Buy property in France in 2025: A Full Guide
Buying property in France is possible for Australians, and could be a good investment as a vacation place or somewhere to live yourself, now, or in the future. All in all there are many good reasons to buy property in France – and the good news is that you’re legally able to buy a home in France from Australia, with the same rights as a French citizen, or someone from Europe.
This guide covers all you need to start your research. And because buying a property is always a big investment, we’ll also touch on providers like Wise and OFX as good options to make cheap, fast and safe international transfers which could cut your costs when you buy.
Can Australian citizens buy property in France?
France does not have any additional laws for foreigners buying properties in the country. You can buy a property in France with the same process and legal rights as a French buyer would have.
What are the requirements to buy a house in France?
To buy a property in France you’ll need to have various documents available, such as:
- Proof of ID like your passport
- Proof of address, such as a utility bill
- Proof of funds like your bank statements
- Proof of the source of funds – which can vary, but which is required to prove the money you use to pay for your property is legally acquired
Because the property purchase process in France may be unfamiliar – and will be conducted in a foreign language – you’ll need to get a local real estate agent to act on your behalf. Finding someone you get on with, who has a good level of English, can make the process far easier to navigate.
How to buy a home in France step by step
Buying a home in France isn’t complicated, but you’ll need to prepare to work in a new language, and with different documentary requirements compared to in Australia. Here’s an outline of the normal process to buy a property in France, to give you an idea:
- Engage a real estate agent to help you find a home and act on your behalf during the purchase
Using a local real estate agent (agent immobilier) will make your purchase far easier to manage. They’ll be able to help lead negotiations and manage the transaction so you can continue with the purchase from a distance. And if you’re unfamiliar with the process of buying real estate in France, or if your French language isn’t up to scratch, a great real estate agent is essential. Find someone familiar with working with foreign buyers so you’ll know you can get all the support you need.
- Find the right home and negotiate a sale price
Property searches are likely to start online – we’ll have some good agents to look at, a little later. Once you’ve got an idea of where you want to buy, you can make in person visits supported by your real estate agent. Then when you’ve spotted the right place for you, it’s time to negotiate a sales price.
- Agree and sign the Compromis de Vente
The Compromis de Vente is the preliminary sales agreement, which your real estate agent can help you with. You’ll sign in front of a notary, and then a 10 day cooling off period begins to allow you to get everything lined up for paying the deposit. After the 10 days are up you need to have paid the deposit – usually 10% of the purchase price.
- Complete all due diligence checks
Your legal support team can help you decide which due diligence checks are needed based on the type and age of property. Getting a Dossier de Diagnostic Technique or DDT report is usually advised – a report and survey of the structure of the property. You’ll also be able to use this time to finalise any last paperwork which is needed.
- Complete by signing the acte de vente, and pay the remaining funds
Once everything is in order you can complete the purchase and pay the outstanding amount to the seller, your lawyer and the tax department. You’ll need to sign the acte de vente which demonstrates you’re the new owner of the home.
As you can see, there are several large payments involved in buying a property in France as an Australian. You’ll need to pay your down payment and then the balance of the purchase price, naturally, but there will also be legal costs and tax to consider. When you’re sending money overseas from Australia, using a specialist provider like Wise could mean you get a faster service – and a lower fee – compared to using your bank. Be sure to shop around before you make any international transfers, to keep down your costs as far as possible, and avoid unnecessary fees and delays.
How much does it cost to buy property in France?
There’s an enormous mixture of different property types in France – which comes with an enormous mix of price tags. Buying a larger property will normally be more expensive than somewhere of a smaller size, as you’d expect. The age of the property also matters, with older properties often far cheaper than new builds. Location is then the key determinant factor. Shopping around will be crucial to find a place which fits your needs – and your budget.
Once you’ve found the right property, you’ll also need to take into account a few extra costs, which can include:
- Transfer tax – around 6% of the purchase cost
- Notary fees – around 8% of the purchase cost
- Legal fees – which vary depending on the purchase details
New build properties may have extra taxes in addition to this.
Aside from property costs, international transfer fees and marked up exchange rates can also contribute to costs when you’re making an overseas property purchase. Non bank providers like Wise and OFX offer cheap, fast and secure international transfers. Take a look at these providers compared to your bank – to see if you can cut out a few fees here to bring down your overall cost. Wise offers an automatic discount for higher transfers and OFX can offer competitive rates for large transfers as well. Here’s a summary:
- Wise: Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate and offers low cost, high-value transfers with discounts of up to 0.17% on fee costs. Transfers are typically completed within 1–2 business days.
- OFX: OFX doesn’t have maximum transfer limits meaning you can send as much currency as you need to, making them a good option for substantial property transactions.
Cheapest places to buy property in France
As a general rule, the cheapest places to find property in France will be in the rural areas and in the centre of the country. These areas are not as close to popular destinations in the mountains and on the coasts, and may not have quite as good transport links as some of the larger cities.
When you’re choosing a place to buy in France you’ll need to weigh up the costs and the convenience of different areas to make sure you get the right balance for your own unique situation.
Factors affecting the house prices
The primary factors affecting property prices are location and property type. Other factors include government policies, supply and demand, and in the case of buyers from overseas, the relative strength of the currency.
