American

Lori,   I do not reside in France.  I am a professor at an American university.  I plan to spend my summers in France. When I retire, I plan to spend half my time in the USA and half my time in France.  I do not know if you realize this, American house prices have been increasing 30% per year.  It is actually less expensive for me to buy a house in France and fly there, than purchase a summer house in the USA.  Plus, I enjoy France.    Since I taught classes during the summer months this year, I free this Fall.  I will be in France for a conference in October and taking a couple of weeks to search for property.  During the time, I plan to look for housing.  I do not currently live in France, so multiple visits to properties are not a viable alternative. Nor does having an architect ‘tag along’ seem like a good idea to me.  Since I would have to pay for this architect to look at houses with me for a two week period, an architect could get very expensive fast.  Plus, in the short time I will be viewing houses, the Architect would not be able to carry out a very thorough inspect.  I know this because I am an engineer.  It would take me 3-to-5 hours to do an inspection.  I’d rather spend my time looking over houses for livability and talking to the neighbors to get a feel for a place.  Then hire a professional to inspect the house, while I am back in the USA.

Thank you   I have been looking for a good French Solicitor.  Some times I do not understand Bob’s replies.  I am afraid there are very few flexible Notaries.  I wanted to insert a Suspensive Clause into the Compromis de Vente, stating that the sale is conditional upon satisfactory survey/inspection results.  After telling one Notary that each inspection costs approximately 600 euros, he suggested that I take an Architect with me while I house hunt.  With these attitudes, I think it would be much better to have a French advocate communicating with the Notary.

I am an American planning to purchase a house in France this year.  I am trying to find an English speaking French Advocate.  A British Solicitor is of little use to me since I am an American.  I plan to do some house hunting while I am in France on business.  I wanted to look at some houses in Brittany and Languedoc-Roussillon.  After selecting a house, I wanted to have it inspected [surveyed].  I want to insert a Suspensive Clause into the Compromis de Vente, stating that the sale is conditional upon satisfactory survey/inspection results.     I have already attempted to find a reasonable Notary, but I am afraid none exist.  After telling one Notary that each inspection costs approximately 600 euros, he suggested that I take an Architect with me while I house hunt.  With these attitudes, I think it would be much better if I had a French advocate communicating with the Notary.   I have also contacted the United State embassy and received a list of English speaking Advocates, but none of the one that I have contacted has returned my email.