Boy, to be Back in Paris, Big Time!
By Adrian Leeds

Excerpt from Parler Paris Nouvelle Lettre®
Monday, March 30, 2009
www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis

That afternoon I paid a visit to "Le Palace des Vosges" -- our Fractional Ownership apartment at 9 Place des Vosges currently under massive renovation. At this stage, the floor is pure sand awaiting newly poured concrete to act as a base for the classic château stone flooring and the floor/ceiling between the two bedrooms is being completely reconstructed to add insulation and strength. To see it now might make it hard to imagine it as how it will be when Interior Architect, Martine di Matteo, passes her magic wand over the 81 square meter space...but if you're interested, have a look at the video I made that day...www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/fractional/pdv/PDV_renovation.html...then keep up with the progress to watch this 'caterpillar' become a 'butterfly.'

There had been a leak from an upstairs apartment while I was gone and the firemen had to break into it to turn off the water main. We learned that the 300 square-meter luxuriously decorated apartment had been left as is upon the artist owner's death four years earlier, unoccupied and untouched, thanks to a dispute between his wife and his mistress as to who actually owned the apartment and the property within it -- including his paintings.

Boy, was I ever back...big time! Tales of wives and mistresses reminiscent of Mitterand's funeral!

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Two Living and Investing in France Real Estate Conferences Coming Up!

If you've always dreamed of spending more time in France, enjoying a pied-à-terre of your own in Paris that you can profitably rent when you like, or just make a smart investment in the strong Euro by owning property in France...then this power-packed one-day conference is a MUST. There is no doubt, from the hundreds of others who have attended conferences of this kind and fulfilled their dreams...these Sundays in London or Paris will point you in the right direction to really make it happen!

Choose your city and register now! Seating is limited for both sites!!

 

London Sunday, April 26, 2009 The International Law Partnership The Vaults, Holborn Hall 193-197 High Holborn London WC1V 7BD. For more information go to www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/conference/liveinfrance/LIF_London_April_2009 or email info@adrianleeds.com.

 

Paris Sunday, May 31, 2009 Chez Jenny 3, Boulevard du Temple 75003 Paris. For more information go to www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/conference/liveinfrance/LIF_Paris_May_2009 or email info@adrianleeds.com.

 

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House Hunters International "Vacation Home in Paris"
By Adrian Leeds

Episode HHINT-1A05

www.hgtv.com/house-hunters-international

I finally viewed our own episode for the first time this morning! The show is described like this:

New Yorkers Jeff Ballinger and Mary Schiller recently began the first steps toward making their dream together a reality. After honeymooning in Paris, they knew they wanted their own vacation property in France. Now, they've moved out of their house and into a smaller condo in the Bronx, NY, and have begun their search for a pied-à-terre in Paris.

The true background is this:

Mary Schiller attended a Living and Investing in France Real Estate Conference before she made the big move to have the pied-à-terre she and her husband, Jeff Ballinger, wanted. Both employees of Columbia University in New York, they had a "relatively" limited budget to accomplish their goal, but one we determined as "doable." Search Consultant Mary Ellen Gallagher showed them about six properties before they decided on the one they purchased, now known as "Le Beau Marais" (wwww.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apartments/rentals/beau_marais.html).

One they looked at prior to the purchase, was of course, as seen in the episode, "L'Aubergine" (www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apartments/rentals/aubergine.html), an apartment directly below which had already been completely renovated under the auspices of Interior Architect, Martine di Matteo. They opted to work with Martine to renovate their own apartment into what you see it as now -- a top notch luxury studio apartment that sleeps up to four.

Every since launching it on the Parler Paris Apartments Web site (www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apartments), it's had enough requests to keep it well rented, and enough to well cover their mortgage and operating expenses.

The program does a very good job of showing the true story, even if it's just a simulation of what actually transpired. My hat is off to House Hunters International!

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Poperty Buyers Looking To View French Property By Train

www.pr-inside.com

Across the whole of the overseas property market, agents and developers are being forced to drop their prices, offer free extras and more generous term to potential buyers in order to attract interest in the properties they are selling. One place that this doesn't seem to be occurring quite as much as elsewhere is France, where some projects are still in such demand as to have construction started early and where off-plan sales are still exceptionally strong...

