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A Guide to The Serengeti Safari
The Northern Game Parks in Tanzania is famous wildlife migration which continues its annual cycle through the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara in Kenya is without doubt one of the most exhilarating natural spectacles on the planet. The awesome beauty...
Explorer Tours Vietnam
A Vietnam based travel and tour operator since 1994, Explorer Tours Vietnam specialized in private tours, special interest travel, beach vacations and holiday packages within Vietnam for couples, families and small group. We provide value travel...
Get Ready The Smart Way For Your Thanksgiving Trip
In a very short time Americans will be off in masses for family gatherings for the Thanksgiving holiday. While staying home is the best advice the reality is that this holiday is the most heavily traveled in the country. Regardless of the delays,...
Southern Tanzania Safari
Tanzania is one of Africa's top wildlife safari destinations. Wildlife lovers have a choice of two very different safari routes- referred to as the northern and southern circuits. The contrast is most obvious in the topography, habitat and climate....
The Dominican Republic - Almost a Tropical Paradise
(Permission is freely granted to use this article so long as our about the author/resource box remains at the end of this article with all links live.) The Dominican Republic is not quite a tropical paradise - but we’d say that in a lot of ways it...
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Finding your dream home in France - Part 1
Copyright 2005 Oliver Phillips. May be freely reproduced "as-is" for private and commercial use.
Buying a home in France can be a complex process. From finding your dream home to relocating to France there are many hurdles to overcome before you can relax and enjoy the lifestyle and beautiful environment that France is renowned for. In Part 1 of this series, Oliver Phillips of PFS France (http://www.propertyforsalefrance.co.uk/) walks you through the process of finding and making an offer on your dream home in France.
Finding your new French property is the first hurdle. Assuming you have an idea what you want, in which location and how much you can afford, the easiest route to searching for properties is often via the Internet using a reputable French property website. The advantages are obvious; a good website will not only offer a large database of properties currently for sale, they will offer multiple photos of the property's exterior, interior and grounds together with comprehensive narrative about the property itself. Also it will often have a search facility through which you can view properties that match your specific criteria, and often offer additional benefits such as email notification of new properties, newsletters and other information to help you in your search. Of course the big advantage is that you can build a shortlist of potential properties without having to visit France, saving you money from the start. Whether you use the Internet or not, when considering a property, make sure you get photos and information before you view the property. You can cut down on wasted trips and expense this way.
When buying a property in France, unlike in the UK, it is often normal for the Buyer to pay all the fees. These comprise the estate agent fee and the notary fee (who perform the conveyance). Fees can be around 15% of the purchase cost of the property, which on a €150,000 purchase represents an additional €22,500 in fees. If you can deal direct with the
owner, and not buy through an estate agent, you could save around 6% or €9000 on the same €150,000 property. This is an increasingly popular option and is possible since sellers are not tied in to a single agent. Again you are likely to find properties advertised for sale by owner on a French property website such as PFS France.
If you are looking for good value for money, consider looking for property in areas that you haven't previously visited and are not familiar with. Certain areas command premiums only because they are widely known and popular. You can often get an equivalent property in another region for much less.
You should also consider getting to know the area before you buy. Talk to people who have already purchased their home, holiday in the area, or even rent for a period and meet the neighbours before you finalise your decision. As with any property purchase, your neighbours will be a part of your life once you've bought your new home.
Try to negotiate. Contact a local valuer to get an impartial opinion. This will cost money, but will provide you with a neutral view of the properties value, and possibly a stronger bargaining position so may pay for itself many times over.
Most importantly, consider taking independent legal advice, through another notary or a UK based specialist. The vendor instructs the notary who acts in the sale of the property. They are acting in the conveyance of the title only and not for either side. You would be well advised to appoint a specialist to act specifically in your interest, and finally, just as in the UK get the property inspected by a qualified buildings surveyor. Unexpected bills could take the shine off your dream home very quickly.
About the Author
Oliver Phillips works for PFS France (http://www.propertyforsalefrance.co.uk/) a business that helps French property owners advertise and sell, and potential buyers find, some of the finest and best cared for traditional French properties available.
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