French Property Law: Your Step by Step Guide to the Purchase Process
In this step-by-step guide, we outline the purchasing process when buying a house in France…
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Role of the Notaire in France when Buying Property
The Notaire in France is involed in most of the important moments in life and ensures that all the proceedings comply with french law. …
Compromis de Vente: The First Step to Purchasing Your French Property
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 …
Buying a Property to Renovate in France
Many of the properties for sale come with that key caveat. they ‘need work’. Our expert contributor shares tips for buying a property to renovate in France.
Inheritance tax – will I have to pay it twice? A Guide to Double Taxation
If you own property in France you should to be aware of the rules around ‘domicile’. Daniel (Dan) Harris, Head of International and Cross-Border at Stone King LLP, explains why.
Brexit and Inheritance Tax: What’s Likely to Change?
If you own property in France you should to be aware of the rules around ‘domicile’. Daniel (Dan) Harris, Head of International and Cross-Border at Stone King LLP, explains why.
Selling up – the legal process
As in other countries, people selling a house in France have certain obligations and duties. Here we examine the selling process in detail…
Regional Property Guide: Aquitaine
Despite its long and rich history, not many people know of Aquitaine, although many will be familiar with place names such as Biarritz, St.Emilion and Arcachon, or have probably consumed its most famous exports, wine, cognac, and foie gras.
English Domicile vs French Domicile
If you own property in France you should to be aware of the rules around ‘domicile’. Daniel (Dan) Harris, Head of International and Cross-Border at Stone King LLP, explains why.
Need an Excuse for Crêpes? It’s La Chandeleur in France!
As if we really needed an excuse to indulge in crêpes, the Fête de la Chandeleur (or Fête des Chandelles) rolls around. Get together with family and friends and join this ancient tradition…
Editor’s French Property Pick – Bargain Price Reductions
How about some inspiration for your French property search? There’s something for every lifestyle and budget …
Local Property Taxes: Taxe Foncière and Taxe D’habitation
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 …
French Land Registry Plans Online
The tax authorities make available online the French land registry plans known as the “cadastre” …
What will buying your French house cost you?
Having found your bargain dream house, it can come as a bit of a shock that the buyer pays the agency fees and the legal fees…
Living in harmony with wildlife in France
One of the many reasons given for moving to France is the beautiful countryside and abundant wildlife. Long-term Limousin resident Kathleen shares some tips on living peacefully alongside wildlife in France.
So what do you do when you find an owl in the bathroom?……….
Tax Liability on Rental Income in France
When thinking about buying a property in France you may well consider the possibility of letting the property when you are not using it. It could be that you already have a holiday home there which you rent out or…
Equestrian property in France
France is renowned as a paradise for horses and attracts many equestrian enthusiasts who buy property in the region. But keeping horses can become daunting if you don’t choose the right property.
The Cooling off Period for Property in France Explained
Buyers of a property in France get the peace of mind of a cooling off period, known as délai de rétractation, of ten days before the contract becomes binding.
French legal glossary
Finding your way around French legal terminology is not always easy. Here is a glossary of some of the most commonly used phrases and terms…
Culinary specialities of the Pays de la Loire
Well-known as ‘the garden of France’, Pays de la Loire is the place for fresh produce. But with its rivers and coastal edge, there’s also plenty of fishy business going on. Justin Postlethwaite browses the menu…
Log Cabins, Chalets and Eco-friendly Property in France
Our growing awareness of the impact we have on our environment has led to a growing interest in eco-buildings as full-time residences. Wood is a sustainable resource and careful husbandry will allow these products to be available long after the plastic, fossil fuel created windows and doors become uneconomical.
EU resident selling your French home? Say goodbye to the fiscal representative
French law no longer requires non-resident sellers domiciled in the EU to appoint a fiscal representative on the sale of property in France, an experience that could be quite costly and verging on the surreal.
Buying property in France? Take tax advice early
If you are buying a property in France, and/or moving there to live, you should start your tax planning nice and early. Ideally this would be before you buy the property, and before you move there.
Deducting the Furniture to Reduce Buying Fees in France
A private seller has suggested that one way to reduce buying fees is to declare part of the price of the property as an amount to buy the furniture. Is this legal?
Like a Fine Burgundy Wine, Château D’igé Just Gets Better
Some years back, Vincent decided that we would drive from Paris to the south. Although the drive can be done in a day, he decided to stop for the night midway into our journey. Keeping his choice a surprise, I…
Ten questions to ask when viewing a property in France
The moment of truth when you are looking to buy a home is the actual visit to the sites selected on your shortlist. Make sure to ask the right questions.
