How to Find a House in France

Our housing search has brought us to the doors of many many real estate companies, and introduced us to even more real estate agents. We know that the French are finicky about selling things to (i.e. doing favors for) people they don't like, which has taught me valuable lessons on How to Get What You Want in France.

David and I pretty much have a mutual agreement about dealing with people (i.e. getting what we want) when we're together. Simply put: if it's a man, I talk. If it's a woman, he talks.

Lucky for me, most of the real estate agents have been women. It was in a Century 21 office a few weeks ago where it occurred to me that in the States, I'd been the chatty one. But here in France, since his French is stronger, David usually ends up taking the lead. The agent was asking us questions, and every time I was stumped mid-sentence, David would take over. Eventually, the agent would only address him.

This is how it went with Claire. We met Claire on one of our first agency drop-ins, and she has been the most eager and helpful ever since. I have a theory on why she is like this, and it has to do with her youth and my keeping my mouth shut.

A few days after we first dropped by her office, Claire called us about a small house that was for rent in Conflans. So after work one day we swung by the office for an appointment. We were already illegally parked in front of the building, so it was decided that we should take our car. I crammed myself into the back seat, and Claire rode shotgun.

As David drove, Claire asked us questions about where we lived in the US, how long we lived in France - either small talk or a quick background check for the property's owner. From the back seat I eagerly began answering her questions, but it soon became evident that I couldn't hear her well from the back and wasn't getting my verbs in the right order to answer her properly. She stopped turning her head to hear me and began talking directly to David. I could do nothing but sit back and watch her bat her eyelashes and giggle while David smiled and answered her questions. I noticed that Dave's driving was a little more aggressive than usual as I silently rolled back and forth with every roundabout. When we finally got to the house, David and Claire were buddies and I was carsick.

I've teased Dave about it incessantly ever since. Especially since he claims he doesn't know how to flirt with French women. Obviously he has some level of charm, because Claire has called us at least three more times with different places for us to see. And after every visit, she calls for a follow-up. None of the other agents do that.