• Printer Friendly
• Parler Paris Blog
• Community Calendar (Updated Every Wednesday)
• Recommend to Friends
• Don't miss a single issue of Parler Paris! "Whitelist" Parler Paris by adding "info@adrianleeds.com" to your address book.

TWO NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU!...RESERVE NOW FOR UPCOMING LIVING AND INVESTING IN FRANCE REAL ESTATE CONFERENCES...

Paris
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Chez Jenny
3, Boulevard du Temple
75003 Paris
For more information, email info@adrianleeds.com

For more information and to register, click here FrenchPropertyconference or email info@adrianleeds.com

Dear Parler Paris Reader,

My daughter and I arrived in New Orleans Wednesday afternoon and headed immediately to a local neighborhood Metairie restaurant named "Bozo's" for raw oysters on the half shell, stuffed artichoke, oyster 'po-boys' and fresh boiled crawfish, topped off by a cold fountain "Barq's" root beer. That was just the beginning of the continuous eating fest in the city where every bite is a like having a 'party' in your mouth. Don't tell the French, but N-O-L-A has France beat for great 'cuisine.'

New Orleans, however, is the second best city in which to be talking about France. The first, is of course, Paris...but for a New Orleanian-turned-Parisienne, the "Big Easy" is the best alternative to the "City of Light" for learning how to take the big step to property ownership in France. The venue is a perfect way for to combine pleasure with pleasure -- the pleasure of talking about France and the pleasure of visiting with close family while taking in the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of the "Crescent City."

In a private room called "Madame Begue" at "Tujague's" on Decatur Street, amid the turn-of-the-century photos of Madame Begue herself in the kitchen, hung on the 153 year-old Creole brick walls, sitting on bentwood chairs (sweet but mildly uncomfortable), with fresh brewed coffee and chicory served in glasses (not cups), we discussed the ins and outs of moving to France and owning property with a small, but serious group of attendees.

They came from as far away as Ireland, Panama, California, Florida and Texas to hear what the professionals have to say about the broad and complicated subject. This was our 23rd conference of this nature, so to us, it's a subject we know like the streets of Le Marais, but for them, it was an eye-opening experience to learn the intricacies of the French taxation system, a surprise that no Multiple Listing Service exists in France and that mortgages in France are now possible under the 3% interest mark!

There were several highlights during the 1.5 days of presentations and revelry. Administrative Director of the Alliance Française de la Nouvelle-Orléans, Alexandra Drame, paid us a surprise visit Saturday afternoon, to talk a little bit about how to go about learning French and gave us a brief history of the Alliance Française which began in Paris in 1883 then established the first chapter in the United States win 1888. We learned that "Laissez les bon temps rouler" (let the good times roll) is a Cajun expression that is as far from being French than New Orleans is from Paris.

Saturday night after a long afternoon of presentations by John Howell of The International Law Partnership (Why Invest in Property in France?), Peter Zipper of Caye International Bank (The Best Kept Secret in Offshore Banking and Investing), and myself (How to Find Your Dream Apartment in Paris or Home in the Country!), we mingled over cocktails at Tujague's zinc bar, then settled down to a five-course traditional New Orleans dinner of gumbo, shrimp Remoulade, brisket of beef, crawfish etoufée and banana bread pudding. My entire family (almost) had come to town for the occasion -- all three sisters, my soon-to-be-92-year-old mother, a brother-in-law, a niece and my daughter, Erica -- all of whom positioned themselves around one table, dotted by the company of Peter Zipper and Jody Cracknell of Moneycorp Global Money Services.

My niece, Allison Gorlin, New Orleans chef extraordinaire at Cake Café and Bakery is also an accomplished ukulele player who sings and strums around town to her pleasure. She brought along her 100-year-old uke to belt out a tune or two and while on a high note, my sweet little bentwood chair slipped out from under me rendering me flat on my back and half under the table! Allison said it was a "helluva way to get her to stop singing!" and we all laughed so hard our tears fell into the bread pudding. She stole the show with her brazen performance and comedic commentaries then we all headed home to prepare ourselves for the next full day of presentations.

Sunday morning, Sarah Maslen with Crédit Foncier logged onto Skype along with John Rule, our Mortgage Manager, sitting at my own Paris desk, to deliver a presentation about how to get a mortgage in France. While the WiFi signal wasn't perfect 100% of the time, the Web cam still allowed us to see them and for them to see us and to converse as if we were virtually in one room, while going through the PowerPoint slides. It was encouraging to learn that mortgages are readily available in France, relatively easy to obtain and at today's rock bottom rates, making it more affordable than ever to invest in a property in France.

