Wednesday, December 28, 2022

French Riviera Real Estate Options Five

This month to change things up, we thought we would showcase some properties in the region that are yet to be completed and on the market.

It can be rare to find these properties as they tend to quickly get purchased so that a new owner can take over and proceed with their own desired designed details both inside and out.

Another reason they can be a great property investment is the price can sometimes be more strongly negotiated depending on factors such as; what work needs to be completed, location, and possibly varying owner circumstances.

If any of the property options below are of interest to you or you have a specific property idea and location in mind, please feel free to connect with us as we also have off-market real estate opportunities available besides anything public.

Beausoleil France - Price Upon Application


An extraordinary property is under development in Beausoleil with a southern exposure and Mediterranean Sea view, only 340 meters from the border with the Principality of Monaco in an area formerly referred to as “Upper Monte-Carlo”.

The villa is under construction and just waiting for the new owners to choose how to customize it.

There are a number of possibilities for the sale:

The Villa is sold finished to a high specification at a price defined at the time of purchase.

The Villa is sold with maximum freedom of choice by the owner of materials, subdivisions, installations, etc. with a price to be defined according to the choices made by the client.

The Villa is sold in the current state of works with a defined price and the owner can customize and finish it with total autonomy.

The structure is on three levels connected by an internal elevator, full southern exposure, Monaco, and sea view, made of reinforced concrete.

The total building is 643 sq m inserted into a property of more than 1,600 sq m of terraced land with large flat parts.

The property is accessed via a sloping ramp enclosed by a marine steel driveway door (from a second door, there is access to an uncovered parking space that leads to the main and secondary (main floor) entrances made with biometric armored doors and to the car lift that allows access to the 149 sq m interior garage suitable for 8/10 vehicles.

From the garage, there is access to the semi-basement floor of 224 sq m interior divided into several rooms of various sizes that can be used for any residential use.

Cap d'Antibes France - 4,300,000 EUR


Contemporary villa to be completed.

Area: 360.01m²

6 bedroom(s)

Land: 1265m²

On the west side of the Cap d'Antibes, in the heart of a prestigious estate and close to the beaches and the port Gallice, this contemporary villa to be completed is positioned on a beautiful flat plot of 1265 m². (structural works done)

The layout of the villa offers 3 levels served by an elevator.

On the first level, a double living room has large bay windows opening onto the garden, a large fitted kitchen, and a dining room.

Upstairs, the 4 sublime en-suite bedrooms have access to a 160 m² solarium with sea views.

The lower level consists of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a gym, and a sauna.

Beaulieu-sur-Mer France - Price Upon Application


Behind a private, gated domaine, this front-line property project of 337 m2 in progress can be purchased as is and has expansive lounge and dining areas along with 4 bedrooms. Plus a basement of 300 m2 offers more possibilities.

The plot of 2072 m2 offers plenty of opportunities on the flat land with a swimming pool.

The property is within walking distance of all the shops, the marina with its restaurants, and the beach.

Tourrettes France - 6,742,000 EUR

 

Situated within Domaine de Terre Blanche and its world-famous golf courses. This property is waiting for the ideal client to complete the project to their own specific requirements.

This property contains

Villa of 855 m2 with an open floor plan.

- Condition "shell and core" (under the finish).

- The highest quality of construction and materials.

- Project of interior design.

- Best panoramic view.

- Quiet and privacy.

- All necessary infrastructure.

- No easements or restrictions.

Garden - Landscaping, and gardening.

- Automatic watering.

Area of 10000 m2

- One of the largest,

central views.

- Maximum silence and privacy.

- On high ground.

- Correct site shape.

- Fully fenced in.

- No easements or restrictions.

- Driveways established.

- All necessary connections and underground facilities (including

underground sewage tank). 

 

Connect with us for more details on any of these properties.

Sunday, December 25, 2022

New LGBTQ+ Center for Marseille

Finally, Marseille is one of the last major cities in France without a center for LGBTQ+ people, but this will soon change as a new space has been approved for development.

