New property in France & the buying procedure

 

What You Need To Know at a glance

This is a short summary on our new properties and on the off plan buying procedure. The following points are dealt with in more details in our main menu.

 

A Place in France residential developments

The locations we feature are hand picked, previously visited in most instances and we know them well.

The properties are houses or apartments, purchased freehold.The houses have a private garden and most apartments have a balcony, or terrace. The sleeping capacity ranges from one to four bedrooms and the habitable area of the properties ranges from approximately 30m2 to over 100m2. Plot sizes vary from 50m2 to over 1000m2. Parking (parking space or garage) is either included in the purchase price or available at an additional cost.

The residential developments often have a residents' swimming pool or are within easy reach of a beach. They also have communal gardens which are maintained by an appointed management company called a Syndic de Copropriété.

New locations are normally launched for sale approximately 8 to 10 months before construction begins.

 

 

New property specification

New properties in France are delivered with standard specifications which include a fitted bathroom/shower room, floor and wall coverings and electric heating. Plumbing and electrics are provided in the kitchen. In smaller properties the kitchen area is fitted with a sink, hob, fridge and units. In larger properties the fitting of kitchen units and appliances is normally left to the purchaser to arrange. It may be possible, at the time of reservation, to bring some minor changes to the standard fittings subject to technical feasibility.Reservation contracts cannot, however, be signed subject to modifications.

 

 

Building warranties

Our new French homes come with a ten year structural guarantee, two year fixtures and fittings guarantee and a one year general guarantee. They comply with latest building regulations and quality assured standards (labels de qualité).

 

 

Prices

The prices we quote are in Euros and inclusive of French VAT. They are the same as offered on the French market.

 

 

Deposit and Stage payments

a. Securing deposit: It amounts to only 5%when buying new French property compared to 10% when buying resale. Reservation deposits are by law kept in an escrow account until the Deeds (Acte de Vente) are signed with the French Notaire. Payment of the deposit and signature of the reservation contract combined reserve the property in your name.

 

b. Stage payments: When buying French property “off plan”, payments are made in stages as construction progresses. As a guideline 15% when building starts, 15% foundations, 20% floors, 10% upper flooring, 5% water tight, 15% partition walls, 5% tiling/carpeting, 5% completion of works, 5% key handover (the confirmed stage payments appear in the reservation contract).

In compliance with French law, no payment is requested between paying the deposit and signing the Deeds of sale with the French Notaire. This does not mean however, that building work is not progressing. At the time of signature with the French Notaire you will be asked to pay the Notaire’s fees and the appropriate stage payment corresponding to the stage that construction has reached.

 

 

Purchasing costs

a. French Conveyancing costs (French Notaire’s fees): the legal fees paid to the Notaire are low in the case of new property in France at an additional 3% to 4% of the purchase price, compared to an additional 7% to 8% for resale property.

 

b. Mortgage Registration fees: If you are raising a French mortgage fees will apply (frais d’hypothèque) which are calculated on a percentage of the borrowed amount. The French Notaire confirms these at the time of signing the Deeds.

 

 

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For FAQs about French new property go to our Buying off plan guidelines page

 




 

 

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