How to buy a property in France
You may feel you are the first people to make the bold move to buy a property in France either as a second home or for a permanent move, but there are thousands of British people moving to France every year. For every thousand who move to France there are another thousand dreaming of doing the same. France offers a gentler way of life with space, a rich culture and a varied landscape with less than 1/3 the number of people per km² than in the UK. There are no restrictions to EU citizens moving to France but if you are planning to be in France for more than 183 days a year you will need to make a decision, with the help of a Financial and/or Legal Adviser, about where to be fiscally resident (ie. For tax purposes)
Buying a property in France
Unless you are very lucky you will probably spend hours trawling through Internet sites looking for suitable properties, followed by hours visiting houses in search of the perfect property. Establish your search criteria as soon as possible to avoid wasting time and money.
- Decide the location you are interested in – what area/region?
- In a town or village or rural?
- What sort of property – house, apartment or bungalow?
- How many bedrooms or surface area?
- Do you prefer an old stone house or a new build and how much work would you be prepared to do? A full renovation or just a little of modernisation or a “ready to unpack your suitcases” house?
- How big does the garden need to be?
- Does is need something special like an amazing view or a lake? Stables and outbuildings? Or perhaps a gîte or other income generating potential?
- Is it for a holiday home or permanent home?
- Are transport links important to you? For example nearest airports, train stations and ferry ports.
- If you need to borrow money to finance your purchase speak to your Bank or Broker and ask for an agreement in principle for how much you can borrow. We can help with this too.
- Speak to a Foreign Currency Specialist to find out how to avoid costly mistakes and save sometimes thousands of pounds
Create a brief out of this information and when viewing each property download our House Checklist to avoid confusing the features of each property.
Once you have narrowed down your selection you can contact me to make arrangements to view. Ideally a whole day should be allowed and remember to check bank holidays as even Estate Agents will tend to be closed. In many regions of France Monday opening can be limited and it is highly unlikely that you will find an Estate Agent willing to show you a property on a Sunday, but I will try to accommodate you where possible.
Allow enough time to view houses, be selective and refer back to your search criteria and ask whether each house offers what you need in terms of indoor and outside space, position and facilities. View in daylight and take time to walk around the boundaries – are they clearly marked by fences, hedges or walls? Look out for potential shared access or a right of way across the garden.
Has the property been extended or converted from a barn? If so it is important to check whether planning permission and a certificate of conformity have been obtained. If the property was built or works carried out in the last 10 years there should be guarantees by way of a valid insurance policy.
Ask how long the house has been for sale and why they are moving. Is there some hidden or undisclosed reason for the sale such as the new pylon route or wind farm. If the previous owner has died or if the owners are divorcing this can lead to delays in the transaction.
If the property you are considering buying is an apartment or part of a complex with shared facilities there will be a co-ownership, une copropriété. All owners have voting rights and are entitled to attend an Annual General Meeting. Please ask for more information if this is relevant to you. Never decide on one property before even going to see it. Don’t rely totally on the details and check that the seasons are correctly shown in the photograph. Don’t view more than four houses in a day – in France they are often located miles apart and if you see too many in one day you will start to confuse which property offers what.
Discuss the fixtures and fittings inventory with the owner or Estate Agent so that you know what the asking price includes, download our Fixtures and Fittings Inventory.
Once you have found a property you like and before making an offer take the time to drive around the area. Stop at the house at different times of the day especially if it is near a road, school or farm.
If you are still interested make an offer!
