Splashing out an apartment in the south of France and renovating it yourself may sound like a difficult – and hugely expensive – task.
But this couple have managed to do it twice, all while on a relatively tight budget.
Eric Freeze, originally from Canada, and his wife Rixa, from the US, spent several summers in the region as part of a study abroad program when they were in their 20s, and always felt a strong attachment to Nice.
But the pair, who married in 1998, began seriously looking into purchasing a property in the city after having their four children, Zari, 16, Dio, 14, Inga, 12, and Ivy, 10.
In 2014, they asked a realtor to look for a suitable property for the whole family in Old Nice, a historic neighborhood filled with tenements, churches, and squares.
“It was always the place that we were most interested in going and trying to find a place where we could raise our children bilingually,” explains Eric.
They went on to purchase a two-bedroom apartment, which had previously been used as a student rental, for 235,000 euros and spent around a year renovating it themselves.
“We bought it with a mortgage, which is also kind of a miracle,” says Eric, a university professor. “It’s not that difficult for foreigners to buy in France. But it is difficult if you’re getting a loan.”
While the property was habitable, it needed a good deal of work. The couple spent a year or so completing the renovations themselves, which involved putting in new flooring and repainting the walls, as well as transforming the annex area into a bedroom for their children.
He bought a movie star’s home in France and paid $300,000 to fix the pool
“That first year, we were renovating with four kids aged from one to seven,” explains Rixa, an academic and birth-educator. “There was dust and tools everywhere. It was kind of chaotic.”
With their budget already stretched thin, they tried to be as frugal as possible to avoid going into further debt. Eric even learned how to spearfish so that they could save on their food budget.
Meanwhile, Rixa spent most of any free time she had looking for pre-used items, including dishes, for their new place.
“I know Nice so well on foot because I walked everywhere, finding second-hand deals to furnish the apartment,” she says, estimating that they spent around$7,000 to 8,000 on the renovations.
While they were working on the property, Eric began searching for a second apartment that their friends and family could use.
Aware that they didn’t really have the funds for another place at the market rate, he started looking at listings for abandoned properties, with the hope of getting in touch with the owners to see if they’d be willing to sell for an affordable price.
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Soho House has officially opened its first location in Latin America. The exclusive, members-only club recently opened in the heart of Colonia Juárez in a restored historic casa, Soho House Mexico City, focuses on the historic French and baroque heritage of the building. The restaurant will be a major culinary destination in the area with Three-Michelin Starred and James Beard Award recipient Chef Christopher Kostow.
Vaughan Mabee is a mad genius. I mean this as the highest compliment. The New Zealand chef asks helicopter pilots to drop him off in the middle of nowhere so he can forage, hunt and cook. He researches the molecular structure of animal proteins. He shoots deer and pheasants from his back porch and serves them to guests. He cooks with the creativity, assurance and technique of someone who spent decades in the kitchens of Noma and Martin Berasategui. He sleeps about two hours a night.
Burgundy (“Bourgogne” in French) is home to world-famous vineyards, chateaux and abbeys, and many strong cheeses – the kinds of things that generally appeal to adults more than kids.
Recently listed for $12.5 million, and situated 50 minutes from Monaco, Les Moulins du Villars on the French Riviera is an estate with important historical significance and a special connection to Grace Kelly.
Gill Press told Insider she was determined to get some sort of compensation after she and her husband, Warren Press, relocated from premium economy to economy on a 13-hour flight from Paris to Singapore.
More than 60 years ago, La Plagne was created. To do so, men shaped mountains to construct the resort we know, and love. Today, faced with our current challenges, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the mountains, in fact, shape us.
Sometimes called "the Paris of North America," Montréal is a captivating city that straddles two worlds: there’s a hint of old Europe, with French accents, Québécois cuisine and cobblestone-lined neighborhoods, but plenty of familiar North American food and shops as well. Montréalers tend to have a soft spot for kids, and families are generally given the royal treatment.
Thanks to Hyatt's newest Bonus Journeys promotion, World of Hyatt members can earn 3,000 bonus points for every three eligible nights on select stays at more than 1,250 Hyatt hotels and resorts from Oct. 6-Nov. 30.
Ultra-cheap flights could be banned in Europe if a forthcoming proposal is approved by the EU: Officials in France want to set a price minimum on airfares across Europe to help reduce carbon emissions.
Embarking on a trip to Cal-a-Vie Health Spa in Vista, just north of San Diego, feels like visiting a French Provencal-style retreat. It’s nestled into 500 acres of scenic rolling California hillside like a well-being-focused cocoon, hidden away from the stresses of city life – and that’s its entire mission.