Buying an existing property involves notary fees. Their amount, higher than in new properties, ranges from 7 to 8% of the sale price. Between taxes, fees, and disbursements, calculating these costs is not always easy. In this article, we help you understand and optimize them.
What is an existing property?
The property you plan to buy is considered existing if it has already undergone a transfer of ownership or transaction. The classification of a property as old does not depend on the year of construction. But why is it important to know whether a property is old or new? The answer lies in the notary fees: these are higher for existing properties.
Notary fees for existing properties: How much do they cost?
Notary fees are calculated as a percentage of the sale price of the property. That’s why a precise real estate valuation, based on the market value of a property, ensures a reliable estimate.
For new properties, total fees range from 2 to 3% of the sale price. However, in existing properties, notary fees account for 7 or even 8% of the sale price. For example, for an existing property priced at €1,000,000, notary fees in 2025 will average €75,000. Check our Paris real estate listings to explore market opportunities.
Why such a difference? The gap lies in transfer duties. For existing properties, these amount to 5.81% of the property price in almost all departments. Only Indre, Morbihan, and Mayotte benefit from a reduced rate of 5.09%. In contrast, for new properties, these taxes are reduced to 0.715% (departmental taxes).
How are notary fees structured for existing properties?
The largest portion (80%) of notary fees consists of transfer duties, also known as registration fees. These are taxes paid to local authorities and the property publicity tax collected by the state. There is also a real estate security contribution, a fixed tax of 0.10% of the property price, with a minimum amount of €15.
Additionally, notary fees include the notary’s remuneration, which is regulated and calculated based on a declining fee scale applied to different price brackets:
- €0 to €6,500: 3.870%;
- €6,500 to €17,000: 1.596%;
- €17,000 to €60,000: 1.064%;
- Above €60,000: 0.799%.
For non-regulated services such as legal advice or drafting specific documents, these correspond to the notary’s fees.
Lastly, disbursements refer to expenses advanced by the notary during the transaction. They cover payments to various service providers and the preparation of official documents. These costs are ultimately borne by the buyer.
Who pays the notary fees for existing properties?
As the buyer, you are responsible for paying acquisition fees at the signing of the authentic deed of sale. However, in a “deed-in-hand” sale, the seller covers the notary fees. In such cases, sellers often increase the sale price to compensate. That’s why consulting a real estate agent can help you determine which option is more beneficial: with or without a deed-in-hand arrangement.
The parties can also agree, through a specific clause, on who will bear the notary fees at the time of the sales agreement.
How to optimize notary fees for existing properties?
Taxes paid to the state are non-negotiable in France, as are disbursements. However, there are ways to reduce notary fees.
Under the Macron law, for transactions above €150,000, you can request a negotiation of notary fees on the notary’s fees. However, the reduction cannot exceed 10% of the notary’s rate. We recommend comparing several notary offices, as some are more willing than others to offer a discount to their clients.
Another tip is to deduct agency fees, which will lower your taxable base.
You can also deduct the value of furniture. However, the deduction cannot exceed 5% of the sale price.
Planning ahead for notary fees in existing properties
In summary, notary fees for existing properties amount to 7 or 8% of the sale price. They are twice as high as for new properties, which benefit from lower taxation. Nonetheless, it is possible to optimize your budget using the strategies outlined above.
For a precise calculation of your expected costs, we can assist you with your real estate purchase.