The decision has been made. You have decided to buy a home in France. But where on earth do you start your search for the ideal French property? To get some fresh ideas and the best tips on the top places to search for your dream home, start here. But first, another decision is required.

Are you going to do most of your research from home or actually in France? It may be beneficial to do most of the initial legwork before leaving home, so that the majority of your time in France is fruitful, and not wasted. Perhaps selecting which part of France interests you most could be achieved from home? Many people take lists of properties, and likely looking agents with them when they head off to France.

There are many ways of finding French property for sale. Many people start with searching the specialist property publications, like French Property News. This type of magazine is full of property for sale, of all types, styles and descriptions, in all areas of France. Maybe the lifestyle magazines such as Living France or websites like French property for sale will have your perfect home listed?

Of course the Internet is a fantastic resource when buying property anywhere. But beware, like the real world, the Internet does have its fair share of crooks. So as with terrestrial life, in cyber life too, you should follow the maxim caveat emptor (let the buyer beware).

One huge advantage the internet has over magazines is that it is much more of a current medium for advertisers. Many magazines whilst giving you a flavour of what type of property is available in which areas, may not be up to date on which properties have already been sold, and which are still available.

When searching estate agents lists, be aware that unfortunately many of them do not keep their websites bang up to date. It sometimes seems as though some agents keep well priced attractive properties on their websites to lure in new buyers, long after the actual property shown has been sold.

While there are many estate agents to search, all offering French property, you may be well advised to use an independent database of properties for sale. Again, there are plenty of these to be found on the world wide web. It is helpful to have an idea of which region of France you would like to explore, although being open minded to some degree is also to be recommended.

Another avenue open to you as a French property seeker are French associations. The national association of estate agents and notaries has their own web sites for property for sale. Although these sites may be out of date, they are a fantastic way of locating possible sources of property for sale in your selected region.

Yet another way of locating your dream home in France is by searching French property exhibitions. Usually the most comprehensive selection of houses can be found at this type of show. Most French property magazines carry many advertisements giving details of forthcoming property exhibitions.

Private sales - homes purchased from individuals rather than estate agents, are also possible. These are often a great source of French property for sale. Local newspapers, as well as English magazines about France, carry a homes section. You will still need to use a notary to handle the legal side of things, and as with many countries, there are many potential problems to look out for. The savings you can make from cutting out the estate agent in France can be substantial.

If you are looking for a bargain property that has not been widely marketed, you may like to check out the notaire properties for sale. Very often these are not on estate agents books, and commission fees are lower. Beware if following this route as there are specific pitfalls to watch out for.

Lastly, many French homes have a distinctive A Vendre sign --- a for sale board, which will usually provide you with the telephone number of an agent or notary. Driving around your chosen area is always a good way to familiarize yourself with the location, and to be the first early bird to spot that special bargain.