If you are looking to buy French real estate we have 20 excellent tips for you.
Yesterday we published the first ten, today we have 11 to 20 for you.
Number Eleven
Get Taxing Advice
If you are going to rent out your French property when you are not present make sure you know the tax implications.
Number Twelve
Get Legal Advice
Before you buy so you know the legal implications if you do.
Number Thirteen
Buy without Renting
If your French property is your secondary residence make sure your secondary residence is affordable without you renting out the property. This is because you may not always be able to find renters and this lack of renting may force you to sell your dream property at a loss.
Number Fourteen
Use your own Notary
At the present time you are entitled to have your own notary in a French property transaction. Do not believe the owners or the owner’s agent that you are obliged to use their notary. You as the buyer pay the notary fees and the cost is not reduced if you use the seller’s notary. The fee is simply shared between both your notary and the seller’s notary.
Note: There are English speaking notary’s available in France. Visit here
Number Fifteen
Have your Property Inspected
You may think all is well with your French property when you see the diagnostics but the diagnostics will not tell you if the roof is leaking, if the plumbing is old etc. Consider hiring an inspector to teach you all about the ‘up and downs’ of the property you are considering to buy.
Number Sixteen
Check your telephone and internet
Make sure you do not rely on the owner’s word that the phone or internet connection is good. One person told us recently that the owner said there is internet access to the home but she just did not use it. In fact, the buyer found out their new property had no internet access and they need to rent a more expensive satellite connection.
Number Seventeen
Get Professional Work Estimates before you sign
If you are buying a property that contains, for example, asbestos (amiante) make sure you have a professional estimate on the cost of removal it could be a lot more than you have budgeted for. Also, any electrical or other renovation work needs to have an estimate done before you buy so you are not guessing at the cost. Get more than one professionals estimate on each repair so you can get a better estimate of costs.
Number Eighteen
Know the Cost of Moving
Whether you are moving just across France, across the channel or across the world to your new French property make sure you have budget for the cost of moving. A move in France can be costly.
Number Nineteen
Know your Long Term Plan
If you plan on buying a French property and using it for only a few years and then reselling it make sure you look at the overall cost. If you are just going to use the property for a few years during a summer vacation it may be cheaper to rent than buy.
Number Twenty
Learn Some French Language Freely
Your time in France will be much more enjoyable when you have a few basic phrases or more of French. There are several excellent application that are free that can help you learn French check out Duolingo.com
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Learn faster: 110 Tips for French property Buyers – How to get the best price on French real estate
We can also help locate an English speaking French real estate agent in your area of choice in France. Go here for details.