Once you have struck a verbal deal, you should confirm your offer in writing (and in French): Specifying all details of both sellers and...

Your TPM (“true purchase maximum”) will help you decide which properties to visit. Say your TPM is 410,000€. You can safely assume that...

The things you should be aware about yourself Primacy effect: All studies are conclusive about the power of the primacy effect, the...

What is a notaire? The notaire is a public official of the French State. His role is not only to advise clients on the transaction, but...

Your initial offer is crucial Your initial offer is the start the discussion – not the end point. So your initial offer should not be the...

You should to take into consideration the emotions of the seller too. How their context influences their behavior In the south of France...

The compromis de vente is an important document as it sets out the main terms of the agreement between the buyer and the seller. Normally...

A 3-way discussion Buyers should remember that it is not a good idea to disclose any information to the agent that could be used to their...

Negotiation is not for the faint hearted, and is more of an art form that requires skill and experience rather than a science. You don’t...

One of the key manifesto promises of President Emmanuel Macron, reform of l’impôt sur la fortune (ISF), is completing its passage through...

No statistics leads to unrealistic prices It is very difficult to value properties in France. The main reason is that there simply isn’t...

Local authority & title searches Once the compromis is signed, the notaire begins the legal process which includes the searches on the...

They are regulated by law - and licensed Property professionals are strictly regulated in France. Individuals or companies who are...

Make a list of your criteria The list could relate to criteria such as: minimizing travel time to the property, minimum price, preferred...

Listing agent The traditional agent’s commission: By law, offered prices must include the selling agent’s fee: the offered price should...

Or you can embark on your own valuation. This is how we do it. The approach is analytical at first: Surfaces: Ask for a floor plan, or...

There are no true multiple listing services (MLSs) Currently, there is no completely unified MLS service in France. There are some small...

Once you have decided to buy, you must decide which ownership structure is suitable for you. This can be decided on between contract and...

Property buyers should be aware that by law the French estate agent is an intermediary (“commerçant”) who will bring together two parties...

Organise your virtual exploration The Web will enable you to begin to get a general feel for what sort of prices you should be paying...