Blog — Guide
Between an accepted offer and the day you are handed the keys, allow about three months. Here is what happens during those three months, step by step, and what you can anticipate so nothing slips.
Published October 2026
Everything starts with a written purchase offer addressed to the seller or their agency. It states the price offered, how long the offer is valid (often a few days) and, where applicable, whether a loan will be used. Once accepted in writing, it commits both parties to move forward to the preliminary contract. On the most sought-after properties, the credibility of an offer matters as much as its amount: a bank's agreement in principle or proof of funds attached to the offer often makes the difference when several buyers are interested. That is why I advise preparing the financial side before the very first viewings, as I explain in my strategies for buying luxury property in Paris.
In the days following acceptance, the notary (or notaries, if the seller and buyer each have their own, at no extra cost to you) gathers the documents needed for the preliminary contract: title deed, technical surveys (energy rating, asbestos, lead for buildings dating from before 1949, electricity and gas for installations over fifteen years old, risk statement, Carrez floor area) and, for apartments in a co-owned building, the building rules, summary sheet, maintenance log and minutes of the last three general meetings. This is the time to read these documents closely: voted works, ongoing legal proceedings or high service charges need to be identified before signing, not after.
The preliminary contract most often takes the form of a compromis de vente (a bilateral sale agreement), which binds both parties, or a promesse unilatérale de vente (a unilateral promise to sell), which reserves the property for the buyer for a set period. On signing, the buyer pays a deposit, usually 5 to 10% of the price, held by the notary until the final deed.
After the preliminary contract is signed, a private buyer has a ten-day cooling-off period. It runs from the day after the registered letter notifying them of the signed contract is first presented (or after hand delivery). During these ten days, the buyer can withdraw from the purchase without giving any reason, and the deposit is refunded in full. After that, the commitment becomes binding, subject to the conditions precedent set out in the contract.
If you are financing the purchase with a loan, the preliminary contract must include a condition precedent for obtaining the loan, lasting at least one month; in practice, 45 to 60 days is common. If the loan is refused despite an application that meets the agreed terms, the sale is cancelled and the deposit refunded. A buyer purchasing without a loan must state this expressly in the contract. Other conditions precedent can be negotiated case by case: obtaining permission for works, the sale of another property, or the absence of any significant easement.
My advice: start the bank process as soon as you sign, without waiting for the cooling-off period to end. Applications from non-resident buyers often require more supporting documents, and this is the step that most often causes the timeline to slip.
In Paris, the City holds an urban pre-emption right: the notary sends it a declaration of intent to sell, and it has two months to respond. In the vast majority of cases, it does not exercise this right on an apartment bought by a private individual, but this period sets a minimum for the timeline. At the same time, the notary checks the mortgage status of the property and the applicable planning rules, and requests from the building manager the état daté, which sets out any amounts owed to the co-ownership.
Once all conditions have been met, the notary invites the parties to sign the final deed (acte authentique). A few days beforehand, the buyer transfers the balance of the price and the acquisition costs to the notary's account: allow roughly 7 to 8% of the price for an existing property, compared with 2 to 3% for a new build, most of which are taxes paid to the State and local authorities. On the day of signing, you become the owner and receive the keys, unless an occupancy period has been agreed with the seller.
You do not need to be in Paris. The buyer can give power of attorney to a third party, often a clerk at the notary's office, to sign both the preliminary contract and the final deed. For the final deed, the power of attorney must itself be notarized: it can be signed remotely by video call with the French notary, or before a notary or consulate in your country of residence. I explain how this works in my guide to buying in Paris from abroad.
Three sources of delay come up regularly. The first is financing, when the bank application is started too late or is incomplete. The second concerns the building documents, when the building manager is slow to send them or when major works come to light along the way and reopen the negotiation. The third relates to the seller's particular circumstances: an unsettled estate, joint ownership, or a property held through a company. Identifying these at the offer stage, rather than a few days before the deed, makes it possible to set a realistic signing date and stick to it. This is precisely one of the roles of a buyer's agent: coordinating the notary, the bank and the seller so that everyone moves at the same pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Allow about three months between signing the preliminary contract and the final deed, plus two to three weeks between the accepted offer and the preliminary contract. A purchase without a loan can be slightly faster, but the City's pre-emption period cannot be shortened.
Yes, a private buyer has ten days to withdraw without giving a reason after being notified of the signed preliminary contract. The deposit is then refunded in full.
The amount is freely agreed, but it is usually between 5 and 10% of the sale price. It is held by the notary and deducted from the price on the day of the final deed.
No. You can sign by power of attorney, including for the final deed, provided the power of attorney is notarized, either remotely with the notary or before a notary or consulate abroad.