A public and ministerial officer, the notary is responsible for authenticating deeds on behalf of his clients. Real estate purchase, inheritance, marriage contract, divorce: it is almost obligatory to go to this professional to carry out certain services. And even if the Civil Code certifies that the private deed (between individuals) has the same faith as the authentic deed (before the notary), it is more prudent to call on a notary if you wish to buy real estate. . An act which necessarily generates costs for the buyer.
What do notary fees consist of?
What we call – commonly and wrongly – notary fees correspond to all the sums requested by the notary in return for a service he provides for his client. They include emoluments, fees, disbursements, duties and taxes. If he initially collects them, the notary must then pay them back to the State. In reality, only 10% of the notary fees paid are collected by the notary office.
“A fee concerns acts and formalities for which the reimbursement amount has been defined by the State” explains Édouard Grimond, spokesperson for the Superior Council of Notaries (CSN). Depending on the type of service, the fee can be: fixed (donation, marriage contract, inheritance, etc.) or proportional to the value on which bears the deed (in the case of a real estate transaction, they will vary depending on the value of the property sold). However, the amount remains the same regardless of the professional you choose.
Conversely, “A honorary allows the notary to apply free remuneration which must however be approved after discussion with its client“, he specifies. This concerns, for example, a legal consultation, the sale of a business, a commercial lease.
The disbursements correspond to the sums advanced by the notary, additional costs. Édouard Grimond then gives a very concrete example: “the photocopying costs necessary for the performance of the service are disbursements invoiced by the notary“.
Transfer taxes can go up to 5.09% (depending on the department). These are property taxes and registration fees that the notary collects and pays to the Public Treasury on behalf of the State and local authorities, including VAT on the notary’s remuneration.
How much are the notary fees for a real estate purchase?
Fees vary depending on the status of your accommodation: new or old. Most often, you have to count on transfer costs (notary fees + registration fees) representing:
- between 7% and 8% of the sale price for the acquisition of a property ancient.
- between 2 and 3% of the sale price for the acquisition of a property nine.
For example, for the purchase of an old property for a price of 150,000 euros, the acquisition costs amount to €10,665 and break down as follows:
- Taxes: €8,000
- Disbursements: €750
- Notary remuneration: €1,900
Source :
Édouard Grimond, spokesperson for the Superior Council of Notaries (CSN)
“What notary fees do you have to pay when purchasing real estate?“- Website of the Ministry of Economy and Finance