About this site

Welcome to The French Property Notebook

Your honest, insider guide to buying, selling, and settling into life in France — from the quiet hamlets of the Dordogne to the sunlit corners of Provence, Brittany, and beyond.

I’m a real estate agent based in Montignac in the Périgord Noir, an after years of guiding clients through the intricacies of the French property market, I created this space to share what rarely gets said in glossy listings or fast-talking negotiations.

This Blog Is For...

• Buyers dreaming of a home in France but unsure where to begin
• Sellers navigating the maze of pricing, paperwork, and post-offer steps
• Anyone curious about the real rhythm of life here — not just the postcard version

Why I Started This Blog

Buying property in France isn’t just a transaction — it’s layered, emotional, legally intricate, and deeply shaped by local customs. As an agent, I found myself answering the same essential questions again and again:

• Who actually pays the commission — and how does that work?
• What do renovation costs look like in rural France?
• Can I trust the process if I’m buying from abroad?
• And what’s life really like after the keys are handed over?

Instead of keeping these answers locked in private conversations, I built this notebook. A place to pull back the curtain and offer grounded, real-world advice from someone who walks these country lanes every day.

What You’ll Find Here

• Honest advice for buying and selling in France
• Real-life stories and lessons from the field
• Guidance on dealing with notaires, navigating offers, and avoiding costly surprises
• Occasional reflections on life in the Périgord Noir — from someone who truly calls it home

Let’s Stay in Touch

This blog isn’t just a resource — it’s a conversation.

You can subscribe to receive updates (coming soon), or simply drop in whenever you're in research mode. And if you ever want to reach out, I’m just a message away.

Thanks for stopping by — and welcome to The French Property Notebook.