Real estate prices have been falling steadily for the past three years in northeastern French city Metz. “It’s time to buy,” according to professionals, advice increasingly heeded by first-time buyers and property investors. With prices rarely exceeding 2,100 euros per square meter and still dropping, the property market is seeing the return of first-time buyers. […]

High end real estate has taken off after the financial crisis of 2010 in cities like Paris, London, and New York.  Prices rose 20% in Paris between January 2010 and January 2011, according to Nestoria.  But how is this so when the economic outlook is so dark?  The answer is massive foreign investment.