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Buyer Guide

France premium prestige real estate advisory

Relying on the global network of Engel & Völkers, the Private Office team is composed of 128 advisors, experts in the transaction of exceptional residential real estate properties in France, castles, country homes and vineyards.

Real estate in Antibes et Juan-les-Pins the heart of French Riviera

Considered one of the most picturesque places on the French Riviera, Antibes and its two sidekicks, Juan-les-Pins and Cap d'Antibes have many surprises in store for you. Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, these three seaside destinations each have a distinct personality. As lively and chic locations, they are teeming with prestigious properties among which the right property for you is just waiting to be found.

What is an attic apartment?

The term attic is not yet very familiar to the general public when it comes to architecture. In fact, it is just beginning to appear on brochures promoting the advantages of new housing programs. This word, whose etymological origin comes from Greek-Latin roots, generally refers to the upper part that crowns a building. This includes both the attic of an arc de triomphe and a classic apartment building. Here are some of the elements that make up what are now considered to be "attic or top-floor apartments", properties that are in high demand on the real estate market.

Who are the foreign buyers acquiring properties in Paris?

Paris real estate market attracts many international investors, with diverse needs and finances. These investors fall into two distinct categories: those in search of a family home who may or may not already live in Paris, and those who are looking for a vacation home while in the city. It is also interesting to note that French expatriates represent a significant percentage of these investors.

Differentiating a castle from a manor, a daunting task?

In the luxury real estate sector, the terms manor and castle often rub shoulders with each other, without it being clear on what differentiates one from the other. In most people’s mind, the castle generally refers to the feudal castle, designed to defend the town and its population from its enemies, while the manor evokes a large country house, as there are many for example in the English countryside. Nevertheless, to understand the true subtleties of the two types of prestige properties, it is necessary to conduct a semantic search and therefore to be able to establish a clear distinction.

The private mansions: characteristics of exceptional real estate properties

In France, it is quite common to marvel at the facades of these private mansions that occupy our city centers. In fact, it is not uncommon for them to even be home to museums or to be open to visitors. Paris currently has 400, but according to some sources the capital has counted up to 2,000 in the past. Though term private mansion has become part of everyday architectural language, what is it that actually makes it so special? Used in France, Belgium, and Switzerland, this term covers a type of housing with a very specific French character.

Seller Guide

A guideline to have your property classified as a historical monument

French cities, towns and villages are full of an extraordinarily rich historical heritage, a symbol of a long and eventful history. Nowadays, as a result, some homeowners who inherited or acquired their property, may find themselves at the head of a potential historical asset. Manors, castles, mansions or apartments can all be subject to the protection of their heritage by the public authorities. For landlords wishing to have their properties classified as a historical monument, here is a quick guideline that you can refer to.

Owning a property classified as a historic monument: advantages and disadvantages

There are 43,000 listed buildings in France. This means that they are officially recognised by the State as being of significant value to France's artistic or historical heritage. Half of these listed properties belong to private owners and individuals. Here are the main advantages and disadvantages of owning a property classified as a historic monument.

ENGEL & VÖLKERS, your real estate partner in Nice

Nice, renowned throughout the world for its famous Promenade des Anglais, has long attracted artists and the European elite. Our luxury real estate agents will give you a better insight into this popular destination when buying or selling your dream property.

The most important real estate laws in France

Pinel's Law, Carrez's Law, Alur's Law, these names seem familiar to us, without us sometimes knowing what they mean. These various laws generally bear the name of the minister who passed them. However, when it comes to real estate, each new political majority brings its own ideas, each new presidency wants to innovate. Indeed, real estate is a theme that affects all French people, all of whom are concerned at a given moment by the purchase or rental of a property, whether it is an apartment or a house. Here is a quick overview of four emblematic laws in the real estate sector.

Real Estate Sale Provence and Côte d’Azur – Request a Quote

You want to sell your property on the best terms? Our team from Hyères to Menton will assist and guide you through the selling process. The quote of your house or apartment’s value must be as fair as possible. At Engel & Völkers, we use our expertise and knowledge of the Côte d’Azur real estate market to make an assessment.

Real Estate Advisor

The key skills of the estate agent's profession

The profession of Real Estate Sales Agent involves managing the relationship between a property-owning client and a potential client, either a tenant or a buyer.

Magazine articles

Emmanuel Barrois: The glass alchemist who reinvents contemporary architecture

Emmanuel Barrois and glass are above all a story of chance. An unexpected encounter with a stained glass artist, which changed the direction he was about to take in his professional life. At the time, the young agricultural engineer on a humanitarian mission was trying his hand at photography. The few months he spent behind the lens led to a report on the history of heritage, during which he swapped the camera for glass for good.

Meet Master Glassmaker Caroline Prégermain

In the heart of Paris, Caroline Prégermain perpetuates and modernizes ancestral know-how. She is a master glassmaker. It's a fascinating craft, a skilful blend of technique and creativity that gives rise to a work of art as spectacular as it is delicate: stained glass. For as long as she can remember, Caroline has been fascinated by glass. By its transparency, by its color, and by the life that emanates from the material when it comes into contact with light. The young teenager, who had initially opted for wood and metal sculpture, eventually graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Appliqués et des Métiers d'Art Olivier de Serres, specializing in stained glass. It was a choice of the heart that Caroline made almost 40 years ago, and one that has been a matter of course for her ever since. There have been moments of doubt, especially in the early days when stained glass wasn't as popular as it is today: "Glass really came back into fashion 4 or 5 years ago. Back in the 90s, interior designers weren't thinking of using stained glass, as it echoed the Belle Époque and religious decor. That's why master glassmakers were mainly involved in renovations and heritage projects," she recalls.

2024: A Space Odyssey

A major aesthetic wave of the 1950s and 60s, the "Space Age" is once again the stuff of dreams, as if the architecture and design associated with the pop idea of a future in space were coming back into its own. One of Engel & Völkers' trendy inspirations for your next property project?

The Nice carnival and its flower parade

The “Battle of the Flowers,” vast floats, costumes and illuminated parades etc... The Nice Carnival is back in 2022 for its 149th edition - a flamboyant celebration inspired by this year’s theme, the “King of the Animals.” It is France’s largest carnival and one of the best known in the world, alongside Rio and Venice.

Livable barges on the Seine River

Living on a boat, listening to the sound and being rocked by the water... This is the lifestyle chosen by many barge owners. An atypical lifestyle, which brings you closer to nature, closer to the water, and is in a way like a childhood dream come true. A dream whose price can quickly climb depending on the location, the surface and the condition of the boat.

Architectural styles in Paris

The history of Paris has a strong influence on its architecture. When it comes to Parisian architecture, the name Baron Haussmann springs immediately to mind, but building styles from other periods can be found everywhere. Architectural styles have followed political influences since the early 19th century. If you are looking for a property of character in Paris, take a look at the different real estate architectural styles and the history behind them.

GG Magazine exclusive content

GG is an independent magazine at the highest level. Exploring the world of architecture, lifestyle, design, fashion, yachting, luxury living and travel. We seek out the most exciting topics and personalities for you and invite you to get to know them from a fresh new angle. In GG, you will meet successful architects, interesting designers and exciting artists who are the talk of the town from London to New York and Berlin to Hong Kong.

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Engel & Völkers France

32, rue Guersant

75017 Paris

Tel: +33145643030