Buying a house in France: the notaire arranges almost everything — these are the three differences

First the order that's fixed on this site: in your first year you don't buy — you rent, you get to know the area, and only then do you decide. This article is for the moment you are that far. The good news: of all destinations, buying in France works most like what you're used to from the Netherlands. The honest news: the three differences that exist either cost money or are a right you have to know about in order to use it.

The familiar part: one notary, everything arranged

Unlike in Spain, where after the deed you still have to go round three counters yourself, in France the notaire is the whole process. The Notaires de France say it themselves: the notary is tax collector on behalf of the state — they receive the transfer duties and pay them over — and they take care of the publicité foncière, the registration of your ownership in the property register. Deed signed at the notaire therefore means: tax paid, ownership registered, done. No separate forms, no deadlines of your own to watch.

Difference one: the bill is called "frais de notaire" but is mostly tax

For existing property, count on about 7 to 8% on top of the purchase price. The name misleads: the vast majority of that isn't a fee for the notary but tax and duties they collect — for existing property about 6.3% in transfer and publication duties. On top of that come the émoluments (the legally fixed notary tariff, the same for everyone) and débours (advances for requests to registers). For new-build the total is much lower, around 2 to 3% — there, after all, you pay VAT in the price. Whoever is torn between existing and new counts this difference in: on a home of € 300,000 it easily amounts to € 15,000.

Difference two: ten days of cooling-off — calendar days, and only for you

Almost every French purchase begins with a preliminary contract: the compromis de vente (or a promesse de vente), usually with a deposit. After that you, as a non-professional buyer of a home, have a statutory right of withdrawal of ten calendar days: without reason, without penalty, and the seller doesn't have it. The period begins the day after the signed contract is handed to you or offered by registered post — and you withdraw by registered post too. Ten calendar days are over in no time; whoever still wants a surveyor's look or a financing check plans that before or directly after the signature, not "soon".

Difference three: the house costs money every year after that

As owner on 1 January you pay the taxe foncière annually, calculated on half the cadastral rental value with rates set by the local authorities — so the amount differs considerably per municipality. Before the purchase, ask for the property's latest assessment; that's public arithmetic and it belongs in your monthly budget. One windfall to know: new-build is exempt for the first two years, provided you report completion to the tax authority within ninety days.

And your mortgage interest, your insurances and the contribution to any copropriété come on top of that — but those are choices, not surprises. The three points above are the things nobody tells you at the viewing table.

In Vertrekklaar this is phase 5 of 5 of the process: the same steps, but applied to your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole process to France.