Don't buy that French ruin until you've listened to this — with veteran estate agent Dan Newton

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.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.For a detailed summary of the episode, along with a mini glossary of terms used in the show, head to the French Reno Diaries website and look for episode #17.What we talk about:Why two thirds of buyers walk away once they get proper renovation quotes.Whether flipping property works in France (spoiler: not really) and the official status that exists if you want to try.Location, location, location - why where you buy isn't just about where you want to live. DPE ratings explained - what they mean for buyers, sellers, holiday lets and long-term rentals, and why old stone houses are often unfairly penalised.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.Vice cachée - what it actually means legally, and why it's becoming the latest fashion in buyer complaints.Why property finders may need a licence too - and what to check before using one.AI-generated property adverts and unregulated property portals - what's legal and what isn't.Dan's rant: why he'd like to see full structural surveys introduced into the French buying process.The ghosting problem - and why it goes both ways between agents and buyers.Resources mentioned:Agence Newton — Dan's estate agency, specialising in English-speaking buyers in west and central France.The French Estate Agent on YouTube — Dan's YouTube channel, full of essential advice for buyers.French Homes for Sale — Dan's Facebook group, open to private sellers and registered agents; 55,000 members.Connect:Facebook | InstagramSubscribe to the newsletter: www.frenchrenodiaries.comEmail: frenchrenodiaries@gmail.com