FV 096 : (Part 1) Buying Real Estate in France

Buy Full Notes Matthieu Lliboutry may be the most friendly, fun and passionate real estate agent you'd ever meet! I've discovered him some time ago on one of my favourite French reality TV programme, "Chasseurs d'Appart' ", where three real estate agents compete to find candidates their dream home or apartment. Matthieu has regular appearances in the show, mainly in episodes based in the Bordeaux area, and had always struck me for his great personality and professionalism. I decided to try my luck and reach out to him to invite him on an episode for French Voices and was so happy he accepted straight away! We ended up talking for a little while, so the conversation will be over 2 episodes. In today's episode, you'll learn how Matthieu became a real estate agent. We're also talking about the negative image associated to the real estate world: are agents just sharks looking for your money? Matthieu is passionate about certain types of buildings / architecture: which ones and why is that? You'll find out more about who was "le Baron Haussman" and his legacy regarding the layout of cities like Paris as well as how lifestyle influences the layout of a building's interior. Discover what the traditional houses from Bordeaux are called and what their characteristic features are. Parisians, foreigners : who is interested in buying a property in the Bordeaux region?  Matthieu will brush up the typical profiles of investors. Finally, how do you assess the value of a property? What are the different factors influencing the prices in real estate? Listen to find out! Vocab List agglomération (nf) = conurbation, urban area artère (nf) = artery (road) avocat, e (n) = lawyer, counsel, solicitor avoir le vent en poupe = to be riding high, to be on a roll bordelais,e (n/adj) = from Bordeaux carreau (nm) = tile, tiling carrière (nf) = quarry chambre de bonne (nf) = maid's room, garret room, attic room, shoebox criminalité (nf) = crime levels, criminality cursus (nm) = course, curriculum échoppe (nf) = one-storey house ; small shop, boutique enduit (nm) = primer ; coating exposition (nf) = orientation, exposure fiscal,e (adj) = fiscal, tax-related hauteur sous plafond (nf) = ceiling height ilot central (nm) = central island immeuble (nm) = block of flats immobilier (nm) = real estate juridique (adj) = legal; judicial mandataire (nm) = agent, fiduciary, authorised representative, attorney-in-fact moulure (nf) = moulding notaire (nm) = notary, solicitor, attorney parquet (nm) = floor board pécuniaire (adj) = financial, monetary ; pecuniary plain-pied (nm) = single-storey dwelling point de Hongrie (nm) = herringbone pattern prestation (nf) = service prisé,e (adj) = popular, sought quasiment (adv) = almost, practically ravalement (nm) = restoration (façade) requin (nm) = shark riverain,e (n) = local resident ruelle (nf) = alleyway, lane, narrow street Questions: Why do you really need to be passionate to work in real estate? About Haussman-style buildings: where was the kitchen usually located? Why was there a second entry door at the back? Why should "la pierre de Bordeaux" (the stone from Bordeaux) left bare, i.e without painting or coating? What are the main 2 economic sectors in Bordeaux? Answers: Passion leads the best agents: you have to work for countless hours (not always with a result) and have virtually no holiday/break. The kitchen was located as far as possible from the living area (it was an undesirable room); the back door was an independent entry for the maid not to have to use the main entrance.