Property market

Property slump eases in France but sellers still need to be patient

The drop in prices is steadying but the situation is not the same across the country

Small increase in notaire fees for property buyers expected in France

The fee is expected to generate revenue of €30 million a year to fight against coastal erosion

More owners will pay French empty home tax in December 2024

The criteria for charging the taxe sur les logements vacants (TLV) were extended last year

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Marseille looks to be latest French city to crackdown on Airbnb rentals

Mayor of the city also plans to ‘wage war on slum landlords’, and improve social housing

Financial help is available for workers who move in France

The aid available depends on your income, family size, and reason for moving

MAP: see where property prices have dropped the most in Paris

Drops of around 10% (up to €1,100 less per m2 in real terms) have been seen in several arrondissements. Only one has not seen a significant drop

Where in France are people now negotiating most off a property?

Some towns are seeing price drops of 9%

Interest rates for loans to buy property in France continue to fall

The drop may help kickstart the market as banks and politicians explore new ways to boost home sales

PHOTO: The French chateau for sale for… €425 million

The listing price is the highest ever for a property in France

How much can property buyers in France negotiate down prices in 2024?

An explosion in the number of homes on sale coupled with a drop in values - and looming new energy efficiency rules - is opening up opportunities

La Rochelle, Antibes, Paris: The most expensive streets in France

Highest property prices in cities and towns revealed in new report

French property watch: Why buy in Mayenne and what prices to expect

Gently rolling hills and dairy farms dominate this north-western department in the Pays de la Loire

House hunters in France ignore flood risks for better location

Recently flooded properties are still selling say estate agents - how to check if an address is at risk

American buyers help French chateau market avoid downturn

Rising running costs mean more chateaux up for sale but US buyers still see great value for money

French property watch: Marne offers proximity to Paris and champagne

House prices are high in Reims but bargains can be found elsewhere in the north-eastern department

12 key Q&As for anyone selling a property in France

Documents, charges, capital gains, notaires…we answer key questions

Is now the right time to buy or sell property in France?

Experts give their opinion as a drop in house prices is predicted and sales volumes fall

Timing is key when buying French coastal apartments

A study shows buyers could avoid soaring prices by waiting for a sufficient number of newly developed properties to be sold first

Rural house prices boost, €12,000 homes: five French property updates

Plus Matisse’s former flat up for sale, France’s rent cap extended and food waste bins mandatory in flats from next year

French property watch: Why buy in Loire-Atlantique and average prices

We look at what the department has to offer and how much you get for your money

French property updates: Point system to limit second homes, form tips

We also look at a couple’s issues over the ‘delivery guarantee’ for a newly built home and the continuing row over cooking smells from a crêperie

Latest data on how house prices have changed in your corner of France

New figures show a drop in values in the north of France. Price growth elsewhere has slowed

Swimming pool still adds value to French property despite droughts

An increased selling price might look attractive but do not forget running costs, increased taxes and water bans

Warning for homeowners in France as monthly property prices fall

Tourist hotspots and the second-home market are the exceptions as property values dip across all other sectors

Seven property trends highlighted by latest French notaire data

Property prices rise across France, Paris bucks apartments trend and first-time buyers struggle

MAP: See where house prices have risen the most in France

Price increases in all departments, reaching 25% in one the latest notaire data shows

Quirky property: Family turn laboratory into cut-price home near Paris

Change of use needed and a flood risk - how a 1980s lab offered a cheaper way to set up home in the French capital’s suburbs

French property market: what notaires and experts expect for 2023

A good energy-efficiency rating has become a sought-after factor, linked to high electricity prices

Price negotiation, free electricity: Five French property updates

We also look at ownership rules after 30 years of non-contested use of a piece of land or property and efforts to sell Johnny Hallyday’s house

Why French property prices are expected to fall 5-10% in 2023

People will find it more difficult to buy and sell their homes as a dynamic property market stalls, inflation affects spending power and mortgage rates increase

French property watch: Why buy in Jura and what prices to expect

The department’s spectacular valleys, lakes and mountains make it popular with outdoor enthusiasts and second-homers

House prices, empty homes tax, energy concerns: French property update

We also look at liability when building work goes wrong and the French city that has made private outdoor space obligatory in new apartments

Detached French house to be auctioned with reserve price of €8,000

The Oise property, which is said to require some renovation work, is being sold in a judicial auction, in which members of the public can bid through a lawyer

French property watch: More new builds than bargains in affluent Isère

Plots of land are widely advertised in this popular department – but you’ll need deep pockets

French property sales: Why do some listings not have energy ratings?

We look at the meaning of the terms ‘non soumis à DPE’, ‘DPE non fourni’ and ‘DPE vierge’

MAP: Latest house price rises in France - how has your area fared?

Some areas have seen increases of 17% and even 22% in a year, the latest data from notaires shows

Seven key points from latest notaire data on French property sales

The report shows that house sales in France are starting to steady although some areas have seen 17% plus price rises in a year

MAP: See where apartment prices have risen the most in France

The apartment market in Paris has remained fairly consistent but other areas have boomed, the latest data from notaires shows

French property watch: Indre-et-Loire champions finer things in life

From exquisite chateaux to ‘the most bourgeois city in France’, nothing about this department is mundane

Small towns escape price rise slowdown: French property market trends

Some smaller towns are still seeing rises of almost 20% in a year. We also look at the effect of energy ratings on the market

Home energy efficiency: Key dates for property owners in France

Use our easy-read timeline to see the dates which may affect the sale or rental of your property depending on its energy efficiency rating

Can I pull out of a house sale in France after making a written offer?

