Property
France — Property: Buying Process
Buying property in France follows a structured notaire-led process. First, a written offer (offre d'achat) is submitted, specifying price and financing conditions. Once accepted, both parties sign the compromis de vente — a binding bilateral pre-contract typically signed within 6 weeks of offer acceptance, detailing price, fixtures, target completion date, conditions suspensives (commonly a mortgage clause), and a deposit (5-10% of price). After signing, the buyer has a mandatory 10-day cooling-off period to withdraw penalty-free; after that, the deposit is paid and both parties are bound. Over roughly the next 3 months, the notaire conducts due diligence (land registry searches, mortgage clearance, urbanism certificates, neighbor pre-emption rights, condo documents). The process concludes with the acte de vente (final deed), signed at the notaire's office, where the balance, legal fees, and taxes are paid.
Key facts
- Offre d'achat (written offer) → compromis de vente (binding pre-contract, signed within ~6 weeks of offer acceptance).
- Mandatory 10-day cooling-off period after signing the compromis, during which the buyer can withdraw penalty-free.
- Deposit of 5-10% of purchase price is paid after the cooling-off period.
- ~3 months of notaire-led due diligence follows before the acte de vente (final deed) is signed and the balance/fees/taxes are paid.
Steps
- Submit an offre d'achat — Written offer specifying price and financing/survey conditions.
- Sign the compromis de vente — Binding pre-contract within ~6 weeks of offer acceptance; includes conditions suspensives (e.g. mortgage clause).
- Cooling-off period (10 days) — Buyer can withdraw penalty-free during this window.
- Pay the deposit — Typically 5-10% of the purchase price, after the cooling-off period.
- Notaire due diligence (~3 months) — Land registry searches, mortgage clearance, urbanism certificates, pre-emption rights, condo documents.
- Sign the acte de vente — Final deed; pay balance, legal fees, and taxes at the notaire's office.
Costs
- Compromis de vente deposit: 5-10% of purchase price
Timelines
- Offer to compromis de vente: ~6 weeks
- Cooling-off period: 10 days
- Notaire due diligence to acte de vente: ~3 months
Required documents
- Offre d'achat
- Compromis de vente
- Acte de vente
Common mistakes
- Not including a mortgage clause (condition suspensive) in the compromis de vente — without it, buyers risk losing the deposit if financing falls through.
- Missing the 10-day cooling-off period — after it lapses, withdrawal typically forfeits the deposit.