Buying in France: what overseas buyers should know
Each year, a steady stream of buyers find their reason to own a home in France. For some it is the food and wine, for others the space and pace of country life, the coast and the mountains, or simply how easy the country is to reach from the UK. France has one of the widest choices of property in Europe and a buying process that is well trodden for overseas purchasers, which is a large part of why it remains a first choice for international buyers.
Visas and spending time in France
Owning a home in France is open to UK buyers with no restriction. What changed after Brexit is the time you can spend there, not your right to own. Without a visa, UK passport holders can spend up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area, which suits most holiday-home owners. For those who want to stay longer or move over for good, France offers long-stay visas, and many people make that move each year. Border crossings are now handled by the EES biometric system, with the ETIAS travel authorisation expected to follow, so it is worth checking the current requirements before you travel.
How a purchase works in France
Purchases in France are handled by a notaire, a state-appointed legal professional who oversees the transaction for both sides, which gives buyers a reassuring level of protection. An accepted offer leads to a preliminary contract with a short cooling-off period and a deposit, followed by completion on the final deed a couple of months later. Fees paid through the notaire are higher on older resale homes than on new-build property, and your local partner agent can talk you through what to budget for your chosen region.
Everyday costs in France
For many buyers the appeal is a more affordable and outdoor way of life. Local property taxes are modest compared with much of the UK, everyday costs away from the cities can be lower, and daily life is built around good food, markets and time spent outside. Owners should plan for an annual property tax and, on second homes, a local residence tax that some popular areas choose to increase, so it is worth asking your agent what applies where you are looking.
Prices, financing and demand in France
After a quieter spell, the French market has steadied, with buyer activity picking up again and prices holding broadly stable across much of the country. France continues to offer strong value away from the prime coast and the capital, and financing remains available to non-residents through French banks. Demand from international buyers, many of them from the UK, keeps the market moving, and the sheer breadth of the country means there is something to suit most budgets and plans.
Start your search to see property for sale across France, or contact our team to be connected with a local partner agent.
Where to find property for sale in France
France offers one of the widest choices of property in Europe, and the right region depends on how you want to use your home.
Provence and the Cote d'Azur draw buyers to the south for coastal residences, hillside villas and apartments in Nice, Cannes and Saint-Tropez, where the prime coastal market is among the most sought-after in the country. The south-west, taking in the Dordogne, Gironde and Charente, is long favoured by UK buyers for stone farmhouses, village homes and country property, often with more space for the budget than the coast. Bordeaux and its surrounding vineyards pair a working city with wine-country living.
Paris is a market of its own, where apartments are the mainstay and values sit well above the national average. For those drawn to the mountains, the Alps offer ski property, while regions such as Languedoc, Normandy and the Loire provide character homes and châteaux across a wide range of budgets.
As a general rule, the coast, the Alps and Paris sit at the upper end of the market, while inland and rural regions offer more accessible values. Our Property Collections make it simpler to search by lifestyle, from châteaux and renovation projects to Cote d'Azur homes and property with a pool and a view. Explore our collections to shortlist by the way you want to live.
