
Buying a French home as an expat: Tips, tricks, and traps to avoid
Whether it's a Parisian attic or a countryside villa, owning a property in France is a dream shared by many Francophiles. As well as the lure of sun-baked terraces and world-famous food, expats are drawn in by the practical perks on offer, including affordable healthcare, strong social security benefits, and a good work-life balance.
Yes, the dream is a possibility — but there are some tips and tricks you should know before starting out. After speaking with a range of experts, Euronews Business has compiled an advice list, essential for foreigners buying in France.
When it comes to choosing a property, buyers will often pick homes located in areas they've visited on holiday, or perhaps they have friends nearby. While both of these factors can give you an idea of a location, experts stress that thorough research is key.
'Read, investigate, and don't be in a hurry unless you can afford to make mistakes,' Alex Balkin, executive director of Savills French Riviera and French Alps, told Euronews Business.
'Some places are gorgeous. There's a little well in the town centre, lavender sprouting out of it, there's a lovely little cat lounging lazily in the sunshine. Then you come back in November and it's dead as a doornail. Even the bakery is shut.'
As well as checking out the area's ambiance and accessibility during the winter, it can also be useful to contact the local town hall, or the mairie. Officials can then keep you up to date with what's happening in the vicinity — including potential development plans.
In order to get a better feel for a place, some expats may also prefer to rent before they buy.
While homeowners may sell through an estate agent, many properties are also available privately, said David Yeates, editor of France Insider, a specialist French property online journal.
Even so, it's important to avoid overpaying in these cases, he explained. 'The great risk is that many private sellers overvalue their property.'
Yeates added that there are difficulties valuing French houses, particularly in the countryside, 'because there are not always obvious comparisons and sales in rural areas'.
Doing online research can help, but you may also want to pay for one or two estate agents in the area to give you their expert opinion.
When a deal is struck between a buyer and a seller, it involves more than these two parties.
In France, all real estate transactions must pass through a notaire, a government-appointed lawyer who draws up and handles the contracts. Their fees are regulated by the state and are based on the value of the property.
As the notaire is a neutral party, working for both buyer and seller, many people choose to appoint just one. It can also be useful to have a notaire for both parties, although experts say this isn't essential.
'Notaires are impartial, they're not allowed to lie by omission, and their work is backed by the French state,' Alex Balkin told Euronews Business.
Some buyers may also want to hire a lawyer, separate to a notaire, to give extra, personalised advice on complex situations.
On this, Balkin said: 'It's not always very useful, especially if they don't know the workings in France. They will, in some cases, create a problem where there isn't one.'
David Yeates noted that hiring an extra lawyer can sometimes be advantageous, particularly 'if your family circumstances are complex or the transaction is substantial'.
A lawyer could, for example, give advice on inheritance rights, as 'there are different solutions that you can adopt from the outset to deal with the entrenched rights of children'.
Gazumping is a practice where a seller agrees to transfer a property to a prospective buyer and then revokes the deal at the last moment, instead giving it to a higher bidder.
Unlike in some countries, the French market protects the buyer against this practice, as a preliminary contract binds the parties to the sale.
After the two sides sign the 'compromis de vente', the seller is committed to the deal, while the buyer has a 'cooling off' period of 10 days to change their mind.
'This period is a really important thing to know about because it allows you, the buyer, to withdraw if you have a change of heart,' Jack Harris, Partner at Knight Frank International Residential Real Estate, told Euronews Business.
'It's worth examining and understanding the suspensive clauses or conditions that can be included within this preliminary contract…because you'll then understand your liabilities as a buyer,' he added.
It's also important to have a strong idea of the costs you'll incur when buying property, as well as being realistic about the potential returns.
While some locations are anomalies, France's property market tends to be more stable than in other countries, meaning you won't see massive drops or gains in value.
'There are still very good investment areas, particularly areas like Paris, but countryside properties, they stay pretty stable … so you're not going to make huge amounts,' Joanna Leggett, marketing director at Leggett Immobilier International, told Euronews. 'These purchases tend to be a lifestyle choice rather than an investment choice.'
Leggett added that a common mistake made by foreign buyers is underestimating the cost of renovation.
'These properties have a value ceiling and you may not get all of the renovation costs back,' she explained. 'Get estimates from local artisans before you go ahead and make an offer.'
David Yeates of France Insider echoed these warnings, stressing that buyers should overestimate their costs and underestimate their incomes.
'It's very good to have dreams, but those dreams need to be proportionate to your capacity to realise them,' he said.
A reminder: the information in this article does not constitute financial advice, always do your own research to ensure it's right for your specific circumstances. Also remember, we are a journalistic website and aim to provide the best guidance, tips and advice from experts. If you rely on the information on this page then you do so entirely at your own risk.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Second-hand clothing in France: Out with the new, in with the old
France 05:44 From the show As the French Senate examines an anti-fast fashion bill, we take a look at a more environmentally conscious way of shopping: buying used clothing. In France and elsewhere, the sector is booming as shoppers turn to second-hand shops and online sites to find previously worn bargains. We find out both the upsides, and the downsides, of this growing trend. A programme produced by Amanda Alexander, Marina Pajovic and Georgina Robertson.


