Buying property in France

gozaimasu

Another useful website is http://www.frenchentree.com/

Property links right on the homepage there for you! If do end up going over...the language definitely helps. And make sure they know you are Scottish and not English! They dont know the difference

Generali

gozaimasu wrote: »

Another useful website is http://www.frenchentree.com/

Property links right on the homepage there for you! If do end up going over...the language definitely helps. And make sure they know you are Scottish and not English! They dont know the difference

To be honest, I reckon that whole French/English thing is a bit overdone unless you're young. If you're a young person then if you're a man you be seen as a violent, drunken thug and if you're a woman you'll be seen as easy meat.

If you're older than 30 and reasonably well behaved then the vast majority won't have a problem with you if you speak passable French at least. If you march into a village and start shouting English slowly at people, insisting that they serve you English food and drink too much then they'll think you're an @rse but then if you're behaving like that then you are an @rse!!!

I agree about frenchentree.com. Very good. http://www.french-property.com/ is good if a bit expensive by-and-large. If you find an area you like then speak to the local notaires*. They have property that they sell directly which is often cheaper than through an EA and with lower fees.





* A notaire is a kind of state official that is a cross between a registrar (including land registry) and lawyer. They act for <i>both</i> sides in property transactions. You are allowed to have a separate lawyer but you have to use the notaire too and pay their fees regardless. Personally, I'd get a separate lawyer but I think most French people don't bother. It's worth getting to grips with the basics of French property law as it's very different to the UK and you can come unstuck very easily and find that you don't have secure title to what you've bought.

janet6267

Hi I lived in France for a while, bought an old farm and ran a Bed and Breakfast. I had no problems buying or selling and made a good profit at the end of it. Check when you are looking at house prices as some are with fees included and some without. I bought in Normandy and in the town of La haye du puit there were a number of estate agents with the same properties at different prices, it would be tempting to buy from the one with the lower price until you realise the higher price included all fees and you would have been better off with that route.
Great place to live and so much space.

Pont

Hi,
I bought a house in Brittany in November. I agree with many of the previous posters.
1) The euro rate V £ is pretty awful at the moment - my mortgage repayments have risen from £370 in November to £400 now per month. Only saving grace is that if taking out a French mortgage you can get capped fixed rates for the duration of the mortgage up to 30 years. At least you know that your repayments can not go over a certain amount per month unlike the UK.
2) Always check out properties for sale in the notaires office, they are generally cheaper than advertised with the estate agencies. Remember the purchaser is responsible for estate agency fees along with notaire's fees (as previously mentioned will run to about 10% of the property price paid).
3) Don't be worried about negotiating - you'd do it here - do it there! I was up and ready to go and got the price reduced from E132,000 to E99,000 (thus reducing the estate agent's percentage as well from E6,000 down to E4,500).
4) Ensure you have your 10% to pay the notaire as soon as the 7 day 'cooling off period' has elapsed. If you fail to complete then (excluding any pre negotiated conditions) you will lose that 10%. Equally so if the vendor retracts from the contract without due reason they have to compensate you their 10%.
5) Factor into your costs the price of airline/ferry tickets to view, negotiate, sign etc. Most notaires will sign final documents on your behalf but you have to be present to sign over the power of attorney initially.
6) Be aware that France, although beautiful, delightful etc., is a high taxation country. Property tax in general is a lot less than here but no prisoners are taken when it comes to services. If you wish to sell your property within 15 years you will pay 16% of your profit (minus notaire's fees and improvement costs which are very difficult to justify).

Finally, I find France is a welcoming country. Although times are a little tough, having to juggle expenditure here, I don't regret my purchase. Try to talk to your new neighbours, use the local restaurants and bars and try to use the small independant shops in the locality. Most of all try to converse in French, it is greatly appreciated. Good luck in your venture (pm me if you need any other info).