{"id":1360,"date":"2025-06-30T08:49:46","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T08:49:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/?post_type=news&#038;p=1360"},"modified":"2026-01-26T19:12:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T19:12:34","slug":"how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Buy Property in France as a Non-Resident"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Wondering how to buy property in France as a non-resident? <a href=\"https:\/\/v2.app.upscoreapp.com\/onboarding\/passport\/au\">Australian citizens<\/a> (or any other non-residents) don\u2019t actually face any special restrictions &#8211; you can purchase French real estate with essentially the same rights as French citizens.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So foreign buyers can have full property ownership rights and can <a href=\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/how-much-can-i-borrow-for-investment-property\/\">invest in French real estate<\/a> just as locals do. That said, being a non EU citizen does mean you have a few extra steps you need to think about, like visa rules for long stays and potential differences in the <a href=\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/category\/mortgages\/\">mortgage process<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But when it comes to the buying itself, France welcomes international purchasers, and the process is broadly similar for locals and foreigners. Let\u2019s look at this in a bit more detail:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Process of Purchasing Property in France<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a clear property purchase process in <a href=\"https:\/\/v2.app.upscoreapp.com\/onboarding\/passport\/fr\">France<\/a> for non-residents, but it will probably feel a bit different from what you\u2019re used to in Australia. Here\u2019s a walk-through of the main stages, from hunting for a home to completing the sale:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finding The Right Property And Making An Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people start their search online and look through French property portals and estate agency websites. Once you have a shortlist, you\u2019ll want to get in touch with a local real estate agent (an agent immobilier) early on.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>France\u2019s realtors not only help you locate suitable homes, but also guide you through the buying steps, which is invaluable if you don\u2019t speak French fluently. In fact, because the process will be conducted in French and involves local paperwork, a bilingual agent who\u2019s used to foreign buyers is almost a necessity since it makes your life so much easier.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your agent will arrange viewings and, when you\u2019ve found \u201cthe one,\u201d help you negotiate the terms and property price with the seller. The negotiation process in France is similar to elsewhere: you and the seller haggle (often via the agents) until you agree on a purchase price that works for both parties.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And don\u2019t be afraid to offer below the asking price &#8211; in a cooling market, sellers may be more flexible. Once a price is agreed, things start moving quickly into the contract stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Signing The Initial Contract (Compromis De Vent)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first major document is the initial contract known as the Compromis de Vente. This is essentially the preliminary sales agreement between buyer and seller. It lays out things like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The agreed price<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/what-is-capital-value-of-a-property\/\">Property details<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any conditions (for example, if the sale is contingent on you getting a mortgage)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll usually sign this initial contract with a French notary (notaire) there or sometimes just at the estate agency. French law builds in a 10-day cooling-off period after signing. This is your last chance to withdraw from the contract without any kind of penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So after those 10 days, the contract now becomes binding and you\u2019ll need to pay the deposit, which is usually around 10% of the purchase price. This deposit will be held in escrow (often by the notary or agency) until it\u2019s been completed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Compromis de Vente is one of the main milestones of the whole agreement as it means both parties are committed to the deal (with some escape clauses for things like mortgage denial) and kicks off the due diligence process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Due Diligence And Paperwork<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>So there are usually a few months of waiting before final completion after the Compromis. And during this period, various checks and paperwork are completed. As the buyer, you\u2019ll want to ensure the property is in good order and that there are no legal surprises.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>French sellers are required to provide a Dossier de Diagnostic Technique (DDT) &#8211; a pack of official <a href=\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/what-do-they-look-for-in-a-house-valuation\/\">property surveys<\/a> and certificates covering everything from lead paint and asbestos to termites and energy efficiency. This dossier de diagnostic technique is there to inform you about the property\u2019s condition and any issue; it\u2019s often reviewed with the help of your lawyer or agent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your notary will also conduct title searches to verify the seller has clear ownership and to uncover any mortgages or easements on the property. And if any conditions were stipulated (such as obtaining planning permission or a mortgage approval), those also need to be sorted during this phase.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s generally also a good idea to hire your own surveyor if you want a more detailed inspection, especially for older homes &#8211; remember, French houses can be centuries old, so an expert look at the structure and roof can do you a favour later.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the time to ask questions and get documents translated if you don\u2019t understand them &#8211; French bureaucracy can be paperwork-heavy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Contract And Completion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The last step is signing the Acte de Vente (also called the acte authentique), which is basically just the final deed of sale. This is the moment you actually become the owner of the property.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Completion usually takes place at the notary\u2019s office. The notary (who is a public official responsible for ensuring the transaction is legally sound) will read through the contract aloud &#8211; traditionally in French, but your agent or translator can help if needed &#8211; and then both you and the seller sign it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At this stage, you will pay the remaining balance of the purchase price to the seller, as well as settling all the purchase costs and notary fees. It\u2019s also fairly common for foreign buyers to grant the notary a power of attorney to sign on their behalf if they can\u2019t be present in person, so don\u2019t worry if you\u2019re still in Australia on the day. Then once everything is signed and funds are transferred, you get the keys &#8211; congratulations!