Step by step buyers guide

At totallyVillefranche our aim is to demystify the process of buying your property in France. These are the ten steps to purchase your place in the sunny South of France. Readers can also refer to our glossary of terms.
       
One: Email us or give us a call to chat about your prospective purchase. Our price guide is useful for checking what you can get for your budget whether it's EUR100,000 or EUR1,000,000. We will find a list of properties that match your budget and specification from Villefranche's leading estate agents. Perhaps you'd like a small apartment in a quiet street, a typically French pied-a-terre with a balcony or a modern property with a sea view.
       
Two: We will send a comprehensive list of properties to you. Tell us the date of your visit and we can even advise on places to stay so that you can make your trip into a holiday.
       
Three: When you arrive we'll tour the area viewing your list of properties. We can answer any queries you may have about mortgages, property law or the area of Nice that we are visiting. Most of our clients choose to split up their viewings with a coffee or lunch so they can take in the atmosphere of the old village.
       
Four: If you see a place you like and wish to make an offer, we will accompany you to the estate agent handling the purchase for you to make your offer verbally.

Five: If you're offer is accepted then you can sign the Compromis de Vente, which is a preliminary sales contract stating that both the buyer and seller agree to trade the property for an agreed price. This can be signed in person or by post. After this is signed you have seven days to think about your purchase. If you are not happy in any way then you can walk away from the deal having lost nothing.
      
Six: One then needs to employ a notary, or notaire, who ensures that the documents signed are of authentic and incontestable value. The notaire is a publicly appointed and utterly impartial figure who normally acts for both the buyer and seller. totallyVillefranche can recommend the services of English-speaking notaires, or you may visit the notaire's office in nearby Nice and select your own. The fee for the notaire is set by the French government, which is paid when you complete your purchase. As totallyVillefranche do not charge you a single Euro for our service, the notaire's fee is the only charge to add on to your budget.
      
Seven: You must then pay a deposit on your property to the notaire as defined by the Compromis de Vente. This is almost always 10%. When you sign the Compromis de Vente it will have a clause saying that if the buyer backs out of the purchase they will lose their deposit, while if the seller backs out the deposit is returned along with a fee for breach of contract.
      
Eight: It's time to