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Some points to remember

Once you have found a property, the laws about property purchase depend to some extent on the type of property it is. Assuming that you are buying a house with 1 hectare of land or less then the procedure is as follows.

An agreement is negotiated between buyer and seller and the initial contract, or Compromis de Vente, is signed by both parties. This is a binding legal document and should not be taken lightly.

The buyer pays a deposit of a minimum of 10% of the purchase price and the property is taken off the market. It is prudent to carry out any investigative work on the property before signing the Compromis. After signature there follows a period of about 6 - 8 weeks in which searches are carried out.

If the buyer intends to take out a mortgage then this must be declared at the time of the agreement. At the end of the search, the final contract, the Acte de Vente, is signed at the Notaire's office and the property passes to the buyer, who must pay the balance of the purchase price to the Notaire.

Note that the balance must be in the Notaire's possession before the contract is signed. You will also have to provide to the Notaire with a copy of your birth certificate, translated into French, and, if applicable, a copy of a Marriage Certificate, also in French.

The buyer pays the legal fees and taxes which come to roughly 7.5% of the purchase price. These fees are paid to the Notaire on the day of signature of the Acte de Vente.

Why we Love France!

France stretches from the Alps to the Channel, from the plains of the Somme to the mountains of the Pyrenees, and everywhere there is a wide range of properties available for sale, some, of course, a good deal more expensive than others.

There's a term for the seductive lifestyle of the French - Douce France (Sweet France) and you'll find yourself using it often.There may be Levis and Big Macs, but there are also haute couture and bistros. Mountains, meadows, rivers and wide open beaches - every setting is available.

Whether you are looking to purchase in Paris or the Pyrenees, the Côte d'Azur or on the cliffs of Normandy, you can be sure there will be something wonderful for you to delight in.