<p>Thinking of buying a renovation property in France? Before you fall in love with a ruin on the internet, you might want to hear what someone who's been selling French property for 40 years has to say.</p><p>Dan Newton - director and co-founder of Agence Newton, the first British person to hold a full real estate licence in Brittany, and the voice behind the popular French Estate Agent YouTube channel - joins Rosie and Sue for a frank, fascinating conversation. From budgeting realities and DPE ratings to 'vice cachée' claims and unlicensed property finders, this one is packed with things you didn't know you needed to know.</p><p><strong>For a detailed summary of the episode, along with a mini glossary of terms used in the show, head to the </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.frenchrenodiaries.com/t/episodes-and-blogs"><strong>French Reno Diaries website</strong></a><strong> and look for episode #17.</strong></p><p><strong>What we talk about:</strong></p><ul><li>Why two thirds of buyers walk away once they get proper renovation quotes.</li><li>Whether flipping property works in France (spoiler: not really) and the official status that exists if you want to try.</li><li>Location, location, location - why <em>where </em>you buy isn't just about where <em>you</em> want to live. </li><li>DPE ratings explained - what they mean for buyers, sellers, holiday lets and long-term rentals, and why old stone houses are often unfairly penalised.</li><li>The French buying process from start to finish - why the three-month silence is normal and what the 'compromis de vente' actually protects you from.</li><li>Vice cachée - what it actually means legally, and why it's becoming the latest fashion in buyer complaints.</li><li>Why property finders may need a licence too - and what to check before using one.</li><li>AI-generated property adverts and unregulated property portals - what's legal and what isn't.</li><li>Dan's rant: why he'd like to see full structural surveys introduced into the French buying process.</li><li>The ghosting problem - and why it goes both ways between agents and buyers.</li></ul><p><strong>Resources mentioned:</strong></p><ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://agencenewton.com">Agence Newton</a> — Dan's estate agency, specialising in English-speaking buyers in west and central France.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchEstateAgent">The French Estate Agent on YouTube</a> — Dan's YouTube channel, full of essential advice for buyers.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/frenchhomesforsale">French Homes for Sale</a> — Dan's Facebook group, open to private sellers and registered agents; 55,000 members.</li></ul><p><strong>Connect:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/frenchrenodiaries">Facebook</a> | <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/frenchrenodiaries">Instagram</a></p><p>Subscribe to the newsletter: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.frenchrenodiaries.com">www.frenchrenodiaries.com</a></p><p>Email: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p>