ARTICLE

Fly To Buy in France

France has many different faces - the chic sophistication of the big cities, the abundance of the verdant wine regions, glamourous ski resorts, the jet set, sun-kissed South and the sleepy rustic villages of years gone by. There is so much variety that knowing where to start your property search is the hardest part of all. For prospective homeowners such as Fly To Buy's Andy and Susannah Burt, this is a country full of potential.

Fly To Buy in France

Tips for buying

  • If you're using a French estate agent, they should display a carte professionnelle in their offices. It's also good to go for one who belongs to the FNAIM or SNPI. Alternatively, use a UK agent who will deal with the French agents for you and will also be more skilled at picking property to appeal to British buyers. It shouldn't cost you any more as they will split the commission with their French counterparts. In France, it is usually the seller who pays the commission but not always and if you have to pay, it will add a lot to the cost of property. Always check the agents' charges too. If they offer you a global price to include house price, tax, notaries fees, commission etc – they are likely to add a bit somewhere!
    Contracts on French properties are signed earlier in the process, before searches and mortgage applications. There are several kinds of preliminary contract, the most common being the compromis de vente. This commits both parties to the transaction. Ensure you build sufficient get-out clauses into this contract to protect you if you later discover something that will put you off buying the property.
    Termites are a real problem in many parts of France. Inspect the property thoroughly, also asking about structural work and requesting copies of planning permission, guarantees, invoices etc.
    Surveys are not the norm. If you commission one, the seller will keep the property on the market until you are ready to sign contracts. A survey will cost you £700 to £2000 depending on how detailed it is.

Why France?
If you're thinking of buying abroad, the accessibility of France from the UK makes it an appealing option. It's also a great entry point for the rest of Europe and property there is cheaper than in the UK. The variety of regions and lifestyles create a wide choice of potential locations, plus there's a great health service and the cuisine and wine take some beating.

Where to buy:
Paris, the Alps and the Cote d'Azur are the most expensive areas, but also those with the strongest tourism, providing good rental opportunities and, for those who take time to hunt them out, properties ripe for renovation can still be found there.

For a remote farmhouse to call your own, head for the Limousin region, one of the cheapest in France, which has been opened up with a new airport near Brive and better road links.

Languedoc-Roussillon used to be the less well-heeled part of the South, but budget airlines have helped its transformation to property hotspot and certainly its laidback Mediterranean lifestyle and beautiful climate are conducive.

The area has long been a home from home for the British and the Aquitaine region continues to be in demand. Here you'll find Bordeaux and the Dordogne. Pau, described as one of the most beautiful cities in France, is also an up-and-coming area with stunning views across the Pyrenees.

Related sections: Fly To Buy

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