The Matchmakers – a real estate company in the San Francisco Bay Area – has a unique mission when it comes to matching up its clients to their dream homes.

Jim and Elizabeth Hilgendorf, The Matchmakers, love San Francisco, and they also have a passion for France.  These two places are the focus of their business. They love to share their passion with their clients.

Both Jim and Elizabeth have been to France many times, and Jim – also a filmmaker – has produced a film on one of their favorite areas in France, the Dordogne Valley in southwest France.

Searching for and buying property in France can be a daunting task, so Jim and Elizabeth have built relations with excellent brokers in several areas of France – Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Nice and the Cote d-Azur, Provence, and Bordeaux and the Dordogne – whom they can trust to provide great service for clients they refer.

Jim has been producing video for 18 years, with his other company The Tribute Series, and so their Matchmakers website abounds with video.

People are moving overwhelmingly to the internet in their search for properties, and video is an extremely powerful tool, when well done, to showcase clients properties to the world.  The Matchmakers are extremely well positioned to help clients do this.

This is one of the videos of homes Jim has produced.

Pictured below is one of the beautiful chateaux that cover the landscape throughout southwest France, in the Bordeaux, Lot-et-Garonne, and Dordogne regions.  The chateau itself has 8 bedrooms, with en-suite bathrooms, and a swimming pool. Another guest or guardian’s cottage, with pool, and a large restored farmhouse with pool, are also part of the grounds.  With 20 bedrooms and 15 baths overall, this stunning property is offered for $2,700,000 Euros.

The Bordeaux to Dordogne area in southwest France is one of the most beautiful areas in France.  This is an excerpt of clips from Jim’s film, “Bordeaux & The Dordogne: A Tribute“.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdx4QERrsjg

If you are looking for that dream home in the greater San Francisco Bay Area or France, contact us.  We would love to share our passion for beautiful cities and beautiful homes.

Jim & Elizabeth Hilgendorf
The Matchmakers
Jim Hilgendorf
CA DRE # 00667290
Cell: 510-501-9564
Elizabeth Hilgendorf
CA DRE # 01891419
Cell: 510-501-9643
Email: thematchmakers@comcast.net

Jim & Elizabeth Hilgendorf, The Matchmakers

The main house has three bedrooms and an indoor pool, and a guest cottage offers a further three bedrooms.

Chateau in Dordogne River Valley, France

Remodeled Dordogne Chateau, France

Dordogne Valley Chateau from the Air

Formal gardens surround the chateau, with a countryside of pasture and woods. A beautiful chateau in the lovely Dordogne Valley.  For sale at 1,605,000 Euros.

The Dordogne River Valley is one of the most beautiful areas of France.  The Matchmakers real estate is very familiar with this area.  Jim & Elizabeth Hilgendorf, The Matchmakers, have been to this area many times, and find it one of the most beautiful in France.

Jim is also a film producer, with The Tribute Series, and one of his films – “Bordeaux & The Dordogne: A Tribute” – is about this area.  The video below shows some scenes of this area where beautiful chateaux abound.

Give us a call or send an email.  We can provide you with additional information about this fabulous property and other wonderful properties in this area of France, including properties in the Dordogne, Lot-et-Garonne, Bordeaux and Gironde departments of France’s Aquitaine Region.

The Matchmakers
El Cerrito, California
Jim Hilgendorf
Cell: 510-501-9564
CA DRE # 00667290
Elizabeth Hilgendorf
510-501-9643
CA DRE # 01891419
Email: thematchmakers@comcast.net
Website: http://www.thematchmakers.org

Jim & Elizabeth Hilgendorf, The Matchmakers

Looking for a home or real estate on the French Riviera?  Grasse – the perfume capital of the world – is close to everything on the Cote d’Azur.

This lovely estate, with 2 guest cottages and 7 bedrooms, 6 baths, is only 20 minutes to world-famous Cannes, site of the Cannes film festival.  View some more pictures of this beautiful home on our website.

