Searching for Properties for sale in Brittany or France: An Overview
When looking at properties for sale in Brittany France it is tempting to keep trawling the internet looking at property for sale in Brittany, hoping to spot that bargain property in Brittany amongst the many thousands of French property websites that a search on www.google.com discovers, for example Brittany Properties finds 721000 replies at the last count. That is a lot of Brittany Property (in fact a mind boggling search for Brittany property brings 4370000 responses!)
However, if you are reading articles on www.brittany-properties.com then you are probably looking for some independant advice - GOOD! - Please consider being realistic, the best property for sale in Brittany can only really be found by being here in Brittany, and be honest, could a trip looking for property for sale in France really be that painfull? Well actually, it could be if you don't do your homework first, so read on . . . . . . this is essential reading
Step One When looking for a Property for Sale in Brittany or France: Know your Requirements
The first step when looking for a property in Brittany France is to discuss it with your nearest and dearest. Are they as enthusiastic as you about owning a Longere in Loudeac, a cottage in Carnac or a Neo Breton in Noyal Pontivy? Do you, or they, even know what these terms mean or where these places are and what they have to offer? If not, why not look at our guide to the styles of property for sale in Brittany by clicking HERE.
So, step one - communicate with your family about your dream of owning a house in Brittany and if they are enthusiastic, make a list of the essential criteria you are looking for in your Brittany property, keeping it reasonably short. You should refer back to your list continually when comparing the properties for sale that you have seen in Brittany or France and consider changes to it as you gain in experience.
Step Two When searching for Properties for sale in Brittany or France: Where to look?
The UK Agencies
Step two when looking for Brittany properties for sale is where to look in search of that perfect Brittany property. Historically, Uk buyers used to visit French property exhibitions and find French property specialists who at best organised viewing trips to look at properties for sale in France with legally registered agencies. The better ones were experienced and ethical, booking achievable itineraries to view property and reserving pleasant accommodation in advance - giving people an agreeable experience of viewing properties for sale in Brittany. This level of experience and assistance has a cost, as my Gran was wont to say "you don't get owt fer nowt!"
Unfortunately, where there are profits to be had, the unscrupulous jump onto the band-wagon and a "sub-culture" of profiteering, so called "French property experts" was created. This type of UK agent simply kept a list of tempting property for sale in an effort to get you to visit properties for sale in Brittany France with "their" network of usually unregistered "advisors", "translators" or "property search agents" - often booking people into their frequently sub-standard "gite" in an effort to both get some more money out of viewers and also to have a chance to brow-beat them into purchasing a property in Brittany, whether or not suitable. All this wrapped in "Marketing Speak" to sound very similar to the service being provided by the better agencies for those seeking property for sale in Brittany or France. A word of advice, there are enough other options available to you in your search for property in Brittany France that you should avoid these "band-wagon" agents.
Step Three When searching for Properties for sale in Brittany or France: The Internet - How to use it Intelligently
Unfortunately, in some ways, the explosion of the internet has now further complicated the search for properties for sale in Brittany France. Anybody can create a beautiful and plausible web site presenting property for sale in Brittany France - promising you the perfect homes for sale in Brittany and "hand holding" to ensure the process of purchasing a property in France passes smoothly. It has also given the perfect opportunity for often so called private sellers of properties in Brittany to present their property for sale direct to potential purchasers, saving them agency fees or commissions etc. as a major incentive to find that bargain property in Brittany.
HOWEVER - Caveat emptor - should be your key phrase at this stage of searching for properties for sale in Brittany or France. LET THE BUYER BEWARE ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caveat_emptor )
"Why?", I can hear you cry, "what can we do, how can we tell, should we just forget about looking for a property for sale in Brittany or France?"
"NO" is the reply I will give you, as buying a property in Brittany or France is one of the safest places in the World to do so, just as long as you know and follow the rules:
The Golden Rule when searching for Property in Brittany France - Particularily on the Internet
Is the website you are looking at displaying properties for sale in Brittany France legally? If not, look elsewhere, as browsing endless websites full of meaningless promises and non-existent properties for sale in Brittany France will only cloud your judgement and could well lead you on a disappointing trail of expense and complications. There are thousands of registered estate agents in Brittany France, many hundreds of Notaires, including English speaking ones (see English speaking Notaires ) Why run the risk of searching for Brittany properties with unregistered and therefore unregulated "Agents"? Any property for sale in Brittany that you find on the internet with an illegal or unregistered "agent" will be for sale with a registered one - and it isn't necessarily cheaper to buy direct - or why would the unregistered "agent" be trying to get you to see it with them? Because they want your money, thats why!
