Buying a small apartment in Paris

[thetallfairy]

Hello all

This has been a dream for around 20 years

I have managed to get a good deposit

But would love a reality check

I am an eu citizen

Anyone know of any success stories

Plan to retire there

Would
Love to know xxxxx

Ok did not realise that

French resident here- in my experience the buying process in France is so much better than the UK. Seek advice from a reputable estate agent. You basically pick your property and the agent does the rest. You need to know the area and understand paperwork.
do you speak French? That’s the biggie.
everything else can be ironed out with a good estate agent and a good notaire, but the key is you need to be able to understand. There are many services to help people relocate etc but I think the most important thing to protect yourself is that you understand what’s going on and can speak French! Especially into older age. I would not want to be somewhere I could not communicate when I am old. I will say the health service is excellent and I mean excellent. I am shocked when I hear treatment solutions offered by the NHS to friends family etc.. here it is quick, thorough and you have a lot of choice.
Sounds lovely, good luck! X

I agree buying is generally a good experience. Not sure about getting a mortgage as a no - resident though. But I think the Facebook groups mentioned previously could help. One thing to be aware of is once you have signed the “compromis de vente” which signals your intent to buy and basically takes the property off the market you are committed ( with some small exceptions). It’s not like the UK when chains can collapse right until the last minute so it’s a much less stressful experience in that regard.

The other great thing about buying in France is that it's so much less adversarial. The norm is to have just one notaire who deals with the sale and purchase paperwork and the legal costs are shared. You can appoint your own notaire too if you wish, we haven't done that either time.

Super helpful

Thanks all

Eeeek I'm ready to get going with this

I bought an apartment in France a few years ago. I don’t speak French and not an EU citizen and the process was super straightforward. I used a mortgage broker in the UK specialising in French mortgages.

You lucky thing!!!!

Did you find it more expensive this way?

Thanks all

Oh @thetallfairy this is MY DREAM!!

i would love the 5th Arrondisement

I'll be watching your thread with great intetest - please keep us posted, so exciting!!

I found buying in France far more straightforward than uk. But don’t rush it, take your time to pick the right place. Spend as much time there as possible.

You need to get onto the moving to Paris/France FB groups.

Can I come? Visited Montmartre in September - still loved it 👩‍🎨🎨

Do not buy anything in a very old block which is neglected...friend did this...eventually the whole building collapsed, was in national news, and he finally got money back from the insurance but found the whole system of maintenance etc was useless or non existent, door to building always broken so druggies etc all hanging about.

If you haven’t lived in Paris before maybe spend a few weeks there to get a feel of the different arrondissement as they are very different in feel/character. I used to live in the 15th and really liked it but would be more inclined to live in 12/16/17th if I went back now with a family.

Are you my mum?! Haha she always said exactly this.

Oooh will keep you updated xxx

Amazing thank you will take a closer look online this week

Whaaaat? Wow !!!!!! My gosh that's awful

Super helpful xxx

Room for everyone 🥳🥳😆😆😆

The flat was very cheap, old building, zero maintenance over the years...building next door had a flooded basement which went on for years and caused 2 blocks to collapse.

That’s not a flooded basement…that’s an indoor bathing pool for tenants only. Guys, it’s Paris. You gotta see it through the lens of a 19th absinthe bottle🙂

Will need to have my eyes wide open !!!!

Could be the greatest thing ever if I manage this 😬😬😆😆

Also, be very aware living somewhere and being there on holiday is VERY different.

I've lived in 4 different countries, one of which I dreamed I'd retire to, and there is only one I'd go back to live in. And it isn't my retirement dream country!

I have an apartment in France though in the Alps. Just be aware of the maintenance fees for the building.

Well so. Very true

Me and my rose tinted spectacles