If you are searching for your own hideaway in France, we hope this page will help you with your search in our area.

At the bottom of the page are a few guidelines on how the process works, and here is information, a map, and links to Estate agents covering the Ariége.

Estate Agents

Please, if you contact any of these agents, do tell them that you are staying with 'Dave and Kath at Limbrassac' - they know us, so it gives them a way of contacting you through us if they need to change arrangements - as has happened in the past!

Europe Sud Immobilier

Contact - Sylvie Gougnot
Telephone - 00 33 561 69 34 68
Link to The Europe Sud immobilier website (in English and French)

Century 21 (Immo Sud)

Contact - Veronica Prentice (native English speaker)
Telephone - 00 33 632 60 34 16
Link to The Immo-Sud website

Agence Hamilton

Contact - no specific contact
Telephone - 00 33 561 67 61 64
Link to The Agence Hamilton website (in English)

Mirepoix Immo

Contact - Pierre Bauzil
Telephone - 00 33 561 67 29 51
Link to The Privilege website (in French only)

Hints and tips

Having been through the purchase process ourselves, and helped several of our guests with the different aspects of it, here are a few things that we think everyone should know 'up front'.

• 'Sole Agency' does not exist in France - almost all properties will be listed with more than one agent, so the differences between quality of service, level of commission charged and area of coverage are often important factors.
  
  
• The price of a property in France is made up of three main components:
  • The sellers price, which is how much the seller wants to receive for the property. As an example, let's say 100,000 Euros
  • The agents commission, usually between 5% and 10% (much higher than the UK), (so for the example, something like 8,000 Euros)
  • The legal fees and equivalent of stamp duty, usually about 6% (in the example, 6,000 Euros)
  
  
• As a consequence of the above, the price in the an agents window can appear to vary hugely for the same property - some agents will display the full price (114,000 Euros in this case) while others will display the sellers price of 100,000 Euros. Don't simply assume that the lowest priced agent is giving you the best deal!
  
  
• The process of working with agents in France works differently than that in the UK, and we have found that the smoothest way of arranging to see properties is something like:
  • Contact the agent(s) a few weeks before you leave to discuss when you will be here, and what you are looking for. Make an appointment for the first meeting.
  • The agent will usually meet you in their office and show you pictures of a range of properties to confirm that they understand exactly what you are looking for - this may initially seem wasted time, but it stems from language and expectation differences across Europe. For example, statements like 'we don't mind doing some work' can cover everything from a few days with a paintbrush through to a five year renovation project. Experience has shown that it's more efficient to spend 30 minutes looking at pictures of tens of properties and narrowing down to those of interest.
  • After the initial discussion in the office, they will arrange time to tour round with you and visit the shortlisted properties. In France the agent will seldom give you property details or directions to the property to take away.
  • If you find a house that you are interested in, then after appropriate viewings the agent will arrange for you and the seller to meet a notaire. The notaire will have prepared a draft 'standard form' contract, this will be signed by both parties, and the buyer then pays a 5 or 10% deposit to the notaire (usually by money transfer after returning home). The buyer then has a seven day 'cooling off' period during which they have the option of backing out of the contract without forfeiting the deposit. After this time the contract is binding, and typically 8 to 12 weeks later the final contract is signed, the balance is paid and the house is yours!
  
  
• Note that in this area of France, many surveys e.g. tests for the presence of lead and asbestos; tests of the electrical installation; insulation levels; swimming pool safety equipment etc. are mandatory, and will be arranged and paid for by the seller. Surveys for termites are not required, but can be arranged and paid for by the buyer.
• A surveyors report is not mandatory, but again can be arranged and paid for by the buyer. In France the house is accepted on the date of purchase 'in its current state', and there is no redress irrespective of any problems found later.