Buying property in France as a foreigner from the UK [2023]

Whether you’re moving to France for retirement, work or just to enjoy the French lifestyle, you’ve probably considered buying property to live in or as an investment.

Whether your destination of choice is Paris, Marseilles, Lyon or any smaller city in between, you’ll find a plethora of options in property for sale, ranging from massive estates to tiny flats and undeveloped plots of land.

Around 64.7% of French residents own a home¹, which potentially means a market wide open for expats and foreign investors. And despite some tricky laws and taxes, many non-residents have taken the opportunity to buy into the European country.

And, if you want to manage your money easily in both France and the UK, check out the Wise account. Wise lets you send, spend, receive, convert and manage your money in multiple currencies – including British pounds and euros – always at the mid-market exchange rate.

Learn more about the Wise account

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

What’s the property market like in France?

While France’s economy has been hit hard by the recent coronavirus crisis, like the rest of the world, it’s not all bad news - especially in terms of the housing market.

After a pause caused by Covid-19, property sales in France started to pick up, as did the average price. But, the second quarter of 2022 brought along a slight dip in the pace of the rising prices. Also, many experts are seeing that the housing market in France is slowing down. And so has the demand for new housing properties in Q4 2022.²

How easy is it to buy property in France as a foreigner?

There are currently no restrictions on foreigners buying property in France³, however, you may find the process a bit more difficult as a non-resident. This means quite a lot of paperwork and due diligence.

If you’re working with a real estate agent, the process is likely to be relatively straightforward. But you’ll still need to make sure you read up on what taxes you’ll need to pay, and any visas needed so you can live in your new French home once you’ve bought it.

Buying property in France after Brexit

Even though the UK has now officially left the EU, you’ll still have the right to buy property in France as a non-EU citizen. You can even rent it out if you want to.⁴

However, you will now need to make sure you have a long-stay visa if you plan to stay in France for more than 90 days at a time.⁴

Can I buy property in France and get residency?

Unlike some other countries, France doesn’t have a ‘Golden Visa’ or other investment scheme for property purchases.⁵ This means that although there aren’t restrictions on foreigners buying property, you’ll need to go through the same process as any other non-EU citizen to get a visa to live in France - and then to apply for permanent residency if you’re eligible.

What are the property prices in France?

The cost of property in France varies significantly based on the type of property and where it is.

The following table can give you an idea of what costs might be in select areas, so you can figure out the best places to buy property in France based on your budget. But you should also be prepared to do plenty of extra research into prices in your chosen locale.

Location	Apartment price per sq.m - in city centre⁶	Apartment price per sq.m - outside city centre⁶
Paris	€12,382	€8,775
Nice	€6,583	€3,700
Lyon	€5,411	€3,938
Toulouse	€4,254	€3,025
Grenoble	€3,275	€2,625

And, if you’re arranging your property purchase in France while still in the UK, you’ll need a safe, reliable and preferably low-cost way to send over fees, deposits and other payments.

The Wise account could be a great solution, with transparent, low fees, and the fair mid-market exchange rate to convert your pounds to euros. Wise uses sophisticated anti-fraud and other security measures to keep your money safe. You can even track your transfer to check it arrives safely.

Learn more about the Wise account

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

Where is the cheapest place to buy property in France?

You can find the cheapest average prices in Creuze (€650/m2), Haute-Vienne (€1,150/m2), and Corrèze (€1,120/m2).⁷ It’s a general rule of thumb that the centre of France has the cheapest property prices, especially in the rural areas.

How can I find a property in France?

Property agencies and agents

It’s fairly common to use a real estate agent (un agent immobilier) to find property in France, especially in more remote regions or if you don’t know the language well.

While the cost can feel prohibitive, in provinces where homes are more spread out and difficult to find, working with an agent is the only real way to ensure you’re seeing all the properties available.

You might also be likely to get a fair price, as there’s always the risk of French sellers inflating prices for foreign buyers. That being said, it’s not uncommon for French agencies to take up to 8% of the total cost in fees (if not paid by the seller).⁸ So, if you’re on a budget trying to house hunt, doing it on your own may be the best course of action.