Three premises with a total surface area of 380 m2 have been selected to host around thirty associations fighting for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people. The new LGBTQ+ center will be located at 17, 19, and 21, rue du Chevalier Roze, in the 2nd district of Marseille, next to Place Sadi-Carnot.

The new center will offer three distinct spaces. The first will be a meeting and workspace, while the second will be dedicated to legal advice with a medical area run by partner associations.

The last part of the space will offer both a library and a bar, with the possibility of exhibitions or shows open to the general public as this will be a “place to be visible”.

The center will also be able to store materials and the archives of Marseille's LGBTQ+ associations for future generations. Visitors will be able to consult the archives and the works and performances of queer artists. Here, the LGBTQ+ community will be honored.

"We are a bit last in the race. All cities in France, small, medium, or large, have an LGBTQIA+ center", explains Maximilien Degonville, coordinator of the project to BFM Marseille Provence.

He added: "It was something that was very much needed by the communities that didn't have a place to meet, a place to be visible, a central place where they could receive services. A place to be yourself and be able to learn from your community, from your history."

The center's coordinator is keen to point out that this project is not new but dates back to 2017. "Five years later, we're finally on the project end dates," he states.

"It was a lot of long-term work with ups, downs, slowing down, speeding up. Now we're there. We have a place, we have everything to build but we are well on our way", ends Maximilien Degonville.

The project is carried out by the Fierté Marseille organization, which has been in charge of Pride Marseille since 2019.

The annual budget is €150,000. The city is financing up to 44,000€ this year.
Before the inauguration, it is necessary to continue the works and to fit out the structures.

The name of this space has yet to be determined. The name for the new center will have to reflect Marseille and its dynamic society, but it will also have to speak to everyone.

Although major work still needs to be done, the inauguration of the center is hoped for the summer of 2023, which is also the 30th anniversary of the Marseille pride.

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Christmas Markets in the Cote d’Azur & Monaco

 

If Christmas is your favorite time of year, then you’ve come to the right place as the lights and sounds of the season liven up the cities and villages throughout the region.

One can sense the energy in the air as the holidays approach with numerous shops beautifully set up for all the shoppers getting their gifts and the party season is already in full swing as restaurants have started their Christmas parties along with the outdoor cafes being the ideal place to catch up with friends and family between all the ongoing activities.

Christmas markets are a long-standing tradition in the region, so to break it down for you, here is the following list of what is taking place where:

Nice - Without question, the Christmas Village in Jardin Albert 1er and Place Masséna is always an impressive sight filling the senses of the season. Running until January 1st, there will be crafts and food stalls, entertainment, games for children, Santa’s Grotto, rides, and 14 free shows for young and old. Nice is also organizing a series of festive “Soirées After Work” with international DJs and acts.

Monaco – Once again in Monaco, the traditional Christmas Village has taken up residence on the Port Hercule. This year, it will be open until January 2nd, 2023. With lots of stalls, rides, and games making it entertaining for everyone in attendance. This year, to stay in line with energy savings, the ice rink has been transformed into a roller rink. The Société des Bains de Mer has also decorated the Place du Casino in its sumptuous five-star style and has a full schedule of events taking place in hotels across its portfolio.

Cannes – This year, the captivating Cannes market has 50 different chalets selling Christmas fare alongside Santa’s Cottage and an ice skating rink on the Allées de la Liberté Charles de Gaulle until January 2nd. There is also a parade on Rue d’Antibes with acrobats and live music on December 24th from 3 pm.

Antibes – Not a place known for holding back, this year, a 450m2 ice skating rink will dominate the Antibes Christmas market on the Esplanade Pré-aux-Pêcheurs, which runs from December 11th to January 2nd. Plus, there is a Ferris wheel, carousel, and rides set up alongside stands laden with handicrafts and warming food and drink options. In Antibes’s old town, a letterbox for sending wish lists to Santa, a mini farm, and craft workshops for young children.

