Buying guide · France · 2026
Buying a house in France: the steps and the real costs
Anyone can buy a house in France, from any country. In 2025, 20,285 houses sold for €5,000 to €50,000. On top of the price you pay a transfer tax, the notary's fee and a small register fee. This page shows each one, with the official source.
- Transfer tax
- 6.32%
- Lowest transfer tax
- 5.09%
- Notary's fee on €35,000
- €733
- Time to change your mind
- 10 days
of the price in 86 of 96 départements
in Indre
with 20% VAT
after you sign the compromis
Every tax and fee on this page links to its official source. We checked them on 30 September 2026. Rules change, and this is not legal advice. Ask the notary or the tax office before you sign.
The steps
1. Find a house and make an offer
Most houses sell through a local agency. You can make a written offer (offre d'achat). The seller can say yes, no, or ask for more.
2. Sign the compromis de vente
This is the first contract. After you sign it, you have 10 days to change your mind without a reason and without a cost (Notaires de France).
3. Wait while the notary checks
The notary checks the title and the plans for the land, and prepares the deed. This takes some weeks or months.
4. Sign the deed at the notary
You sign the acte authentique and pay the price, the taxes and the fees through the notary. From that day, the house is yours.
5. Pay the taxe foncière every year
The owner on 1 January pays the property tax for the year. The commune sets the rate, so the amount differs from place to place (Service-Public.fr).
Taxes and fees
The notary collects all of these when you sign the deed. People call the total "frais de notaire", but most of it is tax.
| What | Rate or amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax, part for the département | 3.80% to 5.00%. Most départements raised it to 5.00% from 2025. | DGFiP table, 1 June 2026, Service-Public.fr |
| Transfer tax, part for the commune | 1.20% | CGI art. 1584 |
| Fee for the State on the département part | 2.37% of that part | CGI art. 1647 |
| Transfer tax, total | 6.32% in most départements, 5.09% in Indre | Sum of the three lines above |
| First main home | The raised rate does not apply if you buy your first main home. You pay 4.50% or less for the département part. | Service-Public.fr |
| Notary's fee (émoluments) | 3.870% on the first €6,500, 1.596% from €6,500 to €17,000, 1.064% from €17,000 to €60,000, 0.799% above €60,000. Plus 20% VAT. | Service-Public.fr |
| Land register fee (CSI) | 0.10% of the price, at least €15 | CGI art. 879 |
| Notary's costs for documents (débours) | Not fixed. Ask the notary for a written estimate. | Service-Public.fr |
| Taxe foncière, every year | Set by the commune | Service-Public.fr |
A worked example
In 2025, the middle house that sold for under €50,000 in France cost €35,000 (DVF, 20,285 sales). Here is what it costs to buy one as a second home, in a département with the usual rate and in Indre, which has the lowest rate. The notary's costs for documents come on top.
| What you pay | Creuse (6.32%) | Indre (5.09%) |
|---|---|---|
| House price | €35,000 | €35,000 |
| Transfer tax | €2,211 | €1,782 |
| Notary's fee (with VAT) | €733 | €733 |
| Land register fee | €35 | €35 |
| Total | €37,979 | €37,549 |
Who can buy
Anyone can buy a house in France. Buyers from the US, the UK and every other country need no permit.
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