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A complete guide to acquiring a prestigious property in Paris — from defining your search to signing the final acte de vente. Everything international buyers need to know.
Purchasing a luxury apartment in Paris is one of the most rewarding investments an international buyer can make — but the process differs significantly from other markets. Understanding each step in advance is the key to a seamless acquisition.
Before beginning your property search, define your criteria with precision: arrondissement, surface area, floor, views, condition (turnkey or renovation potential), and intended use (primary residence, pied-à-terre, or investment). In the Paris luxury market, the most sought-after properties move quickly — buyers who are clear on their criteria close faster and better.
French banks offer mortgage financing to non-resident international buyers, typically up to 70–80% of the purchase price. Mortgage applications take 3–6 weeks. Having your financing pre-arranged before making an offer significantly strengthens your negotiating position. LuxuryFlatInParis works with bilingual mortgage advisors specialised in international clients.
Once you have identified your property, your agent presents a written offer (offre d'achat) to the seller. In the Paris luxury market, offers are typically at or near the asking price for well-presented properties. Negotiation margins of 2–5% are common; larger discounts are rare on prime properties.
The preliminary contract (compromis de vente) is signed by both parties, typically within 2–4 weeks of offer acceptance. At this stage, the buyer pays a deposit of 5–10% of the purchase price. The buyer then has a 10-day cooling-off period during which they may withdraw without penalty.
Between the compromis and the final acte, the notaire conducts title searches, verifies building regulations, confirms the absence of pre-emption rights, and reviews all diagnostic reports (asbestos, lead, energy performance, etc.). This period typically takes 2–3 months.
The final sale is signed before a notaire. The buyer pays the balance of the purchase price, plus notaire fees of approximately 7–8% of the purchase price for existing properties (2–3% for new builds). Keys are handed over at signing.
7–8%
Notaire fees (existing property)
Includes stamp duty (droits de mutation), notaire's fees and land registry costs. Reduced to 2–3% for new builds.
~1%
Agency fees
Typically 3–5% of purchase price, shared between buyer and seller or paid by seller only depending on the mandate.
IFI
Wealth tax on real estate
Applies to net real estate assets exceeding €1.3 million in France. Rates range from 0.5% to 1.5% above threshold.
France imposes no restrictions on foreign nationals purchasing property. Whether you are based in the US, UK, Gulf or Asia, you have the same rights as a French citizen to acquire real estate in Paris. LuxuryFlatInParis coordinates the full process — in English — from search to key handover.
Sami Saab responds personally to every inquiry. Tell us what you are looking for — we will do the rest.
Yes. France imposes no restrictions on foreign nationals purchasing property. International buyers have the same rights as French citizens.
From offer acceptance to final signature, the process typically takes 3 to 4 months, including the notaire due diligence period.
Budget approximately 7–8% of the purchase price for notaire fees on an existing property. Agency fees vary depending on the mandate structure.
Yes. French banks lend to non-resident international buyers, typically financing up to 70–80% of the purchase price.