What overseas buyers ask us most

Can you visit a property before we fly to France?

Yes — that's exactly what a Visit Pack is. You send us 1–3 listings you've found online. We drive out, visit each property, film a video walkthrough, photograph the details listing photos hide, ask the selling agent the questions you'd ask if you were there, and deliver a Yes / No / Maybe verdict so you know which homes are worth a flight — and which aren't.

Do you find properties for us?

Through a Buyer Sprint, yes. You give us a brief — budget, regions, criteria, timeline, intended use — and we source, filter, remotely visit, and build a shortlist of 3–5 properties that survived the filter. If you've already found listings online and just want them inspected, that's a Visit Pack instead.

Are you a real estate agency?

No. We are not licensed real estate agents in France or anywhere else. We do not hold a carte professionnelle T under Loi Hoguet (the French law that regulates real estate agency). We do not list properties for sale, represent sellers, sign mandates with sellers, or take a commission tied to whether you transact. We're paid a fixed fee to help you avoid buying the wrong house. If you need a regulated agent, notaire, avocat, or fiscalist, we coordinate introductions.

Are you paid by the seller or the buyer?

By the buyer, always. Our fees are fixed and agreed before any work begins, and they don't depend on whether you transact. We accept no commission from sellers, selling agents, or artisans — your fee is the only fee in play.

What does a Yes / No / Maybe verdict mean?

Every Visit Pack and every Buyer Sprint shortlist entry ends with one of four verdicts:

• Yes House — Worth pursuing. Listing matches reality, area holds up, no visible deal-breakers.
• No House — Walk away. Misleading listing, hidden constraints, or visible defects that won't be resolved cheaply.
• Maybe House — Conditional. Worth pursuing only if specific conditions are met (price reduction, structural survey, clarification on access, etc.).
• Expert Needed — Promising but requires a specialist (structural surveyor, notaire, fiscalist) before any offer.

Verdicts are non-binding observations based on a single visit and listing materials. They are not guarantees and do not replace regulated due diligence.

Is a Visit Pack a building survey?

No. A Visit Pack is an on-the-ground informational visit, not a structural survey or diagnostic immobilier. We note what's visible — roof condition, damp, septic-system signs, heating, DPE — and we ask the questions a survey would later answer. Where structural questions matter, we recommend engaging a qualified surveyor or diagnostiqueur; we coordinate the introduction.

Can you advise on tax or legal structure?

No. Cross-border tax (French taxe foncière, taxe d'habitation, capital gains, US tax obligations for US persons, Australian foreign-property reporting) and legal questions (ownership structure, SCI vs en nom propre, succession) require licensed professionals. We coordinate introductions to notaires, avocats, and cross-border tax attorneys. We do not give the advice ourselves.

What regions of France do you cover?

Our clients most commonly buy in Provence, the Dordogne, the Côte d'Azur, the French Alps, and Paris. We have working networks in all of those, plus Languedoc-Roussillon, the Loire Valley, the Basque country, and parts of Brittany and Normandy. For regions outside our direct network, we'll tell you upfront and either decline or scope the work to include the additional ground time.

How much does a Visit Pack cost?

A Visit Pack starts from €950 for one property within a covered area.

For buyers comparing several homes, we usually quote a fixed pack for 2–3 properties. Multi-property packs typically range from €1,500 to €2,500 depending on distance, travel time, property complexity and how much local context you need.

Before anything is confirmed, we review the listings and give you a fixed quote. If we think a paid visit isn't worth it, we'll tell you.

How much does a Buyer Sprint cost?

Buyer Sprints start from €5,000 for a focused search in one region.

Most full sprints range from €7,500 to €15,000 depending on search scope, target regions, urgency, number of remote visits and level of support needed.

The fee is fixed upfront and is not tied to whether you buy. We are paid to help you avoid the wrong house, not to push you into a transaction.

Can you help after we buy?

Yes — through Property Concierge. Once you complete on a property, we coordinate utilities, insurance, registration, key holding, scheduled property checks, artisan coordination for works and furnishing, and (if you want to explore it) ongoing rental operations directly or via vetted local partners. The concierge engagement is back-end and optional; nothing forces you to engage it after a Visit Pack or Buyer Sprint.

Who do you work with?

We work with English-speaking overseas buyers — primarily from the UK, US, Australia, and South Africa, with selective work for buyers from Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and Hong Kong where we can add real value. The Yes House team has Australian roots and a French-resident network, which is why our distance, cultural gap, and time-zone experience runs deeper than most local advisors.

Can Australians or Americans buy property in France?

Yes. France places no restrictions on foreign nationals purchasing property. Australians, Americans, and other non-EU citizens have the same rights as French citizens when it comes to buying residential real estate. There's no special permit or visa requirement to own — although staying in France for extended periods has its own visa rules unrelated to property ownership.

What is a notaire and do I need one?

A notaire is a state-appointed legal official who oversees all property transactions in France. They verify title, draft the deed of sale, collect taxes, and register the transaction. Every purchase must go through a notaire — it's not optional. The seller typically appoints one, but you can (and should) appoint your own at no additional cost; the fee is split.

What are the total costs of buying property in France?

For an existing property, expect approximately 7–8% of the purchase price in frais de notaire (notary fees, taxes, and registration). For new-build properties, fees are around 2–3%. Budget separately for any structural survey, legal advice, and our buyer-side fee. Our fees are EUR-only, fixed upfront, and disclosed before you commit.

Do I need a French bank account?

Technically no, but practically yes. French utilities, taxes, insurance and most service providers expect direct debit (prélèvement) from a French compte courant. Opening one as a non-resident is straightforward but requires documentation. Property Concierge coordinates this where useful.

Can I get a mortgage in France as an overseas buyer?

Yes — several French banks lend to non-resident Australians and Americans, typically requiring a 20–30% deposit and proof of income. Interest rates in France are competitive but the process takes longer than in Australia or the US — allow 8–12 weeks. We coordinate introductions to brokers experienced in non-resident lending; we don't broker mortgages ourselves.

Can I rent my property when I'm not using it?

Yes, if you choose to. French short-term rental rules vary by commune and property type — regulated zones (Paris, parts of the Côte d'Azur, several major cities) have changement d'usage, numéro d'enregistrement, and résidence principale tests. Yes House is not a rental management company. We help you understand the operational requirements and connect you to vetted local rental operators if you decide to proceed. See Rental Readiness & Coordination.

Do I need to visit France to buy?

Not always. You can grant power of attorney (procuration) to sign at the notaire. We've seen overseas buyers complete this way when the visit budget didn't allow a second flight. That said: visiting at least once before signing is what we recommend in nearly every case — and that's exactly what Visit Pack and Buyer Sprint are designed to make efficient. The point is that the visit you make is to a house worth visiting.