There is always more to do.

While buying a house is complicated and time consuming, but there’s always more to consider. Here's what you need to sort out next.

All the other things to plan around buying a house.

Hopefully this list and the notes below will help you (and us) not miss anything

Residency & Visa

Check your legal right to be there. EU passport? You're golden. Non-EU? Research visa requirements, time limits, and restrictions now.

Register locally at the Mairie or Hôtel de Ville. Post-Brexit, many Brits discovered they could only visit their French homes 90 days out of every 180 - a costly oversight."

Tax Status

Linked tightly to residency, is your tax status. Will the new house be your permanent residence, or a 2nd home?

Primary residence = new tax obligations. You'll register and pay taxes locally. Prepare for French tax forms in French - it's as fun as it sounds.

Banking

You'll likely need a French bank account. Insurance companies accept EU accounts; mortgage lenders typically don't. Opening an account remotely without a French address might be a challenge. Good luck with that..

Insurance

If you are taking out a mortgage then insurance on the property will be required. If you are using a good immobilier like Beaux Villages then they will hopefully be able to suggest insurance partners who they regularly refer clients to.

You may also want to consider life insurance, especially if mortgage payments are weighted heavily one person in a couple. It would be devastating to lose a partner and then discover you can no longer afford the mortgage payments.

Note: Do not consider any of this financial advice. It is just ramblings of one particular British expat and how I see things.

Utilities

Energy bills can shock you. Moving from a 3-bed apartment to a 5-bed house with pool? We're budgeting for 2-3x higher bills.

Calculate realistically - winter heating costs can run hundreds monthly.

For us, it means that we will be monitoring the bills for a few months before thinking about adding more expensive energy consumers like a hot tub.

Energy Rating

In France there are rules about the energy rating on properties. Most of the property informtion sheets that we received included energy ratings from previous technical reports. I have read that the energy ratings can have a significant impact on the price of property as well as the running costs of your property.

Low energy ratings = high bills. Check the diagnostics in property sheets and DDT reports.

If you are planning to rent out your property then there are minimum ratings to be met. Poor ratings limit rental potential.

You should see something like the diagnostics below in the property information sheets and the DDT technical report that the seller commissions.

Sample energy rating from a property information sheet.

Internet & Phone

Internet isn't optional anymore. Remote work, family calls, Netflix - it's essential infrastructure.

Can't handle video calls? Kiss goodbye to poolside Zoom meetings. Have teenagers? They'll revolt without decent WiFi.

A modern hierarchy of needs!

Transport

Location, location, location, this old cliché remains true.

Rural = car-dependent. How far to shops, services, transport links? Can you afford taxis? Need multiple cars?

We chose 15 minutes from an airport - family can visit easily. The 8-hour drive from our current home? That's the trade-off we accepted.

Healthcare

Plan for aging bodies. Most buyers are nearing retirement. Can you get prescriptions locally? What about specialist care and insurance? Check in advance what schemes or providers are available to you.

That ground-floor bedroom might be a joke now - it won't be in 20 years.

Hint to my American friends, normal health care is very accessible and will not bankrupt you.

Language

Fluent or frustrated? Our basic French works for most situations. Our chosen region also has plenty of English speakers as backup.

Consider your comfort level - language barriers can isolate you from local life.

Unknown Unknowns

Expect surprises. Something will catch you off-guard. Budget extra time, money, and patience.

Remember that thousands of people successfully navigate international property purchases every year. The key is thorough preparation and realistic expectations. Take your time with each of these considerations, and don't hesitate to seek professional advice when needed.

What other challenges have you encountered in your property journey? I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.