6th September 2010
Home French Property Living in France Holidays in France Regions of France Directories Forum

French Property Buying Guide

Welcome to the FrenchEntrée Property Buying Guide
Buying Guide
On this zone you'll find everything you need in order to buy a French property. Start by reading our step-by-step guide to buying French property. Find information on the property contracts compromis de vente and acte de vente, the role of the notaire, French diagnostic surveys, the cost of buying and gazumping. This is where you'll also find property trends information, including property survey results. We also have a selection of real life stories, case studies and readers' advice features so you can read the French property buying experiences of others. Plus don't forget to check out our investment property zone.

If you want to share your French property buying experience, or have ideas for new topics please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Elsewhere in FrenchEntrée...

Need to know Do you need finance for your property purchase in France? Visit our Mortgage Zone for full details on how and where to get a home loan.
Want advice on how the French legal system works? Then visit our Law Zone.
Or need information about taxation and tax residency in France? Check out our Tax Zone. For information on insurance, credit cards and opening French bank accounts go to our Finance Zone. And for full deals on the euro and currency exchange visit our comprehensive Currency Zone. If you are looking to do up your property visit our Renovation and Decoration Zone.

Selling your French property

House sale France
If you have a French property to sell, visit our selling French property zone where we have a wealth of information to help you sell your French house. With advice on marketing your French property, to the legal implications, we have compiled all the factual information as well as some real life stories from expats.
Search for French property

Real Life Stories

Real Life
Do you have a story about living, holidaying or buying property in France? If so, we would love to hear from you! Please email us: editor@frenchentree.com.
Newsletter Button Promotion
FrenchEntree regional websites
Removals

French Property Legal Process FAQ

Common questions about buying French property

Frequently Asked Questions
We try to answer all your questions here... more...

Find them for me!

Click the links to list French Estate Agents

Searching for French property services? Elementary my dear Watson...

French Estate Agents
French Property Developers
Sell your French property

Sell your French property

Property listings for private sellers

Buying a little house in France...?


If you are selling a French property as a private vendor why not advertise it on FrenchEntrée.com - we have thousands of visitors every day and we are the cheapest place to advertise PLUS we guarantee your property advertisement will appear in the all-important Google search engine!
Advertise your French property here

Need to buy euros?

Organising currency to buy your French property

Get the best euro exchange rate
Planning to buy a house in France? Read the complete guide to buying euros in our Currency Zone
Looking for advice or a quote from a euro currency dealer? Enquire here

Metric converter

Confused by ounces, grammes, kilos, hectares etc?
A question of balance
This handy converter allows you to instantly convert all the commonly used measurements including distance, weight, liquid volume, area, temperature - Try it now

Site Map

Complete listing of site contents: Site Map

Holiday Home Insurance

Schofields - holiday home insurers
For more information on the topic of holiday home insurance check out these FrenchEntrée pages, supplied by Schofields: Insuring your holiday house. They specialise in holiday home insurance for UK and overseas property in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy owned by UK residents.

Quote for holiday home insurance

Get a French property insurance quote

Looking for Bed & Breakfast in France?

Bed & Breakfast in France
Why not try the other French Entrée?

French property rental owners advice

LayMyHat.com is a website with free advice, newsletters and discussion forum for holiday rental owners on how to get more bookings. We recommend it!

Holiday cottage Dordogne - Southern Charente

Ideal gite rental for househunters or holidays

Gatinaud Cottage
Pretty 2 bed, newly renovated cottage to let, private garden with lovely views

Property Buying Guide

A guide to estate agents in France

Get help finding suitable propertiesIt can be baffling with so many people trying to help you buy your ideal French home. Clearly, as with all professions, you need to sort the good from the bad... more...

A beginner's guide to buying French property

French Farmhouse This Guide has been written to give you a general step-by-step overview of the property buying process. It includes information about estate agents, the notaire, contracts, clauses, surveys, mortgages and much more. more...

Rural properties in France

House in open country If in searching for your dream home abroad, a beautiful garden, peaceful seclusion and stunning views of the countryside are top of your wish-list, then a property in rural France is ideal. You can be surrounded by trees and fields and still within an easy drive of your local airport. more...

