Ever since I was eighteen, I knew I wanted to live in the South of France one day. In my sandy Ford Capri, I drove breathlessly along winding roads along an azure blue sea. Enjoyed fresh salads, fish and delicious wines somewhere by the sea. Then I seriously thought, ‘I’m going to live here when I grow up.’
Life then takes you along all kinds of adventures, such as starting up companies, relationships, relocations, and setbacks until the moment finally arrives: moving to the South of France.
At first, emigration went cautiously, as a kind of ‘semi-grant’, with a frequent flyer card from KLM and last-minute promotions from Transavia. You discover that half of the plane is filled with people who, just like you, still have half a leg in the Randstad while the other leg is in the Mediterranean. You nod to each other in understanding and fly between two worlds, looking for the moment when you land for good.
A bit of vacation, a bit of work
Meanwhile, work continues, and some clients are not open-minded about where you live. I lost a pleasant B2B client after 15 years because I no longer lived around the corner in Rosmalen. “We’re not going to pay for your house on the French Riviera, of course, with those advertising agency rates.”
Eventually, there comes clarity, and you can slowly move the work. A little teleworking, a little video calling, and before you know it, you’re only on the plane twice a month. In our case, we could increasingly and successfully use our international promotion and marketing knowledge for local real estate agencies. As a result, we only go to the Netherlands for weddings and other parties.
Now that there is fibre optic cable everywhere in the South of France, there are no longer any restrictions regarding keeping in touch with the office. You can attend a meeting and then take a dip in your pool. Or after a Zoom quickly on the scooter to the beach. Life is too short not to enjoy it more. A little work every day and a little vacation will never get boring.
Five reasons why buying a house on the Cote d’Azur is a good idea
Buying a house on the Cote d’Azur in a bureaucratic country like France is quite a step. Mortgages are not up for grabs, so you may have to sell your first home. And then rent something before you find the perfect home. Now is the time to buy because despite sanctions, lockdowns, war, and strikes, the Cote d’Azur proves itself unperturbed as the most stable housing market in the world. That’s the first reason.
Stable market
Just look at this little chart that shows the troubled areas; those who invest there step into a minefield where house prices can suddenly explode. Or implode!
Less or no wealth tax
Buyers in the higher segment can avoid wealth tax via an SCI construction (this only applies to Dutch people, sorry). Other buyers can dampen the IFI tax to a large extent. We are happy to tell you more about the construction with private banking, where you can finance that fantastic villa of 7 million for 100%.
VAT refund
The French State would like to attract more tourists. The reality is that the South of France is packed every year in terms of rental accommodations. More m2 must be added, which is why you will receive a refund of 20% VAT on the purchase of new construction if you rent your apartment out for a few weeks a year.
High Return on Investment
Those who want to invest their savings stably can do so by investing in exciting new means of payment such as bitcoin or ether. You can also opt for an extra set of keys in the drawer. Keys that belong to an apartment on the Cote d’Azur with a high rental yield. We are happy to tell you more about the net rental income along the coast of the South of France.
Pleasure
Leaving aside all rational matters, we should not forget that simply owning a second home in the South of France makes you feel happy. Just the thought of being able to drive or fly to your home in France whenever you feel like it!
And then enjoy that clean air, the freshly scented fruit on the market, the food from the strictly controlled restaurant kitchens, the international dynamics, the azure blue sea, the scent of lavender, the beautiful wines, the clean streets, the well-dressed people, the extravagant supercars, the friendly waiters on the beach, it is especially that entourage that makes your investment in the Cote d’Azur extra valuable.
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