Episode 6 — Signing the final deed of sale in France

The final stage of a property sale is signing the authentic deed of sale before the notary. This is when the sale is completed and ownership is formally transferred.

In this episode, we explain the notary’s role and the main steps:

• Preliminary checks: financing, mortgages, pre-emption rights, easements, the sale documents and fulfilment of the conditions precedent.
• The signing: reading the deed, transferring funds, handing over the keys and recording the change of ownership.
• Discharging mortgages and settling debts attached to the property.
• Notarial costs and taxation: distinguishing taxes and registration duties from the notary’s fees, and considering capital gains tax.

The notary oversees the legal and financial formalities of the transaction and checks the legal position of the property. Signing concludes the sale and marks the start of a new project.

Video in French. This episode concerns property transactions in France.