Alpine property for the summer

Chalet les Airelles in ArgentièreWho says that France’s ski resorts are just for skiing? There are plenty which attract tourists all year round, with the chance to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities (no snow required!) in beautiful surroundings. As a result, they provide an ideal investment opportunity for many. more...

Investors hurry to take advantage of extra tax breaks

Investing in leaseback propertyThe Loi Scellier (Scellier Law) allows French residents to offset 25% of the purchase price of a French leaseback property in 2009 and 2010, against their income tax. In 2011 this will fall to 20%. This is in addition to the 19.6% VAT rebate paid up front as a lump sum and either replaces or significantly reduces your deposit. more...

Opting for a French mortgage

How much does a mortgage really cost?One of the major side effects of the credit crunch is that the cost of arranging a French mortgage is now very similar to raising finance in the UK. Here we look at the costs that you will need to bear in mind when taking out a French mortgage. more...

Translation services for property owners in France

Need help translating?Owning a residence in France is a dream come true for many. But what happens once you are no longer in contact with the English speaking estate agent or solicitor and need help with the administrative tasks associated with maintaining a property over there? more...

Should you rent before you buy in France ?

Village house with views - Pays de la Loire.Look before you leap! If you've already made the decision to buy in France, you should consider renting a place first to see if life there is really for you. more...

Expat hotspots in France

FranceThe French home office has reported the main areas where foreign buyers have second homes or live in France. The report highlighted some interesting results including that the British own more second homes than any other nation in France. more...

French property set to reach exceptional levels of affordability in 2010

French property pricesIn their latest report, the FNAIM confirm that house prices continued to stabilise in quarter four of 2009 and, though cautious in their predictions, they envisage that the stabilisation will continue during 2010... more...

Top Tips for French Property Buyers in 2010

Buying French propertyIf 2010 is the year in which you plan to buy your French property, here are some top tips to help you which we have collated from estate agents and property experts across France... more...

Selling your property in France

Selling and buying property in FranceIf you’re looking to sell your house in France, what’s the best way of going about this? Here we look at some of the reasons why people sell their French home and considers some practical selling tips... more...

Areas to watch in 2010

Buying property in NiceWe asked our premier partner estate agents throughout France if there are any areas or property types in their region which potential buyers would be wise to watch out for in 2010.
more...

Property Trends 2010

Analysis of 2009 and predictions for 2010

French property trendsAt the end of 2008 we interviewed more than 20 property experts across France to see what their predictions for the 2009 property market were. In this article we disclose the reality of the 2009 property market, which has been a rollercoaster ride for many, and our premier partner estate agents’ predictions for 2010... more...

FrenchEntrée Property Finder Services

Property FinderEighteen months ago FrenchEntrée launched their property finding service FrenchEntrée Property Services. Despite the economic downturn they have signed a dozen property finders across France who have been finding buyers their ideal homes. more...

The majority of French property buyers plan to make a permanent move

Results of our Buying In France Survey 2009

French propertyWe had nearly 700 readers complete our Buying In France survey. Intriguingly, the results revealed that, of the 93% looking to purchase or who have already purchased French property, 66% will use it for permanent residence. Despite the economic slowdown and weaker pound, 82% of participants still regard French property as good value. more...

Survey – It’s not normal in France!

Character French cottageWhy do some people insist on a survey while others just accept the comment that it’s not done in France? Purchasing a property in France is probably one of the largest financial investments in your life, so is it worth getting a survey? Surveyor Philip Atkinson discusses why and when a survey is worth getting...
more...

Three Steps to Selling your French House Fast and for the Best Price

Spiral Staircase - AfterWhat is the best approach if you're planning to put your house on the market, or if your house has lingered on the market for a while without receiving any offers? Sophia Mose of Pays d'Oc Design, a professional Home Stager operating in the Lot and Dordogne, sets out three steps savvy sellers can take to make their property stand out from the competition.more...