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Taxes, Fees And Registration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In France, the buyer generally needs to pay the majority of the closing costs. These include the notaire\u2019s fees and associated taxes (roughly 7-8% of the purchase price for an older property), plus any legal fees for your own lawyer (if separate) and maybe even a small estate agency fee if it wasn\u2019t already covered in the price.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The notary fees you pay actually mostly go toward government duties and taxes so only a small portion of that is the notary\u2019s true fee. Additionally, you\u2019ll pay a one-time land registration tax (it\u2019s usually bundled within that 7-8%) to register the change of ownership.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The notary handles the land registry formalities on your behalf &#8211; after the sale, they will file the deed with the French Land Registry (the cadastre) to record you as the new owner. A few months later, you\u2019ll receive an official title document proving your property ownership has been registered!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All of these costs are typically rolled into the final closing statement, so be prepared for your final payment to include more than just the agreed house price. We\u2019d generally recommend that you budget for around 10% on top of the purchase price to cover taxes and fees to be on the safe side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Upscore Can Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Upscore\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/finance-passport-tm\/\">Finance Passport<\/a> can help you show your financial history to <a href=\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/mortgage-broker-vs-bank-manager-which-is-best-for-you\/\">overseas lenders<\/a>, which makes it way easier to explore mortgage options as a non-resident. It\u2019s a free service and lets you compare multiple lenders so you know you\u2019re getting the best deal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/contact\/\">Sign up for Upscore\u2019s Finance Passport today!<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wondering how to buy property in France as a non-resident? Australian citizens (or any other non-residents) don\u2019t actually face any special restrictions &#8211; you can purchase French real estate with essentially the same rights as French citizens.&nbsp; So foreign buyers can have full property ownership rights and can invest in French real estate just as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","news-category":[25],"class_list":["post-1360","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-category-moving-to-france"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.3 (Yoast SEO v26.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Buy Property in France as a Non-Resident - Upscore<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Buy Property in France as a Non-Resident\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wondering how to buy property in France as a non-resident? Australian citizens (or any other non-residents) don\u2019t actually face any special restrictions &#8211; you can purchase French real estate with essentially the same rights as French citizens.&nbsp; So foreign buyers can have full property ownership rights and can invest in French real estate just as [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Upscore\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-26T19:12:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Property-in-France-as-a-Non-Resident-1-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"563\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/\",\"name\":\"How to Buy Property in France as a Non-Resident - Upscore\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Property-in-France-as-a-Non-Resident-1-1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-30T08:49:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-26T19:12:34+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Property-in-France-as-a-Non-Resident-1-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Property-in-France-as-a-Non-Resident-1-1.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":563},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"How to Buy Property in France as a Non-Resident\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/\",\"name\":\"Upscore\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/#local-main-organization-logo\",\"url\":\"\",\"contentUrl\":\"\",\"caption\":\"Upscore\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Buy Property in France as a Non-Resident - Upscore","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Buy Property in France as a Non-Resident","og_description":"Wondering how to buy property in France as a non-resident? Australian citizens (or any other non-residents) don\u2019t actually face any special restrictions &#8211; you can purchase French real estate with essentially the same rights as French citizens.&nbsp; So foreign buyers can have full property ownership rights and can invest in French real estate just as [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/","og_site_name":"Upscore","article_modified_time":"2026-01-26T19:12:34+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":563,"url":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Property-in-France-as-a-Non-Resident-1-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/","url":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/","name":"How to Buy Property in France as a Non-Resident - Upscore","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Property-in-France-as-a-Non-Resident-1-1.png","datePublished":"2025-06-30T08:49:46+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-26T19:12:34+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Property-in-France-as-a-Non-Resident-1-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-to-Buy-Property-in-France-as-a-Non-Resident-1-1.png","width":1000,"height":563},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to Buy Property in France as a Non-Resident"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/#website","url":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/","name":"Upscore","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/news\/how-to-buy-property-in-france-as-a-non-resident\/#local-main-organization-logo","url":"","contentUrl":"","caption":"Upscore"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/1360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1360"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/1360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1363,"href":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/1360\/revisions\/1363"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upscoreapp.com\/properties\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-category?post=1360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}