Buying ski property in France is an exciting process, but one that is more complex than purchasing in the UK — particularly for buyers unfamiliar with the French legal system. This guide walks you through each stage of a typical purchase, from setting your budget to receiving the keys.

Process outline: (1) Set a budget, allowing for notaire fees and other purchase costs. (2) Choose a resort and property type. (3) Decide between freehold and leaseback. (4) Find a property and make a written offer. (5) Sign the compromis de vente (preliminary contract; a deposit is paid and a 10-day cooling-off period applies). (6) The notaire carries out due diligence. (7) Sign the acte de vente (final deed) at the notaire's office, pay the balance and collect the keys. You can sign by power of attorney (procuration).

Step 1: Set Your Full Budget

The headline purchase price is only part of the cost. Other costs to allow for on top of the property price include:

  • Notaire fees — approximately 7–8% of the purchase price on a resale property; 2–3% on a new-build. This covers registration taxes, land registry fees, and the notaire's professional fee.
  • Estate agent commission — typically 4–6%, often included in the advertised price (shown as HAI — Honoraires d'Agence Inclus). Always confirm whether the price is HAI before making an offer.
  • Furnishings and fit-out — depending on what is included in the sale, the property may need furnishing and equipping.
  • Annual holding costs — taxe foncière (property tax), taxe d'habitation on second homes, syndic fees for apartments, and building insurance.

Step 2: Choose Your Resort and Property Type

Resort choice is a key decision in any ski property purchase. Consider altitude (snow reliability), transfer time from the nearest airport, how you plan to use the property, and whether a ski apartment or ski chalet suits your needs. Our resort guide covers the main options across every budget.

Step 3: Freehold or Leaseback?

Many French ski apartments are sold as leaseback (résidence de tourisme) properties. You purchase the property but lease it back to a management company for a fixed term, which restricts personal use and ties you to the management company's terms for the length of the lease. The financial and tax treatment of leaseback is a matter for independent advice from a notaire or qualified adviser.

A standard freehold purchase gives you full control: you can rent through the open market, use the property whenever you wish, and sell at any time without constraint.

Step 4: Find Your Property and Make an Offer

Once you have identified a property, submit your offer in writing. Unlike in the UK, verbal offers carry no weight in France — everything must be confirmed in writing to be taken seriously. If the seller accepts, you move to the compromis stage.

Step 5: The Compromis de Vente

The compromis de vente (or promesse de vente) is the preliminary contract, signed by both parties with a deposit of typically 10% of the purchase price. Once signed, you have a 10-day statutory cooling-off period during which you can withdraw and recover your deposit in full. After that period, the deposit is at risk if you withdraw without a valid clause suspensive — most commonly a financing condition (condition d'obtention de prêt).

Step 6: Due Diligence and Diagnostics

The seller is legally required to provide a dossier de diagnostics techniques (DDT) — a bundle of surveys covering energy performance (DPE), asbestos, lead paint, electrics, gas, and natural hazard risk. Review these carefully with your legal adviser. The DPE is particularly important for any property you intend to let: French law is progressively restricting short-term lettings of properties below certain energy ratings.

Step 7: Completion — the Acte de Vente

Completion typically takes place 2–3 months after the compromis. Both parties sign the acte authentique (final deed) in front of the notaire, the balance of the purchase price plus all fees is transferred, and you receive the keys. The notaire handles title registration and the secure transfer of funds.

You do not need to be present in France to complete — you can grant a procuration (power of attorney) to a representative to sign the acte on your behalf.

Step 8: Ownership Structure — Taking Independent Advice

Many buyers purchase French property in their personal names. Some use a Société Civile Immobilière (SCI), a French property holding company. Whether an SCI suits you is a legal and tax question for a notaire or qualified adviser.

Take independent advice from a French notaire or qualified fiscal adviser on the most appropriate ownership structure for your circumstances before signing any contract.

Ready to Begin?

Browse ski chalets and ski apartments, lower-priced ski property, or look by area in the Haute-Savoie and Savoie.

Our team has been guiding international buyers through French property purchases since 2008. Whether you are looking at a ski apartment in Les Gets or a Savoyard ski chalet in Méribel, we can help you navigate every stage of the process. Contact us to start a conversation.