How to Buy Property in France: Your Complete 8-Step Guide

1 • Define your budget

Starting a real estate project means first and foremost clearly defining the budget you'll allocate to it. You also need to anticipate the total costs of a property purchase, as becoming a homeowner involves expenses beyond the price of the house or apartment. Here's what to do beforehand:

• Schedule a meeting with your bank or mortgage broker;
• Have a financing plan and a loan simulation (estimated amount, rate, duration);
• Set aside 10% of the expected property price to cover the deposit required at the time of signing the preliminary contract.

Our property hunters are true real estate professionals. They fully understand the ins and outs of the buying process and can inform you about all the additional costs to anticipate. This helps you determine the actual budget to allocate to your project. They can also connect you with a broker who will safely handle the financial aspect of your purchase.

2 • Define your search

Now that you know the maximum amount to allocate to your project, you need to clearly define your search. This may seem obvious, but an effective search requires a realistic and coherent project aligned with the target market. Many misconceptions can lead you to build your project on the wrong foundation. And remember, buying a house or apartment isn't just about ticking off a list of requirements—you'll need to prioritize, rank, and make compromises.

• Visit properties for sale to get a sense of the local market;
• Explore unfamiliar neighborhoods;
• Rank your criteria in order of importance;
• Structure your project around three key priorities to clarify your expectations (e.g., number of bedrooms/rooms, garden, quiet environment).

A property hunter will help you organize and prioritize your needs, especially if you're a couple. They also know their city and the local property market inside out, including what's available nearby—so they can offer relevant alternatives you might not have considered!

3 • Search and find

Searching effectively for an apartment or house for sale is no easy task. First, you need to know where to look for property listings and fine-tune your search online so you don't miss any opportunities. You must also analyze listings carefully to filter the most relevant alerts and weed out the unsuitable ones (e.g., rentals instead of sales, new vs. older properties, etc.). Then comes the step of qualifying the property by phone—asking the right questions to avoid wasting time on unnecessary visits. This step is crucial to:

• Make sure you don't miss your dream property;
• Avoid unnecessary visits.

And all of this must be done in a very short time frame, because the best properties don't stay on the market for long! Be prepared to adjust your schedule—this step is very time-consuming.

With a property hunter, you can delegate all the time-consuming search work and gain access to an extended market of properties for sale, thanks to Mon Chasseur Immo's growing partnerships with real estate agencies.

4 • Visit a property

Visiting is a key step in the property search. You need to pay attention to several important factors:

• Be mindful of the property's surroundings;
• Check the condition of the building or co-ownership;
• Closely inspect the condition of the apartment or house;
• Quickly assess the potential cost of any renovation work;
• Be well prepared if the property is a true favorite.

It's not always easy to know what to look for or where to look. That's why the property hunter, who is out in the field every day, knows exactly what to check when visiting a house, apartment, or building. They handle the critical assessments—so you can simply enjoy the visit!

5 • Know how to make an offer

How do you position yourself? How do you negotiate? The most complex part begins now: finding the right property is one thing, but now you have to "win" it! At this stage, you need to:

• Take timing and commitments into account;
• Negotiate with the right arguments;
• Understand what a no-conditions offer means;
• Make a formal purchase offer;
• Understand how the seller chooses among offers.

This step is tricky because buyers often struggle to find the balance between the fear of missing out and the risk of overpaying, or negotiating too aggressively, which could turn off the seller. Don't worry—your property hunter is here to guide you through this phase so you can move forward with confidence.

6 • Secure your purchase: from offer to preliminary contract

The period between the accepted offer and the preliminary sales agreement (compromis de vente) is very important. This time allows you to review all the documents before signing the first official agreement of the sale. While the legal 10-day withdrawal period after signing the compromis exists for this purpose, it's far more reassuring to sign the preliminary contract fully informed. You should therefore:

• Request written confirmation of the accepted offer;
• Notify your broker or banker;
• Contact your notary;
• Review the diagnostic reports;
• For an apartment: review the minutes of general meetings and contact the building manager if needed;
• For a house: review the cadastral map and the Local Urban Plan (PLU);
• Submit all your questions to your notary;
• Carefully read the preliminary sales agreement;
• Sign the preliminary sales agreement.

Reviewing all the documents can be difficult if you're new to the process. Fortunately, your property hunter is experienced and will provide a summary of all key points you need to know before buying! Remember, the notary doesn't visit the property, so they won't always know which specific issues to focus on.

7 • From the preliminary contract to the final deed

Don't worry — the hardest part is behind you! Now it's time to focus on the final stretch: financing the property. The preliminary sales agreement officially kicks off the mortgage application process. Here's a closer look at the key steps you mustn't forget:

• Transfer 10% of the property price to your notary;
• Send the preliminary sales agreement to your broker/banker;
• Sign the issued loan offer;
• Plan your renovation work;
• Organize your move;
• Get home insurance for the property;
• Revisit the property before signing the final deed;
• Sign the final deed (acte authentique).

Your property hunter will support you all the way through to handing over the keys and will provide you with a clear checklist of the steps not to miss. They'll remind you at the right time so you can finalize your purchase smoothly!