Reducing notary fees in real estate transactions, even amid cost hikes, through various departments
Living in France? Here's the Latest on the Hike in Notary Fees and How Some Regions Are Offering Help!
☆ By Christine Lejoux — Head of Real Estate Service ☆
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Are you planning to buy property in some of France's popular regions such as Aisne, Calvados, Creuse, Finistère, Pyrénées-Orientales, or Yvelines? If you're not a first-time buyer, you might feel the pinch in your wallet starting May 1st as these departments will increase their transfer duties (TDs) by 0.5 points due to the 2025 finance law for the next three years. Morbihan and Seine-et-Marne are set to follow on June 1st and July 1st, respectively. But, don't fret just yet, as some regions are stepping up to help lighten the financial burden.
The financial strain on local budgets due to a two-and-a-half-year property crisis that led to a decrease in TDs has affected the number of departments that chose not to capitalize on the chance to increase them. However, there are select departments like Oise, Eure, Alpes-Maritimes, Indre, Saône-et-Loire, Lozère, Ardèche, and Hautes-Pyrénées that remain exempt from this hike, according to a broker Pretto survey.
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For second-time buyers of old properties, the TD increase will amount to an additional €500 per €100,000 of the purchase price according to SeLoger estimates. So, for a €300,000 property, you'll be looking at an additional €1,500 in notary fees. But with the population decline in certain regions for over a decade and housing vacancy rates of up to 15.4%, some forward-thinking departments are offering financial aid for buyers.
Hardship Aid for Property Acquisition
In Haute-Vienne, an aid plan introduced at the end of March aims to support buyers by covering a portion of the notary fees in the 91 communes that have experienced demographic decline. First-time buyers of their primary residence or buyers of new properties are exempt from this TD increase. If you buy a property valued at €125,000 or less in these areas, you'll receive €2,000. The aid increases to €4,000 for a purchase over €125,000. There are additional bonuses of €1,000 for families with a child under 16, €1,000 for the purchase of a property that has been vacant for more than two years, and €2,000 if it has been vacant for over five years.
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This aid comes with conditions, targeting homebuyers under 40 years old or over 40 with a child under 16. Buyers must commit to residing in the property for at least 5 years. The property must be a T4, built before 1990, and cost no more than €200,000 or €250,000 if it's located in Limoges. The property must also be rated at least D on the energy performance diagnosis (DPE), and renovations must be made within a year of the acquisition date. This Haute-Vienne initiative shares similarities with Allier, another department that introduced a plan in July 2024 to attract new residents and combat vacant properties. Allier's plan covers notary fees for first-time buyers, with a cap of €10,000 for properties that have been vacant for more than two years, provided buyers purchase properties built more than 15 years ago in revitalized city or town centers.
Source: SeLoger - Ariège, Charente-Maritime, Corrèze, Côte-d'Or, Dordogne, Eure-et-Loir, Gard, Haute-Garonne, Gers, Ille-et-Vilaine, Loir-et-Cher, Loire, Loire-Atlantique, Loiret, Maine-et-Loire, Haute-Marne, Mayenne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Rhône, Haute-Savoie, Paris, Somme, Vendée, Vosges, Yonne, Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne.
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While we strive to provide you with the latest financial assistance information, the landscape may change in future years, and only departmental councils or experienced notaries can offer concrete advice.
Disclaimer: This article should not be taken as legal or financial advice. For further guidance, we recommend contacting the Service des Impôts or a bilingual accountant.
Єvry, France | May 1st, 2025
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Miscellaneous:
First-time buyers and buyers of new properties remain exempt from the TD hike.Notary fees represent 7% to 8% of the purchase price for old properties and 2% to 3% for new properties.Notary fees are primarily made up of local and national taxes.Hike in notary fees amounts to an additional €500 per €100,000 of purchase.Property buyers in Haute-Vienne can receive up to €4,000 in aid for properties valued at €125,000 or less.Additional bonuses of €1,000, €1,000, and €2,000 are available for eligible buyers and properties.Clean home, fresh start: the properties must be rated at least D on the energy performance diagnosis is explained here.Allier's housing plan, unveiled in July 2024, offers to cover notary fees for first-time buyers and can reach up to €10,000 for properties that have been vacant for more than 2 years.Bonus conditions include purchasing a property built more than 15 years ago, located in specific urban revitalization perimeters, and a commitment to living in the property for at least 5 years.Recommendation: Contact the Service des Impôts or a bilingual accountant for department-specific guidance during purchases.
- Some regions like Oise, Eure, Alpes-Maritimes, Indre, Saône-et-Loire, Lozère, Ardèche, and Hautes-Pyrénées remain exempt from the hike in notary fees, according to a broker Pretto survey.
- For second-time buyers of old properties, the increase in transfer duties (TDs) due to the 2025 finance law will amount to an additional €500 per €100,000 of the purchase price.
- In Haute-Vienne, an aid plan provides financial assistance to buyers by covering a portion of the notary fees in the 91 communes that have experienced demographic decline.
- Allier, another department, introduced a plan in July 2024 to attract new residents and combat vacant properties. Allier's plan covers notary fees for first-time buyers, with a cap of €10,000 for properties that have been vacant for more than two years.
- For a personal-finance strategy, consider seeking assistance from the Service des Impôts or a bilingual accountant for department-specific guidance during property purchases.
