Caitlyn O. Says
I’m planning to move to France. Do you have any advice on finding a long-term rental?
IL France Correspondent Tuula Rampont Says:
Hi Lucy,
French real estate agents (immobiliers) are strictly regulated. They must be in possession of what’s called a carte professionelle, which can be issued only by the agent’s local authority upon producing evidence that the immobilier has a minimum bond or guarantee with respect to the deposit of monies received from buyers.
More than 11,000 French agents belong to FNAIM (Fédération Nationale de l’Immobilier). FNAIM can provide you with a list of member agents in your chosen area.
The FNAIM network includes some expat British agents who have relocated to France. Obviously, the British house-buying system is not the same as that in North America, but these agents are used to answering questions—in English—about how the French process works.
If everything is new to you, and you’re dubious of your French language skills, these agents can help you open a bank account and get set up with gas, electricity, and telephone companies.
We’ve worked a lot with American real estate agent Adrian Leeds (based in Paris and Nice) and her team, as she helps her clients with everything from finding properties to securing a mortgage to even hiring a decorator if that’s in the cards. Adrian publishes a free French real estate newsletter which you can sign up for on her website.
If you’re looking in a popular area like Paris, the south of France, or the Dordogne, you won’t have any problem finding a French real estate agent who speaks English. They are well-used to dealing with foreign clientele.
Two of the biggest English-language websites are FrenchProperty.com and FrenchEntrée. Both of these sites not only provide listings, but also offer up-to-date information on the French real estate market and other practical information about moving to France.
For a comprehensive list of new-build companies that deal in English, look at the Angloinfo website; it has detailed listings for most regions.
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