IN TODAY'S ISSUE #9
(See past issues here)
📍 Hidden Gem: La Rochelle — a breezy Atlantic port city with a salty soul and sunlit arcades.
🏡 Affordable Find: A spacious stone home with rental potential — all for €350,000. And a central apartment for just €850/mo.
📊 Tax Treaty Info + Corrections: Is there a minimum age or minimum amount of income to qualify for the "pensioner" exemption?
🎓 Workshops + Webinars: How to Find and Run a Profitable Gîte in France with Rupert Springfield, from The Gîte Guru.
📺 France Must-Watch: Enjoy two entertaining and inspiring videos including an expat couple in the Lot and an American who has lived in Dijon for 17 years.
👋 Personal Update
I’m officially booked for my trip to Tours next month! ✈️
I’ll be flying into Paris, hopping a train down to Tours, and spending time exploring the Loire Valley.
On my list: filming fresh content for you, wandering through Amboise (yes, Leonardo da Vinci’s last home), and maybe even making it out to Saumur.
I’m also lining up a few chats with expats in the region so you can hear firsthand what life is really like in this part of France.
One personal challenge I’ve set for myself on this trip?
Rely 100% on public transportation… plus my own two feet (or maybe a rented bike).
Will it work? Stay tuned!
This trip also has another purpose:
I’ll be evaluating Tours as the potential location for one of our Retirement Retreats next year.
If you’d like to be the first to know when details are announced, click here to join the waitlist and get notified first.
Let’s get into it –
📍HIDDEN GEM - La Rochelle
Sitting proudly on France’s Atlantic coast, La Rochelle is a historic port city with a maritime spirit that has never faded. Think stone arcades, sunlit cafés, and harbors lined with yachts — all wrapped in salty sea breezes.
Wander past its medieval towers guarding the Old Port, explore the covered market buzzing with oysters and produce, or cycle along the coastline with sweeping ocean views. The Île de Ré, beloved for its beaches and bike paths, is just across the bridge.
Accessibility is a breeze: La Rochelle has its own airport, a train station connecting you to Paris in under three hours, and ferry access to the islands.
The vibe? Relaxed, nautical, and lively — with just the right dose of sophistication.
Housing is more affordable than in Bordeaux or Paris, yet you still get the perks of a bustling coastal city.
For retirees or second-home seekers, La Rochelle strikes the sweet spot of charm and convenience.
📍 Fast Facts: LA ROCHELLE
🚉 Train Station: Gare de La Rochelle — 2h50 to Paris Montparnasse
✈️ Nearest Airport: La Rochelle-Île de Ré Airport — 15 min drive
🏥 Nearest Hospital: Centre Hospitalier de La Rochelle — in town
🛍️ Amenities: 🛒 Grocery 🥖 Bakery 🍷 Bars/Restaurants 🌳 Greenways 🎭 Culture
👣 Walkability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Flat terrain, easy strolls under arcades, daily needs within reach
🧺 Weekly Market: Yes — bustling covered market daily (except Monday)
🌦️ Climate: Mild oceanic climate with plenty of sunshine, breezy summers
*Anything underlined is clickable 🔗
🏠 AFFORDABLE FINDS
✨ Spacious Stone Home + Rental Potential – €350,000 (~$369,000)
Just 15 minutes from La Rochelle’s city gates, this beautifully maintained 5-bedroom stone home blends old-world character with contemporary design.
Highlights include a 60m² open living area with patio access, a master suite with spa bath, and an upstairs terrace.
Even better? There’s a separate duplex apartment — perfect for guests or rental income. With energy-efficient heating and no renovations needed, it’s move-in ready.
✨ Cozy Central Apartment – €850/month
Right on La Rochelle’s historic Place de Verdun, this furnished 1-bedroom apartment combines classic parquet flooring with a modern open kitchen.
The living room looks out over the cathedral square, while the bedroom faces the quiet courtyard. Ideal for anyone dreaming of a rental lifestyle in the heart of the city.
📊 TAX TREATY INFO + CORRECTIONS
In my recent live session, I misspoke about company pensions. They are not only taxed in the U.S. — they are also taxable in France.
However, you receive a tax credit for any income tax paid in France on your U.S. return to avoid double taxation.
Second, I got a lot of questions about US-based real estate capital gains if you're a French tax resident.
Even though the treaty allows both countries to potentially tax the same gain (non-exclusive wording), Article 24 governs how double taxation is avoided.
Under Article 24(2)(a)(ii) of the treaty and its protocol:
“France shall, in determining the French tax of the income of a resident of France, exempt the following items of income: ... gains from the alienation of immovable property situated in the United States...”
— Protocol Amending the Treaty, 2009
This makes the U.S.’s right to tax functionally exclusive, even though the treaty didn’t say so explicitly in Article 13.
I also dug deeper into the so-called “pensioner exemption” for avoiding CSM (the healthcare contribution).
I could not find any minimum income threshold from a retirement account or a minimum age requirement.
What French authorities do check, however, is whether you’re behaving like a legitimate pensioner. Try to keep your distributions regular, well documented (e.g. annuity-style), and maintain clear records.
If you’re trying to skirt the rules by not taking income when a real retiree normally would, expect to be challenged by URSSAF.
In short: don’t get too clever — it’s not worth the headache.
NOTE: I am not a CPA or international tax attorney. This is not tax, legal, or investment advice!
Did you miss the live session? Click here to watch the replay👇
⁉️ DID YOU KNOW?
La Rochelle’s iconic towers — the Tour Saint-Nicolas, Tour de la Chaîne, and Tour de la Lanterne — once formed part of the city’s medieval defenses. Today, you can climb them for sweeping views of the old harbor and beyond.
🎓 Workshops + Webinars
🏡 How to Find & Run a Profitable Gîte in France (with Rupert Springfield, from The Gîte Guru) - Monday Sept. 29th, Noon EST.
Dreaming of running a gîte in France for extra income?
Rupert Springfield, known as the Gîte Guru, will share insider tips on choosing the right property, attracting guests, and making it profitable.
📅 Sept. 29th (Monday!)
🕛 12pm EST
No registration required
📺 France Must-Watch
Enjoy this video I found!👇
🎥 Life In France - Never Boring!
Life in France has a funny way of surprising you. One minute you’re chasing down a bargain table and chairs on Facebook, the next you’re swept up in a thousand-person night market with cheese, fondue, and even donuts. This episode captures that mix of the ordinary and the extraordinary that makes living here so unique.
👉 Watch it here
🎥 4 Hard Truths about Living in France
After 17 years in France, Suzi has learned some hard truths about expat life.
You’ll need strong French to truly integrate, salaries are lower than you might expect, your past credentials often don’t carry weight, and daily life isn’t a postcard—it’s just life (with better pastries).
These realities aren’t deal-breakers—she's still there—but knowing them upfront can make your move smoother and your expectations realistic.
👉 Watch it here
🇫🇷 One Step Closer to France
That’s it for this week. Whether you’re dreaming, planning, or already packing—we’re in this together.
Until next time,
Tommy
PS - Have you ever relied only on trains, buses, or bikes during your travels in France? I’d love to hear your stories before I test it myself next month.