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French Property

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France, famed for its boulevards, fashion and food, is one of the most popular areas of Europe in which to buy a second home, and offers a great range of typically French property for sale such as pleasant townhouses, rustic farmhouses and magnificent French chateaux. Its location between the temperate climes of Britain and sun-drenched Spain ensure a variety of climates to match your lifestyle. You are bound to find the ideal French property for sale, whether you long for balmy days on a Cote d'Azur terrace, the sparkling clean air of the mountains or the seasonal ebb and flow of Normandy life played out amongst bustling markets and sleepy country lanes.

France is still a largely agricultural country and, away from the towns, the population density is still one of the lowest in Europe. With a long history of countryfolk leaving for a more cosmopolitan urban life, the potential of much French property lies unexploited and waiting for a new owner with ideas and enthusiasm. With prices rising steadily for both non-renovated and renovated properties, now is the time to look for that hidden gem that is both affordable and a great investment for the future.

Buying French Property

A notaire (public notary) is an integral part of buying a property in France. They represent neither buyer nor seller, but the French Government - and their impartiality is an obligation taken seriously. The notaire oversees many legal aspects of the sale, such as whether the seller is legally entitled to sell what he is offering, whether any future nuisance is likely to impinge on the use and enjoyment of the property and the drawing up of contracts. However, as many notaires speak little English, it may be worthwhile engaging the services of an English-speaking legal consultant who is qualified in French law and who has experience in the area of French property sales.

The notaire can also offer advice on how to buy your French property to reduce the tax implication when you sell or will your property.

You will be expected to organise connection to utilities - gas, electricity, water - and to provide a translator (if required) to help you to understand the documentation. A good French-qualified legal consultant may be able to help with these tasks.

Where to buy property in France

We market over 1500 examples of French property situated in most of the departments, from plots of land to the most exclusive chateaux and villas. We work closely with a number of professional local agents, carefully chosen for their service and after-sales support.

Like many countries, France has some distinctive regional building styles that reflect the materials available, the history and wealth of the population and the age of the local settlement. Many older French properties are built from local stone, quarried and brought the few miles to the site. Other more prominent buildings may be built from more durable or more beautiful stone, quarried many miles away, such as the famous, golden Caen stone from the Normandy region.

Whether your dream French property is a little riverside cottage or a farmhouse surrounded by acres of land, our large database of French property will undoubtedly provide a number of options to consider.

The Poitou Charentes region, incorporating the Charente, Charente-Maritime and Vienne, is an enormously popular location to buy a second home benefitting from one of the highest sunshine indexes in France, a beautiful coastline, forests, lakes and gorgeous villages just waiting to be explored. The rural way of life stills grips the Poitou Charentes, with weekly petanque in the village square, fresh produce at the local market and friendly bistros from which to watch the world go by.

Provence and Cote d'Azur is well known as the capital of sunshine and sunflowers, lavender and luxurious villas and includes the departments of Alpes Maritimes, Var and Bouches du Rhone. The region includes glamorous hotspots such as Nice, Cannes, Monaco and St Tropez where beautiful residences cling to the hillsides amid shimmering azure seascapes.

The Loire and its famous valley, full of stunning manors and chateau estates, offers some of the biggest bang per buck of any area of France as well as a down-to-earth but modern French lifestyle.

The Languedoc Roussillon is an area in the south of France, between Provence and the Spanish border, with a coastal plain that is mainly flat and greatly influenced by the Rhone delta. It includes such famous towns as Montpellier and Carcassonne, stunning gorges, lovely nature parks and many beautiful sandy beaches. The departments of Herault, Gard, Pyrenees Orientales, Aude and Lozere are included in the Languedoc.

Income from your French property

While the gite market has slowed as demand begins to be sated by supply, potential for generating income from French properties is still good. As the world's top destination with an average of over 60 million visitors per year, France's position and variety of coastal, rural and city backdrops gives it an enviable holiday and cultural fascination amongst the tourists of the world, particularly in the UK, Germany, Netherlands and the US. Many buyers are now looking for French properties suited to providing activity breaks to generate a summer income, rather than just basic accommodation. We have many such properties in France, from country cottages to a fully-functioning Parisian hotel.

French property with gites are still strong favourites among our clients, who look to casual renting as a means to help pay off the mortgage rather than as a main source of income. Of course, demand has not dropped for gite accommodation among tourists. One cautionary note, however, is that some mortgage lenders are now refusing to offer quotes for gite and leaseback properties due to their perceived risk if this income is relied upon to cover repayment.

1. Signing the Agreement (Compris)

On finding a property you wish to purchase you will need to negotiate the terms, price and conditions of the sale with the owner.

The next step, once you are in agreement, is to sign the preliminary contract (Compromis de Vente). This is a legal document and after ten days will be binding on both parties. Rules change frequently in France and it is best to consult with your notary about when this period starts. Generally the compris will be signed in France with the Agent.

