Buying Guide Details

Buying Property in Languedoc-Roussillon

Where to buy property in Languedoc-Roussillon

With 300 sunshine days a year, it is no wonder that this southern region is so popular with tourists and property buyers. Properties in the charming harbours along the coastline are some of the most expensive in a region with above-average prices – but they offer a similar climate to Provence at a lower price.

To the south, around the city of Perpignan, the region takes on a distinctly Catalan flavour, adjacent to the north of Spain. Thuir is particularly well regarded, with the benefit that properties in and around it compare very favourably with similar properties across the border in Catalunya.

Low-cost flights to Perpignan and Carcassonne have really opened up these areas to property buyers and tourists. The town of Quillan is a tourist hub in the département  of Aude, with a wealth of outdoor activities.

The cities of Montepellier and Nîmes are already very much on the overseas property buyer’s radar, with some of the region’s more expensive homes. Looking inland to the vineyard-covered hinterland towards the mountains, property in Languedoc-Roussillon becomes significantly cheaper. The northern area of Lozère is a sparsely-populated haven away from the tourists, offering the most unspoilt slice of French rural life in the region.

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The Process of Buying property in Languedoc-Roussillon

• Once the buyer has found a property in Languedoc-Roussillon and made an offer, both parties must sign a compromis; a legally binding agreement setting out all terms involved
• Financing will have to be sorted out by this stage as details regarding any loans must be clearly outlined in the compromis
• There is then a seven-day cooling-off period, which gives the buyer (but not the seller) the opportunity to back out of the deal without penalty. A 10% deposit is then required and the notaire then carries out all checks on the property (for clean title, wood rot, etc)
• Before the signing takes place, all funds must be transferred to the notary’s account. Failure to do this on time could mean the buyer loses both the property and the money
• If the buyer is not able to visit the property in Languedoc-Roussillon before signing the final contract, a representative should do so on their behalf to make sure that everything is in order. The contract clearly states that the property is accepted in its condition on the day of sale
• Finally the acte de vente is signed in front of the notary, and the sale is complete.

Homes Overseas Property Club

Homes Overseas has joined forces with a collection of IFA specialists to form the Homes Overseas Property Club (HOPC), designed for existing and prospective overseas property homeowners.

The Club – which has access to international lawyers in no fewer than 43 different countries - has been set up in order to guide people through some of the various issues relating to buying and maintaining a property overseas. It offers advice on a range of topics, including financial, legal, insurance, taxation, property management and foreign currency matters.

For further information please telephone 0845 838 7142 or email info@homesoverseaspropertyclub.com

Fees & Taxes

• Vary hugely depending on the region and type of property in Languedoc-Roussillon, but set aside 12 to 15% of the selling price
• Allow around 6 to 8% per cent for notaire’s fees. This includes stamp duty, which varies from 0.6% for a new-build to 6% for any property over five years old
• Agents’ fees vary greatly and can be anywhere from 4 to 15%. Around 7% is the most common amount, but check when looking in agent’s windows for the letters FAI after the price – this indicates that their fees are already included
• IVA (VAT) of 19.6% is applicable on most fees and taxes, but is avoided on leasebacks. The price of new-build property in Languedoc-Roussillon usually includes 19.6% IVA, but always verify this from the start
• If a property in Languedoc-Roussillon is sold on within two years,  capital gains tax is likely to be in excess of 33%
• Transfer tax varies greatly, but for properties over five years it tends to be around 7%.

Getting there

There are direct flights from the UK to Carcassonne, Perpignan, Montpellier and Nîmes. Rail and road connections are excellent in the area, to the rest of France and to Spain.

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