How To Buy A French Property

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by: frantaq
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Word Count: 354
Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2011 Time: 1:55 AM

Where to Buy?
Buyers can choose to purchase their property either privately or through an estate agent. However, international buyers generally buy from estate agents. If you choose to buy from an estate agent then make sure they are fully regulated by either the FNAIM, SNPI or UNPI. Another method used to buy property in France is a property finding company. There are also many websites to search for property, all with different features. One website that is especially good to search for French property is FranceHouseHunt.com. This is a great website to find property because it has houses and homes advertised that you won’t find on any other sites. It also features properties from private sellers as well as agencies.
Price
All prices that are displayed usually include all the fees. Generally, fees range from 4-10% of the overall price in France. If the price includes the fee the letters FAI should be visible somewhere on the property guide or directly after the price. Remember; you should always ask what the quoted price includes regardless of where you buy your property.
Offers
Just like any other country, it is expected that you will try and negotiate the price. Always find out how long the property has been on the market, and any other points that could affect your negotiations.
Surveys
In France, it is not traditional to get a survey completed before you buy a property. However, due to demand, there are plenty of English speaking surveyors in France, and almost every international buyer will have a full survey completed.
Cooling Off Period
In France, there is a seven-day cooling off period. For the buyer, this means they can withdraw their interest after signing the final document up to a week afterward without incurring any fees.
Other Points to Consider
The deposit is usually 10% of the property price
A Notaire (property lawyer) will deal with the contracts
Make sure you get the contract translated by a professional translator
The whole process usually takes about 3 to 4 months

About the Author

FranceHouseHunt.com is a leading French property portal. Private sellers and agencies advertise many thousands of French houses and homes for sale.

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