September 30, 2026
Living in Mougins: The Culinary Capital for Epicurean Americans
There is a moment I watch for whenever I bring an American client to Mougins for the first time. We
September 29, 2026
Real Estate ROI: Is Investing in the French Riviera Better Than Silicon Valley?
Every week, a founder or a fund partner asks me some version of the same question over coffee on the
September 28, 2026
HOA Fees in the US vs. Copropriété Charges in French Luxury Domains
If you have owned a home in Atherton, a pied-à-terre in Manhattan, or a place in a guard-
September 27, 2026
Price Per Square Foot: Atherton vs. Super Cannes Luxury Market Analysis
Every American buyer I meet arrives fluent in one number: price per square foot. It is the shorthand of the
September 26, 2026
Celebrating the Purchase: The Finest Champagne Cellars on the Côte d'Azur
There is a particular silence that falls over a notaire's office the moment the acte de vente is
September 25, 2026
Remote Closing: How to Sign Your French Property Deeds from the US via POA
One of the most persistent myths I hear from my American clients is that buying a home in France means
September 24, 2026
Léa's Top 3 Pick: Best Modern Villas Available in Super Cannes This Month
There is a particular kind of client who calls me about Super Cannes. They have usually done their homework. They
September 23, 2026
The Final Walkthrough: What to Check Before Signing the "Acte de Vente"
There is a particular kind of quiet that settles over a buyer in the hours before signing the acte de
September 22, 2026
From Silicon Valley to Cannes: The Tech Networks Growing on the Riviera
For years, the story of the French Riviera was told in the language of old money, film festivals, and superyachts.
September 21, 2026
Home Insurance in France: Coverage Options for High-Value Properties
When you close on a villa in Cap d'Antibes or a penthouse on the Croisette, insuring it feels
September 16, 2026
Coastal Protection Laws: Understanding the "Loi Littoral" for Waterfront Properties
There is a particular kind of silence that settles over a waterfront property on the Côte d'Azur at
September 15, 2026
Off-Market Secrets: How to Access the Riviera's Most Exclusive Estates
There is a version of the French Riviera that never appears on a property portal. No listing photos, no price
September 14, 2026
"Architecte des Bâtiments de France": Buying Property in Protected Historic Zones
Some of the most extraordinary properties on the French Riviera sit inside what the French call secteurs protégés — protected historic
September 13, 2026
Swimming Pool Regulations in France: Security Laws Every Owner Must Know
The swimming pool is often the moment a property stops being a listing and starts being a dream. I'
September 12, 2026
Planning Permissions in France: Can You Expand Your Cannes Villa?
One of the first questions I hear from American buyers, often before we've even signed the offer, is
September 9, 2026
Decoding the "DPE" and French Property Inspection Reports (Diagnostics)
When my American clients receive their first stack of French property documents, there is almost always a pause. In the
September 8, 2026
Termites, Lead, and Asbestos: Understanding French Environmental Checks
When my American clients receive their first stack of French property documents, one folder almost always stops them cold. It
September 4, 2026
Turnkey vs. Fixer-Upper: What Do American Luxury Buyers Prefer?
Every American buyer who sits across from me on the Croisette eventually asks the same question, usually somewhere between the
September 1, 2026
Tax Optimization: Deducting Renovation Costs from Your French Taxes
Few things thrill my American clients more than the renovation phase. After the notaire's office, the keys in
August 30, 2026
Sunset at Cap d'Antibes: The Most Romantic Spots Near Your Property
There is a particular hour on Cap d'Antibes that I have never been able to fully describe to
August 28, 2026
Buying Through a US Trust vs. a French SCI: Pros and Cons
One of the first questions serious American buyers ask me — usually somewhere between the second villa viewing and the first
August 26, 2026
The Best Yacht Charters in Cannes for Ultimate Weekend Entertaining
There is a particular moment I have watched play out dozens of times with my American clients. They have just
August 25, 2026
Inheriting Property in France: How to Protect Your US Heirs
When my American clients buy a villa in Cannes or an apartment on the Croisette, the conversation almost always begins
August 24, 2026
Tennis and Luxury Estates: Why My Past as an Athlete Makes Me a Better Agent
People often assume that selling luxury property on the French Riviera is about knowing the right addresses and having a
August 22, 2026
Capital Gains Tax in France: What Happens When You Sell Your Secondary Home?
When my American clients buy a villa in Cannes or a country estate near Mougins, the conversation is almost always
August 21, 2026
Inside Saint-Tropez: The Legendary Appeal of Les Parcs de Saint-Tropez
There are neighborhoods that whisper their exclusivity, and there are those that simply expect you to already know. Les Parcs
August 18, 2026
How the US-France Tax Treaty Protects American Luxury Property Buyers
When American buyers first sit across from me to talk about a villa in Cannes or an estate on Cap
August 17, 2026
Contemporary Architecture in Mougins: Bridging California Style and French Charm
When my American clients first drive up the winding roads above Cannes and reach Mougins, something shifts in their posture.
August 16, 2026
The French Wealth Tax (IFI): Does It Apply to Your Riviera Villa?