Finding a good wood supplier
Good quality wood not only makes the fire easier to light and maintain—it makes your fireplace safer. Follow these tips to find a good wood supplier.
Land dispute? Love thy French neighbour
Boundaries can look like abstract arbitrary lines on a map … until your immobilier informs you that your front garden wall has actually been built on your neighbour’s land.
New measures to invigorate property market in France
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has announced a “fiscal package” to reactivate the property sector in France, mostly aimed at the new build and buy-to-let sector.
PURCHASING A PROPERTY IN FRANCE: THE BUYER’S GUIDE
Welcome to the FrenchEntrée guide to buying a house in France. In this zone you’ll find everything you need in order to buy a French house, right from the first viewings to the actual move. FrenchEntrée also has a dedicated property team to…
When can the Mairie block a sale of property in France?
One of the differences in French property law that you may encounter when buying, selling or renting property in France is the role of Notaire and the Mairie or town hall. They play a part in daily life and have…
All about the money. Who, what and when?
Of interest to both buyers and sellers. Legal experts from Heslop & Platt detail how money changes hands in a property transaction.
Local Taxes – Ordures Menagéres or Refuse Collection
The most widely known local taxes are the Taxe foncière, and taxe d’habitation but there is a third one …
Into Darkness: Paris at War
To mark the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War, we look back at the capital’s role. Life carried on as normal for Paris and its three million citizens, right up until the outbreak of war on 2 August 1914…
And Now for the Real Saint Valentine…Drumroll…
With a “lover’s garden”, a “wish tree” and “love post office” this village in the Indre region has found its way to our hearts.
Lessons from the Landscape
Award-winning designer James Besson takes clues from nature to perfect a man-made landscape.
“Le Burnout” In the Land of the 35-hour Work Week
There’s been quite a bit of noise lately in the French media about the phenomenon referred to as le burn-out, following calls to recognize it as an official medical condition under labour law. Although exhaustion is nothing new, the lack…
Tips to Sell Your French Home Faster
What is the best approach if you’re planning to put your house on the market, or if it has lingered on the market for a while? Three ways savvy sellers can make their property stand out from the competition.
The Cost of Buying a Property in France
When buying a property in France it is easy to get overwhelmed by the various costs involved. It can also be difficult to define the exact costs of an individual service, and furthermore, to know what you should pay for each service. This article endeavours to breakdown the various costs involved in buying a property and give the average prices.
Enormous sea serpent surges out of the Loire River in France
A portentous silouhette in the distance, the forbidding form of a gigantic slithering snake seems an impossible sight as it appears to be emerging from the Loire river and making its way back to land.
Les Saisons – The clearly defined seasons of the Limousin
The seasons are so clearly defined in the Limousin, not just by the weather but also by the food. Kathleen Fourches shares her observations
Buying in France – Avoid the Common Pitfalls
The French conveyancing system is very well organised and secure. There is no equivalent of reported problems with non existent title deeds (such as in Cyprus) or invalid planning permissions (such as in Spain). So what should those preparing to buy a property in France be wary of?
French Property Buyers Glossary
Image not found.Learning French is one thing but learning French property purchasing and building language is a whole new adventure for would-be buyers and restorers. Here are some words and terms to get you started.
Party like it’s 1789
Image Yann Caradec via flickr Bastille Day on the 14th of July is the celebration of the French National Day, commemorating the oath of July 14th 1790 – exactly a year after the storming of the Bastille – the…
Gardening in a Mediterranean climate
Award-winning designer James Besson shares his tips to create a garden in harmony with its surroundings.
Fosses Septiques – Septic Tanks & New Laws
There has been a lot of recent discussion and activity about new laws concerning fosses septiques, septic tanks on private properties. Here, we give the background to these changes.
Calculating Habitable Space
Surfaces de plancher and Emprise de Sol are the new ways of working out habitable space and footprint. As for the wider implications, well it could save you a tidy sum.
Taste of the Terroir
Of the many local products protected by an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) label are five types of cheese: Bleu d’Auvergne, Cantal, Fourme d’Ambert, Saint Nectaire and Salers. See them take shape on the Route des Fromages, which points out 40 places of interest.
French Entrée visits Restos du Coeur
A very positive shortcut to integrating into life in France is to join an association. It provides an opportunity to meet people and practice the language.
Regional delicacies: from cheese to oysters
As with every region in France, Poitou-Charentes has its own speciality food and drink. Below are a few things you wouldn’t want to miss out on when visiting the region.
