How long does buying a property take?

From first viewing to keys in hand, expect two to three months for an already-titled property and four to six months for a melkia routed through the immatriculation procedure. The variable is mostly title-side work; the logistical and financial parts of the transaction are fast.

A typical titled-property timeline: viewing and negotiation take one to three weeks depending on how decisive buyer and seller are. Once price is agreed, the notaire opens the file and drafts the compromis. Signing the compromis can happen within days if both parties are available. Then the notaire completes title search, cadastre verification, and any required formalities — typically four to six weeks. The acte de vente is signed once the title is confirmed clean, and the buyer receives keys on signature.

A melkia timeline extends the middle section. The notaire files the réquisition with the ANCFCC, which triggers a four-month publication period during which any competing claims must surface. Once the publication closes without objection, the conversion to titre foncier completes, and the acte de vente can be signed against a now-titled property. In practice, experienced notaires can overlap some of this work with other due diligence so the total timeline is manageable — but a melkia purchase is genuinely a longer commitment than a titled one.

Foreign buyers who travel in for the compromis and then return home for the due diligence period, flying back only for the acte, should plan two trips minimum. Attempting to complete everything in one visit works only if every document lines up perfectly, which is rare.