 |
6th September 2010
|
French Property Buying GuideWelcome to the FrenchEntrée Property Buying Guide 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... 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  Real Life Stories.jpg) 
  French Property Legal Process FAQCommon questions about buying French property Find them for me!Click the links to list French Estate Agents French Estate Agents French Property Developers  Sell your French propertyProperty listings for private sellers 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 Looking for advice or a quote from a euro currency dealer? Enquire here Metric converterConfused by ounces, grammes, kilos, hectares etc? Site MapComplete listing of site contents: Site MapClassified DirectoryLooking for property or planning a move to France? Check out the new FrenchEntrée Classified Directory featuring:Builders France and French building suppliers Surveyors France Banks France France currency traders and brokers Insurance France Health Insurance France Broadband and ASDL Internet Connection in France French Languages Courses and Services Law Firms France and Legal Services in France French Mortgage Lenders and French Property Mortgage Brokers Removals to France French Estate Agents Property Developers France Satellite TV France Tax Services France and French Tax Advisors Swimming Pools France International removals Holiday Home Insurance  Get a French property insurance quote Looking for Bed & Breakfast in France? French property rental owners adviceLayMyHat.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 CharenteIdeal gite rental for househunters or holidays |
Property Buying Guide
|
Thanks to our advertisers and sponsors - their support enables this site to remain free for all visitors.
Sterling offers!
 If 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 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
 Weekly 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!
 Let 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?
 Insurance for your French holiday home when it's unoccupied or holiday let. Simple to understand Frenchhome insurance in plain English. - Get a quote Fed up of high UK taxation?
 Speak to the tax experts at Blevins Franks to explore your tax saving options in France."We love the house and what a price!"
 FrenchEntrée's independent property finders help buyers get the right house at the best price. Apply for your mortgage
 Apply online for your French mortgage today and fast track your quotation. Euros and Sterling mortgages available.
Apply now.
 Save a fortune on currency exchange
 If 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 accountLooking for luxury property in France?
 France 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 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 ArchiveAre you looking to buy a new property in France? 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 FrenchEntrée Adviser Panel |
   Choose Channel
 Search FrenchEntréeFrench Property Database Search
Over 12,000 properties for sale throughout France..... More search options Use a property finder |
It 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...
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.
180.jpg)
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.
Who 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.
The 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.
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.
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?
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.
The 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.
In 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...
If 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...
If 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...
We 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.
At 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...
Eighteen 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.
We 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.
Why 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...
What 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.
There 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...
We 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...
Trevor 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...
With 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.
At 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.
Believe 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...
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.
VEF, 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...
We’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!
Vernon 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.
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.
French 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...
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.
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...
If 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!
One 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.
President 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...
The 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. 
'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...
For 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
If 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.
Hilary 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
In 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.
With 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
Hunting 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
Unlike 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...
.jpg)
The 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.
Before 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...
During 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...
