French purchases are built around the notaire (notary), a public officer who drafts the deed, verifies the title, collects the taxes and guarantees the transfer's legality. The notaire is not an advocate for either side, and both buyer and seller typically share one notaire, which surprises buyers from adversarial systems.
Market structure in brief
- Two-stage process: a preliminary contract (compromis de vente or promesse de vente) is followed by the final deed (acte authentique), typically two to four months later while checks and financing complete.
- The compromis is binding: once signed, both parties are committed, subject to written suspensive conditions such as obtaining a mortgage.
- A statutory cooling-off period: buyers have ten days after receiving the preliminary contract to withdraw without giving a reason.
- A deposit of around 10% (dépôt de garantie) is customarily held by the notaire until completion.
- Fixed-rate loans are standard: French mortgages are commonly fixed for 15 to 25 years, with variable and capped structures available.
Vocabulary a buyer will meet
Compromis de vente (binding preliminary contract), acte authentique (the final deed before the notaire), conditions suspensives (contract clauses that void the sale, most commonly mortgage approval), and sci, the civil property company some owners use to hold title. Ownership is recorded in the cadastral and mortgage registries the notaire consults.