Buying property in Sanary-sur-Mer from abroad
The French purchase process step by step and the questions buyers living abroad ask us
MG Immo, an independent agency in Sanary-sur-Mer
French, English, German
MG Immo is an independent estate agency at 12 rue Giboin, in the centre of Sanary-sur-Mer. We sell apartments, houses and villas in Sanary-sur-Mer, Six-Fours-les-Plages, Bandol, La Seyne-sur-Mer, Ollioules, Toulon and the neighbouring villages of the western Var. Our team works in French, English and German, so you can discuss every stage of your purchase with us in your own language.
This page explains how a purchase works in France and answers the questions buyers living abroad ask us most often. The legal points summarise official French sources (consulted on 10 November 2026); your notary confirms what applies to your own case.
How we work with buyers living abroad
How a purchase works in France
from the offer to the deed of sale
1. The offer. An offer is not compulsory, but it usually takes the form of a letter or e-mail stating the property and the price. The law sets no validity period, but you can set one. You can withdraw your offer until the seller receives it; once the seller accepts it without changes, the seller is bound. No money may be paid to the seller with an offer: such a payment makes the offer void. (Service-Public.gouv.fr, F2753, page verified by Service-Public on 16/10/2026)
2. The preliminary contract. Seller and buyer usually sign either a compromis de vente (both parties are bound) or a promesse unilatérale de vente (the seller is bound, the buyer has an option). A compromis frequently provides for a deposit (dépôt de garantie), 10% of the price according to Service-Public; a promesse unilatérale frequently provides for an immobilisation payment (indemnité d'immobilisation), in practice 5% to 10%, and at least 5% is compulsory if the promesse lasts more than 18 months. Neither payment is a condition of validity of the contract, and the sums are usually held in escrow by the notary, not paid directly to the seller. (Service-Public.gouv.fr, F2965, page verified by Service-Public on 10/04/2026)
3. The 10-day withdrawal period. A non-professional buyer of a home has 10 calendar days to withdraw, without giving a reason, from the day after the registered letter notifying the contract is first presented or, when the contract is concluded through an estate agent and handed to you directly, from the day after that handover. (Service-Public.gouv.fr, F2965; Code de la construction et de l'habitation, art. L271-1)
4. Conditions precedent. The parties set the conditions and their deadlines freely, with one exception: if the contract states that the price is paid, even partly, with a loan covered by French consumer credit law, the sale is subject to the condition that you obtain that loan, and this condition cannot last less than one month from signature. If it fails, the sums you paid are refunded in full. If you finance the purchase from abroad, ask the notary how this condition is drafted. (Service-Public.gouv.fr, F2965; Code de la consommation, art. L313-41)
5. The deed of sale. The final deed (acte authentique) is signed before a notary, who also collects the purchase taxes and the price.
Frequently asked questions
Signing remotely, purchase costs, selling later
Do I have to travel to France to sign?
Not necessarily. A notary can draw up an authentic power of attorney electronically while you are not present: your identity is checked through a verification system set up by the Conseil supérieur du notariat, your consent is collected by videoconference through the system provided by the notary, and you sign with a qualified electronic signature. A representative then signs the compromis or the deed for you. Consumer apps (Zoom, WhatsApp, FaceTime…) may not be used. Whether this suits your deed must be confirmed by the notary. (Décret no. 71-941, art. 20-1, as amended by decree no. 2025-538 of 13 June 2025, in force since 1 October 2025; notaires.fr)
How much are the purchase costs (“notary fees”)?
Most of what is called “notary fees” is taxes collected for the State and local authorities; the notary's own fee is a smaller share. For a resale property in the Var, the departmental rate of transfer tax is 5.00% (4.50% for a first-time buyer acquiring a main residence, under conditions), according to the DGFiP table of rates applicable on 1 June 2026; the municipal additional tax (1.20%) and a State collection fee are added. The 5.00% rate results from a temporary measure for deeds signed between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2028. Our article French notary fees in Sanary (Var) in 2026 details the calculation; your notary gives the exact figure for your purchase.
What if I sell later?
For a non-resident, the capital gain on a French property, after holding-period allowances, is taxed at 19%, plus social charges of 17.2%. If you are affiliated to a compulsory social security scheme of another EEA country (EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein) or of Switzerland, you are exempt from CSG and CRDS and pay only a 7.5% solidarity levy; according to the French tax authorities, UK residents continue to benefit from this. An additional tax of 2% to 6% applies when the taxable gain exceeds €50,000 (building land excluded). Holding-period allowances lead to an exemption from income tax after 22 years and from social charges after 30 years. The notary pays the tax at the time of sale. Exemptions may apply under conditions, a tax treaty may set different rules, and some sellers must appoint a tax representative; the notary confirms what applies to your sale. (impots.gouv.fr, “Je vends un bien immobilier. Comment et à quel taux suis-je imposé ?”, updated 27/01/2026; Service-Public.gouv.fr, F10864)
Other questions from buyers
who live abroad
Can I buy property in France if I do not live in France?
Yes. The purchase follows the same steps as for a French resident. The notary checks your identity and civil status, including your matrimonial property regime, and asks where the funds come from: notaries are subject to French anti-money-laundering rules (Code monétaire et financier, art. L561-2, 13°, and L561-3).
How long do I have to change my mind?
10 calendar days, starting the day after the contract is notified to you, if you are a non-professional buyer of a home (see step 3).
Who pays the agency fees?
Each MG Immo listing states who pays the agency fees and their amount.
Which documents will I receive about the property?
The seller provides a technical file (dossier de diagnostic technique) with the mandatory surveys, including the energy performance certificate (DPE). Its content depends on the property. Once the DPE has been carried out, MG Immo listings show the DPE classes and the estimated annual energy costs. (Service-Public.gouv.fr, F10798)
Which taxes will I pay as an owner living abroad?
The owner on 1 January of each year pays the property tax (taxe foncière), unless an exemption applies. If you keep a furnished second home at your disposal on 1 January, you pay the taxe d'habitation on second homes; some municipalities apply a surcharge. If, on 1 January, the net value of your real estate assets in France (including through property companies) exceeds €1,300,000, you are liable to the real estate wealth tax (IFI), subject to tax treaties. (Service-Public.gouv.fr, F59 and F42; impots.gouv.fr, IFI for non-residents, updated 28/02/2025)
Can I visit from abroad?
We organise viewings by appointment and send you the information available on the property (photos, surveys and, when available, plans and charges) before you travel. Call us on +33 4 94 07 41 84 or write to us, in English, German or French.
Price benchmarks and guides
Local price benchmarks from public sale records (DVF) on our price per m² in Sanary pages.
Guides: How to buy in Sanary-sur-Mer · Buying a second home in Sanary-sur-Mer · Properties for sale.
MG Immo – 12 rue Giboin, 83110 Sanary-sur-Mer – +33 4 94 07 41 84.