In depth · Property
Buying property in Paris: the steps for buyers
The official steps for buying a home in Paris. It is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Updated October 2026
The preliminary contract
Buyer and seller first sign a preliminary contract, a compromis or promesse de vente. The buyer then has a cooling-off period, set by law, during which they can withdraw. Confirm the details with your notaire.
The notaire
The final deed is signed before a notaire, who checks the title and any charges on the property, collects the transfer taxes and fees, and registers the sale. Notaires de France explains each step on notaires.fr.
Where people live
See our property guide for the Left Bank, the Marais, the 16th, the Golden Triangle and Montmartre. We don’t publish prices or yields.
Questions and answers
Who completes a property sale in France?
A notaire, a public officer, who registers the sale.
Is there a cooling-off period?
Yes: the buyer has a cooling-off period after signing the preliminary contract. Confirm its length with your notaire.
General information only, not legal or tax advice. Confirm every step with a French notaire or lawyer.