Fashion Network
an hour ago
- Fashion Network
Kering Eyewear acquires Italian lens manufacturer Lenti
Kering Eyewear continues to expand its operations to strengthen its supply chain. The eyewear division of French luxury group Kering has made its third acquisition in less than three months, purchasing Lombardy-based optical lens manufacturer Lenti from Italian group Safilo. The companies did not disclose the value of the transaction. Kering Eyewear describes the deal as 'a key milestone in its industrial development strategy,' providing the opportunity 'to add internal capabilities for the production of Italian-made sun lenses known for exceptional quality, technological innovation, and superior performance,' the company stated in a press release. Entrepreneur Marco Negri founded Lenti in 1996 in Brembate di Sopra, in the province of Bergamo, in partnership with the Safilo Group. The company employs around 100 people and has developed advanced technologies for graphic lenses. It specializes in molding and surface treatments that protect and enhance vision across various applications, including sunglass lenses, visors, lighting components, and protective elements used in the automotive and motorcycle industries. 'We have valued Lenti's products for many years and are proud to welcome the company to Kering Eyewear. It brings an additional area of expertise to our industrial platform of manufacturing capabilities, factories, and, most importantly, outstanding talent,' said Roberto Vedovotto, founder and CEO of Kering Eyewear. Since its creation in 2014, the eyewear division has focused on designing, developing, and selling eyewear, relying on a network of carefully selected production partners. However, the company's rapid growth in recent years—generating €1.6 billion in revenue in 2024—has led it to enhance control over its supply chain by acquiring some of its suppliers. In April, Kering Eyewear acquired Italian manufacturer Visard, which produces optical and sunglass frames using injected plastic, and took a minority stake in Italian company Mistral, known for its acetate frame designs, with the option to complete a full acquisition by 2030.


France 24
2 hours ago
- France 24
French Senate to vote on regulating fast fashion
The bill is targeted at Chinese-founded e-commerce giant Shein, which has a reputation for selling lower quality clothes at a very low price. Easy to order and replace, fast fashion items are exported to France on a large scale, causing pollution and saturating markets. Adopted by the lower house National Assembly in March 2024, the bill will be voted on by the Senate later on Tuesday and is expected to pass, with backing from the government and widespread support in the chamber. The vote is not the final legislative hurdle: a joint committee of senators and lower house deputies is expected to meet from September to produce a joint text, prior to the final adoption of the law. The text plans to "reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry", said Anne-Cecile Violland, the centre-right member of parliament who proposed the bill. Fast fashion is a growing market in France and between 2010 and 2023, the value of advertised products grew from 2.3 billion euros to 3.2 billion euros. Around 48 clothing items per person are released into the French market each year, and 35 are thrown away every second in the country, according to the state environmental agency Ademe. Fast fashion poses a "triple threat", said the minister for ecological transition, Agnes Pannier-Runacher. "It promotes overconsumption, causes ecological disaster and threatens our businesses," she said. Slamming an "invasion" of products that "do not last", the minister expressed hope it would help change things in Europe. Once adopted in France, the European Commission will be notified to ensure it complies with European law according to Pannier-Runacher. Targeting fast fashion The Senate, dominated by the right, modified the bill to target "ultra" fast fashion companies, such as Asian websites Shein ou Temu. The Senate's amendments plan to leave out French and European brands that may be affected by the bill, such as Zara, H&M and Kiabi. The fashion giants will still be obliged to notify their customers about the environmental impact of their products, according to the new bill. "I have no intention of making French brands that contribute to our country's economic vitality pay a single euro,' said rapporteur Sylvie Valente Le Hir, member of the right-wing The Republicans party. The bill will impose stricter sanctions on fast fashion companies by scoring their "environmental communication". This "eco-score" will affect all fast fashion companies, Pannier-Runacher said. Those with the lowest scores will be taxed by the government up to 5 euros per product in 2025 and up to 10 euros by 2030. This tax cannot go beyond 50 percent of the price of the original product. Advertisement ban The bill would impose sanctions on influencers who promote such products and ban fast fashion advertisements. The regulation of the fast fashion industry will only succeed with a "collective effort", and not by targeting "a single actor," Shein spokesperson Quentin Ruffat told RTL radio on Monday. According to Ruffat, the law will add "a tax of 10 euros per sold item of clothing by 2030" and "impact the purchasing power" of French people. Environmental organisations are also worried that the law may be misinterpreted. Debates may amount to an interesting framework which still lacks substance, according to Green Senator Jacques Fernique. On Monday, the Textiles Industry Union (UIT) recognised the bill as "a first step" and hoped for its "rapid adoption ... even if the text does not entirely fit our expectations".