When my American clients first hear the phrase "French wealth tax," I watch their shoulders tense. They picture
August 15, 2026
Strolling Through Cannes: A Neighborhood Guide to Basse Californie
If you were to ask me where I would live in Cannes if privacy, sea light, and walkability mattered equally,
August 14, 2026
What is an SCI? The French Property Holding Company Explained for Americans
If you have spent any time discussing a French property purchase with a notaire, an agent, or another American who
August 13, 2026
The Relocation Timeline: How Long Does It Take to Move from California to Cannes?
Every client who calls me from California asks the same question within the first ten minutes: "Realistically, how long
August 7, 2026
The Weekend Getaway: Exploring Monaco from Your Base in Cap d'Antibes
One of the quiet luxuries of owning a home on Cap d'Antibes is that the whole of the
August 3, 2026
Opening a French Bank Account as a US Citizen: Overcoming FATCA Obstacles
Of all the questions my American clients ask me during a Riviera purchase, one comes up more often than almost
August 2, 2026
Living in Le Cannet: The Charming Hilltop Alternative to Downtown Cannes
When my American clients first arrive on the Côte d'Azur, they almost always ask about Cannes proper — the
July 30, 2026
Shipping Your Luxury Car or Buying Local? The Expat Vehicle Dilemma
There is a particular moment in almost every relocation I handle when the conversation turns, unexpectedly, to cars. We will
July 29, 2026
Gyms, Wellness, and Padel: The Ultimate Health Clubs on the French Riviera
When my American clients first tour the Riviera, they arrive expecting beaches, boulangeries, and long, wine-soaked lunches. All of
July 28, 2026
Bringing Your Pets to France: The US-to-Riviera Relocation Checklist
When my American clients start planning their move to the Riviera, the conversations usually begin with square meters, sea views,
July 27, 2026
Mougins School vs. CIV: Choosing the Best International Education for Your Kids
When American families ask me what will make or break their move to the Riviera, the conversation almost never starts
July 26, 2026
Tax Residency Rules: How Many Days Can You Spend in Your French Villa?
It is one of the first questions I hear once a client falls for a villa above Cannes or a
July 24, 2026
Elite Sports on the Riviera: Inside the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy Lifestyle
When American families ask me what daily life on the French Riviera actually feels like beyond the villas and the
July 23, 2026
The "Talent Passport" Visa: Is It the Right Choice for US Tech Entrepreneurs?
Most of the founders I work with arrive at the same crossroads. They have fallen for a villa in Mougins
July 21, 2026
How to Get a French Long-Stay Visa: A Guide for US Expats and Investors
Almost every American client I work with arrives at the same moment of clarity. They have fallen for a villa
July 20, 2026
The Best Waterfront Restaurants in Cannes to Celebrate Your New Property
There is a moment I never tire of witnessing. My clients walk out of the notaire's office, keys
July 16, 2026
Cash vs. Finance: Can an American Citizen Get a Mortgage from a French Bank?
It's one of the first questions I hear on nearly every discovery call, whether the buyer is a
July 14, 2026
Top 5 Gated Communities in Cannes for Maximum Privacy and Security
When my clients from Atherton or Manhattan first call me, the conversation rarely starts with square footage or sea views.
July 13, 2026
Title Insurance vs. French Notarial Guarantees: Which is Safer?
Almost every American buyer I work with asks me some version of the same question the first time we discuss
July 10, 2026
Hidden Costs: Budgeting for Notary Fees and Property Taxes in France
Every client I work with arrives with a number in mind: the price of the villa. Almost none of them
July 9, 2026
A Day in Saint-Tropez: The Ultimate Summer Guide for Luxury Property Buyers
Most buyers arrive in Saint-Tropez expecting a postcard. What they discover, if they stay long enough to actually live
July 9, 2026
Cap d'Antibes: The Ultra-Private Peninsula Loved by NYC Executives
The Manhattan-to-Mediterranean Migration
The Hamptons will get you a weekend. It will not get you anonymity. For a
July 8, 2026
What is an "Offre d'Achat" and How to Make a Strong Bid in Cannes
In Atherton, a strong offer is a phone call and a handshake, backed by a pre-approval letter your agent
July 7, 2026
Understanding the Compromis de Vente: Your 10-Day Safety Net Explained
Signing a compromis de vente feels like the point of no return. You've found the property, negotiated the
July 5, 2026
Mougins: The Silicon Valley Founder's Quiet Riviera Base
There is a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from building something at the center of the world's
July 3, 2026
French Notaire vs. US Escrow: Who Safeguards Your Money on the Riviera?
The $1M Misunderstanding
In the United States, a "notary public" is someone you pay fifteen dollars to stamp
July 1, 2026
Super Cannes vs. Beverly Hills: Why California's Elite Are Investing in the French Riviera's Most Exclusive Hillside
The California Parallel
If you drive through the hills of Super Cannes on a sunny morning, past century-old olive
June 29, 2026
Buying Property in France as an American: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide (And Why You Don't Need an Escrow)
In the United States, you spot a house in Atherton or Malibu, you open escrow, and thirty days later the
