What is a long sale? The 2026 guide to selling or buying with a controlled deadline

The real estate market is changing. Sales projects are now accompanied by strategies adapted to the realities of life. Long selling is one of them. It is attracting more and more sellers as well as buyers.

But what does this term really mean? Is it a risky arrangement or a simple contractual arrangement? Are you an owner, future buyer or real estate professional and are you hearing about “long sale”? Here's everything you need to know in this article.

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Definition and principle of long selling

Before engaging in such an operation, it is necessary to understand what it implies legally and contractually.

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Origin of the concept: promise/promise vs authentic act

Long selling is based on a simple principle: voluntarily extending the period between the signing of the preliminary contract (compromise or promise of sale) and the authentic act of sale. Traditionally, this period is three months. In a long sale, it can extend to six months, nine months, or even a year. This choice is made by mutual agreement between the parties.

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What do we mean by “long”: usual deadlines vs extended deadlines

There is no maximum legal period for finalizing a real estate sale. It is the sales agreement that sets the terms. A sale is said to be “long” when the delay exceeds local market standards. The deadline becomes an adjustment variable according to each person's projects.

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To understand the stages of a real estate purchase, here is our dedicated article.

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Terms: signature of the pre-contract, agreement of both parties, suspensive conditions

A long sale follows the same obligations as a classic sale. A preliminary contract is signed. The suspensive conditions (in particular for obtaining a loan) are clearly mentioned. The provisional calendar is validated in the presence of the notary. The long sale is based on trust, but it must also be legally put on paper and signed.

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Why give priority to a long sale?

More and more transactions include an extended timeframe. Why? Because it offers flexibility. And sometimes that flexibility makes all the difference.

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For the seller: time to find a new home or move peacefully

An owner selling their home may not have found their new home yet. The long sale offers him a comfortable window to research, negotiate, buy. He can move without haste, organize his heritage project.

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For the buyer: time to sell their current property or complete the financing without stress

A buyer interested in a property may want to sell his property before buying. It thus avoids the bridge loan or the double monthly payment. It secures its financing. He has more time to lift the suspensive conditions. Long selling is becoming a financial comfort tool.

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For both parties: flexibility in the calendar, better organization, less pressure

When the buyer and the seller have timing constraints, a long sale is a tailor-made response. It lines up the diaries. It limits stress. It makes it possible to organize removals, works, and financing. It prevents poorly managed emergency situations.

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How do you set up a long sale?

It is not an oral agreement, but a supervised contractual commitment. Its implementation is based on very specific steps.

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The preliminary contract (compromise or promise to sell): what should it mention

This is where it all comes into play. The sales agreement specifies the desired date for the signing of the authentic act. It indicates how long the suspensive conditions are valid for. It sets out the respective obligations of the seller and the purchaser. This document must be clear, precise, unambiguous.

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The role of the notary and the formalities if the delay is long

The notary ensures that the calendar is consistent. It anticipates the documents to be renewed in case of too long a delay. A real estate diagnosis that is too old can become obsolete. Parts need to be updated. The notary coordinates the entire file and ensures its legality at each stage.

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Negotiation of conditions: date of the authentic instrument, compensation for possible immobilization, suspensive clauses

It's all negotiable. The date of final signature. Any fixed asset compensation paid by the purchaser. Protective clauses for one or the other party. It is essential to put these elements in black and white, as soon as the compromise is reached.

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Benefits of long selling

Well implemented, this strategy brings numerous benefits. As long as certain balances are respected.

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Better preparation for moving and paperwork

Changing homes, coordinating a purchase, organizing a move... all this takes time. A long sale integrates it from the start. It avoids hasty moves, temporary solutions, logistical stress.

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Financial flexibility and the disappearance of the need for bridge loans

By allowing you to sell before buying, long selling eliminates the need for bridge loans in many cases. It reduces banking risks. It frees the purchaser from the constraints of double financing.

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Less pressure, better coordination between selling and buying

This solution puts an end to costly back and forth and poorly synchronized deadlines. It allows you to work peacefully with banks, artisans, movers, administrations. It secures the buying process.

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Disadvantages and risks of a long sale

As useful as it is, long selling has limits. It requires a lot of rigor, vigilance and foresight.

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The real estate market: price changes and uncertainty about the evolution of the property

An extended period exposes the sale to market fluctuations. If prices fall between compromise and action, the buyer may hesitate. If rates rise, its financing becomes more constrained. The seller, on the other hand, may regret a price set too soon. A long sale introduces economic uncertainty.

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Financing risks: loan refusal, suspensive conditions not waived, cancellation of the sale

The longer the delay, the more the risk of failure increases. A bank can go back on its agreement. The buyer may lose solvency. An unexpected event may prevent signing. It is therefore necessary to carefully monitor the suspensive conditions and provide for an exit if they are not lifted.

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Less attractiveness for hurried buyers; difficulties in selling if the delay is too long

Some buyers have imperatives. Move quickly. Send their children to school at the start of the school year. Start a new position. A long sale will put them off. The property may remain on the market longer, less attractive. This is not always an asset, especially during tense times.

