Buying or renting in Polynesia: property sites and press

To follow the Tahiti property market, people check portals such as Immobilier.pf, Papeete agency websites, classified ads on Petites-annonces.pf or Tahiti-Annonces.com, and land news from Tahiti Infos, almost exclusively in French and in CFP francs.

A market concentrated on the Tahiti coast

Most transactions take place in the urban strip running from Faa'a to Mahina, through Papeete, Pirae and Arue, as well as in Punaauia. Moorea also attracts buyers and tenants who work in Papeete and cross by ferry every day.

Online portals and agencies

Immobilier.pf gathers listings from many agencies, while Soleil Immobilier, Atike, Reva Immo, Aito, C2H, Tahiti Transactions and Cogep publish their own properties. Comparing these sites reduces duplicates and reveals the gaps between advertised prices.

Private classified ads

Petites-annonces.pf and Tahiti-Annonces.com carry rentals, flat shares and private sales every day. Papeete rents show up there quickly; our page on Tahiti classified ad sites presents all the platforms of the fenua and their main sections.

Why is land ownership so complex?

Much Polynesian land remains in joint ownership among many heirs, sometimes across several generations. The Land Court of French Polynesia handles these disputes, and the local press regularly follows cases on ending joint ownership and settling boundaries.

The role of the notary and the Land Affairs Directorate

Every sale goes through a notary, who checks titles, easements and the land registry position. The Territory's Land Affairs Directorate keeps the mortgage registry and land records, essential before buying a plot on Tahiti or Raiatea.

Social housing and the OPH

The Office polynésien de l'habitat builds and manages social housing in several municipalities on Tahiti and the outer islands. Its programmes, waiting lists and housing estates are frequently covered by Tahiti Infos, TNTV and Polynésie la 1ère.

Following property news in the press

Tahiti Infos, La Dépêche de Tahiti and Radio1 cover building permits, hotel projects, land prices and debates on property taxation. For the full list of dailies and weeklies, see our guide to Tahiti newspapers online.

Taxes and purchase costs

Registration duties and applicable taxes fall under the Territory's own tax system, which differs from mainland France. Amounts and any exemptions for first-time buyers change over time; a Papeete notary or the Tax Directorate can provide the current rules.

Non-resident buyers

Buyers from mainland France, Europe or North America show interest in Moorea and Bora-Bora. Some foreign investments may require a prior administrative procedure, so it is essential to consult a local notary before signing any preliminary sale agreement.

Natural hazards and building zones

Cyclonic swell, valley landslides and flood zones all appear in risk prevention plans. Before buying in Papenoo or Teahupo'o, consult the municipality's general development plan and the warnings issued by Météo-France Polynésie for the area.

Holiday rentals and furnished tourist lets

Furnished tourist lets have multiplied on Moorea and along the west coast of Tahiti. Their regulation by the Territory, covering registration and taxation, is debated in the press; our page on the Tahiti tourism press rounds out this subject.

Comparing with New Caledonia

For an outside view of another French Pacific island market, Nouméa offers useful comparisons on prices, rents and customary land. Caledonian titles are gathered on our page about the New Caledonia press, with links to their property coverage.

Tracking the Tahiti property market remotely

1. Check Immobilier.pf weekly, filtering by municipality such as Punaauia, Arue or Moorea, to follow trends in advertised prices.
2. Compare the same properties across several agency sites and Petites-annonces.pf to spot duplicates and price cuts.
3. Read the land coverage in Tahiti Infos and La Dépêche to understand joint ownership, permits and ongoing development projects.
4. Ask a Papeete notary to verify the title deed, land registry and easements before paying any deposit.
5. Consult the municipality's general development plan and risk zones before committing to a plot of land.
6. Plan an on-site visit if possible, since online photos and descriptions never show the access road or the neighbourhood.

Access to property listings and information

Property basics in French Polynesia

• Transaction currency: CFP franc (XPF), pegged to the euro
• Specialist court: Land Court of French Polynesia
• Social housing: Office polynésien de l'habitat (OPH)
• Land records: the Territory's Land Affairs Directorate
• Most sought-after areas: Punaauia, Arue, Pirae, Moorea
• Time zone: UTC-10, worth noting when calling agencies and notaries

Pitfalls of Tahiti property listings

• Paying a security deposit for a rental seen on a classified site without visiting the home or verifying the owner's identity.
• Buying land in joint ownership without the agreement of all heirs, which can block the sale for years before the Land Court.
• Reading a CFP franc price as if it were in euros: one million CFP francs is about 8,380 euros, indicative.
• Trusting an old listing reposted on several sites when the property was sold or let months ago.
• Ignoring the risk zones in the municipal plan, especially on the seafront or in valley bottoms prone to flooding.

Questions about Tahiti property