Add to this the fact that all airlines are currently under increased economic pressure, and it makes sense if you are looking to buy in France to consider locations which are easy to reach via the extensive rail network across the country. Rail travel in France is alive with contradictions - local trains often seem to run on little or no timetable, most of the rolling stock is old and unreliable. On the other hand, the TGV network is the pride of the French railways and the envy of Europe. The high-speed trains are very rarely late, technologically-advanced, and provide rapid, easy transport between cities. In contrast to flying on most low-cost airlines, traveling by TGV is one of the most pleasant ways to reach your French destination...

To read the entire article go to www.pr-inside.com/uk-property-buyers-looking-to-view-r1157956.htm.

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Destination TGV
By Adrian Leeds

Location, location, location.

It's a traditional turn of phrase used by property experts meaning the three most important factors in determining the desirability of a property. It was famously adapted in a speech by Tony Blair when he referred to his priorities of 'Education, Education and Education,' but was originally coined by Harold Samuel in 1944 who founded the property company "Land Securities," now one of the biggest in the UK.

Harold Samuel wasn't kidding. There simply isn't any more important aspect to a property's value than its location. If you were to view the country of France as the broadest playing field and you wanted to determine where in France would your investments be safest and most profitable, there is one major factor that determines which locations would achieve those goals -- and that's the "TGV."

The "TGV" is the "Train à Grande Vitesse" -- or high speed trains, so brilliantly engineered by the French that now glide like fast snakes all over France and into neighboring countries. The network is growing all the time and as new lines are added, speeding up the commute time from city to city, so are those destination cities growing hot properties. The system reaches 150 destinations at this time and extends...

* North to the border with Belgium and the Port of Calais,
* South East to Perpignan, close to Spain, and as far as Menton, close to the Italian border,
* East to Strasbourg, across the border into Germany, and further down to the Alpine regions, and
* West to the most western tip of the country, the Lorie valley and
* South West to the Alt antic coast.

The TGV to Biarritz from Paris, for example, is only 5.0 hours compared to a driving time (as per www.viamichelin.com) of 7.5 hours. If you take the TGV in the opposite direction to Strasbourg, you can be there in 2.25 hours compared to 4.5 hours on the road. And if you head South the Avignon, the train ride down is a mere 2.5 hours compared to 6.25 hours in the car.

The trains are easy to board, quiet and comfortable, making for a relaxing voyage with a lot less hassle than flying (long advance time to allow for heavy security measures) and driving (renting a car, stopping for gas, risking the dangers). With such fast and easy access, more and more foreigners are opting for second homes in cities outside of Paris where for just a few extra hours, they can be in the peace of their own countryside abode.

Watch for new destinations -- those are the cities where property prices will escalate, and those are the cities where a property investment will prove not only profitable, but thoroughly enjoyable...and that's what it's really all about...the pleasure of ownership in France.

Editor's Note: See our Hot Properties section below to get an idea of investment opportunities in these destination cities.

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Avignon by Train

Annecy Avignon is a beautiful medieval city in south-east France, on the banks of the Rhone. Several popes made Avignon their home between 1305 and 1378, leaving a legacy of impressive architecture. On the TGV, Avignon is just 2 hours and 40 minutes from Paris, making it ideal for a history-rich city break.

* Passing through? Stop by the Pont d’Avignon, where the ruined arches of St Bénezet Bridge just out into the Rhone. Another must-see site for a short break is the Palais des Papes, home of the Avignon Popes. This gothic palace is adorned with stunning frescoes and is ranked by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
* Staying a while? The area around Avignon is a great place to sample the wines of the Rhone valley. A tour of the local vineyards is your best bet, and you can get good prices on a bottle or five to take home.
* The inside track... If you visit the Palais des Papes, try and get on one of the weekend guided tours. Running from September to May, you can go behind the scenes to see private apartments and gardens, secret stairways and concealed corridors.

