The Annual general Meeting - yawn?

I received my monthly newsletter from a Paris based jurist who consults on various issues regarding life in France to an English speaking clientele. I was surprised to read this excerpt relating to attending the Annual General meeting of the "copropriété", (Home owner's Commitee).

"This client owns a small apartment in Paris and asked me to attend the annual general meeting for the second year in a row. This year it lasted for four hours and finished after 10PM. Considering the fact that my fee for attending the meeting exceeded half of the monthly rent, I questioned whether my presence there was in my client's best interests. From a strictly financial point of view, the co-owners were voting to approve expenses, some of them rather weighty, so there was no way I could justify my cost by any kind of immediate savings for her. "

Yes, the meetings do tend to go on and on but it's absolutely essential to attend them and the cost is negligble, Bonapart Clients pay a flat fee of 800 euros for attendance at an "AGE" (annual general meeting), and compared with taking responsibility of participating in the life of the building you have purchased it's not that bad. Plus, isn't it much better to stay informed?

This makes it sound like owning property here is expensive but compare the annual taxes on a large property in the Marais (700 euros per annum) and those on a home in Texas (5000 US$ per annum).

Hmm, Paris, Texas or Paris, France? You choose..........