Frequently Asked Questions for Buying French Property

A. The short answer is yes. Americans can buy real estate in France. There are many American families living, working, studying and enjoying French life. To learn more visit our blog.
A.To arrange property visits, it is best to contact us two to three weeks in advance, and earlier during school holidays. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate same-day visits due to the short notice. To help us schedule your visit, please send us your criteria and preferred dates.
A.We can usually arrange visits on Saturdays, but this may not be possible during busy bank holiday weekends. Please note that Sunday visits are not possible as it is a nationwide religious day of rest in France, and people usually attend church services and spend time with their families.
A. All the properties listed on our website include the Agents fee, they are listed at the same price they are be listed in France, we do not charge anything extra for the superior service we offer, we simply share the agents commission, which is usually paid for by the seller. The listed price does not include the legal fees, they are around 7% and include the stamp duty and TVA.
A. From the moment the pre-contract has been signed, it takes on average between 10 to 12 weeks for the whole purchasing process to be completed. There's a 10 day cooling off period.
A. Not really, a target date is set in the 'compromis de vente' but should not be relied on in the early stages of the process to make travel arrangements etc ... We advise all our clients to wait until the process is well underway before asking to confirm that all is progressing according to plan to sign on the proposed date. The Notaires' duty is primarily to the French State, they will not hesitate to delay proceedings if any legal issues have not been adequately resolved.
A. The Notaire handling the purchase of your property will require a certain amount of documents. If you're preparing a viewing trip to France take care to take documents showing your full names, contact details, professions, birth and marriage certificates, passport copies, details of ex-husbands and wives.
A. This can varie, make sure you check with us first. Generally you will need to have deposited cleared funds into the Notaires' bank account prior to signing the compromis de vente (pre-contract). This can take a few days and should not be left to the last minute, we recommend using our currency exchange experts who provide competitive rates and excellent service.
A. Our bilingual specialist French mortgage partners constantly strive to offer a complete selection of mortgage products available throughout France for non-French and overseas residents. Learn more about French mortgages or make an enquiry.
A. The notaire is appointed by the State and acts for both parties. Some of his duties include, check details of title and third party rights, verify the details of any charges affecting the property, prepare the acte definitif (final contract), witness the signing of the 'acte de vente', register the transfer of ownership, collect the taxes. Learn more about French notaires on our blog.
A. Depending on your circumstances and the type of property you wish to purchase, you may wish use solicitor in the UK, in France, perhaps both or none at all. Please contact us to discuss your specific requirements and circumstances.
A. When buying a property in France, various options can be considered by purchasers such as an SCI for instance. A 'Société Civile Immobiliere' is a kind of partnership and can be described as a property-holding partnership which is non-trading. It has unlimited liability and is usually fiscally transparent.
A. We work with XE currency, a well known, competitive and reliable foreign currency exchange specialist to assist you with converting your Pounds, Dollars or any other currency into Euros for your international transfers.

A. We teamed up with two excellent currency exchange prviders due to the level of personal service they provide and their rates. Whether you require a one off transaction or on an ongoing monthly basis, our exchange currency brokers provides a one to one service enabling you to obtain the best exchange rates now and for the future.

 
A. Sizing the rooms of a property or working out distances in France can be a made confusing with the metric system. Use our metric converter designed for people used to the Imperial measurements and wish to convert to the metric system, or vice versa.
A. The company is registered under the Data Protection Act, we will not sell, give, or lend your e-mail address to any third party company. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.
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