For more about Avignon, go to:

* www.ot-avignon.fr

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Biarritz by Train

Biarritz! The very name just oozes glamour and sophistication. Nestled right at the foot of France on the Basque coast, this former whaling settlement turned resort for European royalty has superb beaches, spectacular cliffs, the best surf in Europe and not one but two casinos.

* Passing through? No visit to Biarritz is complete without visiting at least one of the award-winning beaches that made this town famous. The only trouble is, which one?
* Staying a while? Round off a perfect day soaking up the sun, or catching the surf, by rubbing shoulders with the high-rollers in one of Biarritz’s glamorous casinos.
* The inside track... Stroll along the lighthouse esplanade for fantastic panoramic views of the area and the Spanish coast.

For more about Biarritz, go to:

* www.biarritz.fr
* www.timeout.com/travel/biarritz

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Strasbourg by Train

Strasbourg Just two hours 20 minutes from Paris on the new TGV Est service, Strasbourg is easy to get to for a short break and is a great base for exploring the area. This beautiful city, close to the German border in Alsace, is the home of the European Parliament as well as some fine medieval architecture.

* Passing through? The famous Cathedral of Notre Dame is a vast Gothic structure built of pink sandstone that beautifully reflects the colors of the changing sky. Wooden figures of the apostles appear on the charming astronomical clock.
* Staying a while? Explore the banks of the River Rhine and the lakes, mountains and villages of the surrounding countryside.
* The inside track... Visit the Petite France quarter, one of the prettiest and oldest parts of the city with its half-timbered houses. Be sure to sample the local food, reflecting the area's rural Alsatian roots.

For more about Strasbourg, go to:

* www.uk.franceguide.com/what-to-do/cities-of-france/city-break-ideas/strasbourg/home.html?NodeID=206

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Fractional Property Offerings from French Property Fractional

www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/fractional

If you are interested in traditional fractional ownership properties currently offered by our Fractional Ownership partners, see below:

	***NEW!!! Paris: LE PALACE DES VOSGES www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/fractional
	Paris: CHEZ LA TOUR http://www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/fractional
	Paris: La Résidence Luxembourg www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/fractional
	Paris: LE PETIT TRESOR www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/fractional
	Languedoc-Roussillon: MAISON BLEUE www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/fractional

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Special Hot Property Reduced for FPI Subscribers

Save 500 000 €!

Chalet Beaumont: A unique mountainside chalet comprising of 7/9 apartments in Chamonix, France available for private sale.

The Chalet Beaumont apartments are situated in a spectacular location at the foot of Mont Blanc, perfect for those wishing to enjoy peaceful surroundings with easy access to the hustle and bustle of Chamonix town.

* 7/9 apartments total of 409m2 on 4 levels and 3573m2 of land.
* 255m2 renovated between 2003 and 2005 in the style of "developer MGM" (including new plumbing and wiring)
154m2 original
* All apartments fully furnished and equipped, mostly by "Cocktail Scandinave", all new between 2003-2005 including all cookers and fridges.
* Currently 290m2 of let units generate Euro 453/m2 PA
* Enormous potential to add value services eg catering, minibus resort/transfer service, ski/board tuition etc.
* Asking Price: Euro 2,495,000

FOR OUR SUBSCRIBERS: Euro 1,995,000 (discount of 500 000 €!)

To inquire further email fpi@adrianleeds.com.

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A French Chateau Seen Through American Eyes
By Kimberly Conniff Taber

The New York Times
www.nytimes.com

In the late 1780s, when Antoine de Saint Simon, a French marquis, wanted to build a grand chateau in Normandy, he hired a royal architect who modeled it after one of the wings at Versailles.

More than two centuries and several noble clans later, the Chateau de Courtomer now belongs to an American woman, Elizabeth Bonner. And she is renovating it slowly, trying to make the 38 rooms and the 1,600 square meters (about 17,500 square feet) feel like a home.

Just how did an 18th-century chateau end up in the hands of a woman from Baltimore?

