Welcome to The French Estate Agent

If you've found your way here, there's a fair chance that you have an interest in French property. Perhaps you're thinking about buying a house in France, already own one, are considering selling, or simply enjoy looking at French houses and wondering what life on the other side of the Channel might be like.

So, a quick introduction.

I'm Dan Newton, The French Estate Agent, and I've been working in estate agency in France since 1986.

Today I'm a director of Agence NEWTON, a French estate agency specialising in helping both French and international clients buy and sell property across France. Over the years I've dealt with everything from inexpensive renovation projects and traditional village houses to manor houses, mills and châteaux.

And after nearly 40 years in the property business, I've accumulated quite a few stories along the way.

Why another French property blog?

I already talk extensively about French property on YouTube and social media, but not everybody wants to watch a 15 or 20-minute video to find the answer to a question.

More importantly, there are subjects where having the information written down simply makes more sense.

So The French Estate Agent is where I'm going to bring together the information, explanations and occasional opinions from my videos in written form.

I'll be covering subjects such as buying property in France, selling a French property, estate agency in France, notaires, diagnostics, the compromis de vente, property prices, renovation, regulations and the many peculiarities of the French property market.

I'll also wander beyond the mechanics of buying and selling.

French architecture, villages, regional differences, unusual properties, changes in legislation and some of the things I've learnt from actually working in the French property market will all find their way onto these pages.

Practical experience rather than theory

There is already an enormous amount of information about French property online.

Some of it is excellent. Some of it is outdated. And some of it appears to have been written by somebody who has never actually bought or sold a property in France.

My intention here is rather simpler.

I want to explain how French property actually works in practice.

That doesn't mean this blog replaces professional legal, tax or financial advice. French property transactions involve notaires and, depending on your circumstances, you may need advice from an accountant, lawyer, tax specialist or financial adviser.

But there is an enormous amount I can explain from the estate agency side.

And sometimes the answer isn't quite the same as the theory.

Prefer watching to reading?

Most of the articles here will be connected to subjects I've already covered, or will be covering, on my YouTube channel.

Where there's a relevant video, I'll include it in the article.

So you can read the explanation, watch the video, or, if you're particularly enthusiastic about French property, do both.

Welcome to The French Estate Agent

Whether you're actively buying or selling property in France, planning a move for the future, or simply interested in the French property market, I hope you'll find something useful here.

And after nearly four decades in estate agency, one thing I can safely say is that French property is very rarely boring.

Dan Newton
The French Estate Agent
Director, Agence NEWTON

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