Acte de vente Deed of sale Agent Immobilier French estate agent Acompte Deposit Assurance multirisques habitation Household insurance policy for buildings and contents Cadastre Land registrar Code de la consommation French Consumer Code Compromis de vente Pre-contract: bilateral contract binding both parties to the transaction. It is guaranteed with deposits that are forfeited if one party pulls out. Condition suspensive Reservation clause, eg, agreement only if the buyer is granted a loan. Débours Disbursement charges laid out by the notaire on behalf on the client in order to pay the different agents relevant to the transaction (land registrar, surveyor etc). Droits de timbre Stamp duties (fiscal stamp to be affixed on every page of tile deed of sale). Expertise Valuation or Survey Hypothèque Mortgage Indemnité d'immobilisation Deposit paid by buyer to notary or estate agent following a sales promise, Forfeited if the buyer pulls out of sale.

FNAIM The initials of the Federation Nationale des Agents Immobiliers et Mandataires which is the main French national association of estate agents. Maitre d'oeuvres Master builder Mandat exclusif Exclusive mandate for an estate agent to sell a property as opposed to a mandat simple which is a non-exclusive mandate. Notaire A lawyer who is a legal professional and a public officer appointed by the Ministry of Justice to handle the conveyance of all property sales in France. Notaire's fees: 'frais de Notaire'. Pièce A room Prêts réglementés Statutory loan entitlements. Promesse de vente Sales promise. This is a contract by which one person undertakes to sell to another person without the latter immediately consenting to buy. Registration fees They consist of tile notarial fees for the writing of a deed (ie, the notary public's commission) and all legal fees and taxes due for any real estate transaction. Taxe Fonciere Annual tax which goes towards national services, such as roads and main utilities. Taxe d'habitation Annual tax which goes towards departmental and communal services, such as refuse collection and local utilities. Terrain Land or grounds. 1 Hectare = 10,000 square metres = 2.5 acres (approx). 4,000 square metres = 1 acre (approx)