Passez le message Properties for sale

nr 32 • March 2013
Newsletter of tóco d’azur - your personal assistant and estate agency on the Côte d’Azur
Passez le message
Tóco tip: Marseille, the 2013 European capital
of culture, is the place to go
Properties for sale
Our personal coups de coeur in
Roquefort-les-Pins, Nice, Grasse and Opio
Enchantée The call of the south
Events on the Côte in March, April and May
Passez le message! New home and tóco immobilier
join forces — Tóco tip: Yes! Marseille is the place to go — Benefit from ten hours of service, completely free of charge
Le Français Conducting an emergency telephone call in French
The tóco client ‘The luxury of swimming in the sea in the autumn’
La France sportive Rugby dream team Toulon eyes up championship title
Properties for sale in Roquefort-les-Pins, Nice, Grasse and Opio
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Enchantée
The call of the south
With a Hungarian father and French maternal
ancestors, I have always been interested in other
cultures and countries. Nothing is as fascinating as
discovering how people across the border live, eat,
work and spend their leisure time. Artistic expression
also captures the essence of a people. Many people
yearn to expand their horizons. Unfortunately,
however, owning a (second) home in another country
is an impossible dream for many. For those who
do want to make the move, I have created a very
special property website. Together with my business
partners Joost Kooman and Robert Wagenaar, I
launched auSud (www.ausud.com) in the summer
of 2012. The website already lists more than 21,000
properties in every department of France. After all,
Northern France is considered ‘the south’ for Northern
Europeans. The vast majority of house hunters are
looking for houses and apartments in the Provence
and along the Côte d’Azur. This makes perfect sense,
as our region is blessed with a year-round perfect
climate, the most varied countryside in France,
beautiful cities and good and affordable flight
connections. I am particularly delighted to report
that, in addition to the Netherlands and Belgium,
auSud has also been launched in Russia, Germany,
Norway, Sweden, Denmark and England, with a
description of all the properties in the respective
languages. That is unique! At the same time, we
are also expanding into Italy, Finland, Switzerland
and the Czech Republic. Being enterprising means
seizing opportunities precisely in times of crisis.
Furthermore, despite the financial crisis, the demand
from overseas buyers for properties in Southern
France shows no sign of abating. Although admittedly
people are choosing and buying more prudently
than before and it may take slightly longer for a
sale to be completed. We will assist you with
professional advice and help you make the move
and become immersed in French life. Many have
gone before you and are enjoying the joie de vivre
in southern France. I for one can heartily recommend
that you do likewise.
Events on the Côte
13-21 April – Monaco
tóco-loge Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
9-18 March – Nice – Foire de Nice
March
gigantic trade show featuring the latest products for the home, garden,
swimming pool and well–being, www.foiredenice.com
12 March – Cannes – MIPIM 2013 Real Estate
the leading international real estate fair, Palais des Festivals et des Congrès,
www.mipim.com
15-21 March – Nice – Opera Madame Butterfly (Puccini)
Opera Nice, www.opera–nice.org
29 March-31 March – Cannes – Cannes Shopping Festival
fashion show featuring world famous designers, gala dinners and ‘soirées de
prestige’ with dance, acrobatics and concerts, www.cannesshoppingfestival.com
7 April – Mouans Sartoux– Fête du printemps
April
market with regional produce and floral floats, www.mouans–sartoux.com
8 April – Cannes – 8 April – MIPTV 2013
one of the most renowned TV fairs in the world, Palais des Festivals
et des Congrès, www.miptv.com
13-21 April – Monaco– Tennis, Monte–Carlo Rolex Masters
the first major clay tournament of the season, with the top tennis players
in the world, Monte–Carlo Country Club, www.monte–carlorolexmasters.com
18-21 April – Antibes –Yacht Show
more than 150 new and second–hand yachts, www.antibesyachtshow.com
25-29 April – Mandelieu La Napoule – Salon du Bateau d’Occasion
second–hand yachts and yacht–related products and services
featuring more than 85 vendors and 200 makes, www.salondubateau.fr
15 May-26 May – Cannes – Festival de Cannes
May
the film festival of film festivals, Palais des Festivals et des Congrès,
www.festival–cannes.fr
23-26 May – Monaco – Grand Prix
www.monaco–grand–prix.com
29 May-2 June – Antibes – Les voiles d’Antibes
classic yacht regatta featuring the most stunning yachts www.voilesdantibes.com
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A D V E R T i s ement
Passez le message!
