Buying French property "is quite simple"

Britons who use an international money transfer to supply funds to purchase property in France are unlikely to have any major problems navigating the buying process, according to one expert.

Director for French property specialists Cle France Sharon Davis explained the housing market in the country is relatively easy to understand.

"It is a safe system, a well tried and tested system and it is quite simple and quite logical," she remarked, adding many of the "pitfalls" associated with buying a home in the UK, such as gazumping - where a seller raises the price after agreeing a deal with a buyer or opts to accept a different offer late in the process - do not exist in France.

"Gazumping doesn't really happen in France because the vendor is committed to the purchase early on in the process," she said.

However, Ms Davis noted the language barrier can be a potential problem and emphasised the importance of either dealing with an agent who speaks English, or bringing in a trusted intermediary who can liaise between the two parties.

Research published recently by BNP Paribas revealed there was worldwide demand for French property during 2010, with sales climbing 21 per cent on 2009 levels.

Trevor Leggett, chief executive of French international estate agency Leggett Immobilier, noted this climb was due partially to sellers setting sensible prices that take the current economic problems into consideration.

Ms Davis cited the slower pace of life as one reason why the country is so attractive to British buyers.

She stated many people "breathe a sigh of relief" when they get to the country, as they have a chance to escape the fast-paced lifestyle they have become accustomed to in Britain.

"Everything is so much slower," she observed, but concluded that this can occasionally be frustrating, especially for those who are trying to work.

Posted by Sarah Pitton

Click here to make an International Money transfer to France.