So You Want to Buy a House in France?

We bought our own house in Brittany in 1999 with 3,000m2 of land, 2 barns, a ruin or two and a well for just £12,000... I know! Ridiculous isn't it?! But even today there are some extreme bargains like ours still to be had. And it's not unusual to find houses at half the price (like for like - if there is such a thing) that you might pay in the UK. And life over there is great...Property and local taxes are lower than the UK. Water is quite expensive and every domestic supply is metered (which is a good thing - especially for couples rather than large families). But if you buy a house with its own well you can install a pump and, by connecting the house to the pump, bypass the water service provider - so that your supply can be 'free'. (you certainly wouldn't want to water a larger garden from the mains). Electricity is on a par with UK - Gas similarly (but most rural properties must use bottled gas which at least you have to buy before you use it - so great for budgeting) and food costs are similar too provided you eat like the locals and don't spend all your time looking for 'English' specialities...But some of you I'm sure would insist on taking your own tea bags!

The first thing you need to know about buying in France is...it’s different to the way things are done in the UK. I find it easier to advise clients to forget what they know about the UK system than to throw up any criticisms. The French Notarial system is what oversees the transfer of property from one to another. It is our opinion that (the additional) use of a UK solicitor (a question often asked) often slows and hampers a system which has served the French well over hundreds of years. In fact the existance of ‘estate agents’ is a relatively new thing in France - an existence which has been rapidly accelarated by an interest in French property from people moving from other countries. In the past notaires would act as the agent also - but this happens less often these days... Going way back, in small communities; where everyone knew everyone else, the Notaire was the top man in each community and was the conduit for all property transactions...They are still well respected and powerful figures.

The Notaire...

who prepares the documentation which you will be signing, works on behalf of both vendor and purchaser and is (unlike a UK solicitor) an employee of the state. You’ll find yourself a lot less likely to be ‘having to do half their job for them’ in order to put some speed into the transaction, which tends to take a similar period (exchange to completion) to that taken in the UK. It is possible for there to be two Notaire’s involved in any one transaction; one for each party. If that is the case then they share the fees which are dictated by the cost of the house - on a sliding scale (so the cost is not doubled). The Notaire also acts on behalf of the state in the collection of fees and taxes relating to the property transfer. This is probably the reason for some prospective purchasers, especially those from the UK., saying that they feel the Notaire’s fees are comparatively high. Not so... if you realise that the fees contain the Notaire’s costs but also the stamp duty and the intitial local authority and habitation taxes too. Here it’s also worth supporting agents, negotiators and immobiliers in France who, in our opinion, do far more for their money than their opposite numbers in the UK., often covering much more ground over a much larger catchment area too. Many are self employed and so have to pay their own unrecoverable expenses - fuel especially is their concern as they must cover the cost to escort or drive you around whilst viewing property... So let them down easy if they start sobbing after showing you a string of properties and you have just said to them... "Sorry but these just haven't rung any bells for us and we've got to be at our next appointment a hundred miles away in an hour. The agent you view with can be a very helpful ally who can bring you up to speed on all manner of procedures and customs.

Plan your trip carefully (UK based agents who work in the same way as we do should help do this) and make sure you see the houses that you want to see...(don't get 'railroaded') some agents over there don't understand the motives or taste of buyers from the UK. We can help you plan a comfortably paced viewing trip with fully registered agents, English speaking agents who, as well as showing you properties, will take you through all of the legal stages from Compromis to completion and beyond... They can, and may offer, to assist - if you haven't already - open a French Bank Account. They may also help as regards signing up with service providers... water, electricity telephone, internet etc., Although we found that doing these things for yourself and being responsible for your own mistakes (and successes) all part of a discovery process that gives you a great sense of achievement and gets you to know people in your community.

Many communes hold regular 'welcome' meetings for newcomers to the community. Good friends of ours have integrated well after these, taking part in many social activities.

Let me recommend straight away the work of AIKB (Association Intégration Kreiz Breizh) which was set up in 2003 with the idea of helping newcomers to integrate into their new lives in Brittany. A visit to their website is a very positive experience They have radio broadcasts and podcasts featuring ex-pats from all over the world who have one thing in common...having settled in Brittany... A visit really is a must!

http://www.aikb.fr/

We cover many of the points about Buying Brittany property touched on here in more detail on pages on our website...

http://www.ahouseinfrance.eu/buying-a-french-property.html