If you do decide to work with an agent, some of the most well-reputed in France include:

• Leggett Immobilier
• SMJ Immobilier
• Gascony Properties
• French Character Homes

Property websites in France

If you’re planning to find your home without an agent, your first stop will probably be real estate websites or portals. Choosing this route can make a lot of financial sense, though the multitude of listings can make your head spin. If you do decide to search online, these sites can be a good place to start:

• Rightmove
• A Place in the Sun
• LeBonCoin
• French Property Links
• SeLoger.com

What are some of the pitfalls of buying property in France?

No matter where you’re buying property, there’s a chance you could get ripped off. Scams are one of the biggest pitfalls to avoid when buying property in France.

The best way to steer clear of scams is to thoroughly research your agent, the property, the market in the surrounding area and what you’re entitled to as a buyer. Some common scams include:⁹

• Outdated diagnostic reports for properties
• Sellers with no legal right to sell property (or who’ve ‘scraped’ the listing from a property portal and pass it off as their own)
• Fake property investment seminars which charge a high fee

While there are many other scams out there, you can avoid many of them by visiting the property, meeting the seller or agent in person, and refusing to hand over any money before you have a verifiably working key and title in your hand.

How do I choose the right property in France?

Realistically, buying a house, flat or land in France vary significantly by location. While in Paris, you may struggle to find any housing situation outside of an apartment, in the countryside you’ll be welcomed with plots of land, sprawling estates, villas, homes and townhouses.

What type of property you buy will depend on where you want to invest, where you want to live with your family, or how you want to spend your retirement in France.

Condition of the property

In France, it's the seller’s legal responsibility to provide you with up-to-date diagnostic reports. Known collectively as the Dossier de Diagnostic Technique (DDT), these reports should cover everything from the presence of lead, asbestos and parasites to the condition of the septic system, the building’s energy performance report (DPE), and the natural disaster risk, among others.¹⁰

Before you agree to buy any property, make sure you’ve received this report and have gone over it thoroughly with your agent.

The DDT doesn’t however cover the kind of comprehensive building survey that we have here in the UK. You’ll need to commission and pay for a full structural survey yourself if you have any concerns.

How to buy property in France as a foreigner - a step-by-step guide

If you’re ready to jump into the property market, the following steps can help give you a rough idea of where to get started:

1. Decide which region you'd like to live in
2. Set a budget based on similar properties in the region
3. Engage a real estate agent to help in your search, and consider a trip or two to France to view properties in person
4. Select your dream property
5. Carefully review the property’s diagnostic report (Dossier de Diagnostic Technique or DDT)
6. Make a verbal offer
7. Sign a preliminary agreement (compromis de vente) which locks both parties into the sale.
8. Pay a deposit - this is usually around 5-10% of the total purchase price¹¹
9. Engage a notaire (lawyer) to perform the property searches, including the land registry, ownership rights, boundaries, and rights of way.
10. Sign the deed of sale contract (acte de vente) at the notaire’s office.
11. Get the keys, do a final sweep around the property to make sure everything is in order, and enjoy your new property!

Can I get a mortgage from a French bank as a foreigner?

The good news is, there really aren’t any restrictions for expats hoping to buy property in France - mortgages included. While the exact rules and taxes around getting a mortgage may vary slightly for foreigners, all in all the process is the same as for residents.

In fact, because foreigners buying French property are so common, most national and international banks cater to the service. The only real restriction you may face is the amount you can borrow, as some lenders will only lend up to 50%-75% of the property’s value to non-EU citizens.¹²

Most banks will have English-speaking representatives to help you, but it may be a good idea to hire a professional translator anyway, as getting a mortgage isn't a process you want lost in translation.

If you’re already sitting on enough cash to put down your deposit in your foreign bank account, you may be able to pay the seller directly.

