Forget the complexity—buying property in St. Barth isn’t rocket science. Here’s how it works, step by step:
Once you have found a property you can not resist, submit your offer to the seller via your broker with a short description of the property, its location and property Id number.
Here’s what to include:
– Your purchase price
– How long your offer stands
– Your personal details (passport copy included, civil status form,…)
– Any conditions (like needing a bank loan—yes or no)
– Hand it over to the broker.
When the seller accepts, it’s time to bring in the « notaire ».
Notaires who have a high degree in Law, are acting under oath and strict confidentiality in the name of the French Justice Administration, somewhere in between a Judge and Lawyer in the US; They are chosen by the parties.
They will :
– Draft the Purchase and Sales Agreement
– Clear the title
– Handle all the legal nitty-gritty
– Register the deal
Once you sign the Purchase and Sales Agreement ( about 45 days after signing the offer),
you will deposit 10% of the price into an escrow account managed by the notaire.
Local authorities have 60 days to decide if they want to buy the property instead of you.
Spoiler: they almost never do.
After the due diligence finished by the notaire, (60 to 90 days), you will:
– Pay the balance
– Cover taxes and fees ( about 6% )
The notaire seals the deal by registering the deed. And just like that, the keys are yours.