Variants can be included in the compris, for example an Acte (clause) can be added if the name or names to go on the title deed have not been finalised. If a mortgage will be required to purchase the property, the details for this, including the name of the mortgage company, must be on the compris.

2. Paying the Deposit

Generally the deposit will be 10% of the agreed purchase price. This will normally be paid to the notaire. There are exceptions to this, if the agent holds a carte professionelle, is bonded and fully registered then you may pay them, but do not hand over the deposit to anyone else. If for some reason the purchase does not go through, for example, if you write to the notaire and the agent that you do not wish to go continue with the purchase before the contract is binding (within seven days of signing the compris), then your deposit would be repaid. This would also apply if a condition had not been met, or the mayor or S.A.F.E.R. (a government agency that has the right of first purchase on most rural property that comes onto the market in France) could oblige the purchaser to give way. If you decide after the seven days 'cooling off' period that you do not wish to complete the purchase and pull out of the sale you would lose your deposit. If however the vendor pulls out of the sale then you will receive your deposit back plus the same amount from the vendor.

3. On Completion

Generally it will take around two or three months to complete the purchase.

During this time the balance of the purchase money must be paid into the account of the notaire, this must be done well ahead of the completion date. The notaire will prepare the documents, check that the deed of sale (Acte de Vente) is in order and have the legal title ready to be signed over. It is possible to have someone sign on your behalf if you give them power of attorney. An interpreter may be of use at this point if your French is not very good and many Notaires will suggest (or insist) that an interpreter is with you.

IMPORTANT - Disclaimer :
All information provided is believed to be current and provided free of charge. No liability can be accepted for the reliability of the information and statements made as this is obtained from 3rd parties. We always recommend you take legal advice from a fully qualified Lawyer or Notary before buying a property overseas.

2970 properties

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Impressive 9 bedroom chateau near Hautefort with origins dating back to the Seventeenth Century, set in 4.5 acres with panoramic countryside views. The spacious 905m2 property has been the subject......

1,500,000 EURREF: 245919

This Thirteenth Century manor house sits in a lovely rural location in a dominant position, steeped in history and full of original features, such as its two-hundred-year-old trees and a watchtower......

1,263,150 EURREF: 245920

Accessed via a gated entrance, this character country property offers a main house with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, together with attached annexe, outbuildings, pool to renovate and gardens/parkland/f......

450,000 EURREF: 245918

A great opportunity to purchase a turnkey business with scope to increase turnover with this delightful rural property that comprises two homes and 2 fishing lakes, all set within 10 acres of beaut......

404,255 EURREF: 245917

Ideally situated right in the heart of Cateri village, in a quiet environment between Calvi and Ile-Rousse - North Corsica, this luxurious 5 bedroom B&B, private business or spacious home, is curre......

890,000 EURREF: 245908

Magnificent fortified house dating back to the Seventeenth Century , with a beautiful set of Quercy stone outbuildings located on an exceptional site, in the middle of 25 acres of meadows and woodl......

998,000 EURREF: 245910

Superb, grand and spacious 4 bedroom Chateau, which is ideally situated in a quiet setting in Chateauneuf La Foret, right in the middle of the countryside of Briance Combade and on the edge of the ......

945,000 EURREF: 245907

This 1 bedroom apartment, with a living area of approximately 52m2, is located on the ground floor of an intimate residence in the heart of the village of Praz sur Arly, which is an ideal location ......

270,000 EURREF: 245896

Great potential for this village farmhouse, which is ideally situated at the foot of the Grands Montets ski area. This farmhouse, which has retained its authenticity, is made up of 2 apartments a......

1,050,000 EURREF: 245895

Full of charm and character is this 8 bedroom Basque farmhouse set in half an acre of beautiful landscaped gardens while enjoying far reaching countryside views from its peaceful location near all ......

645,000 EURREF: 245882

In excellent condition is this superb 4 bedroom contemporary villa set in beautiful gardens with fruit trees and amazing infinity pool, while enjoying breathtaking sea views from its South facing l......

2,400,000 EURREF: 245881

Brand new stylish and bright 3 bedroom ground floor apartment with garage, enjoying scenic mountain views from its ideal location near the slopes and all amenities in Morzine. Situated right on th......

524,000 EURREF: 245872

Wonderful opportunity to acquire a business opportunity ideally located near all amenities in the heart of Salies de Bearn. Situated a few steps from the thermal spa facility, this real estate com......

340,000 EURREF: 245861

In excellent condition is this stylishly renovated 3 bedroom fully furnished luxury Penthouse apartment, enjoying panoramic sea views from its prestigious location near all amenities in Le Cannet, ......

