I am buying a flat: what costs will I bear?

On top of the sale price, several costs linked to your purchase must be taken into account:

• Those relating to setting up your financing (costs of the mortgage guarantee or of a private guarantee, loan insurance, arrangement fees, etc.);
• If the property is in a co-ownership, reimbursement to the seller of the charges, advances and works fund relating to the co-ownership;
• The estate agency's commission, if it acted on your behalf;
• You must also pay all the “frais de notaire” (notaire's costs). They include taxes (about 84% of the costs), the notaire's remuneration (about 15% of the costs) and the expenses of the purchase file (1% of the costs);
• The residence tax (taxe d'habitation) is generally due by the occupant on 1 January, whatever the date of the sale. The property tax (taxe foncière), on the other hand, is usually shared pro rata between the seller and the buyer. In any case, on the day of the sale, an account is drawn up according to your agreements and the balance is settled immediately;
• Finally, remember to insure the property from the day of signing.

You will find a telling example below (in French).