Buying a home in France: from the offer to completion

Buying a home in France follows a formal sequence, and the preliminary contract carries much of the legal weight. Foreign buyers should understand each stage before signing or transferring funds.

A French home purchase commonly involves an offer, a preliminary agreement and a final deed signed before a notaire. Each document can have legal consequences. Review the offer and the proposed compromis or promesse before signing, including the conditions and any withdrawal right. Do not wait until completion to ask how you are committed.

In short

A French home purchase commonly involves an offer, a preliminary agreement and a final deed signed before a notaire, who authenticates the deed, checks the legal position, advises the parties and completes the registration formalities.
The amount commonly called notaire’s fees includes taxes, disbursements and remuneration, and the calculation differs with the transaction and property; request an itemised estimate when setting your budget, rather than assuming that every part is a negotiable professional fee.
Before paying a deposit, check who will hold it, when it is due and what the preliminary contract says about repayment; if you need a mortgage, compare the financing condition’s amount, duration, rate and deadline with your intended loan.
Article L. 271-1 of the construction and housing code provides withdrawal protection for qualifying non-professional residential buyers; ask when the period starts and how notice must be given, and verify the period at the date of the transaction.

Whose interests the notaire serves

The notaire authenticates the deed, checks the legal position, advises the parties and completes the registration formalities. One may act for both parties, or buyer and seller may each choose one. In the usual shared transaction, the regulated remuneration is divided between them. Ask for the cost estimate and clarify any separate services you request.

The amount commonly called notaire’s fees includes taxes, disbursements and remuneration. Their calculation differs with the transaction and property. Request an itemised estimate when setting your budget, rather than assuming that every part is a negotiable professional fee.

The deposit and the conditions for getting it back

Before paying a deposit, check who will hold it, when payment is due and what the preliminary contract says about repayment. Ask the notaire to explain what happens if you withdraw or the purchase does not complete.

If you need a mortgage, the financing condition deserves particular attention. The loan you apply for must match the conditions stated in the contract. Before agreeing to proceed without that protection, make sure you understand the financial consequences if the funding falls through.

If you would like to discuss how a French property purchase fits into your wider finances: Contact an English-speaking wealth adviser.

The clauses that protect you

Financing. If the purchase depends on a loan, check the condition’s amount, duration, rate and deadline against the borrowing you intend to seek. Ask about the legal consequences before waiving or changing it.
Withdrawal. Article L. 271-1 of the construction and housing code provides protection for qualifying non-professional residential buyers. Ask when the period starts and how notice must be given.
Property information. Read the required surveys and their limits with the notaire. They do not replace every technical assessment you may need.
Your own conditions. Raise any dependence on another sale, planning permission or immigration arrangements before signing. Have the professional confirm what needs to be written into the agreement.

Borrowing as a newcomer

Lenders assess income, debts, the property and supporting documents. Income in another currency or a recent move can require additional information. Borrower insurance is commonly required by lenders, although it is not a universal statutory obligation. Seek an initial assessment early and set a financing deadline that fits the proposed file.

What the purchase does to the rest of your file

The purchase affects your cash reserves, borrowing and family ownership. French real estate can also remain relevant to French income, gains and wealth taxation after a departure, under the applicable conditions. Keeping French property after leaving France: tax and reporting explains that review. Establish the matrimonial regime and the ownership intended before committing.

Withdrawal periods, transfer taxes, lending ratios and the required technical surveys are set by law and by regulation and change; no figure or duration is reproduced here and each must be verified at the date of the transaction. This page describes the general shape of a French purchase and is not legal advice. The notaire authenticates the deed and the lender assesses the loan; this firm advises on what the purchase does to your wealth and your estate, and coordinates the parties, and does neither of those acts.

References cited

Code de la construction et de l’habitation, art. L. 271-1

Frequently asked questions

Is the notaire acting for me?

The notaire has duties of advice and legal security towards the parties. You may choose your own notaire even if the seller has appointed one. Ask what each will handle and request a cost estimate, including any services outside the shared regulated transaction work.

When am I actually committed to buy?

Review the offer as well as the preliminary contract: the answer depends on what you sign and the transaction. A compromis is not merely an informal expression of interest. Ask the notaire to explain your commitment, any conditions and the withdrawal protection under article L. 271-1 before signing.

Are notaire’s fees really that high?

The total includes taxes and expenses as well as the notaire’s remuneration. Ask for an itemised estimate for the specific property. This makes the comparison between an existing and a new property more useful than applying one percentage to both.

Can I get a French mortgage as a newcomer?

A lender can consider an application, but acceptance and timing depend on the file. Prepare income, debt and residence documents and discuss any foreign-currency income. Coordinate the mortgage application with the conditions and deadlines in the purchase agreement.

ÉTHIQUE ET PATRIMOINE, a French simplified joint-stock company (SAS), registered office at 41 rue Saint-Ferdinand, 75017 Paris, France, Paris Trade Register no. 803 414 796, VAT no. FR 40 803 414 796, registered with ORIAS under number no. 24001817 (www.orias.fr) — Financial investment adviser (CIF) no. 18002418, member of ANACOFI-CIF, a professional association approved by the Autorité des marchés financiers, and Anacofi-Courtage for its brokerage activity. Presence: Paris, Montpellier, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Shanghai and Dubai.

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Written by Stéphane Molère, President of Éthique et Patrimoine — page last reviewed on 2026-09-15 — reference date for the rules: 2026-09-07.