Tóco tip: Yes! Marseille is the place to go
Do you tend to associate Marseille with drugs, gang violence and a
dismal port? If so, then you should definitely pay a visit to the oldest
city in France. Marseille is the 2013 European capital of culture. Over
the last seventeen years, the port city has undergone a major facelift
which was largely completed in January, just in time for the official
launch.
The seedy atmosphere and chaos of the old port have all vanished, and
have made way for one of the biggest semi-pedestrianized areas in Europe.
Here you hear the ropes of hundreds of masts fluttering in the wind, a
beautiful contrast with the majestic houses that glow pink with the setting
sun. The terraces are packed until late into the night all year round. Under
the arches of the Cathédrale de la Major just behind, in what until recently
was a run-down neighbourhood, you will now find luxury restaurants and
stores and even a nightclub. The dilapidated container depots situated on
a former greenfield site have been replaced with the logos of big companies
and trendy bistros. A little further on is Le Silo d’Arenc, an old packing
house that has been transformed into a contemporary theatre with a
seating capacity of two thousand. Adjacent to the port is the revamped
Rue de la République, modelled on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris and
perfect for a shopping spree. Until recently, the bourgeois élite - for whom
the properties had originally been intended - were not keen to live so
close to the port with its prostitutes and other undesirable elements of
society. The street subsequently fell into decline, until around five years
ago the city authorities decided to spruce up the apartments - many of
which had become unliveable - and reinstate the luxury boutiques in an
attempt to attract the ‘bobo’s’ (bourgeois-bohèmes). Another highlight is
the opening of the brand new state museum MuCEM (musée des civilisations
de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée), dedicated to the cultures of Europe
and the Mediterranean. The opening exhibition in May is devoted to the
theme ‘gender bazaar’ and explores the relationship between men and
women in Mediterranean countries. Rediscover Marseille, which is well
on its way to becoming the city à la mode in France. Marseille has been
attracting people from around the world for centuries, and is a haven of
creativity and originality. Especially this year!
Benefit from ten
hours of service
completely free of charge
Are you buying a property through tóco d’azur?
If so, we are delighted to offer you a free
package of services worth € 750. This package entitles you to ten hours of our professional expertise, and covers any service that
you may require: property management
(checking your home in your absence), arranging your insurance, tax, mortgage, refinancing investment, relocation, importing
vehicles, accountancy and translations.
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European capital of culture
2013 is set to become one huge Mediterranean festival with
weekly concerts, shows, festivals, exhibitions and art walks.
More than 400 events will be taking place during the year in
the cities of Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Arles and the surrounding
areas of the Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône department), devoted
to: le partage des midis (roughly translated as ‘celebrate the
south’). For a comprehensive schedule of 2013 events, please
visit: www.mp2013.fr
Tourist information: www.marseille-tourisme.com
The team of tóco d’azur knows Marseille like the proverbial back
of its hands and can cater to all your requirements, from booking
your journey to making hotel reservations and other tips. Call us!
New home and tóco immobilier join forces
The new year has started promisingly for tóco immobilier. To offer our clients an even greater
choice of properties, we joined forces on 1 January with the renowned real estate agency
new home in Lorgues. Although we had been working together for quite some time, we
have now officially merged our portfolios. Our clients can stay with their preferred office,
even if they are not entirely certain which region takes their interest.
The offices will not merge and will retain their individual styles, specialities and clientele.
With offices in Lorgues and Roquebrune-sur-Argens, new home focuses mainly on the
centre of Var and the Côte d’Azur between Saint-Tropez and Mandelieu. Tóco immobilier is
predominantly active between Menton and Saint-Tropez and in the immediate environs of
the Côte d’Azur.
Le français
Conducting an emergency telephone call in French
Whether you are conducting a telephone call for business or pleasure, the
average Frenchman or Française seems to speak even faster than usual.
Especially if you happen to find yourself speaking to a Parisian. To help you
feel more confident when speaking on the phone and to ensure to make at
least yourself clearly understood, we have listed a few useful sentences below.
Good day, this is Mr Smith
– Bonjour monsieur/madame, c’est monsieur Smith à l’appareil/
je suis monsieur Smith (or of course madame Smith).
I’m sorry to disturb you
– Excusez-moi de vous déranger.
I would like to speak to
– Je voudrais parler à.
Who am I speaking to?
– C’est de la part de qui? / Qui est à l’ appareil?
Who would you like to speak to?
– A qui voulez-vous parler ?
Excuse me, what did you say?
– Qu’est-ce que vous dites?
This is a very bad line, I’m having difficulty hearing you
– Je regrette, la ligne est très mauvaise, j’ai du mal à vous
entendre.