Local property taxes: taxe foncière and taxe d’habitation

Property taxesThere are two annual local property taxes in France, taxe d’habitation and taxe foncière. They are paid by both residents and non-residents and are often higher on second homes than on main residences due to possible discounts on the main home, explains David Franks of Blevins Franks...more...

Buying a house in France - readers' advice

Online discussion forumWe asked FrenchEntrée regular readers to share the benefit of their property purchasing experiences with others looking to buy in France. It was interesting to find that a reoccurring piece of advice was to be aware of the area as many have experienced their village or town to be far noisier than anticipated. Here is a selection of what they had to say... more...

Buying a Bargain Property in Beautiful Burgundy

Trevor and Pat's Burgundy homeTrevor and Pat from Milton Keynes have been holidaying in France for many years. This year they decided to take the plunge to buy a property and move to Burgundy. Here is their story... more...

British buyers return to France

French PropertyWith a rise in sterling against the euro and fall in French property prices, there is evidence that British Francophiles are once again seizing the opportunity to buy in France. Here we ask experts in the French property market if they've noticed an increase in British buyers and why now may be a good time to buy. Plus, we get some first-hand accounts from recent French property buyers. more...

North American buyers in France

Ann and MichaelAt FrenchEntrée, we have noticed our property enquiries from American and Canadian buyers increase in recent weeks. We thought we’d talk to some of the North American buyers who have recently purchased, or are currently looking to buy, a French property, to find out what type of property they're buying, where and why. more...

Gazumping in France - can it happen?

Don't get gazumpedBelieve it or not, gazumping can and does happen in France. We take a look at why it happens and what can be done to prevent it... more...

Why French property remains a favourite for investors

Property investment In the last couple of months, we at FrenchEntrée have noticed an increase in our property enquiries. In particular, we have seen a rekindled interest from property investors. In this article we discuss why, what and where investors are choosing to buy French property.more...

French property firm VEF goes into liquidation

VEF logoVEF, who have been selling French property to overseas buyers for twenty years, have sadly been the latest company to fall victim to the credit crunch... more...

Pre-approval is perfect preparation for viewing trips

Mortgage Pre-approvalWe’re at that time of year when anyone looking for a property in France may be considering taking a viewing trip. Here we look at how you can make sure you are as prepared as possible, by looking at the mortgages available and getting pre-approved, so that when you do see that dream property you are in the perfect position to snap it up!more...

‘We bought and renovated a house for just €110,000’

Vernon and Ann's houseVernon and his wife, Ann, from Doncaster, had been thinking about moving to France since they retired in 2007. In December 2008 they started to make their dream a reality when they signed the contract to their great value home in Poitou-Charentes. more...

A small French town targets retiring Britons

Le Grand Coeur The developer of a residential scheme in a small traditional French town which ‘ticks a dozen boxes’ for Britons planning to retire to France is targeting the UK’s growing ‘grey’ market in a bid to boost sales as construction proceeds. more...

Planning law and procedure in France

house plans largeFrench planning law is a huge topic however the rules and procedures were somewhat simplified by new legislation with came into force on 1 October 2007. The resulting rules apply throughout France. Here, legal experts from Heslop & Platt explain the procedure...more...

French Property Buyer Case Studies

Mr and Mrs Starr's bungalow in Dordogne We have compiled a selection of case studies from recent French property buyers, some of whom have moved permanently to France while others have bought a second home. We have examples of buyers in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, and similar questions were posed to all of them in order to compare their views about buying French property and to ascertain what they think about the timing of their purchase in light of the current economic slowdown.
more...

What will buying your French house cost you?

Commission + fees + Vat + currency

€€€Having found your bargain dream property, it can come as a bit of a shock to those used to the UK market that the buyer pays the agency fees and the legal fees – this can make your French house up to... more...

Moving to France? Be sensible and save money!

Emma and JohnIf you are thinking of moving to France but want to make sure it is the right decision, take advantage of John and Emma’s experience, they opted for a smoother approach in moving to France and found an easy alternative, and a potential little earner! more...