990,000 EURREF: 245859

Nestling in over half an acre of glorious mature gardens with trees and pool, is this bright and spacious 4 bedroom luxury villa ideally located in a peaceful area near all amenities in La Croix Va......

2,200,000 EURREF: 245856

Rare opportunity to acquire an exceptional 3 storey, 5 bedroom luxury villa with separate 4 bedroom guest house, nestling in nearly an acre of glorious landscaped gardens with pool, while enjoying ......

15,000,000 EURREF: 245855

Enjoying panoramic views from the roof terrace, is this bright and spacious 3 bedroom Penthouse apartment with 2.5 hectares of beautiful communal landscaped gardens, pool and tennis court, ideally......

795,000 EURREF: 245853

Enjoying far reaching countryside views from its peaceful location near Angouleme, is this fabulous gite complex comprising of a charming house and 5 gites, nestling in 10 hectares of glorious lan......

1,255,000 EURREF: 245841

Nestling in over half an acre of beautiful landscaped gardens with pool, is this exceptional 5 bedroom luxury Provencal style villa located near all amenities in Antibes. With approximately 350m2 ......

7,500,000 EURREF: 245835

Enjoying breathtaking countryside views from its peaceful location in Seillans, is this exquisite 5 bedroom, 18th Century Provencal bastide, nestling in over 25 hectares of glorious land with pool......

3,900,000 EURREF: 245834

Enjoying wonderful views of Mont Blanc from its South facing location, is this charming one bedroom apartment situated near all amenities in Chamonix. Set on the first floor of a small residence n......

370,000 EURREF: 245827

Enjoying panoramic sea views from the roof terrace, is this exceptional modern 3 bedroom luxury villa with garden, located near all amenities in Roquebrune Cap Martin. This superb property is situ......

5,900,000 EURREF: 245821

Ideally located in a prestigious, secure estate in La Croix Valmer, is this unique 5 bedroom luxurious villa nestling in 1.75 acres of glorious landscaped gardens with 2 pools and outbuilding, whi......

6,825,000 EURREF: 245817

Beautifully and tastefully renovated 3 storey, 8 bedroom historical South facing property with pool and garden, enjoying uninterrupted countryside views from its location near all amenities in Ille......

550,000 EURREF: 245804

Wonderful opportunity to acquire an outstanding, beautifully restored 9 bedroom, 18th century neo-classical French Chateau with outbuildings, nestling in over 22 acres of glorious land with mature......

1,670,212 EURREF: 245799

Desirable 2 bedroom apartment on the sea front in the heart of the highly sought-after Palm Beach area of Cannes, just a short stroll from shops and beaches. This unique opportunity comes with liv......

850,000 EURREF: 245798

An excellent property with income potential, consisting of a main 4 bedroom family home with two independent gites, newly renovated to a very high standard in a desirable location overlooking the C......

895,000 EURREF: 245786

Stylishly renovated Contemporary property completely renovated south-west facing enjoying a sea view located in a quiet and residential area of Cap-Ferrat near the Grand Hotel. In a flat garden w......

17,850,000 EURREF: 245758

Beautifully presented new 2 bedroom apartment with terrace in a select residence in Val d'Isere in a traditional Savoyard style with modern comfort and convenience. This beautiful 3 room property......

1,853,000 EURREF: 245780

Desirable four bedroom property located in a quiet, south-facing and mature plot in a closed domain on the heights of Villefranche-sur-Mer with a large swimming pool and shaded terraces. The be......

4,515,000 EURREF: 245777

Luxuriously renovated, fully furnished 3 bedroom apartment with beautiful communal gardens, tennis court and pool, enjoying panoramic sea views from ideal location in the California sector of Canne......

1,850,000 EURREF: 245773

Ideally located near the beaches and the heart of the village of Saint-Tropez, is this stylish 2 bedroom house with garden, garage and communal pool. This charming property offers exceptional pot......

1,250,000 EURREF: 245770

Outstanding fully renovated luxury 5 bedroom Provencal villa nestling in half an acre of beautiful landscaped gardens with pool, while enjoying far reaching countryside and sea views from its peace......

4,980,000 EURREF: 245768

New luxury Penthouse apartment with 4 bedrooms in the heart of Courchevel Moriond, with easy access to its many shops and prestigious restaurants, as well as direct access to the slopes of Les Troi......

4,895,000 EURREF: 245764

Charming 3 storey, 6 bedroom house with garden and Studio, enjoying sea views from its location near the beach and all amenities in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. The house is built on three levels with a......

3,750,000 EURREF: 245761

Wow factor 5 bedroom Villa for sale with sea view in Saint Paul de Vence, Cote d

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French Property

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Entire Market

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Buying French Property

Where to buy property in France

Income from your French property

1. Signing the Agreement (Compris)

2. Paying the Deposit

3. On Completion

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