Residence · Sale
Selling your French property without being there
Valuation, mandate by power of attorney, capital gains, tax representative, remote signing and repatriating the proceeds: the complete journey of a sale without being there, and the partners who carry it.
The essentials in four sentences
A non-resident can sell French property without travelling: the sales mandate is granted by power of attorney and the authentic deed is signed before a notary, in person or by special mandate. Tax settles at signing: the notary withholds the capital gains tax at the transfer, and an accredited tax representative is mandatory for residents outside the European Economic Area. The private capital gain is computed on the difference between sale price and purchase price plus fees, with 6 % relief per year of ownership beyond the fifth year and exemption after twenty-two years (thirty for social charges). French Realty frames the sale, prepares the file and coordinates valuation, mandate and notary; marketing and the deed stay with the licensed partners.
French Realty
Frames the sale project, rebuilds the file, prepares the power of attorney with the notary and coordinates the licensed professional through to the wire. On quotation, with no commission on the sale.
Licensed professional · professional licence
Valuation, marketing, viewings and negotiation: property intermediation is regulated, carried by a partner professional holding the licence, under their responsibility.
Partner notary
Preliminary contract, authentic deed, power of attorney and tax withholdings: the deed and the tax belong to the notary, who charges decree-set emoluments.
What does selling remotely actually mean?
Selling remotely means chaining together the same acts as a present seller, without being in France: valuation and mandate are prepared from your country, viewings are conducted by the mandated professional, signing happens by power of attorney before a notary, and the sale proceeds are wired to your account, wherever it is. Each regulated act stays with its holder: intermediation with a professional holding the licence, the deed with the notary. The table below walks the timeline.
| Step | Who acts | Where it happens |
|---|---|---|
| Valuation and sale strategy | Licensed professional, framed by French Realty | Remotely |
| Sales mandate | Professional holding the licence | By power of attorney |
| Viewings, offer, preliminary contract | The mandated professional | On site, without you |
| Authentic deed | Notary | In person or by special mandate |
| Capital gains tax and transfer of funds | Notary (withholding), your bank | On signing day |
How does an accompanied sale from abroad unfold?
It starts with framing: why sell, on what calendar, with what after-tax outcome. Then French Realty prepares the file (identity documents, title deed, surveys, latest property tax notice, destination account details) and introduces you to the licensed professional and the notary. The mandate is signed remotely, viewings happen without you, and the final signature is given by power of attorney if you do not travel.
- Framing the sale project with French Realty: goal, calendar, tax points to arbitrate before marketing.
- Preparing the file: title deed, mandatory surveys, tenancy situation if any, destination accounts.
- Introduction to the licensed professional (valuation, mandate, viewings) and the notary (preliminary contract, deed, withholdings).
- Appointment of the tax representative if your country of residence requires one, before signing.
- Signing the deed, notary's tax withholding, wiring of the sale proceeds to your account.
What conditions apply to selling without being present?
Three conditions structure a non-resident's sale. The power of attorney first: signed before a notary in France, or at the French consulate abroad (or a local notary, with apostille or legalisation depending on the country), it gives a proxy the power to sign the deed. The tax representative next: mandatory for residents outside the European Economic Area selling French property, answerable to the administration for the capital gains tax. The surveys last: energy performance, asbestos, lead, electricity, gas, termites, drainage and Carrez floor area must accompany the preliminary contract, up to date.
Who bills what in an accompanied sale?
French Realty publishes no rates and takes no commission on the sale: its framing and coordination service is quoted individually. The sale's own costs are framed by law: the licensed professional's fees, unregulated but displayed, are paid at signing; the notary's emoluments are set by decree; the capital gains tax is withheld on transfer day. The table below maps the flows.
| Flow | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed professional's fees | Unregulated, displayed, at signing | Authentic deed |
| Notary's emoluments and disbursements | Set by decree | Authentic deed |
| Capital gains tax and social charges | Withheld by the notary on the taxable gain | Authentic deed |
| French Realty framing and coordination | On quotation | Before and during the sale |
How long between the mandate and the wire?
