The French Notaire

French Notaires are the principal partners of any property transaction in France They can help you to find your French home. They will prepare the deed and give you all necessary advices (legal structures, taxes, mortgage, etc)

When buying a property in France, whether through a "Notaire" or an "agent", a French Notaire has to oversee all the legal aspects of the sale as he has the monopoly over the preparation, the signing and the execution of the final deed or "acte authentique".

The fees and transfer taxes are payable by the buyer to the French Notaire on completion of the acquisition. They amount to about 7% to 9% for second hand properties and 3 to 4% for new properties excluding mortgage fees if applicable. French Notaires, as public officers, guarantee the buyer good title on the property and will ensure that any conditions set in the purchase agreement are fulfilled.

These fees are non negotiable and are identical whether two "Notaires" are involved in the transaction or only one. Therefore retaining two "Notaires", one for the buyer, one for the seller does not add cost.

When "Notaires" act as agent, which is often the case in the provinces, the buyer will be liable for a negotiation fee which is fixed by government decree.