Ongoing costs of buying a home in France
The ongoing costs of maintaining your home in France will depend a lot on whether you’re planning on living there, using it for holidays or renting it out. Some things to consider include the following:
- Mortgage interest – or other fees if you finance your purchase with a loan
- Maintenance – costs of upkeep on the property, whether or not you live there
- Utilities – bills for water, electricity and so on if you’re in the home
- Security – you may decide to pay for security if you’ve bought a holiday home or investment and won’t be there yourself
- Repairs – don’t let your property depreciate by allowing maintenance to lapse
Is it a good idea to buy a house as an investment in France?
You should take professional advice before you buy a property as an investment – in France or anywhere else. Property values do change, and the value of your place may go down as well as up.
If growing your investment is the key priority for you, make sure you cut out all unnecessary costs when buying your property in France by using a money transfer service like Wise or OFX.
Pros and cons of buying property in France
| Pros of buying property in France | Cons of buying property in France |
|---|---|
| ✅ Large range of property types and prices
✅No restrictions placed on foreign buyers ✅Lots of bilingual real estate agents and lawyers available to support your purchase ✅ Desirable place to live, work, retire or take holidays |
❌ Property prices are high in many major cities and coastal resorts
❌ You’ll incur additional legal and agent fees in most cases ❌ There is a risk that your property will lose value if markets are volatile |
Should you rent or buy a house in France?
If you’re moving to France, the decision to buy or rent may simply come down to your long term plans. If you’re planning on staying a long time – or want an investment – buying could be tempting. But renting is also a good option if you’re testing the market or don’t have the funds right now to buy.
What’s the property market like in France?
The French property market enjoyed years of growth before experiencing a correction in the past couple of years. This has seen slowing, and in some cases, decreasing prices – in particular in places which saw huge growth previously. You’ll need to continue to watch the market to see how it develops in future – slowing prices can present an opportunity for long term investors, but it’s not the right market for all buyers.
There’s no way to predict the future of house prices. The market will move based on supply and demand, as well as external forces such as government rules and – for foreign buyers – currency costs. Keep an eye on emerging trends to inform your decisions.
Financing a property purchase in France
Your basic options for financing your new french property will include getting a mortgage or loan in France or in Australia, or paying for the place from your savings.
Whether or not you can get a local loan for a foreign property will come down to your relationship with your bank. You may find using a broker helps you to access a better range of mortgages for an overseas purchase.
Some French lenders will offer mortgages and loans to foreign property buyers, but the rules tend to be strict and there’s a good chance you’ll need a significant deposit. Usually lenders will only offer around 70% of the purchase price to foreign non-resident buyers. This may mean that you need to pay for some – or even all – of your new home in France with your own funds and savings.
If you have the savings you could buy a property in France outright, and avoid interest and other costs associated with taking a loan. If you’re paying for your French property purchase from Australia and need to send a high value payment, check out Wise which offers large and secure transfers with the mid-market rate and fee discounts on large transfers.
Paying property tax in France
Various taxes may be due on your French property, depending on where it is and whether or not you live in it full time. You may need to pay a tax called taxe foncière to the local authorities, and if you’re renting the property out tax is also owed on the income generated for example. If you’re unsure what to pay, or how to pay it, take local advice as soon as you can.
Tips for foreigners to buy property in France
Here are a few final thoughts on buying a property in France as a foreigner:
- Foreigners can buy properties in France with the same legal rights as a local
- Buying a property in France will not give you a visa automatically
- Property prices vary enormously – having a local realtor on side can be the best way to learn about the options in the area you’re interested in
- When sending money to France for your purchase, check out and compare a few different money transfer services like Wise and OFX, to make sure you get the best available deal
How to find a France property
You’ll want to start your search for properties in France using online platforms, real estate agents, and local listings. Umbrella websites like those we’ll cover in a moment are a great place to get a feel for the property prices and options on different places in France. You can filter based on price, features and location in many cases, to narrow down your search to places which may be of specific interest.
France property websites
Different sites have their own niches, but there are options specialising in expat and foreign buyers which can be a good pick. Here are a few you may want to consider to jump start your search:
Conclusion
Buying property in France as an Australian should be fairly straightforward. There are no additional rules or eligibility requirements to buy a place in France as a foreigner compared to buying as a local. You’ll simply need to make sure you have local support – a great real estate agent and lawyer – to guide you through the process and help if the language gets tricky.
This guide gives you some resources to start your search for a new home in France. Before you make any payments from AUD to EUR, be sure to look at providers like Wise and OFX which can be helpful when buying property abroad, with fast, cheap and secure international transfers, with good exchange rates.
FAQs on Buying Property in France
Can Australian citizens buy property in France?
Yes. There are no additional rules or eligibility requirements to buy a place in France as a foreigner compared to buying as a local.
How much deposit do you need to buy a property in France?
A deposit on a property in France is usually 10% of the purchase price, payable when you’ve signed the preliminary sales agreement.
Is France a good country to buy property?
Depending on your needs, property in France can be a place to live, work, study, retire or vacation. Property can also be an investment used for rentals. Take professional advice before you decide to invest, and get a team on side including a local realtor and lawyer to ensure your property purchase goes through hassle free.
