Real estate buyer’s checklist
Buying a property, whether to live in or invest, involves many steps. To ensure you don’t forget anything, here’s the complete checklist to follow, step by step, for a successful and stress-free property purchase.
1. Define your project
- Primary residence, secondary residence, or rental investment?
- Desired city, neighborhood, environment
- Non-negotiable criteria: surface area, number of rooms, outdoor space, parking, etc.
- Maximum project amount (including renovations and notary fees)
2. Evaluate your budget and borrowing capacity
- Calculate the total budget (down payment + borrowing capacity)
- Consult several institutions or a broker
- Estimate monthly payments and debt-to-income ratio
- Allow for a margin for unexpected expenses
3. Actively search for a property
- Follow alerts on real estate platforms
- Enlist professionals (agencies, property hunters, Domacap network)
- Visit several properties to compare and refine your criteria
- Analyze the technical diagnosis, environment, neighborhood
4. Verify essential documents
- Technical diagnostics (Energy Performance Certificate, asbestos, lead…)
- Latest minutes of the homeowners’ association meeting
- Property tax and homeowners’ association fees
- Rental situation (if property is occupied)
5. Negotiate and sign the preliminary contract
- Propose a coherent price (with arguments if negotiating)
- Include appropriate contingency clauses (loan approval, sale of another property, etc.)
- Carefully read the preliminary contract with your notary or advisor
6. Secure your financing
- Prepare a solid bank application
- Compare several offers (rates, duration, insurance)
- Sign the loan offer after the legal waiting period
7. Prepare for signing at the notary’s office
- Receipt of funds request
- Verification of the authentic deed before signing
- Arrange home insurance and energy contracts
8. Post-acquisition follow-up
- Declare your change of address
- Register the deed of ownership
- Plan for any renovations or improvements
- Set up property management (if investment)
Domacap assists you at every step
With Domacap, you leave nothing to chance:
- Personalized advice from the definition of your project
- Optimization of your financing
- Verification of legal, technical, and tax aspects
Conclusion
Following a clear and complete checklist is the key to buying with peace of mind. This roadmap helps you structure each step and avoid common mistakes. Let Domacap accompany you to maximize your chances of success and secure your assets.