What You Need to Know

About Buying a Property for Sale in France

French property law and processes are very different from the UK.

We can advise you on what you need to know about buying a property for sale in France and indeed deal with much of this for you. Here is a cross sample of points to consider:

Fully qualified chartered surveyors are very hard to come by in France with currently only 300 registered. Do you know where to find the best French surveyors who know the local building techniques and how long their survey is valid for?
Did you realise that French inheritance Law is very different to English and other countries’ inheritance Law and must be dealt with BEFORE you buy the property to ensure your family’s future with your home to avoid costly inheritance tax issues?
Do you realise that you appoint a French notary and not a solicitor to undertake the searches and the exchanges of contracts between the buyer and seller? - And do you also know that he/she works for the French state and not for either buyer or seller?
Did you know how many notaries you need to perform the transaction?
Do you know what searches he/she performs and what searches you should perform yourself?
Do you know what fees the French notary charges and that it changes depending on the value of the property?
Do you know about the different yearly property taxes that the French government charges and which ones you are liable to pay under your circumstances?
Do you know how to negotiate a good price for yourself without losing the home that you have chosen in France?
Do you realise the time it normally takes for a sale to complete from start to finish?
Do you know which banks offer the best mortgages when buying in France?
Have you got a reputable international solicitor with whom you can discuss your objectives?
Did you know that there is money to be saved depending on the age of the property you buy?
Did you realise that to avoid the uncertainty involved with the fluctuation of currencies and an unexpected rise in the cost of your French property that you ought to change your money as soon as you have signed the preliminary contract (Compromis de vente).
Do you know who offers the best exchange rate and least commission?
You ought to fully understand any contract which you sign and if you don’t speak French perfectly then the summary translation service we provide for contracts will be crucial.
Do you know the different types of preliminary contracts you can sign and what rights you have within these?