Almost there!  It's been a test of faith, but we're in the final stages of migration towards the new company, VINGT Paris.  You'll find our rental portfolio has already moved over to the (temporary) website.

VINGT Paris is devoted completely to the twenty arrondissements of Paris (and la banlieue too!)  VINGT Paris is a direct evolution of Bonapart Consulting and IVY paris, a relocation and real estate service and an artist salon and network that has for the past seven years brought people together through varied and interesting events, as well as through finding their perfect parisian apartments.  We provide a unique and valuable resource for everyone and hope to further develop an already robust and thriving community. Please join us and stay in the loop on upcoming event by signing up to our newsletter . From artist profiles to lecture series to picnics in the parks and everything in between, VINGT Paris is a starting point and a local resource to connect you to Paris.

Having taken the initiative to discuss with our owners and some press the major and minor players on the Paris vacation rental market came together this week.  I was reminded of the Mafia heads of the Family meeting in the Godfather.  After some buried their heads in sand, it is time to face the music.  Therefore there was not a great reception for me as I was seen as having broken the omerta.  Stay tuned here, I have set up an emergency twitter feed to send alerts easily to you so that you can get the up to date information as this unfolds.

So I was asked to speak about my meeting with the Department de Logement, which I did and transmitted the information I shared with owners which work with my company last week.

French based rental agencies are mobilising to set up a professional body, pressure group and employ a political lobbyist. It is very diificult to ascertain exactly how this will unfold but it is clear that it will take time to see exactly how the laws will be applied.  This could be a long, drawn out saga.  

Recent moves made by the City of Paris to apply laws restricting the rental of apartments in central Paris may have significant effects for thousands of private owners, in Paris and abroad.  According to the Prefecture de Paris, nearly 38,000 apartments in Paris are being rented for short stays and moves to prosecute some owners of these properties have begun.The reasons cited for the application of this law is to alleviate the chronic shortage of affordable housing in the city centre (see our posts about this from 2006).   Bonapart Paris's Owner, Susie Hollands and well known blogger about French life and property, Tony Tidswell, held a meeting with François Plottin, Chef du Bureau, at the Mairie de Paris’ Direction du Logement et de l'Habitat in Paris on Wednesday, 19 November and Thursday 26 November 2009.

It is technically illegal for any owner of a property in Paris not classified as commercial to re-let their property for any period of less than one year. The sole exception is for student rentals, where the term can be no less than nine months.    Property owners are obligated to make sure their apartments, and the rental activity, comply with the law, in order to satisfy the legal aspects Paris has set for retail rental "commercial activity" and we are assisting our owners to regularise their situations  Any apartment advertised for short-term rental can be considered as having been rented, and therefore scrutinized under the law, by the authorities.

Bonapart Consulting is delighted to announce our move into the real estate sales market with a selection of prime hand-picked properties, all centrally located in the heart of Paris. You can look at the portfolio here.

These apartments are generally renovated and perfect for overseas buyers, either as a pied-à-terre or a rental property. Most of our properties are on an exclusive mandate basis with the option of being sold fully furnished. Many of these apartments belong to owners who have bought, and have been renting, via Bonapart.

We therefore have rental occupancy records for buyers looking to invest in a quality pied-à-terre with the ambition of renting it at a later date. It's our pleasure to provide a detailed rental income analysis whether we have been renting the property or not. With our experience in the rental market, we are also able to provide an evaluation and projection of occupancy for new apartments arriving on the market, as we will only be handling sales of properties that we personally believe in, and would be interested in offering to our discerning rental clientele.

Renovation needs can be handled in house to suit differing tastes and budgets. Our services extend to renovation and refurbishing by our qualified in-house English speaking professionals in order to further enhance the quality of the property for the new owner, or their potential rental clients.

These properties offer a complete package for the future buyer, as the apartments are generally already referenced on our site and have a steady flow of return clients. Many are being or have been used as rental properties, and our reservation and maintenance teams are very familiar with any particular quirks or special needs, the buildings and areas where they are situated.

Rest assured we are not looking at a price drop in the Capital. Transactions started to get back to normal after the Christmas break by about mid-March despite a "phoney war" period as buyers were on tenter-hooks waiting to see if prices would begin to drop.

Not a chance! Paris is still a reasonable price for a world class capital on a global level and we will not see property prices tumbling here, even after the seven year hike which some predicted would pan out. 

So who's been buying in Paris over the last 6 months?  The following is translated from an article in French by Richard Bellanger.

Italians:  - Still the biggest group of foreign buyers.  Looking for small spaces with great views.  At one time very active in the Marais and Montorgueil but now colonising the 1er arrondissiment (Louvre-Marché St Honoré) Paris' "Little Italy".
Russians : - Despite grave economic problems there are plenty of Russian buyers (albeit a little less jet-set) searching in the 16ème and the Triangle d'Or area (Champs Elysées-Montaigne).  Looking for properties of 150m² with a preference for apartments with a beautiful facade, entrance and zero renovation needs.
Middle Eastern : - There has been a return of the buyer from Dubai the UAE and Qatar.  With a notable preference for the 8ème, 16ème and Neuilly, 300m² + with one bathroom per bedroom. Sought after properties are those which are private and secure.
New on the scene :  From Asia; buyers from India, Laos and Korea, from the eastern European countries; Bulgarians, Yugoslavians and Ukrainiens and a resurgence of buyers from Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg.