It is possible to obtain a mortgage in France or from a financial institution at home to fund your French property and if you require any assistance, we can help by introducing you to Financial Advisors able to deal with all of your needs.

Initially, the only thing you need to decide when you intend to buy a property is whether or not you will be seeking a mortgage to pay for it. The reason is that there is a legal requirement to indicate by a signed statement in French on the contract if you are not planning to take out a mortgage.

This is necessary for two reasons: firstly because once the contract is signed it is binding and difficult to back out - unless your subsequent mortgage application is rejected. And secondly, because your mortgage must be arranged and agreed before you sign your bill of sale or ‘acte de vente’ at the notaire's. This normally takes place four to 12 weeks after you have signed your reservation contract.

Use a broker
If you require a mortgage and would like us to smooth this passage, we can put you in touch with experts who specialise in the French market and can find you the most beneficial for your specific requirements.

Legal costs
You will be advised about the costs of buying in France when you sign your reservation contract but for guidance they tend to work out at around 5% on a new property and 10% for an older one.
We always recommend our clients use a lawyer to help with the buying process, they will generally charge 1%. Notaries on the other hand are essential and their rates vary but are generally around 2.5% for new properties and 7.5% for resale.

It is also worth remembering that when you are buying a property in France with a mortgage, once you have been to the notaries' office, the remaining stage payments, up to completion, are made by the bank and carry the bank guarantee.

Just to give you an idea, it rarely takes longer than three weeks to get a decision on a French mortgage and in most cases this timescale can be shortened if required.

French banks will take applications by phone but it is necessary to visit the branch office at least once to sign your paperwork, before you go to the notaries.

Finally, there are no nasty surprises on the forms, which only ask for standard details such as name, address, date of birth, income, average outgoings, current mortgage payments and details of employment.

To recap, there are a good number of options to raise funding available both at home and abroad and we are always on hand to help you find the right one for you. We can help you find the best deals at home and in France and will make sure any confusion that may arise with the French system does not remain for long. There should not be, and rarely are, any problems but you can rest assured that assistance is never far away.