Adapted into English from the French Finance Ministry’s Website https://www.economie.gouv.fr/particuliers/ce-qui-change-janvier-2024#By Victoria Maître HeaddonTranslator, Interpreter, Consultant, French-English Lawyer-LinguistHelpingyouinfrance.com | helpingyouinfrance@gmail.comIndividuals: what is changing on 1 January 2024By Bercy Infos, 02/01/2024 – Taxes Consumer Money Digital Social benefits Energy savingChanges to the MaPrimeRénov’ scheme, an increase in the income tax scale, car leasing at €100 per month, the creation of a “future climate” savings plan ...
Read moreI have a property in France and I want to build a new garden wall. Do I need planning permission for minor works like that?In my work as an Estate Agent, as well as a Translator, Interpreter and Consultant, I am frequently confronted by the question of whether planning permission is needed for more minor works to properties and, if so, what form that permission needs to take. In the past couple of weeks alone, I have helped clients facing issues over a garden wall, external steps up to the house from a terrace and new windows. In all cases, the works should have been notified in advance to the local authorities via what is known as the Déclaration préalable de travaux. What is a Déclaration préalable de travaux (Prior Declaration Of ...
Read moreHow to plan for the management of your affairs in France for the time when you no longer have the mental capacity to manage them yourselfWhat is the French equivalent of a Lasting Power Of Attorney?In France, it is possible to draw up what is called a Mandat de protection future to designate your mandataire (attorney) for the day when you can no longer look after your own affairs due to a lack of mental capacity resulting from accident, illness or old age. It is possible to appoint more than one mandataire. Your attorneys can be anybody that you trust who is of the age of majority and can act jointly or separately as specified. It is also possible to appoint qualified professionals.Who can draw one ...
Read moreAll French property owners are required to fill in an online form declaring their property.To create a space on the impots.gouv.fr site, it is now necessary to attend the tax office in person but that may not be possible for everybody before the 30th June deadline.But it came to our attention that some people, particularly second-home owners, cannot do this because they may not have a fiscal number yet and/or they do but cannot create an online space. They also have no social security number and cannot create a France Connect account.So we have been in touch directly with the Gers tax office and they have provided us with a form for those owners who cannot do this online and cannot ...
Read moreMy neighbours want to buy part of my garden. How do we go about this? Also, as part of the deal, they will give up a right of way (servitude) they have over my entrance. How does that work?
Read moreClients very actively looking for a house to rent in Castera-VerduzanHere are the criteria:Contemporary homeHigh Energy Rating (A or B)2/3 bedsGarageGardenRent up to 800 euros per monthContact Victoria | 05 62 28 60 48 | contact@compass-immo.com
Read moreWhat is the Energy Audit (audit énergétique)?The Energy Audit involves a detailed survey of a property giving realistic scenarios to improve a property’s energy rating. The aim is that the property moves up into the higher categories to reach at least category B at the end of the proposed schedule of works. The works are budgeted, and the audit also details the building’s defects and the limits of its energy-use renovation.When is the audit compulsory?From 1st April 2023.What types of properties does the audit apply to?Houses and collective buildings for residential use where ownership is not shared sold from the above date.Properties rated in ...
Read moreCovering the Auch-Jégun-Condom areas in the Gers, Compass Immobilier's Commercial Agent Ghislaine Carion introduces herself in this video (in French): https://youtube.com/shorts/nrm3jqa21LQ
Read moreVictoria Maître Headdon is MD of Compass Immobilier. In this video, she introduces herself and the Estate Agency she founded in 2005 in Castera-Verduzan, Gers, Gascony, southwest France. Victoria manages the agency, sells houses and values property https://youtu.be/nYi39I1E8sQ
Read moreTo get a clearer picture of the increases in French mortgage interest rates for house buyers, we have compared the national rates between February 2022 and February 2023 on the scale given by the website Le Partenaire (lepartenaire.fr). The rates used are those of the site's partner banks.In February 2022, the average fixed rate for first time buyers over 20 years was 1%. In February 2023, the rate is 2.73%. Over 25 years, the average fixed rate was 1.15% in 2022 and is now 2.85%.For those borrowers who do not qualify as first time buyers, in February 2022 the average rate over 20 years was 0.78% and in February 2023 it is 2.48%. For a mortgage over 25 years, the average fixed rate was 0.97% in February 2022 and it is now 2.55%.Other categories of borrower could ...
Read moreBased at Compass Immobilier's office in Castéra-Verduzan, Gers, our sale's negotiator and certified property valuer Clara de Prada introduces herself in this video (in French): https://youtube.com/shorts/GPuoPU-rscs
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