Hi there, hope you’re staying warm this winter.

I wanted to share a list of words that I’ve compiled over the past few years that will definitely be helpful when buying real estate in France. I’ll update this list as I stumble upon new words. Enjoy!

French	Definition
À rafraîchir/ À revoir	Coming from an (real) estate agent, it could encompass many things. To be safe, the property will need renovation, but some existing materials are ok. Have a handyman on speed dial for your 2nd visit of the property!
Acte de propriété/authentique	The final deed to the property
arboré	Tree-lined or wooded (often used to describe a property with many trees).
assainissement	Water draining system
auvent	Awning
avec fort potentiel	Needs a home makeover (i.e., absolutely fresh paint, usually flooring is intact, but may require some attention in damaged spots, or electricity needs to be rewired, components of the house need renovation or simply rebuilt like a balcony or a terrace.)
Bail	Lease agreement
Bailleur	Landlord
Bibliothèque	Bookshelf
Bonne affaire	Bargain
Cave	Cellar or basement (often used for storage or wine cellars)
Charges comprises	Utilities included (e.g water, heating, garbage collection)
Charges non comprises	Utilities not included
Comble	Attic (often unfinished or used for storage)
Compromis	Engaging with a seller/buyer morally; you plan to proceed to buying or selling the property.
Cuisine américaine	A traditional or cozy kitchen style that gives into another living space. Features a large island and/or bar seating. (photo below)

Dépôt de garantie	Down payment
DPE (Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique)	Energy Performance Certificate (mandatory for property sales or rentals; rates the property’s energy efficiency from A to G)
Dressing	Walk-in closet
Écusson	signifies an area, usually snail-shaped, which was the old city center and filled with pedestrian cobblestone streets. Houses/apartments tend to have ancient stone walls, arches, and wood beams that might date to the medieval ages.

Enchères	Auction
État des lieux	A site-visit. The (real) estate agency charges a small, flat fee to do an inventory of fixtures and run-through the entire property to assess its condition. (First, when you move-in and again when you move-out.)
F1/P1	Same meaning for F or P; it denotes the number of rooms, not counting: bathrooms, laundry closets, screened-in porches, kitchens, mezzanines, etc. Usually composed of: living rooms/dens, bedrooms/guest rooms.
FAI	Frais d’agence inclus dans le prix. No extra fee to a realtor; price includes the fee.
Garant	Guarantor (someone who guarantees rent payment if the tenant cannot)
Honoraires	Agency fees (often paid by the seller). Required to be listed on the front page of the agent’s website.
L’eau grise	Sink, shower, washing machine, dishwasher water
Locataire	Tenant
L’orientation de l’appartement	The main direction the property is facing. (North, South,etc.)
Loyer	Rent
Mandat	Exclusive or non-exclusive contract to sell or rent a property.
Meublé	Furnished (property comes with furniture)
Non-meublé	Unfurnished (property does not include furniture)
Frais de notaire	The notary’s fee to officiate the signing of the final deed and read it to you will always be a percentage of the sale price ~ 7% or 8%. For drafting the compromis/ preliminary agreement ~EUR 500.
PaP	Particulier à particulier; for sale by owner.
Pallier	Landing
Petit débarras or un cagibi (pronounced KGB)	Broom closet
Piscine/jardin piscinable	Swimming pool. A swimming pool can be built in the existing garden. In France, a pool costs around EUR 35 000 to build.
Pool house	Pool house

Préavis	A notice which says to your landlord you’re moving out. 1 month before you plan to move out.
Propriétaire	Homeowner
Quittance de loyer	Rent invoice
Rénové	Renovated (property has been updated or modernized)
Expropriation	Eminent domain
Surface habitable	Living area (total floor space available for living, excluding walls, staircases, etc)
Tantième	Share of co-ownership (applies to apartments in co-owned buildings; determines voting rights and share of common charges)
Taxe d’habitation	Residence tax (previously paid by occupants, but being phased out for primary residences)
Taxe foncière	Property tax (paid annually by the property owner). For 100 m2 in Nîmes in 2025 ~ EUR 1 350 per year.
Un quartier très recherché	A sought-after neighborhood. In Nîmes, it would be the expensive neighborhoods like where La Maison Carrée is situated in Les Jardins de la Fontaine/Écusson neighborhood, think beautiful surroundings with ample green spaces.
Viager	Life annuity sale (buyer pays a lump sum + regular payments until the seller’s death).
06/mail	Shorthand for your cell number and email address