Sales Commission
Could somebody please tell me who pays the agent's commission when you buy a house in France: is it the purchaser or seller? I was told it is the purchaser but the notary who will act as agent wants us, the sellers, to pay the commission. Is that right?Thanks for any replies.
1
Yes, both do but the %age it limided by the law (what has nothing to say in France).7
There are a number of expat websites that have useful information on this and other such subjects. I'd do a search 'expats ______' (area you're interested in. If you read French well enough, check out the local newspapers online (the one I follow lists police matters under"Faits divers" (in Ariege News, this appears weekly only).
There is a LOT going on with property in France now and whether you plan on using it for retirement and renting it out as a holiday let, you really need to know all the details. Read a couple issues of www.audeflyer.com with the 'ask the lawyer' columns or the tax advice columns to get an idea of the complexities involved.
Good luck
8
i think maybe there is some confusion here on notaries fees and agents fees they are usually two separate fees. and it depends what you negotiate as to how you share them.for example 1 notary and 1 agent means each side might share 50% of notary fees and 50% agents fees/commission each. but it is not unusual for both parties to each have their own notary, and maybe their own agent, in which case you would pay for your own.
and be careful what price the % is charged on (eg price net of TVA, price net of TVA but including agents commissions, gross price etc)
10
As far as I understood the following http://www.pap.fr/conseils/achat-vente/choisir-son-notaire/a10921 only the buyer need a notary (who act the signatures) and has to pay for.11
One notary can deal with the paperwork but both the seller and buyer have to present or represented to sign the papers. It can be either the buyer's or seller's notary or just one recommended by an agency.As artemis2 says, an agency only gets paid (usually by the buyer) if it sells the property, but a notary is always necessary. Which explains why French notaries are usually wealthy.
