Buying property in Paris as a foreigner

1. 1

   Define your budget — all-in

   Add roughly 7–8.5% to the price for acquisition costs (the so-called notary fees) on an existing property, plus your own advisory costs. Decide early whether you'll finance in France or pay cash: it changes the timeline and your negotiating position.

2. 2

   Pre-arrange financing

   If you need a French mortgage as a non-resident, start before you search: banks typically ask non-residents for a 20–30% down payment and proof of stable income. A pre-approval letter makes your offer materially stronger.

3. 3

   Search — and don't be structurally late

   Well-priced Paris properties receive offers within days. Around 20% of the properties Comète presents are off-market: sourced through notaries, agencies and private networks before any public listing.

4. 4

   Make a written offer (offre d'achat)

   A written offer at a stated price, usually valid one to two weeks. Once the seller accepts, the price is locked — this is where negotiation happens. Comète negotiates 8% below asking on average.

5. 5

   Sign the preliminary contract (compromis de vente)

   The binding milestone, usually two to three weeks after the accepted offer. You pay a deposit of 5–10% into escrow. French law (loi SRU) then gives you — the buyer only — a 10-day cooling-off period to withdraw without penalty.

6. 6

   Clear the conditions (conditions suspensives)

   The compromis is conditional, most importantly on your financing: you typically have 45–60 days to obtain your loan. If the bank refuses, you exit and recover your deposit — the legal protection that makes buying with a mortgage safe.

7. 7

   Sign the final deed (acte authentique)

   Around three months after the compromis, at the notary's office. You can sign in person or grant a notarial power of attorney and complete the purchase without travelling to Paris.

8. 8

   Keys — and what starts then

   Home insurance is mandatory in a co-owned building, utilities go in your name, and the annual property tax (taxe foncière) becomes yours, prorated from day one. Your hunter stays available for the practical follow-through.

The legal process is identical — the friction is practical. Financing: French banks lend to non-residents but ask for a larger down payment and more documentation. Presence: viewings, signatures and bank meetings all assume you're local — filmed viewings and a power of attorney solve this. Information asymmetry: co-ownership minutes, works history and neighbourhood micro-pricing are all in French, and sellers' agents work for the seller.

That last point is why international buyers hire a buyer's agent: Comète reads the files, knows the micro-markets, negotiates on your side only — in English — and is paid on success, at the notary, never before.