Buying in France? Here Are 3 Things You Didn’t know!

Whether we’re talking about a leisurely aperitif with your neighbours or filing your French visa paperwork, you might have heard that nothing happens quickly in France! While there’s certainly some truth to that, the reality is that things in France happen on French time, and if you simply understood what that means from the start, you’d save yourself a lot of stress.

For example, do you know how long it takes on average between the signing of the compromis de vente and picking up the keys to your new property in France? Or how many months before traveling you will need to apply for your French visa? Or when (and how) you should transfer your funds into euros to avoid losing money due to fluctuating exchange rates? Do you know what the French authorities mean by a “most recent birth certificate”?! 🤯

Once you understand what “French time” really means and you plan accordingly, it’s much easier to sit back and enjoy the wait (perhaps with a glass of wine?).

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but France is not quite the land of opportunity that château renovation shows might lead you to believe! Yes, it is still possible to snap up a real bargain and land some smart investments if you know where to look, and it is absolutely possible for international buyers (including Brits post-Brexit) to move to France… but not everything is possible.

Securing a French mortgage as a non-resident is harder than ever at the moment as banks tighten their lending criteria. Americans moving to France may struggle to open an account with a French bank, while Brits may find that securing a work visa (no, you can’t run a business on a visitor visa) presents a real obstacle to that dream of running a gite.

We’re not trying to put you off! The reason we’re telling you this is that the sooner you understand exactly what will and won’t be possible for your personal situation, the sooner you can find a workable alternative (and there are plenty of them, don’t worry) and plan accordingly.

For example, mortgages are still available if you meet the criteria and use the right broker, but if not, you might be able to find funding in your home country and take advantage of the cash market in France right now. Or you might put aside enough savings to allow you to push those gite plans back a year. Very often, there are solutions available, and the sooner you start searching for them, the better.

Everyone has probably told you that you should seek advice before buying in France, but the more pertinent question is what kind of advice you really need. Not everyone needs to seek advice on inheritance law; you don’t have to appoint your own notaire (most French buyers don’t!); and you might be quite capable of filling out your own French tax return (just remember that all French residents must do this each year).

Our advice is to use the free resources available (we’ve got plenty here on FrenchEntrée) to shortlist the questions you really need answers to. That way, when you do book a consultation, you won’t waste precious time and money finding out what you didn’t know you needed to know!

When it comes to seeking advice, be careful who you consult, and remember that personal accounts are useful but unverified. Facebook groups are a wonderful place to get ideas and tips, but legal, tax, and immigration advice should always come from an accredited expert.

Look for a specialist who has experience with your specific query (if you have a US-France tax question, you need an expert who specialises in exactly that), and do your research on said expert before you book an appointment.

FrenchEntrée Members was born out of the desire to help the many buyers like you who contact us to ask for our impartial advice. Not only do we have more than 20 years of experience helping French property buyers and expats, but we also work with experts across the industry – many of them write for our Property News magazine, join our FrenchEntrée webinar panels, or attend our annual French Property Exhibition, so we know exactly where to get answers and which expert to recommend when necessary.

We know how to help get you where you want to go, saving you time, money, and stress along the way.

We have three levels of membership – Essential, Plus, and VIP.

Essential

If you want to invest in knowledge and arm yourself with all the information you need to go it alone, then our entry-level, content-only membership tier is for you. For a small annual fee, you’ll unlock our Content & Video Hubs, packed with Member Masterclasses and comprehensive digital books, plus access small-group members-only events and enjoy a full digital subscription to French Property News magazine

FrenchEntrée+

Book an appointment with our FrenchEntrée Property & Relocation advisors and receive a comprehensive RoadMap with advice, checklists, and recommended specialists customised for your unique situation. Personal consultations will help you transform those big dreams into real actionable steps.

VIP

For a full hand-holding experience, we’ll put together a custom-made package just for you to make sure that you are getting the best support and assistance every step of the way.