vivienz

Thanks for the clarification, idun.  It's not a problem at all, if this is the usual process, just my lack of understanding.  I thought it would be rather expensive in total if the vendor was having to pay the same amount of fees but I wanted to make sure. Thanks again for the help, much appreciated.

Hi again, I thought I'd start a new thread for the sake of clarity, my apologies if this isn't the usual way. Most of the content of the compromis is reasonably clear, but one of the clauses in the compromis  states:   "Payer tous les frais, droits et honoraires des presentes et ceux qui resulteront de l'acte authentique a intervenire ainsi que tous ceux qui en seront la suite ou la consequence." I understand that I need to pay notaires fees, but this clause implies that I pay for the vendor as well and also any notaires fees that arise from any change to the acte.  I'm sure I've misunderstood this in some way and wondered if anyone can clarify it for me?  Is it usual for the buyer to pay the vendor's fees and, effectively, indemnify them against anything arising from the acte? Thanks, Vivien

Thanks, all. That makes perfect sense. The immo provided me with a copy of what, I presume, is some sort of entry in the land registry and as you say, Benjamin, it shows all the properties and their reference numbers for some distance around. The immo is being very efficient - she sent through the draft compromise this morning and then, this afternoon, all the diagnostic reports when I queried something on the draft compromise. I guess immos are having a hard time of things, too, at the moment and they are highly motivated to get properties to completion. Not bad considering we only agreed on price late Saturday afternoon. Once we've signed the compromise, I guess it all rests with the notaire but as the seller is French I'm sure he will be able to apply any necessary pressure there to speed things along.

I'm combing through the draft compromise this afternoon and have come across a term that I've seen a few times now, but I can't find a reasonable translation. Can anyone tell me what a 'cadastre' is? I get the feeling that it's sort of the local area/village/town but can't quite put my finger on it. Any offers? The compromis looks like a fairly standard exchange document, not withstanding all the additional diagnostics in the French version. Even better, the vendor has stated a mid-December completion date, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a pre-Christmas break at our new pied-a-terre on St Jacut.

Val_2 - we're buying at Saint Jacut de la Mer.  After 15 years of going to the same chambres d'hote on the other side of the Rance and Saint Jacut for nearly the same, we felt we'd had enough time to make up our minds.  We will come over to sign the Acte in person as we will view the property before signing to ensure that everything is in order, so there's no need for a proxy signature on that.  We will employ a translator, I think, when we sign the acte as although my French is passable, I know well enough how legal English differs from standard English and imagine that French will be similar.  I have plenty of help this side of the channel with translation so it would be foolish to stint at the last stage. Thanks again for all the help, everyone, it's much appreciated.

Aha! The very thing - thank you, NormanH. I've filed it away for future reference as it may well come in handy.

Merci beaucoup, mint. C'est comme je pensais. 30 years after the event, I knew I'd find a use for my 'O' level in French! The immo was keen for us to ask some French friends to act on our behalfs using the equivalent of a power of attorney (I think), but as they both work during the week and may not have their weekends free, I felt that dealing with the compromis by email and post will be more efficient. I suspect that the immo and seller are keen to get the sale concluded, as are we, but I'd rather not make unnecessary trips across the channel. Merci encore! Vivien

We have had an offer on what will be a holiday home in Brittany accepted and the immo is swinging into action, preparing the compromis. We will remain permanently resident in the UK. I understand most of the process reasonably well, but I may have reached the stage where I've read too much and I'm mentally going around in circles. The seller has already appointed a (reasonably) local notaire. Is there any reason why I shouldn't use the same one for the buying process? I understand that the notaire is obliged to act impartially. Also, as I understand it, it isn't a legal requirement for us (husband & I) to sign the compromis in person - is this the case? The immo seems keen for us to do this but work commitments mean that we wouldn't be able to get back to France for a few weeks and I believe that email of documents for signature with return by post for wet signatures is acceptable - is this the case? We intend to sign the Acte in person when the time comes. Many thanks, Vivien