How To Find And Buy Property In France Without Agency Fees

Have you decided to take advantage of the low real estate prices in France and invest in property there? Here are some tips about how to locate and purchase a ruin, house or castle, without spending to much on agency fees.

Start by picking the region, the area or even the village you would like to settle in. Next, search the object of your dreams in a well-targeted way. A very good first step in this case is the 'maire', the village mayor. In the villages, he will know exactly which house or plot is up for sale. He will consider it his duty to find buyers for the sellers. So if you ask him the question, he will be most happy to put you in touch with the owner. Who, in his place, will be happy to receive you since you were sent by the mayor! But even without the mayor, results can be obtained. Make a stop at the local bar and ask: "Je cherche la petite maison qui est à vendre. Savez-vous où elle est?" Of course they do not know where the little house is, since you have just invented it. But they do know of the huge farmhouse that will be up for sale soon. Or are you talking about the little house in ruin? You have now started a discussion and before you know it, you will have heard of all the property that has been for sale over the last year, is on sale at the moment and will be soon.

I have already tried this strategy myself - not on purpose but successfully! During one of my tours in the area in order to find property for sale, I had found a small house with a particularly unkempt garden, upon which I went to the bar to ask if by any chance it was up for sale. Within the next half hour they had told me about three other properties for sale. The owner of one of these properties, a cute little cottage, was just deceased, so it would surely be up for sale shortly. In these cases you don't hesitate. So I immediately wrote a letter to the local notary public asking if it might be for sale. In return, I received a rather annoyed letter, accusing me - not in so many words, of course - of being a vulture. In fact I really had not lost any time, because when the notary received my letter, the (ex)owner in question had not even been buried yet. Ouch.

Well, at least this proves that personal research can lead to surprising discoveries.

Buying from the owner

Once you have found a house for sale, the least expensive way to buy it, is by contacting its owner directly. When there is no real estate agent involved, there are no commission and no negotiation fees. This means considerable savings, as agencies will ask 6% to 10% commission on a sale. Private sales can be found on the web, as well as in local newspapers and in special editions specializing in ads. When in France, just ask at the reception of your hotel, at the local tobacconist's or baker's for "Le Bonjour", "ParuVendu" ou "Le journal des petites annonces". You will always find a header 'immobilier'. Many of the ads featured in this category will give you the name of an estate agency. But sometimes you will find the mention "part. à part." or "agences s'abstenir". This indicates a private sale, an owner who wishes to negotiate in person. Without the intervention of an estate agency. And without the added costs!

As a private seller, if you place an ad without mentioning the one or the other, you can be sure to be contacted by many estate agencies telling you they have a buyer, but in fact they just want to sell your house for you.

For the buyer, negotiations directly with the seller present more advantages than disadvantages. Because you are on a one to one basis with the seller, who cannot hide behind his estate agent. "So what about the estate agent's professional contribution?" will you now say. Well, he is not always perfectly objective (without wanting to harm the 'good' ones) and his interest is mainly to conclude the transaction as soon as possible, for the highest possible price. Remember, he is paid by the seller.

So, estate agent or not, in any case you have to make sure for yourself that you are not buying a cat in the bag.Bonne chasse!