Buying a property | cabinet-antoine-lefevres.fr

Updated on Wednesday 11 February 2026

Property purchase: acquisition costs (known as French notaire's fees)

The acquisition costs, improperly called “French notaire's fees”, are added to the purchase price of the real property. Generally, they are settled by the purchaser but not received by the seller or the Notary for their greater share.

Updated on Wednesday 14 June 2023

The joint-ownership system

Joint ownership is the legal situation in which two or more people jointly own the same property. Theoretically, it allows easier financing, maintenance, and management.

Updated on Thursday 27 November 2025

Buying on plan: VEFA (sale in future state of completion (VEFA)

The majority of new homes (flats or houses) are sold even though they have not yet been built or construction has not been completed. This is known as off-plan purchase or sale before completion (VEFA).

Updated on Tuesday 14 April 2026

Co-ownership, your rights, and obligations

The legal regime of co-ownership allows the distribution of the ownership of an apartment building between several people, known as co-owners. This system sets the operating rules of this small community, so that the latter is experienced peacefully.

Updated on Friday 13 March 2026

Buying or selling property in life annuity (viager)

To improve one’s income or retirement, life annuity makes it possible to sell one’s property (house, apartment or other) in exchange for a payment in the form of a life annuity by the buyer.

Updated on Tuesday 5 May 2026

Private water body: what is the regulation?

Buying a private water body can be useful to produce fish, irrigate one’s crops, provide water to life stock or fight a fire. But it can also help to do a hobby like fishing or hunting.

Updated on Tuesday 5 May 2026

Buy or sell a forest: how to go about it ?

Purchasing a forest isn’t an insignificant act, which is bought on an impulse. It is an ecological, environmental, civic, economic, heritage-like approach... regardless of the motivation, purchasing a forest needs to be mulled over, carefully.

Updated on Monday 24 July 2023

French property and sustainable development: ask your notaire

Sustainable development is a mode of economic development that seeks to combine economic and social progress with the preservation of the environment. It is important in water management, housing, urban planning, noise.

Updated on Monday 18 September 2023

Purchase in France by a non-resident

Before any real estate investment in France, a foreign national must contact a professional to find out the conditions for the investment in question. Several aspects need to be examined.

Updated on Tuesday 21 October 2025

Buying property with the interest free loan (IFL)

IFL (or "Interest Free Loan") is a government regulated loan, with no interest or administration fees. It is granted depended on the conditions for resources, to acquire a main residence or financing certain works.

Updated on Tuesday 25 November 2025

Cost of buying a house : Conveyancing fees

During a real estate purchase, the buyer must pay taxes and additional fees at the selling price. In the new market, these fees amount to 2 to 3% of the selling price. We are talking about "reduced fees" or "reduced notaire fees".

Updated on Monday 13 November 2023

Mortgage or bank guarantee?

The bank that grants a mortgage is taking a risk. To protect itself, it requires a financial guarantee.

Updated on Friday 24 March 2023

Wealth tax (IFI)

The wealth tax (IFI) is a tax on the real estate assets for individuals, which has replaced the solidarity wealth tax (ISF) since January 2018.