In brief
Allow about three months from signing the compromis or promesse to signing the acte authentique. Add a few weeks before that to agree the offer and prepare the contract. Three periods are fixed by law: ten days for the buyer to withdraw, at least one month for the mortgage condition and two months for the commune to decide on pre-emption. A cash buyer with a complete file can sometimes complete in about two months; a buyer who needs a mortgage, a planning answer or documents from a seller abroad should expect three to four.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Your notaire will set the dates for your own purchase.
The timetable at a glance
| Stage | Typical time from accepted offer | Fixed by law or by practice |
|---|---|---|
| Offer accepted | Day 0 | Practice |
| Notaire or agent gathers documents and drafts the contract | 1 to 3 weeks | Practice |
| Compromis or promesse signed | Week 2 to 4 | Practice |
| Withdrawal period | 10 days from the day after the contract is presented | Law |
| Declaration to the commune for pre-emption | Sent soon after signature; the commune has 2 months | Law |
| Mortgage applications and offer | Condition of at least 1 month; contracts often allow 45 to 60 days | Law sets the minimum |
| Reflection period on the loan offer | 10 days after you receive it | Law |
| Notaire's searches and final deed prepared | In parallel, through the period | Practice |
| Acte authentique signed and keys handed over | About 3 months after the compromis | Agreed in the contract |
Step by step
- Weeks 0 to 4: offer and contract. Once the offer is accepted, the agent or notaire collects the title deed, the diagnostics file, planning documents and, for a flat, the co-ownership documents. The contract is then signed by both parties, often on the same day or by electronic signature.
- The first ten days: withdrawal period. The ten days run from the day after the signed contract is first presented by registered letter or handed over. If the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, the period runs to the next working day. You pay the deposit to the notaire or to a professional holding a financial guarantee.
- Weeks 2 to 10: the mortgage. You apply to banks on the terms set out in the condition. When the bank issues its offer, it must hold it open for at least 30 days. You may accept it only after ten full days of reflection. See mortgages for non-residents.
- Weeks 2 to 10: pre-emption. The seller's notaire files a declaration of intention to sell with the commune, which has two months from receipt to reply. Silence means it waives its right.
- Weeks 4 to 12: the notaire's checks. Title, planning information, easements, mortgages registered against the property and the seller's capital gains position are verified. Any loan secured on the property is redeemed from the price.
- The week before completion: funds. You transfer the balance of the price and the estimated costs to the notaire's client account. Allow time for international transfers and for the notaire's checks on the origin of funds.
- Completion day. You sign the acte authentique, the notaire releases the funds to the seller and you receive the keys.
- After completion. The notaire registers the sale with the land registry service and pays the duties. You receive a certificate of ownership at once and the registered copy of the deed later.
What can delay a sale
| Cause | Why it slows things | How to reduce the risk |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage | Non-resident files take longer to assess; documents may need translating | Prepare income, tax and bank documents before you make an offer |
| Missing planning permission | A pool, extension or annexe built without permission must be explained or regularised | Ask for the permits early; see pools, extensions and planning |
| Co-ownership documents | For a flat, the co-ownership file must be supplied with the contract | Ask the seller's managing agent at once |
| Seller abroad or several sellers | Signatures, powers of attorney and, for some non-EU sellers, a tax representative | Agree powers of attorney at the contract stage |
| Inheritance not settled | The seller's title must be in order before sale | Check the title deed before the contract |
| Pre-emption | The commune has up to two months | Nothing can be done, but the date is known in advance |
| Funds from abroad | Bank compliance checks on large transfers | Send the funds early and keep a record of their source |
A non-resident seller outside the EU or EEA who makes a taxable gain may need an accredited tax representative, which adds a step to the seller's file; see capital gains for non-residents.
Choosing the completion date
The completion date is written into the contract and can be moved only by agreement. Bear in mind that whoever owns the home on 1 January receives that year's taxe foncière bill; the deed often provides for the buyer to refund the seller a share for the rest of the year. See French property taxes.
If you want to start works soon after completion, ask the seller's permission to visit with builders before completion. Apply for any planning permission in good time.
How we keep it moving
Agnieszka follows each file from offer to completion and coordinates the agent, notaires, bank and diagnostician, in English, French or Polish. For the process itself see how to buy property in France, for the money see buying costs in France and for our service see buying with Amber Connections.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to buy a house in France?
Usually three to four months from accepted offer to keys: two to four weeks to sign the preliminary contract, then about three months to the final deed.
Can a purchase be completed faster?
Sometimes. A cash buyer, a complete file and a commune that waives pre-emption early can bring completion to about two months, but the two-month pre-emption period is the usual floor unless the commune answers sooner.
When does the ten-day withdrawal period start?
On the day after the signed contract is first presented to you by registered letter or handed to you by the professional who arranged the sale. It is extended to the next working day if it ends on a weekend or public holiday.
How long does the mortgage condition last?
At least one month by law. Contracts often allow 45 to 60 days. The parties can agree in writing to extend it if the bank needs more time.
When do I get the keys?
On the day you sign the acte authentique, once the notaire has received the funds. Early access before completion is possible only with the seller's agreement.
Can completion take place if I am abroad?
Yes. The notaire can prepare a power of attorney for you to sign in advance, so that someone in the notaire's office signs on your behalf.
Last updated: 11 October 2026