I will check whether Mrs X is here
– Je vais voir si Madame X est là.
I would like to speak to somebody in charge of
– Je souhaiterais parler à la personne qui est responsable de…
Is there anybody else who may be able to help me?
– Y a-t-il peut-être quelqu’un d’autre qui pourrait m’aider?
Is there anyone there who speaks English?
– Y a-t-il quelqu’un qui parle anglais?
I would like to reschedule my appointment
– Je voudrais reporter mon rendez-vous.
What day would be convenient for you?
– Quel jour vous conviendrait/arrangerait?
Monday at the same time would suit me best
– Le mieux pour moi serait lundi à la même heure.
Agreed, madam, Monday at 11 o’ clock
– C’est entendu, madame, lundi à 11 heures.
Could you call back later?
– Pouvez-vous (politely Pourriez-vous) rappeler plus tard ?
Thank you for your excellent service
– Merci, vous m’ avez rendu vraiment un grand service.
You’re welcome
– De rien
Likewise/ We wish you the same
– De même, pareillement/ Nous vous en souhaitons autant.
Please could you speak a little more slowly?
I’m not a native French speaker
– Pourriez-vous dorénavant parler un peu plus lentement
car je suis etranger(ère).
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5
The tóco client
‘The luxury of swimming
in the sea in the autumn’
Valentin Oppermann lives in Belgium and visits his second home in ­RoquebruneCap-Martin five times a year. Although he is a good handyman and speaks
French, he decided to enlist the services of tóco d’azur to assist him with a
hopelessly dilapidated kitchen and a few administrative headaches.
What do you like best about
living in Southern France?
I’m particularly drawn to the outdoor life.
In March you can enjoy your breakfast in
the sun, surrounded by songbirds and the
dawn chorus. Here I can do odd jobs in the
garden throughout the year; in Belgium, I
can’t venture into the garden between
September and March because of the cold.
Here you can swim in the sea in the autumn,
sheer luxury! My wife and I love to explore
the countryside by car and to cross over
into Italy. I heartily recommend the gardens
of Villa Hanburry near Ventimiglia, which
has plants from all over the world. This
magnificent garden is maintained by the
University of Genoa. We also like to frequent
small restaurants in Menton or Monaco. I
avoid Michelin-star restaurants because
I’m not into ‘cuisine moderne’ with those
square plates and undefinable slithers of
food. Monaco is also a fun city to visit,
although we don’t go there to ogle at
expensive cars or to seek our fortunes in
the casino.
In what ways has tóco d’azur
helped you?
The people from whom I purchased the
house in 1999 were satisfied tóco d’azur
customers, so I already had the telephone
number in case of an emergency. I started
doing up the house and although I’m
a reasonably good handyman - I renovated the sewer system myself, for
example - I ran into difficulties when the
plumbers I had hired went bankrupt and
turned out to be uninsured and half the
kitchen collapsed. I’d had enough and came
close to selling the house. But then I changed
my mind and called tóco d’azur. They put
my mind at ease and in no time ensured
that ninety-nine percent of the house was
refurbished. They also took care of some
of my administrative affairs. I can’t sing
the praises of this company enough!
Could anyone emigrate to France?
Most definitely not! If you decide to emigrate
to France, you’ll have to leave behind your
homeland, your old friends and your family.
That shouldn’t be underestimated. We’ve
always spent a lot of time overseas; when
I was working at the company Ford, I spent
years on end working in different countries,
including England, France and Spain. We’re
not homebodies and enjoy the challenge
of adapting to life in a different country,
but that lifestyle is not suited to everybody.
And you need to learn the language. Unless
you can speak French, you can’t live and
work here, and you’ll always be an onlooker,
an outsider. If you meet those two
requirements, the Côte d’ Azur is an excellent
region in which to base yourself permanently;
the atmo-sphere and the weather are truly
out of this world.
Would you want to live in France
permanently?
We’ve toyed with the idea, but my wife
and I live in a large farmhouse surrounded
by beautiful countryside with our children,
grandchildren and my mother-in-law.It’s
difficult to leave that way of life behind
and start a new life elsewhere.
Mr Oppermann at the office,
with Vanessa Mari from tóco services
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La France sportive
Rugby dream team Toulon
eyes up championship title
Southern France currently boasts one of the most remarkable sports teams in the world.
Rugby Club Toulonnais is the talk of the town. In only a few years, the club has grown into
a true sensation after the port city managed to attract several top-name players to its
rugby grounds. This spring, Toulon is eyeing up the domestic championship title.
