Property facts to remember when looking for Properties for Sale in France:

When looking at Properties for sale in France the buying process is straight forward and also offers you good legal protection. However it is strongly recommended that you only proceed with any property purchase in France when you have appointment a solicitor and one that is either French or one with a great understanding of French property law.

During the process of buying a property in France only make verbal offers. Do not sign any paperwork regarding an offer made on a French property for sale, until you are in front of the notaire to process the French property sale.

It is strongly recommended that you appoint your own notaire to act for you with your French property purchase transaction, rather than using a single notaire shared with the property seller.

Always ask your own notaire for advice, especially when it comes to the price you are paying for the French property, they will know the actual selling prices for French properties in their area.

As French property mortgages are very comparative in France and offer some people good tax advantages, you should investigate your mortgage options and tax position when looking at Properties for sale in France.

If the seller of the French property you are about to buy owns any additional land/buildings next to or adjoining the French property you are about to purchase and is not included in the property sale, it is suggested that you try to include a clause in your property sale contract giving you the right of first refusal to buy should the owner decide to sell at a later date.

A 10% deposit is not a legal minimum when buying a property in France, so try and negotiate a smaller deposit figure.

When buying properties in France the seller is legally obliged to provide a number of survey reports so you should ensure that these are confirmed with your Notaire.

The property seller is also obliged to make statutory disclosures, such as structural problems with the French property, etc, so you should ensure that you confirm these in front of your notaire.

Ensure that any clause in your French property for sale contract that exonerates the seller from hidden defects once the property has been purchased is removed.

Unlike buying a UK property, you should always check with the seller, and confirm with your Notaire that all the fixtures and fittings are remaining in your French property.

Once you have found and decided on a French property for sale and gone through the contract stage with the Notaire, there is one simple last step you should carry out. You should visit the property you have just purchased just before completion takes place, preferably the day before, so you can ensure all is OK and particularly in relation to fixtures and fittings as these can some times vanish even if you have agreed they are included in the property purchase.

If you are buying an Off Plan Property in France or a completed French new build property that was constructed less that 5 years ago and is being sold for the first time you will have to pay about 21% in French Property taxes, as well as your Notaire fees.