This summers great value property

Our featured property for this summer is a must see. This stone house brings together a lot of pluses - It's in great condition, it's close to the beaches and its in a wonderful Medieval village. Click on the photo for more details.

UK and US buyers, don't miss out on your dream because of the exchange rate

If you are a cash buyer you can potentially hedge against the exchange rate by getting a French mortgage and paying out the balance when the rate improves - on recent predictions this could save you as much as 8 percent. Look at how this can be achieved in detail by clicking here

Getting your place in the sun - 

by Dennis Broadfield MD TotallyGroup

In this section of our website you can find information on Mortgages in France, Tax and legal information, our 10-step buyers guide and currency exchange information. Further down this page is information about the Notairs Fee that all buyers must pay when they purchase a property in France. We also have many good contacts for builders, plumbers, decorators and interior designers, just call us with your requirements.

The Facts

Most of our first time buyers are understandably nervous about the buying process in a foreign country - not helped by the hours of British TV devoted to the disasters of buying property abroad. Like most things in life the reality is vastly different. As a former television journalist I know that TV producers need disasters or they don't have a good programme - it's much simpler than you think.

The facts are that legislation passed over the last 10 years by the French government to protect buyers in France, makes this country one of the safest enviornments in Europe to purchase property.

Unlike Britain - it is now law, that properties are checked for Asbestos, lead in the paint, termites and thermal insulation, and checks are made by the Notair (property lawyer) that there are no debts or legal actions against the property - It's also enshrined in French law that you, the buyer must have a 7 day cooling off period after you have signed the first contract - a time during which you can refuse to go ahead with the transaction for no reason and you will get your deposit back.

French law also protects your deposit money with all deposits going into a government bonded escrow account held by your Notair (see below -"Notairs Fee"). Notaires train for 7 years before they can be qualified and they really are the experts in property transactions, inheritance issues and property taxation. 

So buying in France is a straightforward process compared with most other European countries and making a purchase in France is by now a well trodden path with many English-speaking banks, mortgage advisors, notaires and property managers to help you along the way. Totally Languedoc vets all the people it recommends and we have a good list of professionals in all these fields, that we can pass onto you.

Our ten-step buyers guide will give you an overview of the different stages of getting your place in France. The glossary of legal terms is there to help you decipher the terminology used in the purchase process. We have useful links to mortgage lenders, currency brokers, rental websites and hotels around the city, plus a comprehensive mortgage section. Our tips on renting your new property come from years of experience all over the Languedoc.

TotallyLanguedoc also have contacts in the building trade from plumbers to electricians and project managers. We'd be happy to share the experience of our happy buyers regarding renting, renovating and financing your prospective property in France.

The Notairs Fee

When we tell our clients that the "Notairs Fee" (in other words your legal costs) for the purchase of an apartment or villa in France is around 7.3 percent, without exception they all comment on how well paid French property lawyers must be. In fact the Notaire, as well as being a highly trained property lawyer, is in effect a tax collector for central government. The 7.1 to 7.5 percent fee is regulated by the French Government and the Notair cannot charge more or less. Out of this "transaction cost" the Notair only makes 0.8 percent. The rest of the money is broken down as follows.

French version of stamp duty - 5 percent - goes to central Government.
The transfer of names on the deeds to the land registry in Paris - 1.2 percent.
If you have to mortgage your property purchase there is an administration charge to the govenment - 0.6 percent.

What's left over is used for the searches on the property that include the following. Any debts against the property, any legal action associated with the property, Asbestos, Termites and lead in the paint - these checks have to be carried out by law - without them the property can not be sold. There are also searches with the French version of the UK's historical building register, the department de Ubanism (town Planning) to see that a motorway is not going through your front door and a myriad of other checks - for this the Notair receives 0.8 percent. Good Notairs, and there are many, can be your greatest ally during the purchase process.