We Lead The Market US

We lead the market for large currency transfers

Whether you buy or sell property abroad, you will need large amounts of the local currency to do so.

Our specialized currency transfer service is designed for international real estate investment. We offer the best exchange rates that can save you thousands on your property purchase, with no hidden fees.

Our team of experts understands the intricacies of cross-border transactions and provides personalized risk management strategies to help protect your investment.

It’s often better to use a money transfer provider for sending large sums, as they may get you a much better deal.

Currency providers tend to offer more competitive exchange rates than banks so you get more from your money. They’re also better placed to guide you through the process, offering a wider range of services and personal support.

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MoneyAge winner

Transfer provider of the year 2023

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Established since 1996

Experts in currency

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500,000 happy customers

£10bn transferred each year

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40+ currencies

Transfers to 120+ countries

We Lead The Market US

We lead the market for large currency transfers

Whether you buy or sell property abroad, you will need large amounts of the local currency to do so.

Our specialized currency transfer service is designed for international real estate investment. We offer the best exchange rates that can save you thousands on your property purchase, with no hidden fees.

Our team of experts understands the intricacies of cross-border transactions and provides personalized risk management strategies to help protect your investment.

It’s often better to use a money transfer provider for sending large sums, as they may get you a much better deal.

Currency providers tend to offer more competitive exchange rates than banks so you get more from your money. They’re also better placed to guide you through the process, offering a wider range of services and personal support.

Choosing-the-perfect-provider

Choosing the perfect currency transfer provider:

Transferring with your bank

While many people choose to make large transfers through their banks, this isn’t always the best option.

Banks often work on higher margins than currency specialists, meaning you could get a better deal elsewhere. And they tend to offer a limited range of services, making it harder to time your transfer for when the market is in your favor.

Using a currency transfer expert

It’s often better to use a money transfer provider for sending large sums, as they may get you a much better deal.

Currency providers tend to offer more competitive exchange rates than banks so you get more from your money. They’re also better placed to guide you through the process, offering a wider range of services and personal support.

Talk to an expert

Trustpilot

Frequently asked questions about buying a property in France.

The amount of tax depends on the type of property and its location. Newer builds are subject to 20% VAT, although this may be included in the price of the property already (toutes taxes comprises, or TTC).

New builds also require stamp duty (droit de mutation) of 0.7%, while stamp duty for older properties ranges from 5.09% to 5.8%.

There are also the ongoing land tax (taxe foncière) and housing tax (taxe d’habitation). The former varies, but is usually around 1% of the property’s sale price; the latter only applies to second homes.

Unless you’re getting a mortgage from a French bank, you don’t necessarily need a French bank account when buying a property in France. However, if you’re living in France for an extended period of time then it may be a good idea to get a bank account.

It’s worth noting that many French banks will not allow an overseas resident to open an account until they have a physical tie to France, such as having signed your sales contract or having a rental agreement in place.

Yes, you can get a French mortgage as a foreigner, but as a non-EU national you may only be able to borrow 50% of the property value.

In addition, French lenders can’t offer you a mortgage if your financial liabilities exceed 30% of your net household income. If you’re over 65, they won’t take earned income into account, only pension payments or other passive income, such as rental income.

It tends to take around three months to buy a property in France, from the moment you make an offer to the day the sale is complete. However, it can take longer than this, particularly if you’re getting finance for the purchase.

There are no legal restrictions on foreigners buying property in France. As long as you have the funds or financing in place, you’re free to purchase property.

The GBP/EUR exchange rate is always moving, so the rate you get when transferring money to France will depend on when you make the transfer and who you transfer with.

We can monitor the market for you and help you time your transfer to get a strong exchange rate. Just get in touch if you want to find out more.

The biggest risk when it comes to currency exchange is that the exchange rate will weaken when you’re ready to make a transfer.

One way to minimise this is by planning ahead and keeping an eye on the currency market. As a Currencies Direct customer, you can get help from your personal account manager with this.

You can also use different transfer types to minimise risk. For example, a forward contract allows you to secure a favourable exchange rate up to a year ahead of making a transfer.

Yes, you can set up automated regular payments to go out every month or quarter. You can even combine a forward contract with a regular payment, giving you the certainty of getting the same exchange rate for each transaction.