ADVICE YOU CAN TRUST
Get professional assistance. An agent will be familiar with the details of French real estate law, keep you informed about the process of your purchase and help you avoid any potential pitfalls. Leggett is the only real estate company in France with their own in-house legal team and notaire. If you don’t speak French and your agents don’t provide documentation in English (we do), get it translated so that there are no nasty surprises.
It's important to establish the legal status of exactly who is buying the property before you sign. If you're an unmarried couple, you might consider buying on a joint basis. If you're married and wish your surviving spouse to inherit all your estate, you will probably need to adopt a French marriage contract or buy 'en tontine.' Unrelated groups of people should consider establishing a property company.
MAKING AN OFFER
When you've found your dream house, it's time to make an offer. Once the purchase price has been agreed, a 'compromis de vente' is drawn up. You then have a seven-day cooling-off period. The sale proceeds through a notaire. You can share the notaire with the vendor or appoint your own – in either case the notary costs will be the same.
Mortgages may be cheaper and may offer some tax advantages if you are perman-ently relocating. If you require a mortgage, this will be inserted as a conditional clause in the contract. You will need to pay a deposit, usually 10 percent of the purchase price. The buying process normally takes 3-4 months.
COMPLETION
When the day of completion arrives, make sure your monies are deposited with the notaire several days beforehand to ensure the sale goes through smoothly. Should you have overpaid, the balance will be refunded. Visit the property to ensure all is as it should be – particularly the fixtures and fittings – and the sale can proceed.
A FINAL WORD...
If you do your research and take professional advice, the purchase of your dream home should be a simple process!