How can you tell if someone is legal? Simply by checking if the website is run by a professional company, and preferably one who belongs to a regulatory organisation - currently there are only two in France. The SNPI and the FNAIM. Check that there are verifiable contact details listed on the website - if you can't find an address or a landline telephone number then what and why are they trying to hide? You won't find contact details for www.brittany-properties.com as we are too outspoken to want to publicise who we are - we now have many enemies amongst the unregistered fraternity of illegal property agents in Brittany. You will however find full contact details for any of the agents offering properties for sale - which is the important,indeed, essential part.
To check if any person is registered to trade in France, and this applies to anyone from a gardener to a builder, ask for their Siret number and check it here: ( checking a French siret number )If they don't have one, or a search doesn't come up with them, then avoid them! If they make any excuses as to why they havn't got one WALK AWAY - they are trading illegally. No excuses - a UK Ltd company is not a legal option for trading in France, regardless of any mumblings about Europe ( Trading in France as a UK Ltd Company )
In addition, anybody being paid to assist with a real estate transaction in France has to be registered by law (see The Loi Hoguet French property law ) They must be able to show you their carte profesionnelle to prove their legal status and, for example, that they have no criminal record. Why would you want to hand over your hard earned money to anyone who has?
Any real estate professional in France is bound by professional rules, one of which is that of "Publicité mensongère" or adverts that lie! Theoretically you shouldn't find property for sale in Brittany on a professionals website which is sold or with an incorrect price, although sometimes as properties are rarely sold on an exclusive basis errors and ommissions can occur.
Any properties for sale in Brittany France you find at www.brittany-properties.com will only be offered by a qualified professional who is fully registered. Guaranteed.
Private Advertisements for Property for sale in Brittany France
Private adverts can often be a tempting hunting ground for property sales in Brittany France. Unfortunately, the growth of the market for Brittany properties means that many British speculators and assorted builders have been buying Brittany property, cosmetically smartening them up and then re-selling for a huge mark-up. Very often they attempt to sell through private advertisements in French Property News and The News etc promising savings by "no agency fees", and "buy direct".
Beware
Again, you need to beware, frequently the quality of the work is suspect and the property for sale in Brittany, while looking like excellent value to the novice purchasing a French property, is very overpriced for the area it is in. Property in Brittany is very popular, but some areas are practically unsellable to anyone other than the unsuspecting purchaser from the UK. If you are tempted by a privately advertised Brittany property for sale, protect yourself by asking for a written Notaires valuation and study properties for sale in local estate agencies windows. If the price looks right for the property, pay for a French "expert en batiment" to produce you a survey report. Anyone with a complete renovation for sale, should be able to provide full documentation for the planning permission, including confirmation of the work completion, receipts for the work carried out and certificate of conformity for the fosse septique installation. Any hesitation by the sellers to provide you with correct paperwork should ring alarm bells, if in doubt walk away - there are very, very few bargains to be had in the private adverts of property for sale in Brittany France and you could be about to have your fingers badly burnt. If the paperwork sounds complicated, it is! If you don't know what you are looking at, then don't look. . . . . . .
And finally, don't fall for the "Private advertiser" selling property in Brittany France who is doing it "on behalf of" a "friend" . . . . . . . oh please !!!!!!!!
A Final Word of Advice for Buying a Property in France
Ask yourself this question - when buying a car, do you go to an established garage and maybe haggle a bit to get your new car at the price you want or do you call an untraceable mobile number from an ad in the "Loot" and meet the bloke at night on a motorway bridge, paying him what you know is a "bargain" price in cash? Would you be able to sleep that night??
For heavens sake, don't do it when looking for your Property for sale in Brittany France then!!!
Anyone asking you to pay cash of any sort, cheques in a private name, or even asking for payment in sterling should all send the alarm bells ringing sharply when buying a property in Brittany or France. A payment "under the table" in cash may be explained as saving you tax - RUBBISH!! - this is the seller avoiding taxes and is totally illegal - even if not detected, you will eventually be penalised should you resell your property in France in the first fifteen years of owning it as you will have to pay the tax the sellers avoided . . . . . . . . . now how smart is that??
Be wise, look for property in Brittany with the professionals, remember that they are working for you as you pay their fees and ask the right questions even then. If you are planning in the future to renovate a property in Brittany or France, are buying a renovation project in France or are looking at a group of buildings described as potential Gites for sale in Brittany be absolutely certain that they are in a zone where renovation is possible. For more details see our Brittany information about French planning applications
Then when your property search is over in Brittany, relax and enjoy! And don't forget to visit our Brittany information pages English speaking services directory
