Pride Marseille 2023

 

On Saturday, September 30th, 2023, the LGBTQIA+ community in Marseille celebrates its 30th anniversary of Pride.

This is the opportunity for locals and visitors alike to join together to show support for one another in equal rights, and social justice, and to support victims of discrimination and LGBTIphobia in France.

Fierté Marseille is the organization that takes care of not only all the work involved in planning for Pride every year, but they are also in charge of the future LGBTQIA+ Center being established in Marseille.

This year, the Pride parade will start its route at the Porte d'Aix at 14h where everyone will then make their way through the streets of Marseille celebrating moments of Pride while also peacefully protesting towards Vieux-Port with the final point of gathering to be on the Quai du Port at approximately 17h.

Have a safe and supportive Pride event, everyone!

French Riviera Real Estate Options Fourteen

 

For the month of September, we are focusing on the enchanting and historic areas of both Antibes and Cap d’Antibes.

This part of the Cote d’Azur has always been popular not only with locals but also consistently attracts visitors and people year-round from various parts of the world seeking a place to purchase a primary or holiday home.

Besides the natural beauty of this area, with most everything in close proximity to not only the sea but local amenities including fabulous restaurants, hotels, and museums, this is also a historical place where famous writers such as F. Scott Fitzgerald made his home and where some say the laidback lifestyle pertaining to summer was introduced.

Property designs here range from contemporary to Belle Epoque, in every size and price bracket, with more classic designs to be found around the tip of the Cap d’Antibes peninsula just south of Antibes.

Antibes

2,650,000 EUR

A 5-bedroom contemporary villa on the market in Antibes.

Area: 343m²

10 room(s)

5 bedroom(s)

Land: 1543m²

Come and discover this superb and spacious villa that is 343m² in size, located in a peaceful and highly sought-after area of Antibes.

Just a short walk from the beaches and the local shops and bakeries. Spread over 3 levels, the villa includes 5 bedrooms, each with a shower room or bathroom.

The master bedroom has a bathtub, an Italian shower, and an integrated hammam.

The spacious double living room is located on the main floor and gives access to a terrace overlooking a beautiful garden of more than 1500m ² that is south-west facing complete with a heated salt pool.

You can enjoy the terrace in summer and winter thanks to its outdoor heating system. The property also has a large covered parking area for up to 10 vehicles.

Antibes

5,400,000 EUR

Located in a quiet, privileged area of Antibes, this magnificent Art Deco property is nestled in the heart of a lush garden of over 1800m2, complete with a heated swimming pool and jacuzzi.

Recently renovated with top-of-the-range materials, this villa offers a harmonious and refined design.

The villa of 466 m2 comprises seven bright bedrooms, each with en suite bathrooms, three of which have spacious walk-in closets.

The spacious living room, dining room, and fully-equipped kitchen. What's more, the beautiful terraces offer views of the sea and the surrounding greenery.

In the basement, you'll find a wellness area featuring a sauna, steam room, gym, and games room, allowing you to relax and enjoy yourself in complete tranquillity.

Plus a wine cellar, laundry room, and garage of around 100m² complete this exceptional property.

Cap d’Antibes

10,500,000 EUR

Just a few minutes from the famous Garoupe beach, discover this beautiful waterfront villa with luxurious amenities.

In an exceptional living environment, this single-story villa opens onto a spacious terrace of around 309 m², with an infinity pool and direct access to the sea, inviting you to enjoy special moments to the fullest extent.

Inside, you'll find a spacious living room, a fully equipped kitchen, and three elegant bedrooms, each with an en suite bathroom and terrace access.

There is also a superb spa with a hammam followed by two showers. Plus, two parking spaces.

Cap d’Antibes

11,500,000 EUR

Elegant property on the seafront which will offer you a most beautiful sunset.

Built on a plot of approximately 2410m², the villa with an area of 395m² offers: an entrance hall, a double reception room opening onto a spacious terrace, the garden and the sea, a welcoming dining room, and a kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 3 dressing rooms, a bathroom, 4 shower rooms, an office, and a summer kitchen.

The villa has air conditioning, double glazing, an intercom system, and an electric gate. Enjoy many days at the swimming pool, entertaining with friends and family. This property is also sold with a garage and several parking spaces.