It was her husband Bill Bonner, the founder of Agora, a financial publishing company based in Baltimore, who first saw the chateau, with its imposing limestone facade and grand salons. He was looking for a place to hold his company’s training seminars and a friend suggested the chateau, which is in Courtomer, a small village in the Normandy countryside about 160 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of Paris.

The three-story chateau has a sweeping succession of rooms on the ground floor, including salons, a dining room that seats 40, a library and a fumoir, or smoking room, with an intricately patterned wood floor that is listed on the French national historic registry. Also on the registry is an elegant stone staircase, watched over by a portrait of St. Simon, which leads up to the 27 bedrooms.

The property, 145 hectares (365 acres) of gently rolling land complete with a moat, also includes a caretaker’s house, stables, a run-down orangery and a small stone temple once used for worship...

To read the entire article go to www.nytimes.com/2009/.

 

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Louis Blanc Social Housing
By Nico Saieh

The construction of the housing project located 45 Louis Blanc Street in the 10th quarter of Paris is the result of a project launched in 1998 by the Paris city real-estate authority. The property developer was expected to take a piece of land measuring 550 m² and replace an abandoned squat there which had been slotted for demolition with a low-cost building proposing 13 apartments (program specifications), that adhered to the HQE (High Environmental Quality) standards still being determined at the time.

The project is sculpted like a piece of a puzzle, responding exactly to the urban constrains and solicitations of the context. It proposes an unusual typology for the Parisian standards which frees the ground floor to propose on the ground level a landscaped parking, adequate with a small plot, above which 17 apartments seem to float. It ensures a chain reaction -> Minimization of the parking print (suppression of the ramp) -> optimization of the realization planning: minus 3 months -> Optimization of the budget: 15% -> Redefinition of the project economy -> and so on…

To read the entire article go to www.archdaily.com/17568/louis-blanc-social-housing-ecdm.

Editor's Note: While this apartment building will not be for investment purposes, improvements such as this to a neighborhood will always add value to the properties around it.

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TODAY'S CURRENCY UPDATE

www.Moneycorp.com

Visit the FPI Web site and click on the link on the left panel or click here for Currency Currency Convertor by Moneycorp Global Money Services/Currency Online by Moneycorp: Moneycorp Currency Conversion Tool for up to the minute conversions of all major currencies.

Compare currency values easily and quickly by visiting:
www.Moneycorp.com/agent/parlerparis/Currency Convertor by Moneycorp Global Money Services/Currency Online.asp

Charts: www.Moneycorp.co.uk/members/charts.asp The charts are updated every ten seconds.

The prices shown are "inter bank" exchange rates and are not the rates that you will be offered by Moneycorp. Your rate will be determined by the amount of currency that you are buying. Please speak with an Moneycorp dealer or your consultant for a live quotation.

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PARLER PARIS APARTMENTS - RESERVE NOW FOR EASTER!

Parler Paris Apartments

Welcome to your home in Paris. Home is how you will feel in a private apartment in Paris that has the "seal of approval" from Parler Paris Apartments and me, Adrian Leeds.

Parler Paris Apartments offers high quality accommodations to make your stay in the City of Light as enjoyable and memorable as possible.

We at Parler Paris know each and every apartment owner or manager personally, and stand behind the quality of those we represent. We understand your needs and desires, all the small details that make a rental apartment a warm and welcoming home ­ and a much better alternative to an impersonal hotel!

Parler Paris Apartments is administered and serviced by the same great team as Parler Paris, French Property Insider and French Property Consultation. You can trust that Parler Paris Apartments and all those with whom it is associated will do their best for your 100% guaranteed satisfaction.

SPOTLIGHT APARTMENT(S): Le Beau Marais and L'Aubergine (recently featured on House Hunters International)

*Le Beau Marais...
Cité Dupetit Thouars, 3rd Arrondissement
Studio, Sleeps Up to 4

Le Beau Marais is a newly restored gem that has been completely transformed into a luxurious and comfortable dream apartment. The large studio apartment is located on an historic and quiet "cul de sac," and promises a very tranquil "sejour" in the City of Light. Located on the third floor (3 flights up) with an elevator and digicode/intercom entry systems, this studio will amaze you with its well thought-out fit and finish, seen to by our professional Interior Designer, Martine di Matteo.
www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apartments/rentals/beau_marais.html.

