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THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF A PROPERTY  PURCHASING A PROPERTY MEANS, ABOVE ALL, CONSULTING AN EXPERT The purchase or sale of an immovable property is not to be taken lightly. It is a serious act full of consequences. The notary is the acknowledged expert in the law of immovables. Do not hesitate to consult your notary before signing any document for the purchase or sale of an immovable. He will know how to inform you on the precise nature of the document to avoid nasty surprises and ensure that the deed of sale is signed in harmony. At the time of signature, the notary explains the rights and obligations of the parties to the deed. He is duty-bound not to remit the sale price to the vendor until the necessary verifications have been completed and all parties are fully protected. PROMISE TO SELL/PURCHASE The promise to sell or purchase is the most common document signed by all interested parties prior to a sale. Contrary to popular belief, such a document is not one that can be easily disposed of after signature. It is a preliminary contract that imposes obligations on the parties. Once the promise is signed, it becomes extremely difficult to alter its terms and withdraw from the obligations thereby contracted. Hence the importance of consulting a notary before signing any document, to avoid difficult and often irreparable situations. You are invited to read the leaflet called The preliminary contract, the purchase of a house on the subject of the promise to purchase. SELLING: THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS Selling your immovable property to whom and when you please appears to be an acquired right; however, sometimes, an owner must be authorized to sell his property. For example:
Prudence is therefore recommended. If you sell without right, you jeopardize the sale and expose yourself to civil action. The notary can inform you about the authorizations required and, if you so request, will undertake to obtain them. THE SALE WITH LEGAL WARRANTY The vendor and the purchaser of an immovable have certain obligations towards one another. The purchaser must take possession of the property and pay the sale price. The vendor must deliver the property and is bound by the legal warranty, that is, the law obliges him to guarantee certain things to the purchaser. First, the vendor is bound by the warranty of ownership. He must guarantee to the purchaser that the immovable has no title defects and is free of all charges, except those declared at the time of sale. The vendor must also guarantee that the immovable does not suffer from encroachments (an encroachement on his part or an encroachement caused before the sale by a third person with his knowledge) and, within the confines of the law, does not contravene public law restrictions (for example, the vendor guarantees that the immovable complies with zoning regulations). The warranty of compliance with public law restrictions is, however, not absolute; the purchaser must remain vigilant. Second, the vendor is bound by the warranty of quality, that is, the warranty against hidden defects. But be careful! The warranty of quality covers only major defects that existed at the time of the sale, that were unknown to the purchaser, and that a prudent and careful purchaser would not have discovered. Easy you say? To the extent permitted by law, the parties may add to or reduce the legal warranty. The notary is well-equipped to inform you on the subject and to include in the deed of sale a clause that extends or limits liability to reflect the wishes of the parties while complying with the law. THE TITLE SEARCH: A NECESSITY After carrying out the necessary title search, your notary is in a position to guarantee that title to the property will not be contested. First, his search consists of verifying whether
THE SALE PRICE
THE NEW HOUSE You want to buy a new house without the horrors of construction legal hypothecs? A follow-up after the sale is required, since there are many players involved in construction, who can claim sums your builder fails to pay, sums that can be considerable. Your notary can offer you legal hypothec insurance. Don't deprive yourself! THE NOTARIAL DEED OF SALE: A VALUABLE DOCUMENT Your notary drafts the deed of sale with the care and attention to detail that characterize all his work, putting into this document all the clauses essential for the protection of your rights. The notary also draws up all other deeds related to the deed of sale: hypothecary loan, servitude, acquittance, co-ownership agreement, will, etc The notarial deed is proof of its contents. You will be given an authentic copy of the original, which is numbered, recorded, and kept in the office of the notary... the whole, for your protection. CO-OWNERSHIP These days many couples, married or not, decide to buy their house jointly. It is commonly said that the house "is in both names". As a precaution, when they decide to buy a house together, undivided co-owners should set down the rules which will govern them, in an agreement. The notary is well placed to advise the parties on the scope of the agreement and to draw up the appropriate document. Consult your notary: he leaves nothing to chance. | |
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