Buying property in France as an American? Tax, legal, and currency anxiety arrive before you fall in love with the house.

## Why this is harder for Americans The structural questions arrive before the property. They feel arrived-at by accident — you start looking at houses on a French listing site one Sunday, and three weeks later you're reading IRS publications and arguing with your CPA about whether your spouse should sign anything. **US tax reporting on foreign real property.** There are US reporting and disclosure requirements that *may* apply to a French property purchase or to subsequent rental income, depending on how the purchase is structured and how you use the property. **We are not qualified to advise on any of them.** A US-licensed cross-border tax attorney or CPA — ideally one who has handled French-US matters before — is the right starting point. We can introduce you to specialists with that profile; the engagement and the advice come from them. **Cross-border ownership structure.** Should the property be held in your individual name, jointly with a spouse, in an *SCI* (*société civile immobilière*), in a US LLC, in a trust? Each option has different French legal implications, different US tax implications, and different succession consequences. The decision is irreversible after closing. Engage a notaire **and** a US-side cross-border attorney. We don't structure ownership; they do. **Financing.** US-style 30-year fixed mortgages don't exist for non-resident buyers in France. French banks lend to qualifying non-residents, typically at 20–30% deposit, often shorter terms, with interest rates that move differently than US ones. A French *courtier* (broker) experienced in non-resident lending is the right introduction. We coordinate that introduction; we don't broker. **USD–EUR currency.** A 6–12 month buying timeline routinely sees the dollar move 3–5% against the euro. On a €650,000 house, that's $30,000+ of friction in either direction. Talk to a regulated FX broker about timing strategy. We'll mention when the question is hot; we won't tell you when to convert. **Visa, residence, healthcare.** Owning a French property does not by itself create a right to live in France. If your buying decision is also a relocation decision, a French immigration attorney is the right counsel. The visa question, the *carte de séjour* question, and the healthcare question are separate from the property question and frankly more complicated. We do not advise on any of them; we will point out when those questions intersect with property choice (rural vs. city, second home vs. principal residence). **Cultural and process unfamiliarity.** The notaire system is unfamiliar; the *compromis de vente*'s binding nature surprises American buyers; *frais de notaire* at 7–8% read as a tax hit; the *DPE* energy rating system has consequences that don't have a US equivalent. None of this is a problem once it's explained — but the explanation is part of why Yes House exists. ## What still works the same The notaire system is a state-appointed legal intermediary that conducts title verification, drafts the deed, collects taxes, and registers the transaction. There is **no equivalent for the buyer of having to find an honest title agent** — the function is institutionalised. Once the *acte authentique* is signed, you have title. France places **no restrictions on Americans buying residential real estate.** No permit, no special visa requirement to *own* (separate from any visa requirement to *live*). EU consumer protection applies. The basic transaction shape — offer, signed *compromis* with deposit, cooling-off period, *acte authentique* at completion 2–3 months later — is recognisable. The vocabulary is unfamiliar; the structure is workable. ## Where Yes House fits in Most US clients meet Yes House through a **Visit Pack**. You've found 1–3 listings online and want independent eyes on the ground before booking a transatlantic flight. From €950 to €2,500 per visit. The point is that the flight you book is to a house worth flying to. When you want us to source rather than just visit, that's a **Buyer Sprint** — €7,500 to €15,000, fixed upfront. We build the shortlist of 3–5 properties worth travelling for; you fly once, with the right questions ready. After purchase, **After Purchase Support** is the back-end engagement for owners who proceed. Utilities, property checks, *artisan* coordination, and (where relevant) introductions to local rental operators if you want to explore rental income. ## What we don't do for US buyers This list is the most important section on this page. - **US tax compliance.** Reporting requirements for foreign assets, foreign accounts, foreign rental income, foreign passive companies, and foreign capital gains may apply to your situation. We are not licensed to advise on US tax. A licensed US cross-border tax attorney or CPA is the correct starting point — ideally one with French-US practice experience. - **French tax structuring.** *Taxe foncière*, *taxe d'habitation*, French *Impôt sur la Fortune Immobilière* (IFI) above the asset threshold, French capital gains, French inheritance — work for a French *fiscalist* or *avocat fiscaliste*. We coordinate; we don't advise. - **Ownership-structure choice** (individual / *SCI* / US LLC / trust). Engage a French *notaire* **and** a US cross-border attorney before any *compromis* is signed. The decision is irreversible after closing. - **US-side mortgage advice.** Your US lender, banker, or mortgage broker. - **French-side mortgage broking for non-residents.** A French *courtier* with non-resident experience. We introduce. - **Visa, residence, immigration.** A French immigration *avocat*. Separate from property ownership. - **Healthcare advice.** Different question; different professionals. - **Currency timing.** Regulated FX brokers (Wise Business, OFX, etc.) handle this. - **Building survey.** *Diagnostiqueur* / *expert bâtiment* — licensed professionals who certify what we observe. - **Insurance broking.** A French *courtier en assurance* binds the policy. After Purchase Setup coordinates the introductions. For full scope, see the [Legal Notice](/legal-notice/). ## What we *do* do We visit the property. We film the reality. We document what the listing left out. We ask the selling agent the questions you'd ask if you were standing there in February with the heating off. We deliver a Yes / No / Maybe / Expert Needed verdict. We coordinate licensed professionals around the verdict. We charge a fixed fee whether you transact or not. That is the entire shape of Yes House. The rest is for licensed professionals who specialise in the regulated parts. ## Practical next step If you've already shortlisted French properties online, a Visit Pack is the smallest concrete way to use Yes House. Send us the listings; we come back with a fixed quote and a calendar within a few days.