If you’re not yet in France, you might have to pay your deposit from abroad. This might mean making a large international money transfer to cover the deposit amount. If you’re transferring a considerable amount of money across currencies, it’s important you get the best deal available – both in terms of transfer fees and exchange rates.

One smart option is to get a Wise account. With this, you can send, receive, and hold multiple currencies all in one account (including GBP and EUR). You can use it as an alternative to traditional bank accounts, when paying for your deposit or any fees involved with purchasing property in France.

Register with Wise today

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

Taxes and fees for buying property in France

There are a number of fees involved with French property purchases, for estate agents, notaries, lawyers and other charges. Make sure you consult with a tax specialist beforehand, as they can give you the most accurate information on taxes in France.

Here’s a summary of the kinds of costs you can expect to pay when buying property in France:

• Estate agent fees (when not paid by the seller) - 5-8%⁸
• Stamp duty (Droit de mutation) - 5.8%⁸
• Mortgage fees (if using a French bank) - 0.5%-1% arrangement fee, plus €250 for a valuation survey¹³
• Notaire’s fees (charged by the government): 2.5%-5% on a sliding scale depending on the total purchase price⁸

And even before buying property in France, tax is one of the most crucial things to factor into your budget. There are two types of tax on residential property in France, both due on 1st January each year:

• Land tax (taxe foncière)
• Local taxes (taxe d’habitation)

Taxe foncière is based on the annual rental value of the property multiplied by a percentage set by the local commune. It’s around 1% if the property is your main residence, and up to 3% for second homes.¹⁴

Taxe d’habitation is only due on second properties, and depends on local rates along with the size and condition of the property.¹⁴

Moving into your French property

After doing the big work, there are some finishing touches you need to take care off.

Insurance

Home insurance is an essential part of being a property owner, since it guarantees compensation in case of damage. In France, _assurance habitation _is not compulsory for all owners, but it is advisable. However, if you’re a co-owner of a lot in a condominium, you’ll have to get an insurance policy.¹⁵

Co-owners must at least have a policy that covers their civil liability. In other words, the damage to others that they’re responsible for will be paid for by insurance. Besides being convenient, it ensures good neighbourly relations from the very beginning.¹⁵

When it comes to protecting you in case of unexpected events, you should consider taking out a multi-risk home contract (MRH). It will be useful in cases of fire, water damage, natural disasters or other similar events.¹⁵

Setting up utilities

The next important step would be taking care of some basic utilities, such as gas, electricity, water or phone. This will depend largely on your spending habits and preferences, so individual research will be necessary. However, there’s a lot to choose from, so you should be able to find what you need.

For example, EDF, one of the gas and electricity providers, allows you to do most of this online. Setting everything up is easy and can be scheduled within 5-10 working days.¹⁶ Some other providers include ENGIE, Planète Oui, TotalEnergies etc.

Energy efficiency renovations

If you’d like to save up on utilities and live a more eco-friendly life, you might want to consider some energy efficiency renovations on your home. France offers loans and different types of aid for these endeavors.

For instance, eco-PTZ is an interest-free loan that covers a maximum of €50,000. If your property is more than 2 years old, this can help you fix your roof, windows, walls or some other things.¹⁷

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Once you’ve considered all the most important points of buying property, from location and property type to fees, taxes and other costs - you’re ready to get started in your search. Good luck buying a house, a flat, or land in France!

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Sources used for this article:

1. Statista - homeownership rate in Europe (2021)
2. Capital - France house price crash old real estate
3. Proper Star - how to buy property in France as a foreigner
4. Property Guides - buying property in France after Brexit
5. Golden Visas - France Golden Visa
6. Numbeo - property prices in France
7. Proper Star - cities with lowest prices
8. Proper Star - taxes and fees for property owners in France
9. Property Investor Today - how to buy a property in France
10. Ecologie.gouv.fr - diagnostics techniques immobiliers
11. Expatica - buying property in France
12. Expatica - French mortgages
13. Expatica - a guide to French mortgages
14. Expatica - a guide to taxes in France

Sources checked on 21-Dec-2022.