Notary fees
Calculate your notary fees
Enter the property price and its type (resale or new-build): the tool works out a detailed estimate of the notary fees, based on the official scale of notary emoluments and the transfer duties (droits de mutation). Far more accurate than a simple percentage.
Enter a price to see the estimate.
Indicative estimate based on the national scale of notary emoluments and a standard transfer-duty rate. The exact amount appears in the notary's statement and may vary depending on the département, the actual disbursements and the nature of the property.
See properties for sale in NiceUnderstanding notary fees when buying in Nice
What do “notary fees” really cover?
The expression is misleading: the notary's actual remuneration represents only a small share of the amount settled at signing. The bulk — often more than 80% — goes towards taxes paid over to the State and to local authorities. It is more accurate to speak of “purchase costs”.
In Nice, as everywhere in France, these costs comprise four items: the transfer duties, the notary's scaled fees, the disbursements, and the property security contribution. Understanding them lets you see where your money actually goes, and on which items there is room for negotiation.
The breakdown, item by item
Here is the breakdown of a typical purchase of an existing property:
- The transfer duties (DMTO): in the region of 5.80% of the price, this is by far the heaviest item. They are collected by the department and the municipality.
- The notary's scaled fees: calculated according to a national scale that tapers by bands (from 3.87% on the first band down to 0.799% above €60,000), to which 20% VAT is added.
- The disbursements: the sums advanced by the notary on your behalf (planning documents, land registry, surveyor, etc.), in the region of €1,000.
- The property security contribution: 0.10% of the price, for registering the sale with the land registration service.
Existing or new-build: a decisive gap
This is the factor that changes everything. For an existing property, allow around 7 to 8% of the price. For a new-build or off-plan purchase (VEFA — sale in a future state of completion), the transfer duties are sharply reduced (0.715% instead of 5.80%): the costs then fall to around 2 to 3%.
On the same budget, the gap runs into thousands of euros. It is a parameter to factor in very early in a project, particularly for the new-build developments that regularly come to market on the Var plain, at Nice Méridia or in the eco-district.
A concrete example in Nice
For an existing flat bought at €350,000 — a common budget for a one-bedroom flat in the Carré d'Or or a two-bedroom flat in Cimiez — the purchase costs amount to around €25,500, or close to 7.3% of the price.
Our calculator above applies the actual scale item by item: you obtain the exact breakdown for your budget, whether for an existing property or a new-build.
Can these costs be reduced?
A few levers exist, within the limits of the law. Furniture (a fitted kitchen, appliances, furnishings left by the seller) can be deducted from the taxable price, provided it is supported by invoices. Since 2021, the notary may also grant a discount on their scaled fees for price bands above €100,000.
Finally, when the property is sold through an agency, the way the fees are apportioned (borne by the seller or by the buyer) affects the base on which the duties are calculated. A point to check in the preliminary sale agreement.
What notary fees are made up of
- The transfer duties (droits de mutation, the "taxes") paid to the State and local authorities: around 5,80 % of the price for a resale property, but sharply reduced for a new-build (about 0,7 %).
- The notary's emoluments, calculated on a national scale that is degressive by price bracket, plus VAT at 20 %.
- The disbursements (débours, sums advanced by the notary for documents and formalities) and the property security contribution (contribution de sécurité immobilière).
Notary fees
Frequently asked questions about notary fees
How much are notary fees in Nice?
For a resale property they come to around 7 to 8 % of the price; for a new-build they are much lower, about 2 to 3 %. Most of this is not the notary's own fee but taxes paid to the State and local authorities. Our tool works out a detailed estimate from the price you enter.
Why are the fees lower on a new-build?
Because the transfer duties (droits de mutation), which make up most of the fees, are sharply reduced for a new home bought off-plan (VEFA). The notary's emoluments and disbursements, however, stay similar. This is why new-builds are said to have "reduced notary fees".
Is this calculation exact?
It gives a reliable estimate, based on the official scale of notary emoluments and a standard transfer-duty rate. The exact amount, however, depends on the département, the actual disbursements and the specific situation of the property: only the notary's statement is definitive.
Can notary fees be reduced?
Only marginally. You can, for example, deduct from the price the value of furniture left in the property (within a reasonable and justifiable limit), which lowers the base on which the duties are charged. Your notary will tell you what is possible in your case.