VINGT Paris

French Real Estate Glossary

ANCIEN: older building
APPARTEMENT: apartment
ASCENSEUR: elevator/lift
ASSEMBLÉE DES COPROPRIÉTAIRES: general meeting of owners
BALCON: balcony
BUANDERIE: laundry room
BONNE DISTRIBUTION: well laid-out floor plan
BOX: parking
BUREAU: study/office
CARACTÈRE: character, something unusual...
CARRELAGE: ceramic tile
CAVE: cellar
CC - CHARGES COMPRISES: charges included, usually refers to the agency's fee
CHEMINÉE: fireplace
CONFORT: comfortable
COPROPRIÉTÉ: co-ownership group
CHAMBRE: bedroom
CHAUFFAGE: heating
CONGÉLATEUR: freezer
COULOIR: hallway
CUISINE: kitchen
CUISINE AMÉRICAINE: open kitchen
DIGICODE: entry code system to building
DOUBLE EXPOSITION: double exposure
DOUBLE SÉJOUR: large living room
MOULURES: mouldings on the ceilings of classic French apartments
OCCUPÉ: occupied, someone is living there, sold with a tenant
PARKING: parking
PARQUET: hardwood floors
PARTICULIER: owner listing
PARTIES COMMUNES: common areas
PIÈCE: room (not kitchen or bath)
PLACARDS: closets
PDT, PIERRE DE TAILLE: cut stone building
POUTRES: wood beams
RANGEMENTS: storage, cabinets, shelving
RAVALÉ: restored, cleaned
RDC, REZ-DE-CHAUSSÉE: ground floor, street level
RÉAMÉNAGER: to be renovated
RÉCENT: recently constructed building
REFAIT NEUF: newly remodeled
RÉFRIGÉRATEUR: refrigerator
SALLE D'EAU: bathroom with shower and sink
DOUBLE VITRAGE: double-paned windows
DOUCHE: shower
DRESSING: walk-in closet
ENSOLEILLÉ: sunny, lots of light
ENVIRON: approximately
ÉQUIPÉE: fully equipped
ÉTAGE: floor
FOUR: oven
GARAGE: garage
GARDIEN: concierge/caretaker
HAUSMANNIAN: building from Haussmann era - 19th/20th century
HONORAIRES: fees
HORS CHARGES: charges not included
HOTTE: ventilation hood
HSP, HAUTEUR SOUS PLAFOND: high ceilings
IMMEUBLE: building
INDEPENDENT: separate
INTERPHONE: intercom system
LAVE-LINGE: clothes washer
LAVE-SÉCHAGE: clothes dryer
LAVE-VAISSELLE: dishwasher
LOCATION: rental
MEUBLÉ: furnished
MOQUETTE: carpet
SDB, SALLE DE BAINS: bathroom
SERVICE: maid's room
SOUS-SOL: below ground
SOLEIL: sunny
STANDING: luxurious, grand standing building
SUR COUR: overlooking courtyard
SUR JARDIN: overlooking garden
SYNDICAT DES CORPROPRIÉTAIRES: collective body of owners of common property
TABLE DE CUISSON: range
TAPIS: area rug
TAXE FONCIÈRE: annual real estate tax
TAXE D'HABITATION: annual occupancy tax
TERRASSE: terrace
TOMETTE: red clay tile flooring
TRAVAUX À PRÉVOIR: work to be done
VIDE: empty
VITRÉE BAIE: bay window
WC: toilet

Ownership costs for a rental apartment

Although closing costs are quite high in France, (the Notaire will take 7-8%, most of which he or she is collecting for the government) but the property taxes and running costs of an apartment in Paris are not too bad.

For a one bedroom apartment of 50m² in central Paris they would be roughly equivalent to the following:

• Monthly building charges are paid quarterly
Dues range from 100 to 150 euros a month, depending on the size of the apartment, the number of apartments in the building and the services that the building has to offer: a Gardienne, an elevator etc. A good approximation is about 2 euros/square meter of the apartment.

• Once a year Tax Fonciere and Tax d'Habitation. For most US purchasers the 7-8% tax on a purchase seems high, annual property taxes in France are substantially lower than in the United States. Where US property is taxed by the state anywhere from 0.5% to 3% annually, the Taxe Fonciére (land tax) is about 0.1 to 0.2% per year. Tax d'Habitation varies from one place to another and according to the size of the property. (If you rent your property to someone else and they are living there on the first day of January for the year, they are liable to pay this tax.)

• Insurance which includes contents and damage by tenants (but not tenants belongings) about 300 euros per year.

• Internet/Cable/telephone package should be part of the rental package c.30-50 euros per month

• Electricity – is paid by tenant but you could consider wrapping it into the monthly rent (up to 50euros a month for example) to offer a nice "package deal" for your renters and gain a competitive advantage over other apartments on offer.

Legalities and checks galore

Part of the Notaire's job is to verify that the seller is really the owner of the property in question and any government mandates to take this building over by government control (only in rare cases when the building is considered to block some important government project see Droit de préemption).

Special laws require that the Notaire to verify the actual size of the apartment (Loi Carrez) via a Geometre's drawing, that the building's pipes and paint do not have lead in them and that there are no termites or asbestos in the building.

The Syndic (property management body elected by the co-owners group) will send the Notaire handling the sale a statement of the seller's account regarding the payment of fees and any work in progress but not yet completed (for which owners are liable). The vendor should obtain a Certificat de l'Article 20 stating that he doesn't owe any money to the copropriété; otherwise the Notaire must withhold payment to cover any fees due.

A new check that came in at the end of 2006 was the Pre-Sale Energy Efficiency Report which puts even more information at the buyer's disposal. Sometimes, France rocks!

Artist's Atelier in Bagneux

Abstract expressionist Amaranth Ehrenhalt is selling her amazing atelier in Bagneux (just outside Paris). Her energy and enthusiasm puts most young artists to shame. She has purchased a place in New York City and will soon move back after many years in Bagneux. The Mairie commisssioned her to do several murals and during the time those were being fired in a giant kiln she took the opportunity to do one for the front of her own home and Atelier d'Artiste, which she also built.