Independent French property advice, tailored to your situation.
Whether you need a focused advisory call, a practical buyer guide, or ongoing independent support through an entire purchase, we work with you at the level that makes sense. Fixed fees. Agreed upfront. Fully independent throughout.
We typically work with international buyers who are at one of these points in their journey
Based outside France and navigating the process from abroad
Early in their search and wanting to understand the French property system
Have bought property in their home country and want to understand how France is different
Want to discover where to find properties for sale and what questions to ask, with agents and privately
Planning a viewing trip and wanting to be properly prepared
Preparing to make an offer and wanting independent advice on negotiation strategy and risk assessment
Wanting a clear picture of the full costs before committing
Considering a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) / direct vendor purchase, which accounts for around 40% of the French market
Wanting insider knowledge on how to maximise their budget and avoid paying the foreign buyer premium
Wanting a truly independent second opinion from unbiased experts before signing anything
Reviewing a Compromis de Vente / Promesse de Vente and wanting to understand the risks, not just an English translation
Assessing diagnostic reports and wanting an independent view of what really matters and what is market standard
Not sure where you fit in this list? That is completely normal. Book a free scoping call and we will help you work it out.
Find the right starting point for your situation
Just starting out? Our buyer guides are the perfect starting point.
If you are early in the process, simply wondering what it would take to buy property in France, or building your knowledge before speaking to anyone, our buyer guides give you detailed, independent insight that no traditional French real estate agency will provide. Instant access, no obligation.
Getting serious? Our advisory calls and bespoke packages are for you.
If you are shortlisting properties, planning viewings, contacting agents or private sellers, approaching an offer, or reviewing documents before signing, you are at a decision point. This is where independent expert advice makes the biggest difference. A focused advisory call or a bespoke package gives you the confidence to move forward with confidence, avoiding the common mistakes that cost international buyers time, money and stress.
Want to buy like a local and avoid the foreign buyer premium?
Around 40% of property purchases in France are made direct from the vendor with no estate agent involved. This is a cultural norm in France, fully protected within the French legal system, and one of the best ways to save tens of thousands on your purchase. You do not need to speak French to benefit. You just need to know how to navigate it. Our FSBO guide or an advisory call is where to start.
Still not sure? Book a free scoping call and we will help you find the right starting point.
Live video advisory calls
Two tiers depending on what your situation requires. Both are fully independent, buyer-side advice with no vested interest in any outcome.
Ask us anything about buying property in France
One hour, live by video call. Fully driven by you and your questions. No two calls are the same because no two buyers are in the same situation.
You will come away from the call more knowledgeable and more confident about purchasing property in France as an international buyer, including greater clarity on the things you did not know you did not know. Understanding your unknown unknowns is half the battle when buying property abroad.
Examples of topics we cover. We will not cover all of these in one call and you are not expected to have a set agenda. These are simply illustrations of what buyers typically want to explore:
- Overview of the French property purchase process for international buyers
- How the French system differs structurally from the US or UK
- Where to find properties including private and direct vendor listings
- Understanding all costs and fees involved in a French purchase
- For Sale By Owner and direct vendor purchases
- Planning and preparing for a viewing trip
- Offer strategy and negotiation guidance
- Understanding diagnostic reports and due diligence
- Working with French estate agents as an international buyer
In-depth review with additional preparation or follow-up
Everything included in the standard call, plus additional time before or after the call, or both. This might mean reviewing documents before the call, providing written analysis or recommendations after, or both depending on what your situation requires. Priced to reflect the additional time involved beyond the standard hour.
A full in-depth overview of the French property purchase process from an international buyer perspective can be covered at this level where needed.
Typical uses for an extended advisory call:
- Pre-offer review of a specific property and its risks
- Review of a Compromis de Vente / Promesse de Vente before signing
- Diagnostic report review and independent interpretation
- Full budget and cost analysis for a specific purchase
- For Sale By Owner / direct vendor transaction review before committing
- Reviewing additional documentation or information prior to the call
- Written summary and recommendations provided after the call
A traditional consulting model applied to French property investment
For buyers who want more substantial, ongoing independent support throughout their purchase, we offer bespoke consulting packages. This is not a fixed product and not a one-size-fits-all service. Every engagement starts with an agreed scope of work based on your specific situation, timeline, and what you actually need.
Some clients need support at two or three critical moments in a purchase. Others want ongoing advisory input from early search right through to completion and beyond. The scope and fee are agreed upfront. You know exactly what you are getting and what it costs before anything begins.
This is a traditional consulting approach applied to French property investment: as much or as little support as you need and deserve, fully independent throughout, with no vested interest in any outcome.
Property sourcing strategy and shortlisting support
Independent evaluation of specific properties and their true costs
Support for preparing for a viewing trip, including preparation and debrief
Offer strategy, negotiation guidance, and Compromis de Vente / Promesse de Vente review
Oversight and coordination through the full purchase process
We have chatted with many people in France, but they don't come close to your level of integrity, knowledge, service and expertise.
Your advice has been so helpful, more than anybody else we have spoken to. It really helped us make the right decision for us.
Thank you for the very informative material. It even answers questions that we did not know to ask.
Practical buyer guides for international and English-speaking buyers purchasing property in France
Packed with information no traditional French real estate agency will give you, including how to successfully purchase property in France without using a real estate agency at all. Written for first-time buyers in France, US and UK buyers, and anyone navigating the French property market from abroad.
