IN TODAY'S ISSUE #11
(See past issues here)
π Hidden Gem: Rouen β A medieval beauty with Parisian flair (minus the prices).
π‘ Affordable Find: A turnkey Rouen townhouse for just β¬119,900, plus a modern duplex rental for β¬1,050/month.
βπ Tax Treaty Tip: How a couple can live on $90,000 of dividends in France, tax-free in both France and the U.S.
π Workshops + Webinars: French inheritance taxes and estate planning, Nov. 12th at 12pm EST.
πΊ France Must-Watch: Rouen - A 2025 Travel Guide to this charming French city!
π Personal Update
My wife and I drove to the University of South Carolina to watch our daughter swim in UGAβs first meet of the season.
Even though they lost, it was wonderful seeing her back in the water β especially after her hip surgery in June to remove a tumor and repair a torn labrum.
Itβs a reminder that with support and dedication, you can achieve great things. And that modern medicine is nothing short of amazing!
Letβs get into it β
πHIDDEN GEM - rouen, Normandy
Rouen β the capital of Normandy β is one of those cities that feels like it belongs in both a history book and a modern lifestyle magazine. With half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and a soaring Gothic cathedral that inspired Monet, itβs a French classic thatβs still refreshingly livable.
Walk through the Old Market Square where Joan of Arc met her fate, or wander down the Rue du Gros-Horloge, home to one of Europeβs oldest working clocks. Art, culture, and cafΓ© life flourish here year-round.
Rouen sits just 1 hour 15 minutes from Paris by train, making it perfect for weekend trips or hybrid living. It has all the energy of a regional capital but at a fraction of the cost of the capital.
And the best part? Real estate here is still surprisingly affordable.
Whether youβre looking for a charming pied-Γ -terre, a rental investment, or a full-time home base, Rouen delivers style and value in equal measure.
π Fast Facts: ROUEN
π Train Station: Gare de Rouen-Rive-Droite β 1h15 to Paris
βοΈ Nearest Airport: Deauville Normandie Airport β 1h20 drive
π₯ Nearest Hospital: CHU de Rouen β city center
ποΈ Amenities: π Grocery π₯ Bakery π· Bars/Restaurants π³ Parks π Opera House & Museums
π£ Walkability: βββββ (mostly flat center; daily needs within a short stroll)
π§Ί Weekly Market: Yes β every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday
π¦οΈ Climate: Mild oceanic β cool summers, temperate winters, and lush greenery year-round
*Anything underlined is clickable π
π AFFORDABLE FINDS
β¨ Charming Townhouse in Le Petit-Quevilly (Rouen) - β¬119,900
A beautifully maintained 3-story townhouse in a small copropriΓ©tΓ©, this 70 mΒ² home is move-in ready and fully furnished.
The main level features an open kitchen and living area, with three bedrooms (including one with ensuite bath). Excellent rental potential, including co-living options.
β¨ Modern Duplex with Terrace in Rouen - β¬1,050/month
This fully renovated, 85 mΒ² furnished duplex on Rue Pablo Neruda offers modern comfort and bright living spaces.
With three bedrooms, two baths, and a private terrace, itβs perfect for a couple or small family relocating to Rouen. The building is secure, has an elevator, and sits near metro and bus links for easy city access.
π TAX TREATY Tips
Hereβs the scoop: as a French tax resident, your U.S.-source dividends arenβt taxed in France β thanks to Article 24(2)(a)(i).
France gives you a full credit for the tax that would have been due there, so your only tax on those dividends is what you owe in the U.S.
Example (with 2025 numbers):
- A married couple filing jointly lives in Rouen and receives $90,000 in qualified U.S. dividends.
- France gives them a full tax credit, meaning no French tax on those dividends.
- In the U.S., because qualified dividends up to $96,700 (for MFJ in 2025) are taxed at 0%, their U.S. federal tax on those dividends is $0.
- Result: $0 owed in France, $0 owed in U.S. (excluding state tax, NIIT, etc.)
NOTE: Because they have no earned income and are not "pensioners", the couple will owe money (called CSM) to access French national healthcare. In this example, $1,979.45 per year for both of them.
βοΈ DID YOU KNOW?
Rouen is home to Franceβs oldest public clock, the Gros-Horloge, dating back to 1389 β and it still chimes every hour.
π Workshops + Webinars
Inheritance Taxes In France For Americans
ποΈ Date: Nov. 12th
ββ° Time: 12 noon EST
Join me and a French estate attorney as we discuss the challenges and planning opportunities around inheritance taxes in France as an American.
More details and Zoom link coming soon!
Mark your calendars... ποΈ
πΊ France Must-Watch
Enjoy this video I found!π
π₯ Rouen - A 2025 Travel Guide to this charming French city!
A full, immersive walk-through of Rouenβs architecture, history, and daily life.
π Watch it here
π«π· One Step Closer to France
Thatβs it for this week. Whether youβre dreaming, planning, or already packingβweβre in this together.
Until next time,
Tommy
PS - Have you been to Rouen? What was your favorite experience?