Two deadlines frame everything: the preliminary contract opens the buyer a ten-day cooling-off period, and the authentic deed usually follows two to three months later, the time for surveys, financing and title clearance. The sale proceeds are available a few days after signing, once withholdings are made. A tenanted or occupied property stretches the calendar: the tenant's pre-emption right adds its own deadlines.
Note: selling a tenanted property follows a precise protocol, tenant pre-emption included, which our article on selling a tenanted property details. No deadline is promised here: the market and the file decide.
What changes tax-wise for a non-resident?
A non-resident's capital gain follows French rules, tempered by the treaty between France and your country of residence. The taxable gain is the sale price minus the purchase price, actual (or standard) fees and works; the holding relief reaches 6 % per year beyond the fifth year, with tax exemption after twenty-two years and of social charges after thirty. Since 2025, residents of the European Economic Area fall under a withholding equal to the tax actually due, computed by the notary; others pay deposits at the sale, later reconciled. Our capital gains simulator spells out the calculation, official rates cited, and our country guides cover the treaties.
What should you check before putting a property on the market?
A ready file sells better and faster. Before the first viewing, check the title deed and any mortgage, the validity of the surveys, the tenancy position (running lease, possible pre-emption), the service charges and latest minutes, and the funds' exit route: destination account, currency exchange if needed. Our articles on mandatory surveys and on the sales mandate and power of attorney cover each point.
| Piece | Why |
|---|---|
| Title deed and mortgage statement | Proving the right to sell and clearing registrations |
| Up-to-date surveys | Mandatory with the preliminary contract |
| Tenancy position | Running lease, tenant pre-emption, notice to serve |
| Power of attorney and tax representative | Signing without travelling and answering for the tax |
What risks does a remotely prepared sale run?
The first risk is documentary: an expired survey or a missing piece delays signing, sometimes to the loss of the buyer. The second is legal: a poorly drafted power of attorney (powers too narrow, form not apostilled) blocks the deed on the day. The third is financial: ignoring the withholding and the tax representative's role means discovering the tax when the wire lands. And the fourth, structural: a property valued by rule of thumb sells badly, or not at all. Preparing the file is precisely the heart of French Realty's service.
Is it better to sell, pass on or give away?
Selling is not the only exit: a lifetime gift, splitting between usufruct and bare ownership, or holding through an SCI may better serve a family project, at the cost of structures prepared well in advance. Those arbitrations belong to the notary and, for structuring, to specialised advice; French Realty informs and points, it does not advise the structure. Our articles on the SCI, on splitting ownership and on inheritance, and the inheritance theme of our country guides, set the scene before the meeting with the notary.
Note: holding through a company waives no filing duty and may create new ones; our article on the SCI for holding French property details burdens and advantages without ever advising a structure.
What mistakes should you avoid when selling from abroad?
| Mistake | Answer |
|---|---|
| Signing a power of attorney with too-narrow powers | Powers listed with the notary BEFORE deed day |
| Forgetting the tax representative outside the EEA | Appointment made before signing, on the notary's advice |
| Discovering the withholding when the wire lands | Capital gains simulation BEFORE marketing |
| Letting the surveys drag | File rebuilt and dated from the French Realty framing onwards |
What does French Realty actually do on your sale?
French Realty frames the sale project (goal, calendar, tax points), rebuilds and dates the file, prepares the power of attorney with the notary, coordinates the licensed professional who values, markets and negotiates, and follows through to the wire, currency exchange included where relevant. Marketing, intermediation and the authentic deed stay with their holders, under their responsibility; coordination is billed on quotation by French Realty. One contact from first framing to last wire: that is what your personal study is for.