For more information about these properties or any others, connect with us at Info@experiencethefrenchiviera.com

Monaco Yacht Show 2023

 

Signaling an end to the summer season, the Monaco Yacht Show announces the dates for its 32nd edition, which will take place from September 27th to 30th, 2023.  

 

For those who are obsessed with the yachting industry, this is the place to be to see up close not only an amazing array of luxury yachts in every size and price point available but also the opportunity to network with those in the yachting world showcasing the latest in design, technologies, and decor being used to enhance the yachting experience.

Considered the largest annual gathering of superyachts in the world, the event is a must-attend for private owners, and new clients, along with those who have a deep appreciation for this historic industry while seeking a unique immersive experience in the yachting world. 

Once again this year, the MYS will continue its three-year development program "Seducation," with 2023 marking the consolidation of the first cycle.

The "Seducation" program is an initiative designed in collaboration with the industry and is based on four essential pillars: environmental innovation, design, understanding of yachting, and visitor experience. 

The MYS organizers aim to make the show a true "ecosystem" of yachting, by promoting environmentally responsible innovation and offering visitors an immersive and educational discovery of the latest and most innovative yachting trends.

The ambitious objective of this program is to strengthen MYS's position as the international reference show for the luxury yachting industry while offering an unforgettable experience to yacht and lifestyle enthusiasts.

Since 2021, the MYS has themed its exhibition, notably with the Yacht Design & Innovation Hub, the Sustainability Hub, the Adventure Area, and the Dockside Area, which allows privileged access to the show's docks for visitors interested in a yacht project.

The show will consolidate its first "Seducation" cycle by unveiling an impressive fleet of 120 superyachts and megayachts available on the market, including the highly anticipated 2023 launches. Visitors will also have the opportunity to discover the latest lifestyle trends on board a yacht, thanks to the exhibition of leading yachting companies. The Dockside Area and Adventure Area will also offer a complete immersion into yachting and related activities. 

The MYS will also ensure the participation of driving force companies to present innovative and sustainable solutions in design and sustainability, highlighting eco-responsible technologies while offering an inspiring vision for yacht enthusiasts (Sustainability Hub, Yacht Design & Innovation Hub).

Finally, visitors can attend daytime conferences and receive information dedicated to future yacht clients. They can meet the best experts and most qualified professionals to help them realize their yacht project.

The Monaco Yacht Show strives to promote a unique experience for visitors while enhancing the positive reputation and development of the yachting industry. An industry that has taken on its social responsibility with a proactive and committed approach for several years in economic, technological, and environmental development to meet current societal challenges. 

 

Tickets and Information can be found here MYS2023.

Amberlake Partners Monaco

 

If it isn’t apparent by now, being in the luxury real estate world on the French Riviera for over a decade, I am more than a little obsessed with properties in the region (including Monaco) both historic and brand new.

Being Canadian means that most of my clients are North American, mainly from the USA. Whether renting a luxury villa rental or buying a primary or secondary home comes with a lot of questions and confirmations on how the real estate world works in France.

The main question for those interested in real estate here is, “If I buy a property, will that entitle me to an automatic visa?” The short answer is no, that it doesn’t.

Of course, you can still visit your property if you are coming from North America, there is the 90/180-day rule as a tourist. Meaning, that under the terms of Schengen, non-EEA nationals cannot spend more than a total of 90 days within a total period of 180 days without a visa. Furthermore, once you've used up your quota of 90 days, you cannot return to Schengen until 90 more days have passed.

But there are 200 visas one can apply for to suit your lifestyle, some for a year or more with extensions depending on an individual’s circumstances.

The second question I get is, “How easy is it for an American to get a mortgage?”

Americans can get a French mortgage under some circumstances, but it is extremely difficult. The 'Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act' (FATCA) is part of the US tax code and was introduced in 2014 to help counter tax evasion. French banks find the cost of complying with this to be prohibitive.

But, here is some good news on that subject.

As a foreigner, depending on the country clients come from, this can be difficult to navigate as the rules in France and Monaco to obtain a mortgage are (as with any country) completely different compared to what a client might be familiar with in their homeland.

This past summer I met with the owners of Amberlake Partners, a fully authorized wealth management company based in Monaco.