The club has attracted much media attention
this season, with a string of outstanding
results, beating Bayonne by 59-0 and the
English side Sale by 62-0. After the first victory,
the French daily sports newspaper l’Équipe
spoke of a ‘sporting orgy’. Results such as
these are almost unheard of in the modern
era of professional rugby. But for the last
few years, nothing is impossible in Stade
Félix Mayol, a stone’s throw away from the
marina of Toulon.
The port city owes its sporting success to
Mourad Boudjellal, who made his millions
in the cartoon business and in 2005 wanted
to give something back to his native city. He
bought the flailing rugby club and spent the
next few years attracting star players from
around the globe to Toulon. His first purchase
was the New Zealander Tana Umaga, once
voted the best rugby player in the world and
an All Blacks legend. He landed at Nice Airport
in 2006. The news spread like wildfire, and
the impact was instant. It was the rugby
equivalent of Lionel Messi signing up to play
for Sunderland.
In charge of this star ensemble is the former
head coach of the French national Rugby
Union team and sports minister Bernard
Laporte, who has been given a generous
budget of € 23 million. Locals are wildly
enthusiastic about their team, and the stadium
consistently attracts sell-out crowds. Little
wonder that a reporter from RMC Info recently
said: “If you want to understand what rugby
is all about, you need to attend a match in
Mayol.” Toulon have won the French Championship three times (for the last time in 1992),
and lost to Toulouse in the domestic final in
2012. This spring, Toulon wants to go for
glory.
Text: Jurriaan van Wessem
Even more popular than Beckham
But this was just the beginning. Boudjellal
also succeeded in luring England’s rugby hero
Jonny Wilkinson to Toulon. Wilkinson is even
more popular in England than David Beckham,
because of his spectacular drop goal in extra
time in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final
against Australia - the sporting highlight of
the 21st century on the other side of the
Channel. Jonny Wilkinson was followed by
the Australian world champion Matt Giteau,
the South Africans Joe Van Niekerk, John
‘Bakkies’ Botha, the New Zealander Carl
Hayman, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe from
Argentina and the Frenchmen Mathieu
Bastareaud and Frederic Michalak and fellow
Englishman and world champion Simon Shaw.
A real dream team.
Enjoy life in the
Luberon and
Les Bouches du Rhone
by using our services.
Piscines-Vacances-Provence.com
Rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson
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7
Houses for sale
More villas and apartments can be seen on www.tocodazur.com
Roquefort-les-Pins
Nice
Opio
€ 2.300.000
€ 290.000
€ 695.000
Provençal mas
Apartment
Villa
Spectacular 470 m2 mas (traditional rural villa)
with separate studio measuring 20 m2 on a
beautiful plot of 9500 m2 with swimming pool.
The mas comprises two properties that are
connected by a stunning veranda. Panoramic
views.
Beautiful apartment in the centre of Nice,
near the Masséna Art & History Museum, Hôtel
Negresco and the sea. The apartment has
been fully restored to its former glory by an
interior designer using the finest quality
materials. Fitted kitchen, luxury bathroom
and two bedrooms. Situated in a peaceful
location.
The delightful and charming 145 m2 villa lies
in a secluded area. Beautiful views, three
bedrooms, two bathrooms, garage and veranda.
Large dining kitchen. 2,593 m2 garden with
heated swimming pool.
Grasse
If one of the villas has piqued your
interest, call us to arrange a viewing.
One of our English speaking consultants
will accompany you to the property.
Nice
Editor-in-chief: Cathelijne van Vliet
[email protected]
€ 1.290.000
€ 1.430.000
Villa
Luxury apartment
Magnificent 250m2 villa situated in the peaceful
residential neighbourhood of St. Anne in
Grasse. Large garden with lawn, olive, cherry,
fig and even avocado trees. Seven bedrooms, four bathrooms, one dining room,
separate kitchen and convivial lounge with
open fire-place. Ample parking. Within walking
distance of a range of shops.
Situated in a beautiful bourgeois building
dating from 1936, this luxury corner apartment
measures 210 m2 and has six rooms. Fully
renovated and featuring all the mod
cons; the only apartment on this third floor.
Balconies, two cellars. With optional garage.
tóco d’azur
455, Promenade des Anglais
06200 Nice France
www.tocodazur.com
[email protected]
Tel. +33(0)493 83 37 25
Fax.+33(0)493 83 44 37
Photo cover: jardin exotique Eze
Photographer: Robert Palomba
Published by
tóco d’azur SARL
RCS Nice B 420 380 271
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Please email [email protected] or telephone +33(0)493 83 37 25
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