French Realty acts as a business introducer: it informs, guides and coordinates, with no commission on the sale. Marketing and intermediation are carried by a licensed professional, the authentic deed and tax withholdings by a notary, each under their own responsibility. The capital gains rules cited are those of 2026 and also depend on the tax treaty between France and your country of residence; our country guides detail them.
Frequently asked questions about a non-resident's remote sale
Last updated: September 2026
Can I sell my French property without returning to France?
Yes: the sales mandate is granted by power of attorney, viewings are conducted by the mandated professional, and the authentic deed is signed before a notary either in person or by a proxy holding a special power of attorney. French Realty prepares the file and the power of attorney with the notary, and coordinates the licensed professional through to the wire.
How do I grant power of attorney to sell from abroad?
The power of attorney is signed before a notary in France, or at the French consulate in your country of residence, or before a local notary, with apostille or legalisation depending on the country. The French notary drafts the project and lists the powers: signing the deed, receiving the price, giving discharge. Too narrow a power blocks the deed on signing day: precisely the point French Realty prepares upstream with the notary.
What tax applies to a non-resident's capital gain?
The private capital gain is computed on the sale price minus the purchase price plus fees and works, with 6 % relief per year of ownership beyond the fifth year, tax exemption after twenty-two years and of social charges after thirty. The notary withholds the tax at the transfer. Our capital gains simulator runs the calculation on your figures, and your country guide covers the tax treaty.
What is a tax representative, and is it mandatory?
The tax representative is an accredited professional answerable to the French administration for a non-resident seller's tax at the sale. It is mandatory for residents outside the European Economic Area selling French property, and in certain other cases set by the administration. French Realty introduces you to the accredited professional suited to your country of residence: that is our dedicated tax representation service.
How do I value my property remotely, without overpricing?
Valuation belongs to the licensed professional: field surveys, real comparables, the condition of the property and of the local market. Our article on valuing a property from abroad explains what a serious valuation contains, and the one on adding value before selling covers the preparations that pay. French Realty hands the full file to the professional so the valuation starts from accurate documents, not a hoped-for price.
Can I sell a property occupied by a tenant?
Yes, and the tenant holds a pre-emption right under the conditions of the law of 6 July 1989: selling tenanted transfers the lease to the buyer, selling vacant requires serving notice in the legal form and time. Our article on selling a tenanted property details both paths; French Realty checks the tenancy position at framing time, since it conditions the whole calendar.
How do I get the sale proceeds to my account abroad?
The notary wires the net proceeds to the account you name, in France or abroad, once withholdings are made. Large transfers are prepared with your bank and, where relevant, a currency partner, for the rate as much as for the documentation. Our article on repatriating sale proceeds details the route, and French Realty points to the right partner.
Which surveys are needed to sell?
The preliminary contract must attach the energy performance diagnosis and, depending on the property and its date: asbestos, lead, electricity, gas, termites, drainage, natural risks and the Carrez floor area in a shared building. An expired survey delays signing. Our article on mandatory surveys lists them, and French Realty rebuilds the file from the framing onwards to date what is missing.
Is a main home exempt for a non-resident?
The main-home exemption requires the property to be your principal residence on selling day, which a non-resident by definition generally no longer meets. Some tax treaties temper this, and returning to France before the sale can change the analysis: a point to examine with the notary and, if needed, a tax adviser in your country of residence. French Realty raises the question at framing, never answers it for you.
Is it better to sell, give away or split ownership?
It depends on the family project, the calendar and both generations' tax position: a lifetime gift, splitting usufruct and bare ownership, or holding through an SCI follow different logics, prepared well in advance. Those arbitrations belong to the notary and specialised advice; French Realty informs, points and coordinates, never advising the structure. Our SCI, ownership-splitting and inheritance articles set the scene.
Depending on your country of residence
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Your personal study for your sale from abroad
A concrete reading of your project in France: buying, financing, tax, coordinated by your dedicated French Realty contact.