Buy a home in France

The two-step French purchase: an avant-contrat (a compromis de vente, which binds both sides, or a promesse unilatérale, which binds only the seller), then the acte authentique de vente signed before a notaire.

This is the route for any purchase of an existing home. The notaire stage is not optional — the final sale deed is an authenticated act.

After the avant-contrat, a non-professional buyer of a home has 10 calendar days to withdraw, counted from the day after the act is first presented or handed over.

The avant-contrat can be signed privately or before a notaire. The acte de vente is signed at a notaire's office.

Notaire fees are paid by the buyer at signature; the source page does not state the amount. Registering a promesse unilatérale drawn up privately costs €125 and must be done within 10 days of its acceptance.

• The notaire checks both parties and the property — title history, mortgages, planning rules and any right of pre-emption.
• On signature day you pay the price and the fees, and the notaire gives you an attestation de propriété.
• The titre de propriété follows once the sale is registered with the land registry, around 6 months after signature.