4th July 2009
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French Property Buying Guide

Welcome to the FrenchEntrée Property Buying Guide. This zone provides detailed information on how to find and buy a house in France. In these pages you will find articles on on finding French property, house prices, selecting a region of France, the purchase process, the French legal process, the costs plus hints, tips, French property terminology and FAQs. See also our New Build Zone plus our Investment Property Zone. And last but not least search our database of property for sale in France or see the listings from from private vendors. In fact, everything you need to purchase your house in France.
The key to your house in France?

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.
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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.
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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!

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

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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!
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Need to buy euros?

Organising currency to buy your French property

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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

Hot Topics on French property & life in France

What our Topic Hosts have got in store...

Le Gastrozone
Gem DriverYour guide to buying & preparing good French food
Gite Business
Gite complex with poolCan you make a living from holiday accommodation?
Vegetarians
Val Patchett, Vegetarian France Topic Host"Ni poisson, ni viande": tales from the veggie vanguard
Renovation & Decoration
karen and andrew smallWhat to think about when doing up your home
Healthcare in France
Peter Owen,  French Health Care Topic HostHelping you navigate the French health system

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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.

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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

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

Finding a property...

Where to look Finding the perfect place can be a daunting task - read our French property hunting article to find the answer. Consult our article on viewing trips in France for information on how to make the most of your property hunting. You can also seach here for French properties for sale, including those from private vendors.

Buying a property...

The Buying Process Read our beginner's guide to find out about buying a property in France. Find out too about the role of the notaire in French property sales, whether you can get a survey on your French property and what you need to know about the Compromis de Vente and buying agricultural land.

Property Buying Guide - Latest Stories

Beginners' 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...

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...

Is the French property market experiencing a storm?

French Property StormIn their January report, the FNAIM say that the French residential market is “in the eye of a storm”, but do they think that it will subside during 2009? We also investigate what Notaires de France have to say about the present market... 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...

New apartment living in two iconic French cities

A Place in FranceNew apartments in France’s two most iconic cities, Paris and Nice, are being offered for sale off-plan for as little as €150,000 by A Place in France... 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...

French Property Trends 2009

Analysis of 2008 and predictions for 2009

Property TrendsWhat do the next 12 months hold in store for the housing market in France? In our definitive annual survey, FrenchEntrée asked experts for their views on the housing situation in 2008 and the prospects for 2009... 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...

Location, Location, Location

Graham DownieThe FrenchEntrée Property Finders were pleased to meet many people interested in buying French property during 2009, while exhibiting at The France Show. In a video clip taken on the day, Graham Downie, our Cognac Property Finder, said that buyers should not compromise on location: ‘You can change a property but you can’t move it.’ View clip...

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...

How France is combating the credit crunch

Euro credit crunchGraham Downie discusses how the French are combating the credit crunch and the impact of the financial crisis on those looking to buy in France...more...

Is French property still a safe haven?

French Manor HouseWith the global economic climate knocking consumer confidence many potential French buyers are questioning whether French property is still a safe haven for their savings. 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...

New FrenchEntrée Property Finders Service is launched

Property FinderFrenchEntrée have this month officially launched their property finding service FrenchEntrée Property Services. Having signed several property finders across France over the last few months they are now ready to help find buyers their ideal home. 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...

France is still viewed as good value for money - results of our buying in France survey

French propertyWe had 840 readers complete our FrenchEntrée Property Buyers survey, and overall, had very interesting results and feedback from those planning to buy. 80% of respondents still regard France as good value for money and only a minority have been put off buying by the current economic climate... more...

Automate your regular overseas payments saving yourself time and money

Pound and euro notesWhether you are in the process of buying your property in France, or you have already made the purchase, you may need to make a number of overseas payments. Timing is crucial when you are buying a large amount of Euros – and trading at the right time will mean your money goes a lot further...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...

Why now is a good time to buy a property in the French Alps

A key factor in choosing a ski property is summer

The Alps in summer Have you made the decision to invest in a second home in France but are still torn between the attractions of a winter ski base and an idyllic, rural summer setting? The good news is that you can have it all – and this winter in particular, find yourself a genuinely good Alpine buy.more...

Guide to letting furnished property in France

A safe property investmentWhilst moving to France is generally seen as a great pleasure, setting up a rental activity (whether as a business or not) can sometimes raise some very grey and occasionally complicated tax and financial areas. Vincent Gray, of VG Consultants, brings us an overall guide to letting French property...more...

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...

It’s all about location: results of our buying in France survey

price trends FranceA FrenchEntrée survey on buying habits shows that half of all overseas purchasers in France choose their property because of its location. A surprising number meanwhile take a long time before they find their dream place... more...

‘Why we chose to build our own environmentally-friendly house in France’

build homeIn the first of a series of articles Tim Williams explains the reasons behind his family’s bold decision to construct a new, green house in south west France. In part two, he discusses how his family acquired the land to build the house. In part three, he discusses his search for "ecological help", and in part four he explains how he worked with the architect. more...

French capital gains tax – how it works

CGT in France can be a key question for anyone owning a property in France, whether or not they are resident here. Rupert Holderness, Managing Director of Siddalls in France explains the situation more...

Tax liability on French holiday home rental income

Many owners like to let out their second homes in France when they are not using them. But what are the tax implications for this?
David Franks, Chief Executive of Blevins Franks, explains
more...

Selling your French property – the legal process

Property sale legalAs in other countries, people selling a house in France have certain obligations and duties. Here experts from The International Law Partnership examine the selling process in detail... more...

Property in the Charente

Ask the agent

Property agent Graham Downie discusses the kinds of properties available in the Charente, giving advice and insight into the local property market and beautiful department. 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...

FrenchEntrée launches property finder network

We’ve teamed up with property search expert Graham Downie to start this venture. Here he explains the basics of property searching – and how you can become part of the network 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...

How to sell your property in France

Resale FrenchIf you’re looking to sell your house in France, what’s the best way of going about this? Michael Streeter looks at some of the reasons why people sell their French home and considers some practical selling tips 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...

French property auctions - the do's and don'ts of bidding for a house

Ian McDonald of Barclay's France explains how French property auctions differ from British ones and describes what kind of houses you might be able to bid for... more...

Buying a property to rent out in France

Many UK residents consider buying a property in France as a second home or holiday home, with the intention of renting it out for part of the year. Marcus Smith gives us the tips of the trade... 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...
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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.

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