*L'Aubergine...
Cité Dupetit Thouars, 3rd Arrondissement
One-Bedroom, Sleeps up to 4

L’Aubergine sits tucked away on an historic and quiet "cul de sac," making it an oasis of peace and calm. This second floor apartment (two flights), has two large bright windows that face a classic Parisian courtyard. With digicode, intercom entry system and elevator, it has been completely newly renovated and professionally decorated to the height of luxury, with a soothing "aubergine" (eggplant) and taupe color scheme. Everything in the apartment is new, from the designer linens and towels, to the appliances and electronics.
www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apartments/rentals/aubergine.html.

Reserve now! Visit www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apartments or email: Apartments@AdrianLeeds.com

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HOT PROPERTY PICKS: Avignon Biarritz Strasbourg

Each week French Property Insider features a range of properties which we believe are on the market at the time of writing. These properties are featured in order to give readers a sample of what is currently available and a working example of prices being asked in various regions of France and districts of Paris.

As we are not a real estate agency. These properties do not constitute a sales listing. For those readers seriously interested in finding property in Paris or France, you can retain our services to do the whole thing for you. For more information, visit http://www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/consultation

This week our focus is on properties in and near Avignon, Biarritz and Strasbourg.

******Avignon: 2-Bedroom, approx. 50m²

Very agreeable first floor apartment in a small residence a few steps away from Saint Lazare place in Avignon. The apartment underwent a quality renovation in 2005. Possibility of renting a private parking space 150m away is available.

Asking Price: 225 000€ + 2.5% Finder's Fee

 

***Avignon: 4-Bedroom, approx. 80m²

Spacious town house benefiting from a courtyard, set in Avignon very close to the ramparts. Quality restoration has been completed, exposing stone walls and beamed ceilings. New flooring installed. Attic space could be finished out to add an additional 60m².

Asking Price: 495 000€ + 2.5% Finder's Fee

 

***Biarritz: 1-Bedroom, approx. 41m²

Biarritz Parc Mazon, apartment in a pleasant building. Two room apartment on the 2nd floor. Clear view. Has an 18m² living room with fireplace, bedroom, bathroom. Very nice.

Asking Price: 191 000 € + 2.5% Finder's Fee

 

 

******Biarritz: 1-Bedroom, approx. 42m²

Apartment with a lot of charm and cachet in a magnificent stone built building. Clear and partial sea-views. Entrance onto the living room opening onto balcony, kitchenette, washroom WC. Upstairs, mezzanine with bedroom. Magnificent bourgeois apartment.

Asking Price: 240 000 € + 2.5% Finder's Fee

 

***Strasbourg: 3-Bedroom, approx. 91m²

Nice large and bright apartment. Four rooms of 91m ² in a building from 1955. Has a spacious entrance, a kitchen of 10m², a large living room of 26m² overlooking a small south west balcony. Three bedrooms. clearance at the end of the hall, a bathroom, and a cellar of 17m². Nice functional, bright and ample flat, but needs some updating.

Asking Price: 207 000 € + 2.5% Finder's Fee

 

 

***Strasbourg: 1-Bedroom, approx. 88m²

Superb duplex located on the top floor of a beautiful restored building from the 17th century. You will be allured by its splendid exposed oak beams and the mezzanine, providing height under the ceiling. It is composed on the 1st level of a double living room with open-plan equipped kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom with WC. The 2nd level is composed of a roomy bedroom with contiguous shower room and WC.

Asking Price: 322 500 € + 2.5% Finder's Fee

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Results of the Recent Notaires' Property Auction

Notaires de Paris
Place du Châtelet
12 avenue Victoria
Paris 1st

Additional information on Les Ventes aux Enchères des Notaires can be found on the Web site at www.encheres-Paris.com. Though the site has a button for an English version, it isn't necessarily reliable.