The day progressed with presentations by myself, John Howell and Jody Cracknell, providing insight into How to Renovate and Rent Your French Property for Profit, The Fractional Ownership Solution, How to Minimize Your Tax and Maximize the Benefits and How to Reduce Your Currency Exchange Risk. Before ending the session with a Q and A to answer any additional questions the participants might have, we stopped for a coffee break with "beignets" covered in powdered sugar fresh from Café du Monde.

The conference participants handed in their evaluations before heading off to the rest of their stay in the Big Easy, with dreams of living in France in their heads, and the tools that they needed to make it really happen. Scores for each presenter were never lower than a "4" out of a potential "5" and the conference was described as "a wealth of information -- hard to digest it all," "very well done!," "perfect location -- great food!," "totally different from what I thought" and "hard to improve on content and presentation."

Wednesday I'll be back on the plane headed east across the Atlantic to Paris, with the satisfaction that we once again were able to help a few people fulfill their dreams...all while fully enjoying ourselves in the culture of America's most authentic French city...and my home town.

P.S. Don't miss House Hunters this coming Friday night for our newest episode "Vacation Home in Paris" -- scroll down for more information or visit http://www.hgtv.com/house-hunters-international/vacation-home-in-paris/index.html for details.

P.P.S. Saturday afternoon, Immigration Attorney Ann Cary Dana will be conducting a two-hour workshop on "The new auto-entrepreneur regime: self employment in france made simple?" Scroll down for more information or visit /frenchproperty/conference/ for details and to sign up.

THIS WEEK...DON'T MISS...HOUSE HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL!
NEW EPISODE, NEW DATES AND TIMES!
SEE ADRIAN LEEDS AND
FRENCH PROPERTY CONSULTATION
ON HOUSE HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL!

***NEW: "Vacation Home in Paris" - Episode HHINT-1A05

AIR TIMES:
March 27, 2009, 10:00 PM ET/PT
March 27, 2009, 2:00 AM ET/PT

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-a-terre in Paris.
House Hunters International Episode HHINT-402

To learn more, visit parlerparis.com/calendar.html or email Adrian Leeds, at adrian@adrianleeds.com

"FACE TO FACE" A CORE SKILLS WORKSHOP ON CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS...
Presented by PSI Communications
Saturday and Sunday March 28-29, 2009, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Join us to learn practical skills that will enable you to connect with your best in any environment -- even when you do not speak the language.

For more information, visit /parlerparis/ or contact Antonio, antonio.psicom@gmail.com

SAVE MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRING FROM DOLLARS TO EUROS

HiFX takes the pain and guesswork out of currency conversion. They offer a range of services and can provide the ideal solution to fit your specific situation when transferring money for your French property mortgage and more. Save more of your own hard-earned money with HiFX!

For more information, click here: frenchpropertyloan.com

YOU'RE INVITED: SUNDAY LUNCH IN NORMANDY WITH ON RUE TATIN CHEF, SUSAN LOOMIS

Come to On Rue Tatin, Susan Herrmann Loomis' 15th-century Norman retreat, for a sumptuous Sunday lunch. A savory, aromatic world where culinary adventure awaits...

Upcoming Lunches:

• May 24, 2009
• Special Father's Day Sunday Lunch June 21, 2009
• September 13, 2009
• November 8, 2009

For details, please visit /frenchproperty/conference

SEATS STILL OPEN...“THE NEW AUTO-ENTREPRENEUR” REGIME: SELF EMPLOYMENT IN FRANCE MADE SIMPLE?”

Saturday, March 28, 2009 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Ann Cary Dana is an American-born French immigration lawyer specialized in foreigners working in France (work permits, temporary assignments, students working or applying for a change of status).

For more information visit /frenchproperty/conference/
To register email info@adrianleeds.com

MEET PARLER PARIS READERS TUESDAY "APRES MIDI."
Next Meeting April 14, 2009

The second Tuesday of every month, Parler Paris and French Property Insider readers gather at La Pierre du Marais for a drink and a "schmooze" -- it's an opportunity to meet and chat with other like-minded people and a great way to make friends! Costs nothing except whatever you drink, so don't miss the next gathering on Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 from 3 to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit Parler Paris Après Midi

PRACTICE YOUR FRENCH...OR ENGLISH!
Parler Parlor French-English Conversation Group

GET AN INSIDER'S LOOK AT FRANCE
France Today The Magazine Of French Travel and Culture

France Today is an insider’s look at French culture, people and trends — your savvy guide to off-the-beaten-track places and events in Paris and all over France!

"France-Amerique est vôtre lien privilégié avec la France et la langue française!"

To subscribe, visit France Today or call 1-800-901-6560

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