We look into whether purchasers who have signed a formal offre d’achat can cancel without consequences if they have a change of heart

French property watch: Indre has aeronautics without sky-high prices

The aviation industry keeps on growing but houses here remain affordable, especially in the countryside

See the French cities where properties sell quickest (and slowest)

Covid has had an impact on the length of time it takes for properties to be snapped up. Our table shows that evolution in 50 of the country’s biggest cities

Map: Where rural French house prices have risen (and fallen) the most

The Covid pandemic led to a boom in countryside house sales – we look at how prices have been affected

Property watch: Hérault - good value houses away from Montpellier

Charles de Gaulle turned a swampy department into a holiday playground with the fastest growing population in France in the last 50 years

‘Slowdown ahead’: Five French property trends from latest notaire data

France’s notaires network warns of a potential property market slowdown linked to high inflation in the coming months

French property watch: High class living in Gers

Immensely popular among Britons, this department offers all the delights of small-village lifestyle

Energy certificate rules could see house prices fall in France

The Paris market is most likely to be hit by new regulations, which might see landlords selling on properties with low ratings rather than trying to improve them

Can I buy a house in France that is not for sale?

We look into whether this is possible and whether there is an official way to register interest in a property that is not on the market

How do I set a fair price on my French house that I want to sell?

For years, only tax officers and notaires had access to government databases recording property transactions to see sale prices but this has now changed

French property watch: Gard - new destination for early retirees

With typical Mediterranean features, this department is becoming more and more popular among those looking to enjoy their golden years

Sales, cheap château, rent: Five updates for property owners in France

In our weekly roundup we also look at the rules for building a wall, fence or hedge and how to apply for planning permission online

House prices soar in France: ‘Covid effect’ leads to property shortage

A new study suggests that a 22% drop in the availability of properties for sale since the start of the pandemic has caused prices to rise

French village sells houses with 25% discount by raffle draw

The €300,000 family homes are part of a local initiative to make housing for locals more affordable in the area

Haggling, insurance, leaks: Five updates for property owners in France

We look at where buyers are able to get better prices, where the cheapest insurance policies are – hint, it is not Paris – and a jail sentence for building a chalet illegally

Bargain homes: Eight properties for less than €50,000 in France

A houseboat, a cottage, a mobile home and a charming country house are all within budget

Second homes, price rises: Four updates for property owners in France

We look at how Brexit has affected the British market and big increase in property prices in the west of the country

MAPS: How rent prices vary between France’s major cities

Paris, unsurprisingly, is the most expensive - and Saint-Etienne the least expensive

How to know which French housing zone you live in and what it changes

The zones reflect how competitive the local property market is and can lead to differences in your eligibility for certain benefits

Shared walls, €7,800 house, notaire fees: Five French property updates

We look at a court ruling on who owns walls on the edge of properties, tips to reduce notaire fees and a very low priced house in Brittany that had buyers scrambling to bid

Latest notaire data: Where are property prices rising most in France?

Full property figures have been released for the third quarter of 2021, showing trends, the effect of Brexit, projections and more. Several areas saw double figure rises

Where do you find the cheapest second homes in France?

The largest group of non-French homeowners (all homes) are the British, who own 86,000 second homes in France

Second homes in France: Where is most popular?

The Haute-Alpes has the highest percentage of French-owned second homes, with the Var the most popular department in absolute terms - but Paris most impacted by “the Airbnb effect”, figures show.

Selling a second home in France: What has Brexit changed?

French Tax Online outlines how Britons owning a property in France that is not their primary residence will be affected if they decide to sell

French property news: Our December 2021 round-up

From how buyers can save money on notaires’ fees, to new charges for people refusing a ‘Linky’ meter and changes to the Pinel buy-to-let scheme… our pick of recent news and updates

Property prices falling in Paris as buyer priorities change

A ‘two tier’ market is emerging depending on the type of property, estate agents say, with fears over energy costs and a rise in people leaving Paris also having an impact

Property prices in France up 7.4% on average in a year

Non new-build houses outside of Paris have seen the biggest price increases due to the ‘longevity of remote working’ since the start of the health crisis

French Atlantic coast property prices rise by up to 29% in five years

It comes amid protests against second-home owners and holiday homes

French property market news: Our November round-up

From rising house prices and record transactions to home insulation grants and the sale of a private island, here is our pick of recent stories for property owners in France

Property sales explode in Côtes-d’Armor, Brittany since Covid

Prices have jumped by more than 40% in some areas to set new records but remain some of the most affordable in the region

Rising price of property in France below average for European Union

French property prices increased by 38% in the past 15 years, compared to 46% across the EU

9-15% house price rises in year in Ile-de-France and west France

The health crisis has driven buyers to city suburbs and smaller towns in bid for more space

Brexit and Covid 'silver lining' for home sales in France

Dual effect of Britons buying to establish residency in France before Brexit and French residents wanting to escape cities has given the market a lift

€440,000 bid on €1m French property after no one buys it

Historic former public building had been on the market for more than five years before going to auction