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Buying Property in France
A Data-Driven Investor Guide

How to use official French transaction data (DVF) to research prices, evaluate locations, and conduct due diligence — entirely in English.

The French property market at a glance

France has one of the most transparent real estate markets in Europe. Every property transaction is recorded by the tax authority (DGFiP) and made publicly available as the DVF dataset. This means you can verify asking prices against actual sale prices — something not possible in many markets.

17M+
Transactions since 2014
35,000+
Communes covered
6 months
Max data lag

How French property transactions work

Understanding the French system prevents expensive surprises. Key differences from the UK/US:

Notaire is mandatory
Unlike in the UK (solicitor optional) or US (title company handles it), French law requires a notaire (public officer) for all property transactions. The notaire handles due diligence, drafts both the preliminary contract (compromis de vente) and the final deed (acte de vente), and registers the transfer. Budget 7-8% of purchase price for notaire fees + transfer taxes.
Two-stage process
1. Compromis de vente (preliminary contract): Buyer pays 5-10% deposit. Seller is legally bound. Buyer has 10 days cooling-off period (SRU law). 2. Acte de vente (final deed): Typically 2-3 months later. Balance paid. Keys handed over.
Transfer tax (droits de mutation)
The tax that generates the DVF data. Typically 5.8% of sale price (varies slightly by département). Included in the 7-8% total acquisition cost. For new-build properties, TVA (20%) replaces droits de mutation.
No buyer's agent convention
In France, agents typically represent sellers. The 'agent immobilier' fee (3-8%) is usually paid by the seller but can be charged to buyers (check the mandate type). Fees are regulated and must be displayed.

Popular regions for foreign buyers

Paris & Île-de-France
Dept. 75, 77, 78, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95

Capital city premium, strong rental demand, international profile

Typical range: €7,000–14,000/m² (Paris), €3,000–6,000/m² (suburbs)
Côte d'Azur
Dept. 06, 83

Mediterranean lifestyle, Nice/Cannes/Antibes, international buyer pool

Typical range: €4,000–25,000/m² (seafront premium)
Pays Basque & Bordeaux
Dept. 33, 64

Surf culture, Biarritz, wine country, TGV access from Paris (2h)

Typical range: €3,500–6,000/m²
French Alps
Dept. 73, 74

Ski resorts (Chamonix, Méribel, Courchevel), year-round tourism

Typical range: €5,000–20,000/m² (ski resort stations)
Languedoc & Montpellier
Dept. 34, 30

Mediterranean climate, lower prices than Côte d'Azur, growing tech economy

Typical range: €2,500–4,500/m²
Brittany
Dept. 29, 22, 35, 56

Coastal lifestyle, lower prices, popular with UK buyers

Typical range: €1,500–4,000/m²

Price ranges are indicative from DVF data. Actual prices depend on property type, condition, and specific location within the area.

Using Normi for investment research

Verify asking prices

Get the median price/m² for similar properties in the same area, sold in the last 12-24 months. Compare to asking price. A property priced 15%+ above the median deserves scrutiny.

Ask: “What is the median price per m² for 3-bedroom apartments sold in Antibes (06600) in the last 24 months?”

Identify undervalued areas

Compare price trends across neighbouring communes. Areas with lower prices but similar characteristics (transport links, amenities) may indicate opportunity.

Ask: “Compare price per m² and year-over-year growth for apartments in Nice, Antibes, and Cannes.”

Assess market liquidity

Check transaction volume. A market with few annual transactions is harder to exit. Aim for areas with 50+ annual transactions of your property type.

Ask: “How many apartments sold in Megève (74120) in the last 12 months? Is the market active or slow?”

Research price history of a specific property

If the seller mentions renovation work or claims the property hasn't been on the market for 10 years, verify with the address history tool.

Ask: “Show me the transaction history for [specific address], code postal [XXXXX].”

Tax considerations for foreign buyers

Note: This is informational only. Consult a French tax specialist (fiscaliste) and a notaire before making investment decisions. Tax treaties vary by country.
Acquisition costs
7-8% of purchase price (transfer taxes + notaire fees). For new builds: VAT at 20% instead.
Rental income tax
Non-residents pay French income tax on rental income (20% minimum under French law, may be reduced by tax treaty). LMNP (furnished rental) regime offers favorable depreciation.
Capital gains tax
Non-residents pay 19% (EU) or 36.2% (non-EU) on capital gains, with taper relief after 5 years and full exemption after 22 years (income tax) / 30 years (social charges for EU residents).
IFI (Wealth tax)
Non-residents are subject to IFI only on their French real estate assets. Threshold: net property assets > €1.3M.

Start your French property research

Free account. Ask in English. Official DVF data on every French commune.

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