Prestige Property Group

French Property

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Over 20 years experience in the area.

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We offer access to 99.9% of the local property market including off-market options

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France, famed for its boulevards, fashion and food, is one of the most popular areas of Europe in which to buy a second home, and offers a great range of typically French property for sale such as pleasant townhouses, rustic farmhouses and magnificent French chateaux. Its location between the temperate climes of Britain and sun-drenched Spain ensure a variety of climates to match your lifestyle. You are bound to find the ideal French property for sale, whether you long for balmy days on a Cote d'Azur terrace, the sparkling clean air of the mountains or the seasonal ebb and flow of Normandy life played out amongst bustling markets and sleepy country lanes.

France is still a largely agricultural country and, away from the towns, the population density is still one of the lowest in Europe. With a long history of countryfolk leaving for a more cosmopolitan urban life, the potential of much French property lies unexploited and waiting for a new owner with ideas and enthusiasm. With prices rising steadily for both non-renovated and renovated properties, now is the time to look for that hidden gem that is both affordable and a great investment for the future.

Buying French Property

A notaire (public notary) is an integral part of buying a property in France. They represent neither buyer nor seller, but the French Government - and their impartiality is an obligation taken seriously. The notaire oversees many legal aspects of the sale, such as whether the seller is legally entitled to sell what he is offering, whether any future nuisance is likely to impinge on the use and enjoyment of the property and the drawing up of contracts. However, as many notaires speak little English, it may be worthwhile engaging the services of an English-speaking legal consultant who is qualified in French law and who has experience in the area of French property sales.

The notaire can also offer advice on how to buy your French property to reduce the tax implication when you sell or will your property.

You will be expected to organise connection to utilities - gas, electricity, water - and to provide a translator (if required) to help you to understand the documentation. A good French-qualified legal consultant may be able to help with these tasks.

Where to buy property in France

We market over 1500 examples of French property situated in most of the departments, from plots of land to the most exclusive chateaux and villas. We work closely with a number of professional local agents, carefully chosen for their service and after-sales support.

Like many countries, France has some distinctive regional building styles that reflect the materials available, the history and wealth of the population and the age of the local settlement. Many older French properties are built from local stone, quarried and brought the few miles to the site. Other more prominent buildings may be built from more durable or more beautiful stone, quarried many miles away, such as the famous, golden Caen stone from the Normandy region.

Whether your dream French property is a little riverside cottage or a farmhouse surrounded by acres of land, our large database of French property will undoubtedly provide a number of options to consider.

The Poitou Charentes region, incorporating the Charente, Charente-Maritime and Vienne, is an enormously popular location to buy a second home benefitting from one of the highest sunshine indexes in France, a beautiful coastline, forests, lakes and gorgeous villages just waiting to be explored. The rural way of life stills grips the Poitou Charentes, with weekly petanque in the village square, fresh produce at the local market and friendly bistros from which to watch the world go by.

Provence and Cote d'Azur is well known as the capital of sunshine and sunflowers, lavender and luxurious villas and includes the departments of Alpes Maritimes, Var and Bouches du Rhone. The region includes glamorous hotspots such as Nice, Cannes, Monaco and St Tropez where beautiful residences cling to the hillsides amid shimmering azure seascapes.

The Loire and its famous valley, full of stunning manors and chateau estates, offers some of the biggest bang per buck of any area of France as well as a down-to-earth but modern French lifestyle.

The Languedoc Roussillon is an area in the south of France, between Provence and the Spanish border, with a coastal plain that is mainly flat and greatly influenced by the Rhone delta. It includes such famous towns as Montpellier and Carcassonne, stunning gorges, lovely nature parks and many beautiful sandy beaches. The departments of Herault, Gard, Pyrenees Orientales, Aude and Lozere are included in the Languedoc.

Income from your French property

While the gite market has slowed as demand begins to be sated by supply, potential for generating income from French properties is still good. As the world's top destination with an average of over 60 million visitors per year, France's position and variety of coastal, rural and city backdrops gives it an enviable holiday and cultural fascination amongst the tourists of the world, particularly in the UK, Germany, Netherlands and the US. Many buyers are now looking for French properties suited to providing activity breaks to generate a summer income, rather than just basic accommodation. We have many such properties in France, from country cottages to a fully-functioning Parisian hotel.

French property with gites are still strong favourites among our clients, who look to casual renting as a means to help pay off the mortgage rather than as a main source of income. Of course, demand has not dropped for gite accommodation among tourists. One cautionary note, however, is that some mortgage lenders are now refusing to offer quotes for gite and leaseback properties due to their perceived risk if this income is relied upon to cover repayment.

1. Signing the Agreement (Compris)

On finding a property you wish to purchase you will need to negotiate the terms, price and conditions of the sale with the owner.

The next step, once you are in agreement, is to sign the preliminary contract (Compromis de Vente). This is a legal document and after ten days will be binding on both parties. Rules change frequently in France and it is best to consult with your notary about when this period starts. Generally the compris will be signed in France with the Agent.

Variants can be included in the compris, for example an Acte (clause) can be added if the name or names to go on the title deed have not been finalised. If a mortgage will be required to purchase the property, the details for this, including the name of the mortgage company, must be on the compris.

2. Paying the Deposit

Generally the deposit will be 10% of the agreed purchase price. This will normally be paid to the notaire. There are exceptions to this, if the agent holds a carte professionelle, is bonded and fully registered then you may pay them, but do not hand over the deposit to anyone else. If for some reason the purchase does not go through, for example, if you write to the notaire and the agent that you do not wish to go continue with the purchase before the contract is binding (within seven days of signing the compris), then your deposit would be repaid. This would also apply if a condition had not been met, or the mayor or S.A.F.E.R. (a government agency that has the right of first purchase on most rural property that comes onto the market in France) could oblige the purchaser to give way. If you decide after the seven days 'cooling off' period that you do not wish to complete the purchase and pull out of the sale you would lose your deposit. If however the vendor pulls out of the sale then you will receive your deposit back plus the same amount from the vendor.

3. On Completion

Generally it will take around two or three months to complete the purchase.

During this time the balance of the purchase money must be paid into the account of the notaire, this must be done well ahead of the completion date. The notaire will prepare the documents, check that the deed of sale (Acte de Vente) is in order and have the legal title ready to be signed over. It is possible to have someone sign on your behalf if you give them power of attorney. An interpreter may be of use at this point if your French is not very good and many Notaires will suggest (or insist) that an interpreter is with you.

IMPORTANT - Disclaimer :
All information provided is believed to be current and provided free of charge. No liability can be accepted for the reliability of the information and statements made as this is obtained from 3rd parties. We always recommend you take legal advice from a fully qualified Lawyer or Notary before buying a property overseas.

2789 properties

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Two bedroom house for sale in Saint Clement Des Baleines with outbuildings and improvement potential. The 88m2 property is in overall good condition but would benefit from updating. It compris......

615,000 EURREF: 252860

Grand and spacious, this beautifully stone built renovated 5 bedroom house is entered through wrought iron gates leading into a gravelled driveway. With a total living area of 275m2, this charming......

615,000 EURREF: 245955

Full of charm and character is this beautiful 6 bedroom stone house with outbuilding, nestling in nearly 2 acres of gardens with pool, while enjoying panoramic countryside views from its peaceful l......

615,000 EURREF: 250844

Wonderful opportunity to acquire a stunning new 2 bedroom ground floor apartment with garden and communal pool, ideally located near all amenities in Biot. Situated just 300 metres from the charm......

615,000 EURREF: 251292

Ideally located in a prestigious area of Beausoleil, is this stunning new one bedroom luxury apartment enjoying panoramic sea views from its 2nd floor position. This superb property offers an exc......

605,000 EURREF: 252386

Rare opportunity to acquire a bright and spacious one bedroom apartment enjoying scenic mountain views from its ideal location near the slopes and all amenities in the heart of Chamonix. Set in a......

600,000 EURREF: 251018

Beautifully situated in over 11 acres of picturesque land lies this delightful and ancient water mill dating back to the early 1700s. This remarkable property presents an exquisite blend of history......

600,000 EURREF: 249455

Immaculate 2 bedroom Duplex for sale with panoramic view in Alpe d'Huez, Huez, Rhone-Alpes

Attractive Two bedroom apartment with balcony in a new development in Alpe d'Huez. This T3 property comes with an elegant and warm decoration. Living space of 64,73m2, the apartment is composed ......

600,000 EURREF: 239111

Beautifully renovated and tastefully renovated 3 bedroom house in Saint Clement des Baleines, in the heart of the village with easy access to all amenities. This single storey property comes with......

600,000 EURREF: 252755

Enjoying stunning mountain views from its ideal location near the slopes and all amenities in the heart of Val Thorens, is this bright and spacious 2 bedroom apartment. This charming 42.88m2 pro......

599,000 EURREF: 252090

Renovated 5 bedroom Manor House for sale in Nontron, Aquitaine

Highly desirable historic property with swimming pool and Medieval origins set in a tiny hamlet in the Dordogne Perigord National Park. The oldest part of the chateau, dating from the 13th centur......

636,000 EURREF: 243527

Delightful 6 bedroom manoire with heated salt-water pool, boasting breathtaking views of the Gironde estuary and across to the Medoc beyond. This imposing 318m2 house has been immaculately ren......

599,000 EURREF: 250669

Bright, spacious and full of character and charm, this superb stone built house, which has been built on the side of a rock face, is set in approximately 2.8 hectares of land in a quiet peaceful lo......

599,000 EURREF: 246709

Beautifully restored 3 storey, 7 bedroom historical property with indoor pool and terracing, ideally located near all amenities in the heart of the historic centre of Rivesaltes. This remarkable ......

599,000 EURREF: 253247

Character 10 bedroom Manor House for sale with countryside view in Ruffec, Poitou-Charentes

Full of character and charm, this substantial and uniquely positioned 10 mbedroom manor house, is ideally situated right in the heart of Ruffec, just a short walk from the market, shops, bars and r......

598,900 EURREF: 240145

5 bedroom house for sale in MontaigudeQuercy, Midi-Pyrenees

Large and beautiful house partly in stone benefiting from numerous extensions and enlargements giving a contemporary, bright and pleasant air, located just a few minutes from Montaigu de Quercy, Ta......

598,500 EURREF: 242485

Immaculately presented throughout, this superb architect designed Mediterranean style villa, with a spacious modern living area of 350m2, is situated in a quiet setting in Mussidan, just 25km from ......

598,500 EURREF: 250080

Attractive stone property just a few minutes from Beauville in a pretty rural setting, consisting of a main house, guest house, heated swimming pool and tennis court, set in nearly 2 acres of land.......

598,000 EURREF: 250213

Beautifully restored 7 bedroom historical Manor House with pool, ideally located just 30 minutes from the city of Carcassonne, in a charming village surrounded by vineyards. This elegant 19th cent......

598,000 EURREF: 252615

In very good condition is this stylishly renovated 2 bedroom apartment ideally located near the slopes and all amenities in Megeve. This superb property with mountain corner, offers an investment ......

598,000 EURREF: 250252

Magnificent 6 bedroom house, which is ideally set a charming village within walking distance of numerous amenities. Tastefully and beautifully renovated by its current owner, this elegant residen......

595,000 EURREF: 249315

An attractive new development located in the heart of the Espace Diamant ski area, in the town of Praz sur Arly, less than 10 minutes from Megeve. This authentic village-resort consists of 24 ap......

595,000 EURREF: 247594

Income Potential 10 bedroom Commercial for sale in Le Chaffal, Rhone-Alpes

Exciting lifestyle and income opportunity with this former holiday camp, steeped in history, beautifully located in the heart of the Vercors massif and 45 minutes from the TGV station. Set in over......

595,000 EURREF: 245706

Rare opportunity to acquire a charming 3 bedroom villa with garden, enjoying far reaching countryside views from its peaceful location near all amenities in the village of Castellar. Situated jus......

595,000 EURREF: 248454

Rare lifestyle and income opportunity with this delightful stone property in the Lot, with two stone gites and infinity swimming pool, set in a peaceful, elevated position with lovely views tow......

595,000 EURREF: 251256

2 bedroom Apartment for sale with sea and panoramic views in Mandelieu la Napoule, Cote d'Azur French Riviera

Bright and spacious open plan 2 bedroom apartment with communal gardens, pool and tennis courts, enjoying panoramic sea views from its location in Mandelieu la Napoule. This stylish property of ar......

595,000 EURREF: 242745

Renovated 2 bedroom Apartment for sale in Val Claret, Tignes, Rhone-Alpes

Stylishly renovated 2 bedroom apartment enjoying wonderful mountain views from its ideal location near the slopes and all amenities in Val Claret. This spacious corner property is situated in a s......

595,000 EURREF: 243674

Centrally located in the sought-after district of Carre d'Or, this 4-room apartment offers a blank canvas to create a dream home. With living space of approximately 83 m2, the apartment offers p......

595,000 EURREF: 251985

Stylish city centre apartment in the heart of Cannes, close to shops, restaurant and beaches and presenting an ideal rental investment. The charming 3-room apartment (53.57m2 loi carrez) is on t......

595,000 EURREF: 253211

Refurbished 7 bedroom Farmhouse for sale with countryside view in Mirepoix, Midi-Pyrenees

Full of character and charm and totally refurbished, this superb 19th Century 7 bedroom farmhouse is ideally situated within a quiet setting on a large plot of 33,640m2 with wonderful countryside v......

595,000 EURREF: 232987

Beautiful stone property close to a small hamlet, consisting of a 3-bedroom main house and 2 guest houses as well as a pool, set in over 14 acres of land. Located on the border between the Perigo......

595,000 EURREF: 246670

Versatile first floor apartment with balcony and improvement potential in an exclusive location in a high-end and ultra-secure residence on the Croisette. The apartment requires some renovation i......

595,000 EURREF: 249644

Immaculate 5 bedroom stone built property, which is ideally located in a quiet setting midway between Duras and Eymet. The property comprises of a main house, 2 guest cottages, a barn and the old......

593,600 EURREF: 246748

Beautifully renovated 3 bedroom top floor apartment, ideally located near all amenities in the historic heart of Sainte Maxime. This spacious property of 60m2 comprises a charming entrance hall le......

590,000 EURREF: 252456

Enjoying scenic mountain views from its ideal ski in/ski out location near the slopes and all amenities in Courchevel 1850, is this superb one bedroom apartment with cellar and parking. This apart......

590,000 EURREF: 251541

Beautiful 1 bedroom apartment of 60m2, completely renovated, in one of the most sought after areas of "Le Cannet". Ideally located in a quiet area, a few minutes walk from the historic centre of "......

590,000 EURREF: 252840

Bright 2 bedroom Apartment for sale with sea view in Nice, Cote d'Azur French Riviera

In excellent condition throughout, this lovely 2 bedroom 2nd floor apartment has a total light filled living area of 80m2, plus a spacious terrace with beautiful sea views. Situated in a well-main......

590,000 EURREF: 241469

Superbly renovated 4 bedroom villa with pool in Argeles sur Mer, just a short walk from the village amenities and 3 km from the sea accessible via a cycle path. This exceptional villa was fully ......

590,000 EURREF: 252108

Inviting 1 bedroom Apartment for sale in Val Thorens, Rhone-Alpes

Great investment opportunity in a ski-in/ski-out residence right in the centre of Val Thorens skiing resort. This 47m2 apartment features a modern, fully equipped kitchen opening onto the living ......

590,000 EURREF: 242384

Full of charm and character is this 3 bedroom historical farmhouse with separate one bedroom and three bedroom apartments nestling in nearly 3 acres of glorious mature gardens and pool, while enjoy......

588,000 EURREF: 248830

Set in beautiful landscaped gardens with pool is this stylishly renovated 3 bedroom house with 3 outbuildings, located near all amenities near Argeles-sur-Mer. This charming house with its tradi......

586,000 EURREF: 253248

Income Producing 6 bedroom Farmhouse for sale in Sainte Croix, Midi-Pyrenees

A most impressive character property with swimming pool, made up of a bastide and a bergerie, in a historical environment in the heart of a hamlet in the Lot countryside, located just 10 minutes b......

585,106 EURREF: 240491

Immaculate 3 bedroom Apartment for sale with panoramic view in Biot, Cote d'Azur French Riviera

Luxurious new 3 bedroom architect designed apartment with garden and communal pool, enjoying panoramic countryside and sea views from its location in Biot. This intimate residence, with a contempo......

585,000 EURREF: 245602

An exceptionally presented 5-bedroom farmhouse, meticulously renovated over recent years in a serene haven with its own frontage onto a picturesque Aveyronais river. This beautiful stone property......

585,000 EURREF: 251572

Enjoying panoramic views across the beautiful communal gardens, is this stylish and bright one bedroom apartment, ideally located near all amenities in Menton. This superb property with high ceili......

585,000 EURREF: 253182

Refurbished 6 bedroom House for sale with countryside view in Roquecor, Midi-Pyrenees

Stunning estate which is beautifully nestled right in the heart of nature in Quercy Blanc, just 2km from a village with shops and restaurants. This truly enchanting retreat has been beautifully re......

584,000 EURREF: 242640

High Specification 3 bedroom House for sale with panoramic view in Monbazillac, Aquitaine

Impressive and superbly presented single storey property, providing stunning views over the Bergerac vineyards, located on a no-through road and offering perfect peace and tranquillity. This is ......

657,200 EURREF: 241754

A charming 6 bedroom stone ensemble with a main house and guest house, situated at the edge of a very pretty village in the Quercy Blanc with south west facing views over the rolling landscape. T......

580,250 EURREF: 253051

An enchanting seven bedroom property where timeless elegance meets contemporary comfort in a desirable setting in the Gers Department. The main residence, with its 365 m2 and 12 rooms, including......

580,000 EURREF: 251898

Exceptional 2 bedroom apartment located in Les Arc 1800, presented in a modern mountain spirit. This charming property has a living area of 49m2, which features 2 bedrooms and a mountain corner, s......

580,000 EURREF: 250224

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French Property

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Buying French Property

Where to buy property in France

Income from your French property

1. Signing the Agreement (Compris)

2. Paying the Deposit

3. On Completion

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