Steps to buying

Although the process is relatively straightforward, language barriers and local customs can make things more complicated for the British buyer.

The French system protects the buyer and seller, with cooling-off periods and get-out clauses, but you won't benefit from them if you don't understand them. A bilingual notaire will really help with this. There are a few steps to get through before your property is yours. Here's a quick guide.

Before you buy:

1. Find out how much you can borrow - This is dependent on your income and the type of mortgage you want. Bear in mind the maximum "loan to value" amount (how much of the property value your mortgage lender is prepared to lend to you) and that you should not over-stretch yourself to make your mortgage payments.
2. Set your budget - Be realistic as you calculate all the costs involved. You'll have a variety of professional fees, taxes and charges to pay on top of the price of your property. See our Costs to consider page for a breakdown of the costs involved in buying a property in France.
3. Search for a property - This is the most exciting part of the buying process. When it comes to finding a property, nothing beats actually going to a location to check it out in person. If nothing else, it's a great excuse for another holiday! The sheer choice of property out there is pretty daunting, so ask yourself some basic questions about what and where to buy so you can narrow down your search. Buyers with a young family looking for a holiday home are bound to have different requirements to retiring couples and investors. Ask yourself practical questions about airport, road connections and local amenities. Use the wealth of magazines, books, exhibitions and websites out there to get inspiration and to focus on what you want from your French home. If you are using an estate agent to help gain information, make sure it's a qualified "agent immobilier".
4. Carry out a price check -It's so easy to find yourself falling in love with the first property you visit, but particularly when you are buying re-sale property, do some research on prices for comparable properties in the area where you want to buy. This will make sure you don't pay over the odds for your dream property. Unfortunately, some sellers assume that a buyer, particularly from overseas, may not know the local market and set an unreasonably high sale price - don't get caught out!

With these matters dealt with, you're in a much better position to go ahead with the purchase once you've found your ideal property. The next steps for you are:

5. Negotiate a price - Now is the time to haggle! Negotiate until you reach a verbal and non-binding agreement with the seller about the sale price and what is included in that price (for example, fittings that may be left behind). At the moment, everything is informal and there's no need for money to change hands.
6. Appoint a 'notaire' - It is mandatory to appoint a 'notaire' - The buyer and seller do not need to have the same notaire and splitting the cost between two different notaires does not cost more. . He is a neutral government official whose job it is to oversee your property transaction and to ensure that all property taxes are paid and the sale is properly registered.
7. Appoint your own solicitor - As the 'notaire' is independent favouring neither buyer or seller, you should seriously consider appointing a separate qualified lawyer to represent your own interests. A bilingual lawyer with expertise in both French and UK legal systems is best.
8. Carry out a survey - Whilst it is not compulsory to get a survey completed if you are taking out one of our mortgage products, its a sensible precaution if you are buying in cash for your own piece of mind.
9. Arrange your mortgage, or alternative finance - Barclays has a number of mortgages to help you buy abroad. Look at our Mortgages section to find out more.
10. Arrange a valuation - With a mortgage from Barclays, we will arrange a valuation of your property if your loan is a remortgage, equity release, over 1 million euros or of a unique nature.
11. Set up a local bank account - You'll need a bank account in France during and after the buying process. Apart from the property itself, you'll need to pay professional fees, taxes and charges on the purchase and utility bills and local taxes once the property is yours. Look at our Everyday Banking section to find out more.
12. Sign a preliminary agreement - Now is the time to start to formalise the sale. The 'promesse de vente' is a binding contract prepared by the notaire and signed by both parties, setting out the conditions of sale (for example, that a mortgage is required to finance the purchase).
13. Pay a deposit - When the preliminary agreement is signed, you must pay a deposit - usually 10% on re-sale property and 2-5% on off-plan property.
14. 7-day cooling-off period - By law, there is a 7-day 'cooling-off' period after signing the preliminary contract where you can pull out of the deal and still get your deposit back. After that, the deposit is only refundable if one of the conditions of the preliminary contract is not fulfilled.
15. Completion - At last, completion day arrives! The final contract ('acte de vente') is signed in front of the notaire by both you and the seller.
16. Pay for the property and applicable taxes - At this point, you pay the remainder of the purchase price to the notaire along with his fees and any other taxes due. We can help you budget for these costs when you arrange your mortgage and provide a hassle-free money transfer service to make these payments as quick and easy as possible for you. Check out our 'overseas payment services'.
17. Title will be registered at the Land Registry - The very final step of the buying process is when the seller receives the funds for the sale of the property and the notaire registers the Deed of Sale with the Land Registry. You are now officially a homeowner in France - congratulations!