Buying Direct from the Owner in France
Around 40% of French property transactions involve no real estate agent or broker at all. That is nearly half the property market in France. Buying direct from the vendor not only can save you thousands, but it is well documented, protected within the French legal system, and far more culturally normal in France than buyers from the US or UK might expect. This is the local's secret to saving thousands on a French property purchase. And you do not need to speak French to benefit. You just need to know how to access and navigate this market confidently.
- What it actually means to buy direct from the vendor without a real estate agent, from the logistics to the documentation and everything in between
- What changes and what does not when buying privately in France and what to watch out for
- Pre-offer documentation checklist to make sure you do your due diligence properly
- How to make an offer direct to the owner: cultural norms, negotiation strategy, and how to get the savings you want without putting your investment at risk
- 5 costly common mistakes to avoid when buying For Sale By Owner / direct from the seller
The Real Cost of Buying and Owning Property in France
One of the most common mistakes international buyers make is assuming that the cost structure, timing, and amounts they are used to from their home country apply to French property purchases. More often than not, they do not. This 70-page guide closes that gap before it costs you.
- Full breakdown of purchase costs versus ongoing ownership costs
- Detailed description of each purchase cost including what is legally mandatory, what is optional, what is negotiable and what is not
- How French diagnostic reports work and what they do not tell you
- Cost analysis covering legal requirements, best practice, cultural norms and market standards
- Renovation budgeting realities for international buyers
- Common international buyer mistakes and how to avoid them, with full analysis
- Insider tips on how to properly budget for your French purchase and stretch your budget further
- Timing realities of costs and purchase timelines, which are often very different from what you are used to
If you are early in the process of pursuing a property purchase in France, this is where to begin.
Whether you are thinking about a holiday home, planning a retirement in France, or considering becoming a full-time resident, this is a full and detailed independent guide that no traditional French real estate agency will give you. Up to date, independently written, and designed specifically for international buyers who want to understand the French property system before they speak to anyone. Available on Amazon for $9.99.
Buy on AmazonQuestions buyers typically ask before working with us
A traditional French estate agent, whether they speak English or not, is legally and financially working for the seller. Their fee comes from the sale, which means their interests and yours are not aligned by design. We work exclusively for buyers, paid directly by you, with no interest in which property you buy or whether you buy at all. We give you independent advice to help you make the right decision for yourself.
The notaire is a state-appointed legal officer and their involvement is legally required for any property purchase in France. Every valid French property transaction must pass through a notaire. However, the notaire typically only gets involved after an offer has already been accepted, which is far too late to negotiate on price, identify risks, or properly assess what you are committing to. Their role is legal compliance for the transaction, not independent advisory support for the buyer. We fill the advisory gap that comes before and alongside the notaire's involvement, at the stage when it actually makes a difference.
The key difference is our business model. Many buyer's agents and property hunters in France charge a success fee tied to the completion of a purchase, which means they only get paid if you buy. That creates an inherent pressure, however subtle, to find you a property and close a deal. We follow a traditional consulting model: we are paid for our time and our advice, not for the outcome. Our independence is fully baked into how we operate by design. There is no incentive for us to push you toward any property or any decision. Our only job is to give you the best independent advice we can.
First-hand experience from someone who has bought in France is genuinely valuable, but it is also highly specific to their situation. One couple's experience buying a renovated farmhouse through an agent in Brittany in 2019 may have very little bearing on your situation buying a direct-owner property in Provence or an apartment in Nice in 2026. We bring current, cross-market professional experience across many different types of purchase, buyer profiles, budgets and regions.
Yes, completely free and with no obligation. A typical scoping call lasts around 15 to 30 minutes, which is enough time to understand your situation and recommend the right next step. It is a conversation, not an advice session. We listen to where you are in the process, ask a few questions, and tell you honestly which level of support makes the most sense for your situation. If one of our guides is all you need right now, we will say so. If we think a call or a bespoke package would genuinely help, we will explain why.
Generally speaking: if you are early in the process and building your knowledge, our buyer guides are the right starting point. If you have a specific situation, a specific property or a specific question that needs expert input, an advisory call is the right next step. If you want ongoing independent support through an entire purchase, a bespoke consulting package is what you need. Still not sure? That is exactly what the scoping call is for.
Yes. Our advice is not region-specific. Whether you are looking in Provence, the Dordogne, Brittany, the Basque Country, Normandy or anywhere else in France, the structural differences in the French property system apply across the board. We work with buyers across all regions and all property types.
Not at all. We work entirely in English. One of the core reasons international buyers work with us is precisely because we bridge the language and cultural gap, translating not just words but processes, norms and expectations between the French market and what US and UK buyers are used to.
The standard advisory call at €145 is the right option. One hour, live by video call, fully driven by your questions and your situation. Many clients find that one focused hour gives them everything they need to move forward confidently. If your question genuinely needs five minutes rather than an hour, email us first and we will tell you honestly whether a call is worth it for your specific question.
Book a free scoping call
Have you read one of our guides and want to go further? Wondering what level of independent support makes sense for your own unique situation? Not sure whether what we offer is the right fit for where you are in the process?
A free scoping call is a good next step once you have a sense of what you are looking for. It is a short conversation, not an advice session. We will listen to your situation and tell you honestly which level of support is right for you, and whether we are the right people to provide it.
Book a Free Scoping CallOr email us directly at [email protected]
Ready to get truly independent expert advice for your French property purchase?
We reply personally to every enquiry, usually within 24 hours.