How to buy a property in France

I’ve been curious about France since childhood, but it became more than an interest as an adult. Now it’s half of my life!

My parents brought us over to Australia from England and I learnt French at high school with the idea that I could return to the United Kingdom and visit France easily.

Having visited France four times as a tourist, I decided that I wanted to experience part of the country living as a local. Through a mutual acquaintance I stayed with an English lady who had lived permanently in central France for more than 20 years.

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It was only a week of helping her in her house, tidying her garden and sorting her shed when, needless to say, I was hooked. Her stone house renovations, the weekly market, stepping outside and speaking French, the food – I loved it all!

I looked on the Internet for a small stone house to buy for myself in nearby surroundings, and found an ideal property.

At the time, I needed some basic shopping facilities and public transport. It had both. I didn’t have a car, but I could use the local bus or even a taxi to access the weekly fresh food market, larger shops and services in the mediaeval town close by.

It’s easy buying property in France, but it’s a slightly different process. Prices and conditions of properties vary immensely. 

There’s a ten-day cooling off period, in which either the vendor or purchaser can withdraw from the agreement, without any explanation. During that time, the deposit is paid and people can start breathing again.

The existing owner also keeps the house insured until the settlement date.

On that date, both vendor and purchaser meet with the same solicitor, as a round-table conference, verifying everyone’s details and agreeing to what has been written and what is wanted, including location, price, clauses and so on.

Read more: Packing up and moving to France

The most difficult part was not swapping Australian dollars to euros to buy the house, but actually opening a French bank account to start paying for electricity in my name. By then I had returned to Australia, but thanks to the real estate agent, one bank was convinced that I was a genuine person with a genuine need.

I have many French friends now, who keep an eye on my house for the six months I am back in Australia. I choose not to rent it out whilst I am away. Relatives and friends come to stay, and together we explore this beautiful part of France, and use it as a base to visit other European countries very easily.