Real Estate in France

Selling or buying a house, apartment or other property is not an easy job. It is very important to be decisive and clear about what you want, the work of a real estate agent is important for the vast majority of those sales, also because once the paperwork for the sale has started; it is not good to back down losing your time and money.

What is an estate agent?

Another name for “A Real Estate Agent” is “A Salesperson”
The estate agent is a specialist in real estate purchases and sales that will save you the time you use to read classified ads. You tell him/her what you want and he/she will call you to make offers. A real estate transaction is one of the largest financial investments a person experiences in his/her life.

The true real estate professional agents are members of the Real Estate Network of the Americas (RILA). The members of this network are committed to making all transactions in an honest way. RILA members are under the same code of ethics.

What estate agents do

In the property world, Real estate companies are the “arrangers”, they are responsible for carrying out three major functions: valuing, advertising and negotiating.

* An agent can help you determine the best price to buy a property.
* An agent will show you only the properties that best suit your needs: size, style, nature, location, transportation, shopping and related personal needs.
* An agent has access to the Multiple Listing Service so he can research your housing needs in advance.


Why use a Real estate agent?
Here are few reasons why you should use a real estate agent:

1 - An agent can help you determine your purchasing power
If you ask an agent about what your buying-power is, then the agent will ask for information on your savings and borrowing capacity.

2 - An agent has more resources when searching for your property
Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but you don´t know where to locate it.

3 - Your agent can help in the selection process by providing objective information about each property. Agents that are RILA members have access to a variety of information resources.
(Parráfo repetido)

4 - The agent can help you negotiate. There are thousands of negotiating factors, including the final price, financing, terms, delivery date, and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs of the property.

5 - Your agent will know when, how and where to advertise your property
There is a widespread idea that advertising sells real estate. The truth is that studies show that the highest percentage of sales are made through contacts from other clients of an agent, etc.

Finding a real estate agent:
Ask for references from friends and family. You should choose an agent you feel comfortable with, who can provide the knowledge and services you need and, more importantly, to respect the budget you have for your home purchase.

You can find a real estate agent in:

* One way of finding an agent is through the offices of agents, but this does not necessarily guarantee finding the best agent.
* Another option is through recommendations, friends, relatives or acquaintances of whoever has recently bought or sold a property.
* Through the internet.


More info: Real Estate in France
what is a Mortgage?
A mortgage is a contract which is taken as a guarantee for a debt to an asset which is, generally, a property. The property remains with the owner while it meets its obligations, otherwise, the creditor can make sale of the property to recover the money.

The three most important aspects of a mortgage are:

1. Capital, that is, money lent by the bank and typically less than the price of the property to cover a possible auction.
2. The interest, which indicates the extra percentage to be paid to the entity that made the loan and can be fixed or variable.
3. Finally, the term, which is the time that includes the return of capital.

Responsibilities of a mortgage
Don't forget that a mortgage is a financial obligation committed to the law and that could last many years. Make sure you are ready to take over this responsibility. Ask yourself the following questions:

* Am I in a good financial position to make the mortgage payment comfortably every month?
* Do I have enough savings to overcome sudden financial problems? These savings should cover six months of living expenses.
* Do I know the risks of not paying my mortgage in the future?

How do I choose the right mortgage?
Choosing the right mortgage involves investigating the different types of mortgages available for borrowers. This means that different lenders offer different interest rates, points and fees for the same type of mortgage.

One way to help you understand some advantages and disadvantages of a mortgage is to identify issues such as:

* Evaluate the pros and cons of a mortgage.
* Know all the parts of a mortgage.
* Learn everything you can about the global mortgage / reset interest.

Real estate schools in France
The real estate profession in France has evolved dramatically over the last decade, largely thanks to the introduction of new methods, training and improved customer service through and ERA franchise systems. Home ownership is just over 50%, but France is the world's leading owner of second homes.

If you want to become a real estate agent, it is recommended that you start by researching Real estate schools that are available in your area or country, it is recommended to get information about the types of schools, available courses, prices and if all this information covers your expectations.

Researching by internet is a good way to find a lot of Real estate school information, when you choose one school you must be sure that it suits your interests. If you are looking forward to becoming a real estate professional you must investigate courses that cover topics such as law and contracts, finance and the principles of real estate.

Nowadays, short-term rentals are becoming more popular in the real estate market, with many offers for Paris vacation rentals in Internet.