Our new life in Paris report
Jul 16th, 2006, 01:09 PM
#22
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,514
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ah, Paula, you are pulling at my heartstrings. And I just edited some photos from last month, one of which is a shot of my 18 yo niece in front of the Sexodrome (carefully composed for its affect on her father's blood pressure and to see the look on her mother's face).
While I have loved living in San Antonio for years, it is filling up with all these escaping Californians in their hillbilly chateaux (just kidding, sorta ;-)) so perhaps Paris would be a good option... is Darrin doing real estate in Paris?
While I have loved living in San Antonio for years, it is filling up with all these escaping Californians in their hillbilly chateaux (just kidding, sorta ;-)) so perhaps Paris would be a good option... is Darrin doing real estate in Paris?
Jul 16th, 2006, 01:20 PM
#23
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Paula - I lived in Paris for 5 1/2 years and reading the article in the FW Star Telegram was like making a trip back in time . It brought back lots of wonderful memories and feelings of jealousy. We try to get back to Paris at least every other year; even if it's just to eat at favorite restarants ,visit frineds an do some Auchan shopping. We're doing a Baltic cruise next year and picked the one from England so we could stop off in Paris for a few days afterwards with other ex-Parisites sailing with us. Might as we'll since we'll be in the "neighborhood".
Kudos to you both for having the courage to live your dream!
Kudos to you both for having the courage to live your dream!
Jul 16th, 2006, 01:50 PM
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jayne 1973 - Yes, I'll be doing periodic articles for the S-T. The stuff you read was sort of the kick-off to what we hope will be a nice series. I am hoping the S-T readers liked it and want more! My editors are great and very supportive, so I feel very lucky. As for Oct., count us in! Maybe you should post it as its own thread?
Seamus - I love seeing people take photos in front of the Sexodrome. It's a hoot, isn't it??!! You'll have to post a link here so we can check it out. Darrin is doing more freelance writing than real estate, but we are doing some property management for Americans who are still in the states and need someone to oversea their properties. I had no idea Californians are escaping to San Antonio. I can certainly see why - it's lovely! It seems like so many Californians are cashing in on those fanatstic real estate sales prices and moving somewhere cheaper. Are they building monsterous places in the hill country or what?
Seamus - I love seeing people take photos in front of the Sexodrome. It's a hoot, isn't it??!! You'll have to post a link here so we can check it out. Darrin is doing more freelance writing than real estate, but we are doing some property management for Americans who are still in the states and need someone to oversea their properties. I had no idea Californians are escaping to San Antonio. I can certainly see why - it's lovely! It seems like so many Californians are cashing in on those fanatstic real estate sales prices and moving somewhere cheaper. Are they building monsterous places in the hill country or what?
Jul 16th, 2006, 05:49 PM
#26
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,514
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, Paula, they are indeed. There are McMansions all over the place. IH-10 is being choked with development all the way to Boerne and beyond, much of it with a strip mine mentality that rips down all the trees. Many of these transplants (sounds better than real estate refugee, doesn't it? LOL) who arrived with the proceeds from the sale of their west coast property are shocked when they find themselves stuck with these places. When they realize that though there is no state income tax there are scads of property based taxes, and utilities to heat and (especially) cool a big place can get steep, and that they look into their neighbors' windows (and vice versa), and the traffic congestion that occurs when these developments burgeon and the infrastructure doesn't, they start to think about selling. Problem is, there are a dozen developers who are selling new models and can offer better financing than is available for a a pre-owned property. So they are often not easy to sell, certainly not with the type of gains seen on the west coast. That is not unique to SA, from what is being reported in the media, but it sure is happening here. If you email me offline at jphinc at grandecom dot net I will elaborate and promise not to ask too many nosy questions about how I can also run away to Paris.
Jul 18th, 2006, 11:23 AM
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
sflowler - Please do email me when you are coming to town. Would love to meet up. [email protected]
And seamus, I'll send you an email and you can ask all the nosy questions you want! The hubby and I just eat up that real estate stuff...I love reading all about it!
And seamus, I'll send you an email and you can ask all the nosy questions you want! The hubby and I just eat up that real estate stuff...I love reading all about it!
