MIAMI—Miami-based MC2 Realty has merged with Viaprestige Immobilier to form Viaprestige Real Estate Miami. MC2 has been the exclusive South Florida affiliate of a French luxury real estate network since 2011.

This merger marks the first US location for Viaprestige, which also has real estate offices throughout Morocco and the West Indies. The firm is also active scouting opportunities in New York and San Francisco.

"Miami real estate is hugely desirable on the global stage," Marie-Charlotte Piro, principal at Viaprestige Real Estate Miami, tells GobeSt.com. "International buyers are attracted to Miami more than any other city in the country, so South Florida was a logical and strategic move on their part as a way to enter this country in a significant way."

The Viaprestige network works with French-speaking luxury real estate buyers, sellers and investors and matches them with properties around the world. Piro stressed that the merger would not affect the previous firm's Miami-based business.

"While we have developed this niche specialty of working with Euro-buyers and other French-speaking nationals, we will continue to serve our Miami and international clients who are looking to buy, sell and invest in the Magic City," says William Harbour, a principal of the new firm. He called the merger a strategic move.

"The merger reflects our growth and evolution from a short sale and foreclosure specialist in 2009 to the luxury real estate boutique agency that we are today," Harbour says. "Incorporate our French expertise and it just made sense to formalize what had been a strategic alliance."

Piro sees many reasons French-speaking buyers and investors are flocking to South Florida, and especially Miami. For starters, the region is one of the most European-like cities in the country so buyer feel at home here. The warm climate is also a draw as is the advantageous tax and political situation.

French-speaking investors still see value and appreciation potential in properties here even in spite of the rising strength of the dollar. In 2013, France was the number one country generating searches in the Miami Realtor association website. Currently, over 30,000 French people currently live in Miami—and that number is growing.

According to Piro, there isn't one particular neighborhood attracting French-speaking buyers unlike other foreign nationals purchasing in South Florida. Rather, she says, they are finding many neighborhoods appealing from South Miami and the Gables to Key Biscayne, Design District and Edgewater to Aventura, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach.

"South Florida also offers a wide variety of products, from unique art deco buildings to modern high rise condos, and from charming old Spanish homes to luxury contemporary architectural designs," Piro says. "Buyers can always find the right location and home for their lifestyle."