Who pays the so-called notarial fees on a purchase?

The buyer pays. The fees comprise registration duties paid to the French Treasury (approximately 5.8 percent of the price for a resale), expenses (searches, publicity) and the regulated emoluments of the notary set under Article L. 444-1 of the French Commercial Code.

Can a foreign buyer obtain French bank financing?

Yes. French banks routinely finance non-resident acquirers, typically with a sixty to seventy percent loan-to-value ratio. A loan condition precedent is inserted in the preliminary contract, with a minimum statutory period of one month from the request (Article L. 313-41 of the French Consumer Code).

Is a French SCI useful for foreign buyers?

A French civil real estate company (SCI) can hold the property, simplify intergenerational transmission and accommodate dismemberment between bare ownership and usufruct. Tax treatment depends on the option for income tax or corporate tax and on the buyer residence; the firm advises on the right structure.

What is the substitution clause?

The substitution clause in the preliminary contract allows the buyer to designate, before the final deed, a substitute acquirer (typically a newly formed French SCI), without the substitution being regarded as a separate sale. The clause must comply with the requirements of the French Civil Code on stipulation pour autrui.

How long is the SRU withdrawal period?

After signature of the preliminary contract, a non-professional buyer of a residential dwelling has a ten-day withdrawal period running from the day after notification of the contract under Article L. 271-1 of the French Construction and Housing Code. The buyer may withdraw without giving any reason.

Office of Maître Virginie LAIDET and Maître Flore de SAINT MAURICE

You are about to acquire a property

Acquiring a property is a major step in your estate planning. Our role is to secure your acquisition at every stage, by clarifying the options available and anticipating the personal, tax and family consequences.

Roadmap

Stages of the acquisition

1. Search and offer

Determining the project, the property and the financing. Offer to the seller.

2. Preliminary sale agreement (compromis) or unilateral promise of sale

Mutual or unilateral commitment, setting the price, conditions precedent and deadlines.

3. Statutory cooling-off period

Ten days from the first notification of the agreement (Article L. 271-1 of the French Construction and Housing Code), during which you may withdraw without reason or penalty.

4. Satisfaction of the conditions precedent

Obtaining the mortgage offer (statutory minimum of thirty days, Article L. 313-41 of the French Consumer Code, typically extended to two months in banking practice), clearance of pre-emption rights, planning and easement checks.

5. Authentic deed of acquisition

Signature at the office, in person or remotely by authentic electronic procedure. Payment of the balance of the price and fees.

6. Handover of the keys

At the signature at the latest, unless otherwise agreed.

Acquisition costs. Acquisition costs for an existing property typically represent seven to eight per cent of the price: registration duties collected by the department (Article 1594 D of the French General Tax Code), the additional municipal tax, the notary’s regulated fee (Articles R. 444-3 et seq. of the French Commercial Code), disbursements (amounts advanced to authorities and surveyors), administrative costs and VAT on the notary’s fee. For an off-plan acquisition subject to VAT, the regime differs (VAT at 20%, reduced registration duties). For an immediate cost estimate, use our online simulators.

Acquisition structures. Several configurations are possible. Joint ownership (Articles 815 et seq. of the French Civil Code) is the default regime for two or more acquirers; simple to set up but sometimes demanding to manage. A French civil property company (SCI) provides greater management flexibility and allows progressive transfer through share sales or gifts. Split of usufruct and bare ownership allows you to acquire either as bare owner or usufructuary depending on your estate-planning goal. The substitution clause (Article 1216 of the French Civil Code) allows you to designate, no later than the authentic deed, another person or company to acquire in your place.

Nationwide practice with focus on the Île-de-France region. The office handles acquisitions located across the entire national territory. This means clients can rely on their usual notary, without extra cost.

Our method

Preparation designed to support you step by step

Our method commence par une écoute attentive de votre projet. The online questionnaire nous permet de rassembler en une seule fois votre situation, votre financement et vos intentions, pour préparer votre acte avec précision.

Vous renseignez votre dossier

Your project, your personal circumstances, your financing. The questionnaire only asks what concerns you.

Vous joignez vos pièces

ID document, family record, mortgage offer, proof of down payment. You can upload everything or defer.

Vous nous transmettez le tout

In a single secure email. A clear summary is returned to you.

Nous prenons le relais

Our office prepares your deed in coordination with the seller’s notary and welcomes you for a first analysis meeting.

The online questionnaire

What we will cover together

The buyer questionnaire has been designed to anticipate all the questions that shape your acquisition: joint ownership or company, financing and conditions precedent, estate-planning choices, substitution clause.

Themes covered by the questionnaire

Your project and the intended use of the property
Your personal and family circumstances
Your matrimonial regime or civil partnership
Financing, down payment and loan conditions
Acquisition structure, joint ownership or company
Estate-planning wishes to anticipate

What you gain from the process

An adaptive path that only asks what concerns you and lets you tick « I will provide later » at each step for documents you do not have to hand.

At the end of the process you receive a clear summary of everything entrusted to us, and a single secure transmission to the office.

Discover the questionnaire ›

Start the buyer questionnaire

A few minutes are enough to start. You can return and complete your file at any time.

Start my questionnaire

In short sessions, at your own pace. Pick up where you left off whenever you like.

Vous envisagez également de vendre un autre bien ? Consultez la page Selling. Pour le détail des frais et honoraires, voir la page Tarif. Pour une estimation immédiate des frais d’acquisition, utilisez nos simulateurs.

Our commitments

Our working framework

Absolute confidentiality

Notarial professional secrecy applies throughout the office. Your data is consulted solely for the purposes of your file and stored with the utmost care.

Personalised support

Each file is entrusted to a named contact, reachable and responsive, from the first exchange to the signature, and beyond.

Rigour and clarity

Clear explanation of each step, costs presented openly and documents checked one by one.

Good to know

Do not have time, or do not wish to complete your file online?

No worry. We will be pleased to open the file with you, at the office, by video conference or by telephone. We will use that time to ask the relevant questions and decide together which documents to send, at your pace and within your constraints.

Book a meeting with Maître Virginie LAIDET Book a meeting with Maître Flore de SAINT MAURICE

Printable memo

List of documents for a property acquisition

Download the list to keep it on hand.

Download the PDF

Nationwide practice

The office practises across the entire national territory. We may receive a sale or acquisition deed for a property located in the provinces as well as in the Paris region, in direct liaison with the other party’s notary, when one has been appointed.

Le principe est en effet que chaque partie peut, si elle le souhaite, être accompagnée par son propre notaire : les deux études se répartissent alors le travail dans l’intérêt de leur client respectif, sans surcoût pour les parties, conformément à la règle du partage de l’émolument.