To read Schuyler Hoffman's article about the property auctions in Paris, click on:
www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/insider/members/content/articles/auctions1.html

On March 31, 2009 the following properties were auctioned off:

 

2009-05-01
5 PIECES 128,80 m² + CHAMBRE DE SERVICE 16 m²
37 avenue Bugeaud
68 à 72 rue des Belles feuilles
75016 PARIS 16eme
Starting Bid: 1 089 000,00 €
Sold For: 1 240 000,00 €

 

2009-05-02
4 PIECES 57,50 m²
10 rue des Francs Bourgeois
75003 PARIS 3eme
Starting Bid: 360 000,00 €
Sold For: 415 000,00 €

 

 

 

2009-05-05
STUDIO 24,11 m²
8 rue Houdart de Lamotte
75015 PARIS 15eme
Starting Bid: 132 000,00 €
Sold For: Did not sell

 

 

 

2009-05-08
STUDIO 21,40 m²
110 rue de Montreuil
75011 PARIS 11eme
Starting Bid: 98 000,00 €
Sold For: 106 000,00 €

 

 

 

Look for properties on the auction block coming up on April 28, 2009 in next week's issue!

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SEEKING A MORTGAGE IN FRANCE?

When you make a purchase as important as a piece of real estate in a foreign country, you ant to know that you can trust the people you are dealing with. Adrian Leeds has developed a network of professionals that meet only the highest of standards. With the expertise and experience of Adrian and her team, you can depend on getting the best advice and support to feel completely confident that you are making an informed investment decision.

Let us help you secure a mortgage in France at a competitive interest rate. Visit www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/loan for more information or contact Loan@AdrianLeeds.com

HELPFUL CONVERSIONS FOR REAL ESTATE

1 square meter = 10.7639104 square feet

1 hectare = 2.4710538 acres

For more conversions, refer to: www.onlineconversion.com/

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Parler Paris Après Midi

 

www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apresmidi.html

Come for a drink and to meet and chat with other readers in Paris...

The next gathering is April 14, 2009 and every second Tuesday of the month (except August).

 

 

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Managing Your French Property Insider Subscription is Easy!

We receive many emails from French Property Insider Subscribers who want to change their email address, or update personal information. But did you know that you can make these changes yourself?

It's easy...

1. Go to adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/insider

2. Click on "Manage Subscription." You'll find it under the "Subscribers Only" section in the sidebar.

3. Enter your username and password.

4. On the Welcome Page, go to "Manage Your Account" and click on "Change Password/Edit Profile"

5. Once you've made the changes, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "Save Profile."

Simple!

Of course, we're always happy to help, so if you do need assistance, send an email to members@fpinsider.com

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THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

To access password protected pages: click on any of the links on the left panel of the home page of FrenchPropertyInsider.com under "Subscriber's Only," then type in your personal username and password.

Past issues of FPI are available on the Web site. You will find the
"Past Issues" link on the left under "Subscribers Only" or by going to
www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/insider/members

To receive your free French Leaseback Report or the Paris Property
Report, click on
www.adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/insider/members

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We wanted better guides, So we wrote them!

Insider Paris Guides are written for people who love the City of Light. You'll get a Paris insider perspective on Restaurants... Making a Life... Black Culture... Expat Writers...and the newest guide, Practical Paris!

French Property Insider subscribers receive a discount of 10% off any guide and up to 25% off the entire purchase (if two or more guides are purchased at the same time). Here's how it works:

1. Click on special Web link we give you just for FPI subscribers.

2. Then order one or more guide(s) and use the promotion
code "ED762." This promotion code gives you 10% off your total
order.

3. If you order two or more guides, then an additional 15% will be
taken off automatically. There is no promotion code needed.

Here is the special "coupon" Web link just for you:
www.insiderparisguides.com/offer

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SUBSCRIBE TO PARLER PARIS

If you're not a regular reader of the Parler Paris daily e-letter, and would like to be, simply enter your e-mail address here (it's free!): www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis

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Copyright 2011, Adrian Leeds®
Adrian Leeds Group, LLC, www.adrianleeds.com