Area 01 · Real estate
Real estate: supporting you at every stage of your project
Buying, selling, investing, building: every property transaction is a long-term commitment. Maître Michel Azeroual, notary in Paris, secures your residential projects and your professional transactions alike, from the preliminary contract to the registration of the deed.
Holding a Master 2 in real estate, construction and planning law, Maître Azeroual practised for several years in Parisian notarial offices, on real estate matters for private individuals and institutional investors alike, before founding his own office. The office handles the purchase of a first flat as well as the sale of professional or commercial premises, in the 12th arrondissement of Paris and beyond.
Our real estate services
Sale and purchase
The notary checks the identity and legal capacity of the parties, the chain of title, the mortgage position, easements, planning rules and the technical surveys (diagnostics). The notary drafts the authentic deed, receives the funds required for the transaction, pays the seller and registers the sale with the land registry (service de la publicité foncière). The office explains to the buyer, in advance, what the purchase costs are made up of and the main stages of the timetable.
Selling a property?
The Paris Chamber of Notaries provides a simulator that gives a first estimate of the capital gain on a property sale (in French). The result is indicative only: the office reviews your situation when preparing the sale.
Preliminary contracts: promesse and compromis de vente
The preliminary contract sets the conditions of the sale: price, timetable, conditions precedent, such as obtaining a loan or clearing a pre-emption right, and, where applicable, the terms on which the buyer pays a sum of money. When the notary drafts it, each party’s commitments are set out precisely, as is what happens to any sums deposited with the office.
SCIs and buy-to-let investment
Buying with others, preparing to pass on assets or organising a rental portfolio often leads to setting up a société civile immobilière (SCI), a French non-trading property company. The office drafts articles of association suited to your project, advises on the choice of tax regime and assists with later transactions: contributions, transfers of shares, splitting ownership between usufruct and bare ownership. See also the Business and company law page.
Mortgages and loan security
When a purchase is financed by a loan, the bank may require security, in particular a contractual mortgage (hypothèque conventionnelle) or a lender’s statutory special mortgage (hypothèque légale spéciale du prêteur de deniers). The notary draws up the necessary deeds and completes the land registry formalities. If the property is resold while the mortgage is still registered, the office arranges, where necessary, the repayment of the loan and the release of the security.
Residential and commercial leases
A notarial lease gives landlord and tenant a clear framework and is directly enforceable. The office drafts and advises on residential, professional and commercial leases, including for premises within a co-owned building. For commercial leases, see also the Business law page.
Co-ownership
Selling or buying a unit in a co-owned building (copropriété) means gathering and analysing several documents: co-ownership regulations, statement of division (état descriptif de division), minutes of general meetings and financial information. For a sale, the managing agent (syndic) also issues a statement of account (état daté). The office checks the description of the unit against the available documents, informs the buyer of the service charges and of the works decided by the co-owners and, where necessary, assists with amending the regulations or the statement of division.
New builds and off-plan sales (VEFA)
Buying a new home off plan (vente en l’état futur d’achèvement) is governed by specific protective rules: reservation contract, completion guarantee, staged payments, handover and the builder’s warranties. The office helps you understand the contract and sign the deed, and advises developers on setting up their programmes.
How does a property sale work with the office?
- First meeting: presentation of the project, the timetable and the documents to gather, at the office or by video call.
- Preliminary contract: drafting of the promesse or compromis de vente when the office is instructed to do so; review of the preliminary contract if it has already been signed. A sum may be paid on the agreed terms.
- Preparing the file: planning checks, possible exercise of a pre-emption right, co-ownership documents and the buyer’s financing.
- Preparing for signing: the draft deed and a provisional statement of costs are sent to you, and your questions are answered.
- Signing and after the sale: signing of the authentic deed, payment of the price and handover of the keys on the agreed terms. The office then registers the sale and gives the buyer the title deed once the formalities are complete.
So-called “notary fees” are mostly taxes paid over to the State and local authorities. The Fees page details their breakdown and links to the purchase costs simulator of the Paris Chamber of Notaries.
Frequently asked questions about real estate
Do you need a notary to sign a preliminary sale contract?
The promesse or compromis de vente can be signed privately, but signing it before a notary secures the transaction from the outset: checks on the property and the seller, conditions precedent suited to the case, a realistic timetable and the deposit held in escrow in the office’s accounts. A unilateral promise to sell lasting more than eighteen months must be executed before a notary.
How long is there between the preliminary contract and signing the deed of sale?
In practice, allow around three months, depending on the specific features of the matter. This covers the time needed to clear the municipality’s pre-emption right, obtain the planning and co-ownership documents, and allow the buyer to obtain a loan. It can be shorter when no financing is involved, or longer if a document is delayed.
Can the buyer choose their own notary?
Yes. Each party may be assisted by the notary of their choice at no extra cost: the regulated fees are then shared between the two offices according to the rules of the profession. A buyer living or investing in East Paris can therefore entrust their matter to the office, even if the seller already has a notary.
Which documents should I prepare to sell a flat in Paris?
The title deed, the technical surveys, the minutes of the last three general meetings, the co-ownership regulations and any amendments, service charge demands and the building’s maintenance record (carnet d’entretien), together with your identity documents and proof of family status. The office gives you a precise list at the first meeting; the Prepare your appointment page gives an overview.
The information on this page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Each situation calls for a personalised analysis during an appointment with the notary.
Meet us
Book an appointment with Maître Azeroual
At the office, by telephone or by video call, depending on your situation. We will get back to you as soon as possible, usually within two working days.
- Address
- 67 boulevard de Picpus
75012 Paris - Telephone
- +33 1 84 74 19 70
- Opening hours
- Monday to Thursday: 9:30 am to 1 pm, 2 pm to 6 pm
Friday: 9:30 am to 1 pm, 2 pm to 5 pm