Estate Agents Notaires and Internet Property

Estate Agents, Notaires and Internet Property Services

Estate Agents

You will find French Estate in most towns, and in addition there are a substantial number of British Estate Agents active in the market. Most are licensed and have deposited a bond with the local department.

Some have instructions from the vendor, and intend to act as vendors' agents in the way that is normal in the United Kingdom. However, many act as buying agents and charge a fee to the successful purchaser sometimes as much as 3%-5%. It is wise to check on what basis the agent is acting.

A buying agent can be used to negotiate a purchase of a property from for example a private advertisement.

Some estate agents, quite unlike England, buy in the property that they intend to sell, rather like a second-hand car salesman. Where this is the case, the selling agent may well have raised the selling price above that which he paid to the vendor in order to make a profit. He may take the view that UK buyers accustomed to higher UK prices would not believe the normal local price, and would be suspicious that there was something wrong with the property, or he may just feel that UK buyers are able to pay more.

For a list of Estate Agents by area click Estate Agents

Notaires

The notaire is legally trained and has two major functions in relation to property; he is required to ensure that the title which the vendor is selling is properly transferred to the purchaser and the sale is recorded. He may also be responsible for the local "Cadastre" which is a record of land holding in the area for which he is responsible.

For further details of the service offered and details of the notaires throughout France go to the main web site for the profession at http://www.notaires.fr/ .The site is in both English and French and in addition to giving much useful information about the profession has links to the real property activities of Notaires. There is also a dedicated property search site, which brings together many notaires throughout France.

Buying commercial property – a business, flats, garages etc. visit http://www.immonot.com

Those interested in a business try the Transcommerce/Transartisanat site at http://www.transartisanat.com

There is debate as to the need or otherwise to use an independent lawyer to act on your behalf in a sale or a purchase. Note that the notaire is there to see that the transaction is properly executed, but not to advise you on your legal position or the implications of French Real Property law. While most joint purchases in the UK are on a joint-tenancy basis, in France a form of tenancy in common is more normal. You must make it clear what you require.

You are entitled to have another notaire act on your behalf. There should be no increase in cost. A request must be made.

If in doubt take advice from and English solicitor trained and experienced in French law before committing yourself. See Lawyers

Property Service.

Many Notaires also act as sellers of property in their own right and have details available at their offices. They can also be accessed by visiting the Notaires Property Service Web Site at http://www.immonot.com

Note that it is rare for estate agents in France to give out property particulars, and where they do they contain relatively little information.

Personal inspection is vital. If you are unable to do this then contact a firm who will search for a property to match your criteria and report back to you. For details of such firms click Property Search Firms.

As in the United Kingdom a survey before you commit yourselves is very important. In France, once an offer is accepted then both parties are bound under French Law. If you decide to have a survey then this must be made clear to the agent and a surveyor contacted. For details of surveyors click Surveyors.

Many agents will imply that they have buyers queuing to buy. This is unlikely in many rural areas, where properties take a long time to sell as all agents working in the French market know well.

Internet Property Services

There are a number of firms active and offering particulars over the Net. For details of some of these click Internet Property Services