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Constraints for the seller if the property remains unavailable for too long: maintenance obligations, charges, uncertainties

The seller remains responsible for the property until the final signature. He must continue to maintain it, to insure it, to assume its expenses. If the sale is unsuccessful, he may get stuck. And that, without immediate return on its capital.

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In what cases is a long sale relevant?

Not every situation justifies a long sale. But in some cases, it is a tailor-made solution.

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The seller has not yet found a new home

It takes time for him to buy elsewhere. To search for a suitable property. To negotiate without urgency. To arrange a loan. The long sale is then a security.

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The buyer must sell his own property or wait for the acceptance of his loan

He wants to avoid bridging loans. He is waiting for the signature on the sale of his home. Or he has to stabilize his banking record. In all of these cases, time is critical to the success of the operation.

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Need to synchronize sales and purchases to avoid temporary move, bridge loan, double rent, double credit

Long selling is becoming a strategic tool. It makes the transition from one property to another smooth. It avoids costly intermediate steps. It aligns the two calendars.

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Alternatives to the long sale

When it is not possible, or not desirable, other options may be considered.

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Classic sale (standard deadline)

It is still the most common. Approximately three months between the compromise and the authentic act. Simple, fast, but sometimes restrictive for schedules.

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Sale with temporary rental/rental-lease/after-sale occupancy lease

The seller can stay in the home after the sale, by signing a temporary lease. This solution requires careful drafting and good agreement between the parties.

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Life annuity sale

More complex, but useful in some contexts. The purchaser becomes the owner, the seller keeps the usufruct or the home. It is not a long sale, but a sale with deferred occupancy.

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‍Tips for negotiating an effective long sale

A long sale cannot be improvised. It is built methodically.

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Be clear from the start: define the deadline, conditions, possible benefits

Everything must be written down. The number of months. The target date. Suspensive clauses. The consequences of a delay. The immobilization allowance. A vague compromise quickly becomes a trap.

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Provide “exit clauses”: what happens if the purchaser does not finance on time?

We leave nothing to chance. And certainly not the possible failure. If the financing fails, the preliminary contract is expected to be void. If the seller finds another buyer, a way out is defined. Prevention is better than to suffer.

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Avoid long deadlines without guarantees: the longer the delay, the more the risk increases

A 12-month compromise? It can work, but you need solid guarantees. Funding already in progress. Validated bank documents. A calendar of reminders. A notary involved.

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Request a professional (agent or notary) to draft the preliminary contract and secure the file

A real estate agent oversees the negotiation. A formalized notary. These experts ensure the coherence of the project, verify everyone's abilities and avoid legal conflicts.

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Market Background and Data in 2026

The 2026 market requires new patience. Bank delays are stagnant despite the stabilization of rates at 3.20%. Buyers look at every detail of the DPE. They secure their input before making a commitment.

Long selling is no longer an exception. It is becoming a strategic tool to synchronize a purchase and a resale in a fluid but demanding market. In 2026, time flexibility is a bargaining chip when negotiating the price.

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Average time frame for a real estate sale in France

The real estate timer has slowed down. Between the signing of the compromise and the authentic act, count now 110 days on national average. A long sale is officially defined as soon as this period exceeds 6 months.

In 2026, we are seeing a 15% increase in these specific contracts, especially for families leaving cities. After 9 months, the editing becomes atypical. It requires meticulous legal drafting to protect both parties against rate fluctuations.

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Market trend: tensions, urban areas, relaxed markets

Geography dictates the feasibility of your project. In tense areas (Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux), long selling remains a challenge. Sellers require speed because the demand is immediate.

Conversely, in peri-urban and rural areas, it is becoming the norm. The schedules are more flexible. The seller often awaits the delivery of a new home or a place in an nursing home. In 2026, 1 out of 8 sales in a relaxed zone includes a deferred enjoyment clause or an extended period of time.

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Conclusion: long selling, a flexible solution but one that can be handled with strategy

The long sale is a powerful tool. It allows coordinate two real estate projects, of reassure buyers And of Give salespeople time. But she must be mastered, framed and well-written. Its success is based on foresight, transparency and legal support.

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FAQ on the long sale of real estate

What is a long sale?‍

It is a sale where the period between the compromise and the final act is voluntarily extended.

What is the maximum time frame for a long sale?‍

There is no maximum legal duration. But beyond 12 months, it becomes unusual and must be securely supervised.

Do you need the notary's agreement for a long sale?‍

Yes. The notary must validate all the deadlines and guarantee the legality of the acts.

Can the seller stay in the apartment until the act is completed?‍

Yes, if contractually agreed. Otherwise, he must vacate the premises by the appointed date.

What if the buyer can't find financing?‍

The suspensive clause allows the sale to be cancelled without penalty if the loan is refused.

Does the long sale cost more?‍

No, but it may involve additional costs (diagnoses to be renewed, extended condominium fees...).