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A vaulted terrace edged with bougainvillea, a table laid and the bay beyond

Properties for sale

Discover our properties for sale in Mougins, Cannes, Grasse, Vence and the hills behind Nice.

Available properties

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Scandinavian rigour

How we work

We start by listening. Before any search begins, we want to understand how you will actually use the property, your timeline, your tax and family constraints, and what would make you walk away from a purchase.

We then shortlist a small number of properties and support you through to final signature. When a property is not right for you, we say so, even when it would close a deal.

The agency brochure beside a laptop on a glass table

The French buying process

Buying in France works differently from the UK, the US or Scandinavia. Here are the steps, without the jargon.

  1. 01

    The offer

    You make a written offer at a stated price. Once the seller accepts, both parties are committed to moving towards the preliminary contract.

  2. 02

    The compromis de vente

    This preliminary contract sets the price, timeline and conditions. It is usually signed before a notaire, a public officer and not a solicitor acting for either side.

  3. 03

    The cooling-off period

    The buyer has ten days from notification of the compromis to withdraw, without reason or penalty. This right belongs to the buyer only.

  4. 04

    Conditions precedent

    Mortgage approval, absence of easements, waiver of pre-emption rights: if any agreed condition is not met, the sale is cancelled and the deposit returned.

  5. 05

    Acquisition costs

    Often called notaire's fees, these are mostly taxes paid to the State and local authorities. Expect roughly 7–8% of the price on resale property, less on new build.

  6. 06

    Completion

    Final signature typically takes place two to three months after the compromis. Funds pass through the notaire and you receive the keys the same day.

A wider portfolio than any single agency

Forsman & Hey is a member of MLS Côte d'Azur, a network of professionals working in close cooperation. In practice, we can show you and arrange viewings of properties marketed by our partner agencies.

You gain access to a far broader choice without dealing with multiple agents or repeating the same conversations.

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MLS Côte d'Azur

Frequently asked questions

Can you buy property in France without living there?

Yes. France places no nationality or residence condition on buying property. A foreign buyer, resident or not, buys on the same terms as a French resident and signs before the same notaire. The differences lie in financing, taxation and identity formalities, which we set out at the first conversation.

Do you need a French bank account to buy?

It is not a legal requirement: funds can be transferred from a foreign bank to the notaire's account. A French account is useful afterwards, for service charges, local taxes, utilities and upkeep. We can point you to a bank used to dealing with non-resident clients where that helps.

Can a non-resident get a French mortgage?

Yes, several French banks lend to non-residents, generally against a larger deposit and a more documented file than for a resident. A broker saves time here: they know which banks genuinely handle these files, and on what terms. We have worked with Cafpi for around ten years and can make the introduction.

How long does it take from accepted offer to keys?

Usually two to three months between the preliminary contract and the final deed. That period covers the buyer's cooling-off period, the mortgage offer where a condition provides for it, and the notaire's searches on planning, easements and pre-emption rights. Keys are handed over on the day of completion.

What taxes apply each year once you own the property?

Taxe foncière is payable by every owner. Taxe d'habitation still applies to second homes, and coastal communes under housing pressure may levy a surcharge. Above a threshold of net property wealth, the impôt sur la fortune immobilière also applies. Non-residents are additionally governed by the tax treaty between France and their country of residence: where the stakes justify it, we point you to a tax adviser before you commit.

Let's discuss your search

A first conversation, with no obligation, helps frame your project and assess how realistic it is in the current market.

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