Now is the time to grab a bargain holiday home in France

BK Bluebird Seville 2009One way to save on the amount you spend on your family holidays each year would be to invest in a holiday home of your own, thereby not only providing you and your family with years of relaxing holidays but also enabling you to stay in a home-from-home environment that you can tailor to suit your individual needs. more...

President Sarkozy wants property prices to come down

The French market is a long way from a "crash"

The Global Property MarketPresident Sarkozy has promised ‘very powerful’ economic support for the property market, but at the same time stressing that prices need to come down. Meanwhile, economists say the French market is a long way from the crashes of the UK...more...

Primelocation.com's survey reveals that France is top of the list for overseas property purchase

Lorraine FranceThe survey was sent to all international registered users of Primelocation.com who have recently shown an interest in overseas property. The survey revealed that 58% of participants are still planning to buy a property overseas, with 24% looking in France, despite the current economic downturn.
more...

Before you buy check for Builder’s Guarantees

House Security 'It is important to establish, through your Notaire, that all completed construction works have been carried out by registered builders and artisans, who must have a SIRET number. Work carried out by non-registered builders or artisans carries no guarantees' says Chartered Surveyor Brian Lindley... read on...

Guide to building your own home in France

renovation work roofFor the French it's quite common to get your own home built. Now more and more Britons are considering the same option in France. David Murray, author of a new book on the subject, explains how to go about it more...

Taking on a long term rental in France

Thatched Cottage BrittanyIf you would like to spend more time in France, something more than a simple two week summer holiday, maybe a month, maybe a few years or maybe even the rest of your life, taking on a longer term rental is for you.
more...

'We weren't sure about life in France so we rented first - it was a good move'

hilary and arthur in AntibesHilary and Arthur Moore were pretty certain they wanted to move to France from their home in Nottingham, England. But to be sure - and to know that they had chosen the right part of France - they rented first. Here Arthur explains why it was the best thing they could have done more...

New Build in France Vs French Resale Property

Image supplied by A Place In FranceIn recent years, buying new build houses has increased in popularity with overseas buyers in France. This article outlines the pros and cons of buying a new build versus a resale property. more...

How to cut energy bills in your French home

saving fuel bills FrenchWith the cost of energy rising, it’s more important than ever to find the most effecting ways of heating and providing energy for your house. Marc Asker of EcoPower considers the options and gives some practical advice more...

The FrenchEntrée guide to searching for property in France

Looking for property in FranceHunting for houses in France can be as exciting and daunting as anywhere else. Here the FrenchEntrée team offers practical advice about how to decide what to buy and where more...

Getting a structural survey on a property in France

Structural surveyUnlike in the UK for example, having your property surveyed is not compulsory with French banks and building societies. However, for some French property buyers, getting an independent survey can be very worthwhile... more...

French Property Diagnostic Surveys

house surveys FranceThe compulsory surveys are now grouped together in a single report known as the Technical Diagnostic File (Dossier de Diagnostic Technique) or “DDT”. DTT surveys are to be conducted by the vendor and include surveys on energy performance, gas and electricity, an inspection of sewage disposal systems (if not connected to the mains) and natural risks. more...

Climate, access, cost...choosing the right area of France

Brittany - Cotes D'Armor housesBefore you can start looking for your place in France, be it a holiday home or a permanent residence, it’s important to narrow down your search to a particular region, or selection of regions. France is a big place, after all... more...

French Property Price Calculator

To help you estimate the value of your current French property or to estimate the potential cost of a French property that you might be looking to buy FrenchEntrée have provided a French Property Price Calculator. more...

The role of the Notaire in French property purchase

Who they are and how they work...

All about Notaires in FranceDuring a property sale, the notaire ensures that all the proceedings comply with french property law. Whether the property is bought direct through a notaire or through an agence immobilier a notaire still has to oversee the legal aspects of the sale... more...

Compromis de Vente - how it works

The Compromis de Vente is the first formal and legally binding stage in the property purchase process in France. It is a written contract of sale agreement which legally ... more...

Acte de Vente - how it works

The Acte de Vente or Acte Authentique is the final contract to be signed by the buyer and seller, when a property is bought in France, and must be witnessed by a notaire... more...

