Tax Foncier

This ranges dramatically according to the particular village and location of your property for sale in France. The local mayor sets a rate and then each house is then calculated according to its size and standard of upkeep. (People with farmland can often enjoy subsidies by way of lower taxes if they fulfill the requirements set out by the government.)

It would appear (sometimes) that when houses are sold, the new owners are charged slightly more than the previous. So it is good practice to know exactly what the tax foncier of the property is before you buy.

Tax d'Habitation

This is charged at the full rate if you do not declare any taxes in France. To avoid being overcharged it is good practice to have a French bank account and declare your income in France each year. If you have no income whatsoever then you can avoid this charge altogether.

Banks and Mortgages in France

French banks often enjoy lower interest rates to that of UK banks, and while there are some UK banks (like Barclays) now entering the French market, it is often not realized that French banks do not have the right to repossess your house if you do not keep up repayments upon it, unlike UK banks who repossessed over 15K houses during 2006 in the UK alone.

Estate Agents (Immobiliers)

Agents typically levy between 6 and 10 percent on top of the asking price for selling a property for sale in France. While this can seem high it was less noticeable when prices were lower 10 years ago. The French property market has enjoyed steady growth over that period, all the while the agents have continued to enjoy larger and larger fees for exactly the same service.

Immobiliers simply advertise a property and find potential customers. They accept no legal liability to ensure the transaction is sound, for which you have to pay a Notair his additional frees.

Dirty Tricks

It is also a shame that some agents have been practicing dirty tricks on unsuspecting people. One of the stories I hear quite often is that of agents asking sellers up front what they want for the property! However, first they explain how bad the market is this year, and try to offer the seller the lowest price possible as a final amount that they will receive after all charges have been deducted. Then they advertise the property at a greatly inflated price well above above their normal 10 percent commission and in doing so try and make a fortune in extra commission on the side. I have heard of some cases where more than 10K UKP has been added onto the sellers asking price without their knowing. Therefore it is worth speaking to the seller directly and asking them actually how much they really want!

Notaries in France

Notaries charge about 7 percent on top of the final asking price, of which about 5 percent of that goes directly to the government in taxes. They actually make all the necessary checks to ensure the property is legally transfered correctly (about 200 checks in total) and in doing so, earn the fees they charge.

It is not often realized that Notaries also offer their services in the capacity as property agents and one can make some savings by dealing with them directly (although they still charge agent fees for this service).

Particuliers (private sellers) Particuliers

The cheapest way to buy property for sale in France is to bypass agents and go directly to sellers. As you look about you will see local newspapers that have classified adverts from particuliers (private sellers), and you will find many private sellers advertising on websites such as this one, who by advertising themselves can save the buyer up to 10K UKP in agent fees on a purchase price of 150K Euros.

Days of Sunshine per year in regions of France

This is a map showing the regions of France that enjoy the greatest number of days of sunshine every year, those in hot orange have around 300 days of sun per year.

The opinions offered herein are done so without any liability and further it is recommended that you seek professional advice before buying property in France and acting on these personal experiences!