Lovely Estate in Grasse, France, on the French Riviera

Grasse is known worldwide as the perfume capital of the world.  There are several old ‘parfumeries’ in Grasse, such as Molinard, Fragonard and Galimard, each with tours and a museum.  You can visit and sample the wonderful fragrances.

Fragonard Perfumerie, in Grasse, France

Set back in the hills, away from the sea, Grasse has a warm climate, and was once a winter resort of royalty.  Queen Victoria spent several winters here at the Grand Hotel, or on the estates of the Rothschild family.

Central Grasse, France

Grasse also has a very interesting old medieval center to the city, with a maze of narrow, winding streets to explore.

Old medieval center of Grasse, France

As The Matchmakers, we put together people and properties, making our expertise several of the loveliest areas of France – the Riviera, Provence, Bordeaux and the Dordogne, and Paris.  We have made it our business to know these different areas, and to establish relationships with excellent real estate agents in these areas – agents whom we respect and trust, and who will work together with us to help you navigate the difficulties of searching for and buying the home of your dreams.  Our services cost you nothing additional – we are paid a referral by our affiliate agents – but our services can help to save you time and money, because buying property in France is unique from other places.  You will want to work with the best, who can give you excellent attention and service.  We can help to steer you in the right direction.

Jim Hilgendorf – one of the Matchmakers – is also a highly acclaimed film producer; and his travel films include one on France – “Bordeaux & the Dordogne: A Tribute“, covering the Bordeaux area and the beautiful Dordogne river valley.  You can view short clips of the videos on the website of The Tribute Series.

Chateaux and beautiful properties abound in these areas.  View some of our selections on our Matchmakers website.  From there you can also search properties all over France.

If you are thinking of buying a home or property in France, give us a call, or send an email.  We would love to talk and share experiences.

Josephine Baker came to France at age 19 as a young American entertainer, and almost immediately became a sensation.  For decades after, she was one of the most famous singers and dancers in the world.

Josephine Baker

Josephine rented Chateau des Milandes in 1940, then bought it in 1947.  The amazing story of her life, and the story of Chateau des Milandes, is told in the video below.

Chateau des Milandes, home of Josephine Baker, in the Dordogne

Jim & Elizabeth Hilgendorf – The Matchmakers – have their own real estate company in Eugene, Oregon; but they also specialize in helping clients find their dream homes in France.  You can go to their website and search the real estate listings for over 350,000 listed properties throughout all of France.

If you are considering buying a home in France, send us an email.  We have been to France many times, and have established connections with excellent agents throughout the country who can help you navigate through the process of searching for and buying a villa, an apartment, or chateau in France.

Jim, by the way, is a film producer, and has produced a series of highly-acclaimed travel films, one of which is “Bordeaux & The Dordogne: A Tribute”.  Clips from the videos can be seen on the Tribute Series website.

Jim & Elizabeth Hilgendorf, The Matchmakers

Enjoy the video of Josephine Baker’s life and Chateau des Milandes.

About twenty miles northeast of Bordeaux, in southwest France, is the beautiful village of Saint-Emilion.  This is one of the most famous wine-growing regions in all of France.

Saint-Emilion, France

Saint-Emilion’s history dates back to prehistoric times, and the village itself is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Saint-Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The streets of Saint-Emilion are lined with wine shops, filled with the wonderful local wines. Saint-Emilion is one of the principal red wine areas of the Bordeaux region, and its wines are famous worldwide.  Winemaking here dates back to the Romans, who began planting vineyards here in the 2nd century A.D.

If you are thinking of buying a home in France, send us an email.  We have been to France many times, and have established connections with excellent agents throughout the country who can help you navigate through the process of searching for and buying a villa, an apartment, or chateau in France.

Jim, by the way, is a film producer, and has produced a series of highly-acclaimed travel films, one of which is “Bordeaux & The Dordogne: A Tribute”.  Clips from the videos can be seen on the Tribute Series website.

Jim & Elizabeth Hilgendorf, The Matchmakers