Menton – You won’t be able to miss Santa’s Workshop which can be found in Menton until January 1st in the Jardin Biovès, where elves will be hard at work making toys in full view so all can see the magic. At the Bastion and the Sablettes, visitors can enjoy delicacies, a merry-go-round, a little train, Santa’s mailbox, a gourmet market, and workshops of all kinds in this most colorful city.

Saint Tropez – There is nothing better than spending time in the holiday season at this most beautiful seaside village where you will see Christmas-themed stalls line the old port every day until January 1st, as well as the timeless open-air ice rink in the Place des Lices. In the week running up to Christmas, little ones will love meeting Santa and his animals at the pedological farm in Place Grammont.

As for anything in the LGBTQ community, all the bars, cruising bars, bathhouses, and nightclubs will be open as usual and of course will be party central.

Have a wonderful Christmas season everyone.

Sunday, November 27, 2022

French Riviera LGBTQ Real Estate Options Four

 


Sainte-Maxime is a beautiful part of the Cote d’Azur that is ideally located close to Saint Tropez but delightfully far enough away from the hustle and bustle of that lifestyle during the high season, allowing one to visit, yet live in a quieter, community-minded town of about 15,000 inhabitants.

Like many parts of the French Riviera, tourism is still the largest source of revenue for Sainte-Maxime, but here, it’s not so overwhelming and still very much enjoyable.

Overall, Sainte-Maxime is the ideal place for property investment, with that, let us introduce you to just a few available options.

Sainte-Maxime Property Option One - 4,200,000 EUR

Villa with panoramic sea view over the Bay of Saint Tropez on the market.

Area: 320 m2

5 bedroom(s)

Land: 1900 m2

In a secured and closed domain, close to the Sainte-Maxime center and the beaches.

This luxury property enjoys a panoramic sea view and is built with high-quality and refined materials.

On the center floor, there is a beautiful living room that opens to large terraces offering a magnificent view of Saint-Tropez and the sea with an open plan kitchen and a bedroom en-suite with a private shower room.

The first floor offers two large en-suite bedrooms with beautiful dressing rooms, both opening onto a very large terrace so you can enjoy the exceptional view.

On the ground floor, you will find the fourth en suite bedroom overlooking the green garden with the heated, saltwater 15 x 8 meters overflow swimming pool.

On the same level are various extras such as a wine cellar, a gym, and a hammam complete these high-end amenities.

Plus, there is a fifth independent bedroom with its bathroom and a triple car garage with storage space.

Sainte-Maxime Property Option Two - 4,750,000 EUR

Area: 260 m2

8 room(s)

5 bedroom(s)

Land: 1594 m2

In the prestigious domain of Beauvallon Bartole, this bright and recently renovated villa of 260 m2 is located on a plot of 1600 m2 in a dominant position and offers panoramic views of the sea and the hills of the Var.

Offering a spacious living space with high ceilings, a kitchen, and a dining room, all the rooms open onto the exteriors and terraces. The 5 bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms are spread over the 3 levels of the villa.

On the ground floor, a spacious garage, a laundry room, and a room that can be used as a games room, sports room or massage room, or even a 6th bedroom.

The home is fully air-conditioned and has a home automation system.

Sainte-Maxime Property Option Three - 7,800,000 EUR

Newly built villa with 360° sea view on the market.

Area: 366 m2

6 room(s)

5 bedroom(s)

Land: 2191 m2

Superb property from 2022, close to the beaches and the city center, with a magnificent panoramic view of the sea and the entire Gulf of Saint-Tropez, facing south.

This luxurious villa has an entrance hall, a large bright living room opening onto terraces and a patio, 5 bedroom suites with bathrooms and dressing rooms, an equipped kitchen, a pantry, and a wine cellar.

Plus, garage. Jacuzzi and heated swimming pool and garden.


If you are considering buying a property in the French Riviera, do get in contact with us as we have a wide range of properties and prices available on option.