Your French septic tank - the regulations

On January 3 1992, all towns and villages in France saw their responsibilities increased. The mayor is now responsible for every aspect of waste water treatment... more...

Lead in your French home

When do you need a mandatory inspection?

Lead peeling paint flaking danger
Photo: Morguefile
Throughout France, an inspection for the presence of lead in paintwork is mandatory when any building built before January 1949 is sold (both common areas and/or areas for private use). ... more...

Asbestos in your French property - the basics

Asbestos is considered to be a lethal product in France and the use and manufacture of asbestos-based materials has been forbidden since 1997... more...

Termites in French Property

Termites - the underground menace eating your house from the inside out

If you live in a termite-infested area in France, you must, by law, supply a 'termite-free' certificate when you sell a property... more...
Thanks to our advertisers and sponsors - their support enables this site to remain free for all visitors.
Sterling offers!
Tee France - French Legal AdviceIf both you and your seller are British, we can conduct your French property purchase entirely in pounds Sterling. Find out more
French Alps Ski Property
MGM Ski Chalet MGM Constructeur, the leading property developer in the French Alps currently markets high quality apartments in more than 40 locations: ski resorts, alpine villages and by Lake Annecy. More info
Weekly removals to France
Removals CorpWeekly service to all areas of France, Part loads, Full loads get a Free online quote. Just a few Boxes? We can ship boxes door to door ONLY £24.95 each in 3 days! Get your free quote!
Make your property search easier!
Property searchLet us know what you want to buy and we will help you find properties that tick all the right boxes. Fill out our property requirement form and our FrenchEntrée property consultant will get back to you.
Is your house Insured?
Schofields Home InsuranceInsurance for your French holiday home when it's unoccupied or holiday let. Simple to understand French
home insurance in plain English. - Get a quote


Fed up of high UK taxation?
Blevins Franks tax meetingSpeak to the tax experts at Blevins Franks to explore your tax saving options in France.

"We love the house and what a price!"
Property FindersFrenchEntrée's independent property finders help buyers get the right house at the best price.
French Property Buyers Club
Apply for your mortgage
loanApply online for your French mortgage today and fast track your quotation. Euros and Sterling mortgages available. Apply now.
Moneycorp - Commercial Foreign Exchange
Save a fortune on currency exchange
Euro NotesIf you need advice or a currency exchange quote, make a no obligation enquiry to Moneycorp, FrenchEntrée's Currency Partner. Apply now to open a currency account


Looking for luxury property in France?
French ChateauFrance offers an excellent range of properties for home buyers looking at the luxury end of the market. With miles of coastline, historic cities and picturesque countryside France has something for everyone. View our latest French luxury property

Books on Buying French Property

Buying French Property Book

Are you moving to France and needing more information on buying your French property?

The FrenchEntrée bookshop features a wide range of books covering the buying process, French law, living in France and the regions of France. Visit the FrenchEntrée Bookshop to make your purchase.

French Property Tips Newsletter Archive

Are you looking to buy a new property in France?
FrenchEntrée Property Tips Newlsetter

Keep up to date with all the latest french property news, law and finance stories, and featured property hotspots. Sign-up for our free newsletter or visit our newsletter archive to view previous newsletters.

French Property Tips Newsletter

French Property Tips


Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up Now!

FrenchEntrée Adviser Panel

  Join our adviser panel
  Are you a regular FrenchEntrée reader with time to answer questions and offer suggestions on new topics, articles and zones? If so, we would love you to be part of our trusted reader panel. As part of our reader panel we will send you questionnaires and site development ideas to review.
 
 
1.*
 
 
2.*
 
Security image

Change Image
Please enter the numbers in the image above


Follow FrenchEntree on Facebook


Follow FrenchEntree on Twitter


Search FrenchEntrée


French Property Database Search

Find your dream house in France Over 12,000 properties
for sale throughout France.....


More search options
Use a property finder

French Property Products & Services

Track down the right supplier Search over one thousand suppliers to the French property market...
Text Search:

Category:


Click here to add an "entry"

French Entrée