Notary fees on a €250,000 purchase in France (2026): new build or resale
At this price, the new-versus-resale choice is worth €14,009 in fees.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy
On €250,000 the fee gap between a new build and a resale exceeds €14,009: €19,827 for a resale property in a 5% département, €5,819 for a new home or an off-plan purchase, whatever the département. The gap is entirely tax: a resale bears transfer tax of 6.319 %, while a new-build sale, already subject to VAT, pays a reduced tax of 0.715 %. The notary’s emoluments are identical, €2,874 incl. VAT in both cases. Before concluding that new is cheaper, compare prices per square metre, which include VAT and the developer’s margin, and the running costs. A first-time buyer on a resale pays €18,548. Whichever you choose, the fees are due on signing day and must come from your deposit or your loan.
Estimated notary fees · Paris
€19,827
7.93 % of the price · Overall transfer tax rate 6.319 %
| Transfer tax · 5.00 %, rate raised to 5% (2025-2028 increase) | €15,796 |
| Notary emoluments (incl. VAT) | €2,874 |
| Formalities (incl. VAT) | €408 |
| Land registry contribution (CSI) · 0.10 % | €250 |
| Disbursements | €500 |
| Total | €19,827 |
First-time buyer: €1,280 less transfer tax.
What the fee gap offsets
The €14,009 saving on fees is 5.6 % of the price. It is real, but it should be set against the common premium per square metre on new builds, often much larger in big cities. It should also be set against what a new build saves afterwards: little work for ten years, construction warranties, better energy performance. Resale homes, for their part, offer more space for the money and more central locations.
And for a first-time buyer?
A first-time buyer purchasing a resale main home pays €18,548, €1,280 less than the standard case. The gap with a new build narrows to €12,729 without disappearing. The zero-interest loan, which uses the same first-time buyer definition, is mostly geared towards new builds, which may tip the balance.
Fees on €250,000 by département and situation
| Département | Resale | First-time buyer | New build | Share of price (resale) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris (5%) | €19,827 | €18,548 | €5,819 | 7.93 % |
| Alpes-Maritimes (4.50%) | €18,548 | €18,548 | €5,819 | 7.42 % |
| Indre (3.80%) | €16,756 | €16,756 | €5,819 | 6.70 % |
| Réunion (5%, overseas scale) | €20,449 | €19,170 | €6,440 | 8.18 % |
Other prices: €100,000 purchase · €150,000 purchase · €200,000 purchase · €300,000 purchase · €400,000 purchase · €500,000 purchase · €1,000,000 purchase.