Saturday, November 26, 2022

Sainte-Maxime

 

A not often-spoken-about, yet highly regarded part of the Cote d’Azur is the spectacular small city of Sainte-Maxime.

This beautiful seaside place seems slightly tucked away and yet offers a multitude of options for a long weekend getaway or to call home.

Here, it is only a short distance to the summer glam of Saint Tropez, yet life feels much calmer and relaxed amongst the locals.

Situated along the Mediterranean Sea, there is a shoreline promenade with parks, the tourist office, and the city beaches, as well as a casino with its own area of white sand.

In addition to the city beaches, there are the Blue Flag-certified supervised ones. On the west side, The Croisette has a sailing school. On the east side of the town are La Nartelle, La Plage des Eléphants and La Garonette (also called Val D'Esquieres), which all provide water-skiing and jet-skiing activities. In addition, there are several smaller beaches that are unsupervised, for a total of 10 km of publicly accessible shoreline.

Sainte-Maxime also has a wonderful old town with shops, markets, restaurants, bars, and cafés, opposite the harbor. On the pier are marine shops, and also fast boat transportation with Les Bateaux Verts to Les Issambres, St Tropez, and Port Grimaud, which enables you to avoid any traffic jams in the summer months.

There are eight golf courses within a 30-minute radius by car. As for an LGBTQ scene, the best plan would be to login to an app such as Grindr or Scruff and see who pops up, tourists will also be looking for some action.

Sainte-Maxime also has a long history as one of the first settlements in the region and played an integral part in WWII.

Make Sainte-Maxime part of your next trip to the French Riviera.

Monday, November 14, 2022

La Fabrik Des Garcons in Nice

 

Seeking out a tasty treat while in Nice? Then head to a delightful, gay-owned pastry shop, La Fabrik des Garcons at 5 Rue Niepce in Nice that must be experienced to be believed.

Open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am to 6:30 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm, each of the delectable pastries at La Fabrik des Garcons is lovingly handmade daily and truly out-of-this-world delicious.

Going beyond the usual pastries one would find in such a shop in France, La Fabrik des Garcons takes pride in coming up with its own dreamy, even experimental, totally memorable, and fun takes on what an everyday dessert can look and especially taste like.

The owners, a longtime couple, both well-regarded in Nice, have been in the food industry for an extensive number of years, and come with first-hand experience on not only what their regular clients are looking for when it comes to refined food items, but also visitors to the city by offering mouth-watering, reasonably-priced confections that will definitely make you want to come back for more.

All this while being surrounded by a most amazing, charming shop in the heart of the city worthy of many an Instagram shot.

 
Make sure to stop by La Fabrik Des Garcons!


Photo credits: La Fabrik Des Garcons

Friday, October 28, 2022

Halloween 2022

Halloween in France was not always something that people generally took part in and was thought to be more of something that North Americans did as a favorite pastime.

Dressing up for Halloween only seems to have become more mainstream in France slowly over
the past decade as more expats moved into the country, parents and children got involved and for a while now has also been popular, especially in the LGBTQ communities in the country.
 
This year, the Centre LGBT Cote d’Azur in Nice is holding an event open for all to attend.
 
Along with that, various nightclubs and bars in the city will be holding events, and although Halloween is on a Monday this year, Tuesday is a holiday so stay out all night if you want.
 
Trick or Treat!

Thursday, October 27, 2022

French Riviera LGBTQ Real Estate Options Three



When people think of the French Riviera, one of the first thoughts that come to mind are the beaches up and down the coastline and the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.

In fact, most of our requests for either a holiday villa rental or property purchase tend to be as close to the sea as possible. That is until people tend to see the price for such a luxury.

One of the best things about being in the Cote d’Azur is that no matter where you are located, you are never far from a beach.

With that, we have seen a dramatic change since the springtime of 2021 where people are seeking to buy a property not necessarily at the seaside but more so in what is locally considered the countryside, in such areas as Valbonne, Biot, Mougins, Grasse, and Saint Paul de Vence. And all are within a reasonable driving distance of any city center and beach.

