Wherever you come from
Buying in Burgundy from Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany.
Belgians are the first foreign buyers in France, and Dutch and German buyers are not far behind. Burgundy is within a day's drive.
Contents
In 2022, Belgians made 19% of the purchases by non-resident foreigners in France, Germans 11% and the Dutch 10% (Notaires de France, 2024); in 2023, Belgians were still first with 19.5% (CCF study, July 2024). Many look for a big house in the countryside, for holidays first and sometimes for retirement.
A system you already know
Like in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, a property sale in France is signed before a notaire. The steps are close to yours: offer, preliminary contract, final deed. The main differences are the 10-day cooling-off period and the role of the agent. The compromis explained.
The distances
Luxembourg is around three and a half hours away by motorway, Brussels around five to six hours, and Germany is reached through Alsace or Lorraine. A weekend in Burgundy is easy, which suits a second home.
Tax: the points to check
Under the tax treaties, rental income and gains from a French property are generally taxed in France, and your country takes them into account under its own rules. As you live in the EU, no fiscal representative is needed when you sell, and if you are covered by your country's social security, the reduced 7.5% levy applies instead of 17.2%. Tax when you sell.
The houses you like
The notaries observed that Belgian, Dutch and British buyers mainly buy houses, often large ones, half of them in the countryside. In Burgundy, that means village houses with land, farmhouses in the Hautes-Côtes or the Auxois, and maisons de maître. The Hautes-Côtes.
In English, or in French
I work in English and in French every day, so French-speaking Belgians and everyone comfortable in English are at home with me. I work in English and French every day. I also speak Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi fluently, Persian (Farsi) very well, and good Greek and Arabic.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the main foreign buyers in France?
Belgians, with 19% of the purchases by non-resident foreigners in 2022, ahead of the British, Germans and Dutch.
Do I need a fiscal representative when I sell?
Not if you live in the European Union.
How far is Burgundy from Brussels?
Around five to six hours by road, and Luxembourg around three and a half hours.
Is the French notaire like ours?
Yes, the principle is the same: the sale is signed before a notaire, a public officer.