientele began to arrive and settle in the region, following in the footsteps of our most famous early proponent of the joys of the “Midi” as the region was…

OPULENT CENTRAL CANNES APARTMENT Price – 950 000€ Spacious – Imposing – Elegant  Boulevard Carnot Luxury 3 bedroom apartment for sale in Cannes Centre 153 m² of living space 3 bedrooms 3 bathrooms Living Room and Dining Room Separate spacious kitchen with high quality fittings Original Fireplaces Wooden Floors and high pressed ceilings Fantastic location…

For many, the move from a house to an apartment is a difficult one. You are used to space, pottering in your garden and the dogs can go in and out as they please. On the other hand, it’s high maintenance, the lawn needs cutting and swimming pool needs cleaning, and you just don’t have…

  “The French Riviera, otherwise known as the Côte d’Azur, and Cannes in particular have long been recognised as possessing some of the most highly sought after property in the world. The longstanding love affair between international buyers and France means that purchasing property is a tried and tested process that continues to provide positive…

The BENEFITS of buying NEW BUILD: While it’s not for everyone, there are some obvious advantages to buying “New Builds” in France. Reduced legal fees – from the usual 7% for re-sales to 2.5% Some choice of fixtures, fittings & final Layout 2 year guarantee on fixtures & fittings Energy Efficient in line with EU…

I’m very harsh on real estate agents. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because of how they call every small house ‘charming’ and every run-down house a ‘great fixer-upper’. Just once, I’d like them to show me a house and declare, ‘This one’s a piece of crap’. Stephan Pastis

France in 2014. Reforms, hopes and expectations….An objective look at the big picture and a “crystal ball” into the undoubtedly exciting year ahead. President Hollande unveiled a series of policy measures in January, including public spending cuts and tax relief for businesses, designed to strengthen France’s sluggish economy. Big questions remain about his ability to…

You’ve seen this one in a previous blog. Vicky and I have stayed in this cottage and loved our time here. It is quite livable as is! After I last wrote about it two parties were moved to look very closely at it and one couple travelled to Normandy to visit it. Their final comment…

I absolutely love old photos, especially ones that show reference to our current life in Cannes. Yesterday I came across this sequence of photos of the gorgeous Brigitte Bardot, having a ball on the beach in Cannes in 1953…. just as we often do today (without the paparazzi of course!). Cannes’ beaches are world class,…

(Or why so many discerning people from around the world continue to buy their holiday villa on the French Riviera, or their apartment in Cannes – the very words conjure up dream-like images which are irresistible.) From holiday makers and film stars, to royalty, beach goers and businessmen, Cannes has been the French Riviera hot…

Victorian Ditty Menton is dowdy Monaco’s brass Nice is rowdy But Cannes is class

What do YOU love about Winter? For me, there’s just something about a crackling wood fire on a chilly evening (not to mention the glass of red wine which completes the “scene”). If you feel the same, then we may have just found your perfect home. Why? Because there are SEVEN original stone, fully functioning…

It’s tangible, it’s solid, it’s beautiful. It’s artistic, from my standpoint, and I just love real estate. Donald Trump Ninety percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate. More money has been made in real estate than in all industrial investments combined. The wise young man or wage earner of today invests his…

Your best investment opportunity won’t fit into a safety deposit box, but you can live in it Never a truer word… . A good real estate agent doesn’t disappear once the closing papers are signed Also very true! . .

The “Beautiful Era” – a time of optimism, peace and prosperity. Four decades when the arts were allowed the flourish and the horrific World Wars had not yet raised their ugly heads. For me, the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald epitomises how I imagine the whole period to have been, although written a few…

Sunday mornings at Forville market are a must – and are a part of every weekend. This weekend, I was confronted by a rather difficult decision though; which cauliflower to chose. Orange, Purple, Green or White… who ever knew that choosing a cauliflower could be so perplexing!

For all those boat lovers out there… and even if you’re not a boat lover, it’s difficult not to be enchanted by the majestic classic sailing boats that participate in this famous Regatta which took place last week in Cannes (and we were lucky enough to take part in some of the racing!) Many of…

One of the most exquisite properties we have seen to date… this is my dream! With the charming medieval town of Chateauneuf-de-Grasse perched on the hill to your North, and the rolling provencal hills and panoramic views to the mediterranean sea to your South – this villa is situated on 10 000m2 of sloping land…

Property Price Reductions in Cannes … Plus a footnote on our bespoke property search service in Paris, and a little charming cottage on offer in Normandy for only 35 000 Euros! This is a monthly Property Letter with updates on the French Property market – if you would like to be “the first to know”…

Cannes is situated midway along the French Riviera (also known around the world as the Cote d’Azur) between Monaco and St Tropez, and only 30 minutes from the Nice International Airport. Since Victorian times, Cannes has attracted the most discerning of international visitors who come here to enjoy the sandy beaches, world class shopping, 5…

You’ve bought in France, and the dream is now a reality! Now, how do you manage the “little” things? Paying your taxes on time, communicating with the body corporate, or changing a light bulb…  Care of the Property (Apartment or Villa). We care for your property as though it were our own. We visit and…

BUYING PROPERTY IN CANNES AND THE FRENCH RIVIERA So many people aspire to owning a property on the French Riviera, and with the first ever Fine & Country France office being situated right in the heart of Cannes, the dream for many is one step closer to reality. Of course, for many, the property formula…

Would you like to own your own B & B on the French Riviera? We have some suggestions. Fine & Country Cannes is not yet a year old, but is simply exploding with energy and opportunity and our listing of highly desirable Cote d’Azur properties for sale is growing daily. Today I want to highlight…

    From Dreams to Reality Information is at our fingertips, mais quand il est dans une autre langue it’s useless to many of us – and that’s where we come in. We have twin passions, Property and France – which makes us equally passionate about delivering the right information on both of these subjects,…

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