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...

You may have heard about people having their dream property snatched away by a competitor with a higher bid, just before exchange of...

Diagnostics as a starting point At the time of the sale, as required by law, the lead, asbestos, termites, gas, electricity and energy...

All the documents you will be asked to sign will be in French, and often contain legal terms that you may be unfamiliar with. You may...

Whether carte holders or agents commerciaux, and however they define their roles, they are hired by the vendor to market their property...

Administrative France As prospective home owners, you probably need to know a bit about the French administrative structure: The commune...

“Notaire’s fee” (“frais de notaire”) is a global term used to describe the legal costs of the purchase, which include taxes to be paid on...

What are the specifics of French law? The French legal system is based on civil law – meaning that it is codified, and it originates from...