Engaging a purchase broker or buyer agent may seem like a superfluous luxury. After all, you know what kind of luxury property you are looking for and you are smart enough to collect information yourself about the buying process and the pitfalls. You look and compare prices on the Internet and after a few weeks, you have a good idea of what is for sale. And with whom.
When you know what your budget is to spend, the next step comes; requesting information from selling real estate agencies. That is the time to consider whether you want to do all this yourself, or rather seek professional guidance.
Ten good reasons to hire a buyer agent
When buying a house in France, filling out a form on a website is the easiest way to get information. Because if you call, chances are you will get an answering machine. Or you suddenly speak to someone who asks in rapid French why you are calling. During your search, you will see the same houses with several brokers. Who will you request information from?
A buyer agent in France
A buyer broker can advise and assist you with this. And if you play the game according to the French rules, you pay nothing for this work. Of course, you can go to any local real estate agent to visit and buy a house. Buying is not that difficult. But you have to judge for yourself whether it is wise.
The selling agent naturally wants to act quickly and asks you to sign a preliminary sales agreement. Once your signature has been made, you will have to wait for the French notary to invite you for the next documents, the compromise de vente and then the final sales deed.
Your additional questions can still be asked but have no longer have direct priority with the selling broker; after all, the sale has been made and the seller’s notary takes care of it further. An uncertain period then begins: have you understood the purchase process correctly and was the preliminary contract provided with resolutive conditions? All questions that your purchase broker or ‘buyer broker’ could answer.
These are the ten advantages of having a buyer agent
- Speaks your language
- Local expertise of the region, French culture and range of services
- Trusted cooperation with all professional real estate agencies
- Expert assessment of diagnostics and property price level recorded in the land register
- Fast cooperation with our own English-speaking notary
- Realistic negotiation about the price and any furniture
- Introduction to a local banking network for financing
- Familiar with international tax advisors for the best purchase construction
- Purchase broker is present at the French notary for signing, often also as a translator
- Delivers access to service network for insurance, renovation, swimming pool, and wellness services
Cost of a buyer agent
If you are not yet registered with a real estate agency in France, the purchasing agent will do that for you. You can forward houses that you find on the Internet directly to your purchasing broker who requests information and registers your name. The selling broker will share a part of their commission to the buying broker. So you pay nothing for the service of a purchase broker. But if you request information yourself via a form from a real estate agency website or a general portal, you are registered with the selling agent, and your rights to free guidance from a buyer broker expire.
Why Hire Us as Your Buying Broker?
When searching for a property on the Côte d’Azur, you have two options:
- Free Property Search via Our Portal—This option gives you access to properties listed by our partner agencies, but it is limited to those within our network. This service is free for you. It is limited to the properties within our network, but you will enjoy our full-service assistance 24/7, from selection, visits, negotiations, and notary.
- Hiring Us as Your Buying Broker – Here we go full throttle to provide a full-market search, including off-market properties and listings unavailable through traditional real estate agents. If the property is officially on the market, the selling agent will share the commission with us. However, when we find a property owner directly who hate agencies and advertise themselves on websites like leboncoin and pap (particulier a particulier), we can propose this to you although it is outside the official market. In this case, you pay us 2% commission. That’s always less than when a real estate agent is involved.
How Our Buying Broker Service Works
– We are not tied to any specific agency meaning we can search across all agencies, private listings, and off-market opportunities.
– Unlike standard agents who only show their own listings, we actively seek out the best properties for you, no matter where they are listed.
– If a property is listed with an agency, we may also receive a portion of their commission, which means you get our full expertise without paying more than a normal agency fee.
Why This Matters for You
✅ Full market access – No missed opportunities, including off-market deals.
✅ More negotiation power – We represent your interests exclusively, ensuring you get the best deal.
✅ Expert guidance – We manage the entire process, from search to signing, making your property purchase seamless.
If you’re serious about finding the best property at the best price, hiring us as your buying broker is the smartest move. For more information, please contact us. You can also use our French Riviera Property Buying Guide, or for Paris, the Paris Ile de France Property Buying Guide.