Co-founded by Michael Fiorentini and Jagdeep Kapoor, Amberlake Partners is led by individuals with extensive experience in banking, real estate investment, and financial services. Michael's background includes over 14 years of experience in banking, while Jagdeep has over 21 years of experience in real estate investment in Europe.

With this being Monaco, there are any number of wealth management offices, but what sets this firm apart from the others is their experience that comes from listening to their client's needs, while proactively acting upon their requests using their knowledge about their industry while offering diverse and comprehensive solutions.

They guide clients through the Structured Products universe, assist in constructing portfolios that align with individual investment profiles, help integrate an ESG portfolio allocation, consider alternatives like Real Estate, Private Equity, and Hedge Funds, and assist with banking needs such as account opening, financing, order placement, and account consolidation.

With an in-house methodology, Amberlake Partners provides an alternative to traditional investment approaches, giving clients access to original investment ideas.

Their focus on true open architecture aims to reduce costs across investment portfolios, maximizing returns for their clients. Drawing on their experience in the financial services industry, they conduct business with the utmost confidentiality, using proprietary tools to help clients track and understand their investments continuously.

One of the many things that immediately caught my attention with this wealth management company is that since most of my clients are from North America, from time to time, there can be issues when trying to obtain a mortgage for a local property purchase.

That problem though has now been solved thanks to the initiative taken as Amberlake Partners have recently been granted a license from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a Foreign Registered Investment Advisor (RIA).

This significant achievement makes Amberlake Partners the first wealth management firm in Monaco to acquire this status which definitely makes them stand out and above the rest.

Until now, US individuals have faced challenges when it comes to securing loans from private banks for the purchase of luxury residences in France. The reason? The lack of an investment manager authorized to invest the collateral of their loans.

Amberlake Partners, with their new SEC license, is now able to bridge this gap. Since they can provide investment advisory services to US persons, which can enhance their financial power and facilitate their property acquisition journey in France.

This is a total game-changer for those of us in the real estate industry in France and Monaco as it helps make the property process quicker, easier, and more direct for our US clientele base.

Amberlake Partners are devoted to maintaining the highest standards of compliance. Their SEC registration details can be found at https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/322274.

Their approach begins with a free-of-cost analysis and planning phase, followed by the signature of an advisory mandate, investment proposals, cooperation with private banks, and continuous follow-up. They are there every step of the way, ensuring a smooth and efficient investment process.

But best of all, Amberlake Partners is completely LGBTQ+ friendly. To them, it’s about having the person’s financial planning needs met without having to navigate what you can disclose and without fear of being turned away.

At Experience The French Riviera, we are pleased to be able to have Amberlake Partners as part of our extensive network of partnerships in France and Monaco to help assist our clients.

Connect with me at Info@experiencethefrenchriviera.com for a personal introduction.

Les Voiles de Saint Tropez 2023

 

As summer comes to an end, many Cote d’Azur traditions continue, one of which is Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez.

Held from Friday, September 29th until Sunday, October 8th, this is when some of the world’s most beautiful modern and classic sailing boats race on the Mediterranean Sea in what is one of the most prestigious regattas on the racing circuit to be experienced.

With Saint-Tropez being the ultimate backdrop for a classic sailing yacht regatta, the village has been hosting Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez for over 40 years. In the early days, it was known as La Nioulargue, the annual rendezvous of more traditional, and modern sailing yachts that is held in the bay of Saint-Tropez.

Originally launched in 1981 back when a skipper and owner of two classic yachts raced each other from the foot of the village of Saint-Tropez around the Nioulargo to arrive opposite Club 55 on Pampelonne beach. To this day, it has become an exciting regatta for owners to enjoy the power of over 300 sailing yachts in every size and shape racing across several performance classes.

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, and other classic regattas hosted in some of the world’s favourite cruising grounds, capture the attention of not just yachtsmen and dedicated racing fans, but of owners, their captains, and crew worldwide. The yachts are awe-inspiring is a festival-like atmosphere that surrounds a racing event both on the water and on the quayside, making for an exciting number of days.

If you love glamour, excitement, parties, and of course regattas, Les Voiles de St Tropez is an event you won’t want to miss. This is one of the most extravagant and significant events in the world of yachting with yachtsmen from all over the world competing to be the best. Experience St Tropez’s festive atmosphere, with entertainment, and activities for participants and visitors alike.