The Five Most Important Things To Remember When Buying A Property in France

Buying a property in France can seem daunting but don’t worry! Here at Leapfrog, we want to help you, so consult our handy checklist below:

1. SAFETY FIRST! - The most important thing to remember when buying a property in France is that the whole process is extremely secure – the rights of both the buyer and the vendor are stringently protected.

2. INITIAL CONTRACTS - When you have viewed a property you wish to put an offer on, the first step is to draw up a preliminary contract, through the estate agent (called a ‘Sous-Seing Prive’) or, usually, through the ‘notaire’ (an independent legal advisor who works for the state), when it is referred to as the ‘Compromis de Vente’.

It is always worth employing a local notaire of your own, rather than relying on the vendor’s notaire, as they can provide you with invaluable advice, including a fair price for a property in the area. Remember: Never sign anything or pay anything without the notary present.

The Sous-Seing Prive and Compromis de Vente are legally binding. It is usual to pay a ten percent deposit with the contract although this is not obligatory; this is returned to the purchaser (or paid to the vendor in some cases) should the sale fall through. Once the deposit has been paid and the contract signed, the property is removed from the market.

3. LOST IN TRANSLATION?  -  Because these initial contracts can be very complicated, it is worth getting help from a translator, if you’re not 100% confident in your French. It is not up to the notaire to assist you with translation, so it is always a good idea to get help. Here at Leapfrog, we can help provide this service, so don’t hesitate to ask.

4. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE?  -  Once the contracts have been signed, the searches take place. Unlike in the UK, the surveys in France can be rather vague and the vendor may not be forthcoming with every detail. As such, it is always worth asking the opinion of a local builder or architect before any preliminary contracts are signed.

5. FINAL DETAILS - After all the searches are complete and you are happy with the structural reports, the fixtures and fittings list (it is always worth visiting the property on the day before exchanging to ensure the fixtures and fittings are all present and correct), and your mortgage in place, you can sign the final ‘Acte de Vente’, drawn up by the notaire, and pay the balance of the property to the notaire, who will pass it on to the vendor.  Remember to provide marriage and birth certificates at this point; making sure the property is sold to you as a married couple, if you are married. There may be complications regarding inheritance, so do consult your notaire.

That’s it! The property is now yours and ready to enjoy for many years to come. Leapfrog can advise you further on any of these issues so why not call us for a consultation?