These more tranquil locations tend to offer a reminder of the Riviera from days gone by and are steeped in history once filled with artists such as Picasso. In these areas, there is more of a sense of community, where villas feel more solid in a sense and in a range of architectural styles and usually come with an expansive plot of land including a swimming pool, making it all possible to both entertain and relax.

And best of all, property prices can be more realistic for most budgets.

With this in mind, listed below are just a few listings currently available in the region.

Valbonne - 2,090,000 EUR


Provencal property for sale with guest villa within walking distance to Valbonne village.

Area: 261 m2
8 room(s)
5 bedroom(s)
Land: 5993 m2

Situated in a closed and secured domain, this property composes of the main villa with 3 bedrooms and a guest villa with 2 bedrooms on a splendid flat parcel of land of 5993 m2.

You will be seduced by the majestic arrival that leads to the main villa, which has been entirely renovated.

The main villa has a spacious and bright living room, a dining room, and a kitchen opening onto a large terrace, two en-suite bedrooms on the ground floor, and a large master en-suite with a dressing room and private terrace on the first floor.

The guest villa has two en-suite bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen.

Plus a beautiful infinity pool, a pool house with a summer kitchen, a bowling alley, a carport, a garage, and a workshop complete the ensemble.

Biot - 2,490,000 EUR


Provencal style villa with panoramic views towards the sea.

Area: 300 m2
6 room(s)
4 bedroom(s)
Land: 4500 m2

In one of the most sought-after neighborhoods of Biot, with easy access links to Antibes, Mougins, and Valbonne, this beautiful villa offers panoramic views stretching down to the sea and flat, landscaped Mediterranean gardens of 4500m2.

This wonderful property has been entirely renovated with taste and offers light and bright interiors leading to the swimming pool and garden.

On the ground floor are a large entrance hall, dining room leading onto the south-facing terrace, living room with fireplace, and fully fitted design kitchen with feature island ideal for cooking and socializing. Plus, a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom is ideal for inviting your friends to stay.

On the top floor, the master bedroom with dressing room and bathroom, and two additional large double bedrooms.

A cellar, a laundry room, and a double garage complete the property.

This south-facing property enjoys maximum sunshine and its lovely gardens and swimming pool invite you to escape and fully experience the Côte d'Azur.

Saint Paul de Vence - 3,490,000 EUR

Charming traditionally built 9-bedroom Provencal villa on the market near Saint Paul de Vence.

Area: 564 m2
16 room(s)
9 bedroom(s)
Land: 4250 m2

The historical nature of this home mirrors the idyllic character of the village. The Provencal decor and the abundance of living space make this villa a true haven of peace.

The property was originally built in the 18th century and has been completely renovated and benefits from a guest house and an independent apartment.

The main home of 345 m2 or 3700ft² includes a beautiful Provencal kitchen, a double-sized living room with fireplace, and a dining room opening onto the extensive gardens. The 4 beautiful en-suite bedrooms include a magnificent master bedroom suite.

The private guest house with contemporary architecture blends into the landscape. It offers 98 m2 or 1050ft² in size and has a sumptuous master bedroom suite on the upper floor. At the ground floor level, is a spacious living room with a wood-burning stove.

There is a second en suite bedroom with large bay windows opening onto a landscaped garden.

The 50 m2 caretaker's cottage offers a living room, kitchen, and bedroom with a bathroom.

The wonderful grounds, sunny terraces, and landscaped gardens are planted with mature trees and flowering Provencal essences and bushes.

Adjoining the swimming pool, the pool house has two additional bedrooms and a shower room. There is a substantial storage area, wine cellar, pétanque pitch, and a double garage added to the facilities.

This delightful, air-conditioned, family home is complete with luxurious appointments and includes home automation, alarm, and automatic watering systems.

If you are considering buying a property in the French Riviera, do get in contact with us as we have a wide range of properties on option.