Posts Tagged ‘french mortgage checklist’

French Mortgages won’t lead to Capital Gains Tax on French homes

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

With Capital Gains Tax in the news in the UK, here’s the French position.

No capital gains tax is payable to the French government on the sale of a principal residence by a French resident (and taxpayer) whatever their nationality. You just have to pay the Notaire’s fees and repay your French mortgage.

For second homes CGT is levied at 16% for EU residents with French residents paying an extra 11% social charges, while non-EU residents are charged 33%.  The Notaire will collect the tax at the point of sale.

However, capital gains tax is reduced progressively by 10% per year after 5 years’ ownership, so there is no tax to pay after 15 years. The cost of improvements carried out by French-registered contractors can be deducted from the capital gain between buying and selling prices. French residents also pay CGT on the sale of a second home, wherever it is situated. They too are exempt from capital gains tax on the sale of a second home after 15 years ownership.

If you are thinking of relocating to France, where Capital Gains are treated differently, Best French Mortgage can organise a mortgage for your French home at the best rates from the best French banks.

Best French Mortgage are the leading online French mortgage broker:

Click here to apply for your French Mortgage.

Mayday, Mayday

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

May 1, La Fête du Travail (Labour Day), is one of most important Bank Holidays in France. Apart from the boulangerie selling fresh bread and breakfast croissants just about everything else in France is closed. That includes Estate Agents, banks, petrol stations, food shops, other retailers and public services.  Many French people make it a long weekend, so you may also find businesses closed on Friday.

Be aware that this year May 8, May 13 and May 24 are also public holidays in France, although generally supermarkets will be open for part of the day.

 
Best French Mortgage online portal will always be open, of course, so you will still be able to apply for a French mortgage and organise your financials before house-hunting resumes next week. We will find you the best French mortgage from top tier French banks and mortgage providers. We don’t charge clients for our mortgage broking services.

Best French Mortgage are the leading online French mortgage broker:

Click here to apply for your French Mortgage.

Pâques 2010 – Easter in France

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Easter weekend begins on Friday 2 April. The French call it Vendredi Saint and although it’s not an official Bank Holiday, many people start their Easter holidays on Good Friday.
 
Easter Day (Sunday 4 April) is traditionally celebrated with Church bells, chocolate treats and a sumptuous family dinner. As well as Easter eggs, there are Easter bells, Easter bunnies, Easter fish, Easter nests and exquisite dark chocolates for adults. Nearly everyone in France eats lamb on Easter Sunday.
 
Monday 5 April is a public holiday and Estate Agents do not open. However, by Tuesday it’s business as normal and the spring season brings a whole new set of properties to market. French property continues to represent good value and a sound investment. Completions in France can take up to three months, so if you want to spend your summer holiday in your new French home, now is the time to move forward on your purchase.

 
Best French Mortgage continue to arrange mortgages with First Tier French banks at the best rates and with the best terms. Contact us as soon as you find the right property and we will immediately start to find you the best French mortgage for your personal circumstances.
 
Best French Mortgage are the leading online French mortgage broker:

Click here to apply for your French Mortgage.

Compromis de Vente

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

The Compromis de Vente is a legally binding bill of sale. Once both the seller and buyer have signed the Compromis, and the buyer has had 7 days reflection, there’s no backing out for either party.  A Compromis may be drawn up by an registered Estate Agent or a Notaire.

The Compromis must describe the property fully including not just the size and location of the property and outbuildings, but also any fixtures and fittings included in the sale. The price is also fixed at this point.

There are 3 types of conditions which may be included in the Compromis de Vente: Conditions générales, Conditions particulières and Conditions suspensives.

Conditions générales mean for example that the buyer takes possession on the day of completion and becomes liable for property taxes and that the seller doesn’t sell off part of the property before then.

Conditions particulières would be written into the contract if the seller agreed, for example, to complete repairs before the sale date. If the condition is not fulfilled by the sale date, you may not withdraw from the purchase but you can ask the Notaire to retain some of the purchase price from the seller until the matter is put right.

Conditions suspensives are clauses which, if not realised, allow the purchaser to withdraw. If you are looking to buy with a French mortgage, you must have a condition suspensive in the Compromis de Vente which allows you to withdraw from the purchase if you are refused a mortgage.

You may be offered a promesse de vente (promesse unilatérale de vente) by a developer, which is an option to buy a property granted to the buyer by the owner. A promesse de vente is at a specified price and good for a specific duration.

And, for commercial premises there is a  promesse d’achat where the buyer commits to buy a property in the case where the owner wants to sell it.

As soon as you sign the Compromis de Vente or equivalent document, you must start to look for a mortgage if you need one. Best French Mortgage will get the ball rolling as soon as we hear from you.

Best French Mortgage are the leading online French mortgage broker:

Click here to apply for your French Mortgage.

French Mortgage Glossary and Vocabulary of Terms

Monday, January 18th, 2010

The Best French Mortgage glossary of French mortgage, housing and property terms includes the essential terms, words and vocabulary (including technical and legal terms) related to French property purchase and French mortgages.

This glossary should cover most of the terms you will need to understand to obtain a French mortgage but if you come across a term which you don’t understand and which is not listed here contact us and we will send you an explanation.

Visit our updated French Mortgage Glossary and Vocabulary of Terms page.

Click here to apply for one of our 90% French Mortgages.

©BestFrenchMortgage

French Home Information Packs HIPS (Diagnostiques)

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

When you buy a French property the French government require that a number of “diagnostiques” equivalent to the UK Home Information Pack (HIPS) scheme are carried out as part of the French property transaction. All French property sellers are required to organise (and pay for) the appropriate tests before a Compromis de Vente can be signed, and as a buyer of property in France you are entitled to know what is in these home condition reports.

Visit our updated French Home Information Pack page.

Click here to apply for one of our 90% French Mortgages.

©BestFrenchMortgage

French Mortgage Checklist

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Our comprehensive French mortgage checklist to help you get organised to purchase your French Property using a French Mortgage. French Mortgages have many different characteristics and requirements but by following our French mortgages checklist you can save time, effort, money and be quickly settled in your French Property and without any unpleasant surprises.

Visit our updated French Mortgage Checklist page.

Click here to apply for one of our 90% French Mortgages.

©BestFrenchMortgage