The Guide
Buying, renovating & living in France
Practical, up-to-date guides for Americans buying, renovating and settling into property in France — city by city, from the notaire process to the cost of living.
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France Notary Fees Calculator: How Notary Fees Works
Here’s a number that surprises almost every American buyer looking at property in France: on an existing home…
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Buying a Mill in France: Advices for Restoring a Piece of French Heritage
Roughly 30,000 mills still stand across the French countryside, quiet witnesses to centuries of rural life, of flour…
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Buying a Chateau in France: What You Need to Know Before You Fall in Love
There are roughly 45,000 chateaux standing in France today, and only a fraction ever reach the open market…
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Gun ownership in France for Americans: the rules
Picture this: you have just signed the compromis de vente on a stone farmhouse in the Dordogne, and…
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French mortgage rates: How does it works ?
One basis point. That is sometimes all that stands between a French home project that pencils out and…
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France PPL: How it is Working to be a Pilote Privé
Ever dreamed of lifting off from a small airfield in Provence, banking gently over lavender fields, and landing…
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Properties for Sale in France: Tips & Pitfalls, before Buying
Every year, thousands of international buyers begin searching for a home in France, and a striking share of…
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French Departments: A Complete Guide for International Buyers
Metropolitan France counts 96 departments, plus five overseas, and each one carries its own accent, climate, cuisine and…
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Do You Tip in France? A Clear Guide for Americans Settling In
Here is a number that surprises most Americans arriving in France: waiters and servers earn a full minimum…
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Map of Southern France: Where to Travel or Visit
Close your eyes and picture southern France. You probably see a terracotta rooftop, a plane tree shading a…
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French and US Dual Citizenship: A Complete Guide for Americans
More than 10,000 Americans currently hold French nationality, and the number keeps rising every year. Behind that figure…
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France Architecture: Ten Styles That Shaped the French Home
Walk down any French street and you’re reading a timeline. A limestone façade with wrought-iron balconies, a half-timbered…
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French Mortgage Calculator: For Foreigners (Updated 2026)
Financing a home in France as a non-resident is often simpler than most international buyers expect, and quite…
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French Long Stay Visa: What American Buyers Need to Know
Nearly 250,000 Americans hold long-stay French residency papers, and the number keeps climbing quietly year after year. Behind…
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France vs US quality of life: is it worth relocating?
Picture this. You wake up in a stone house with tall shutters, walk five minutes to a covered…