Property financing for expats: get your mortgage in France

Yes. No law forbids it: the obstacle comes from the banks and the way of approaching them. Our members live abroad and invest in France, mostly with a loan from a French bank.

From what we see, a non-resident who approaches a bank alone is very often asked for a 30 to 40% down payment, plus notary fees. Some banks add blocked savings, to be counted on top. In our members’ video testimonials, the down payment ranges from 0 to 19%, and the majority fall between 7 and 10%, often the equivalent of the notary fees. The highest down payments are almost always chosen to lower the monthly payment. These cases are not a promise: everything depends on your application.

No. Almost all the members who give video testimonials are paid abroad on a local contract. Lois has contracts in Dutch, Sophie has never worked in France. The bank mainly looks at the stability of your income, your savings and the profitability of the property. If you are self-employed, the application requires more supporting documents.

Our members cite rates of 3.05 to 4.65% depending on the date of their application, over 15 to 27 years. The HCSF rule applies: 35% debt ratio and 25 years at most, apart from exceptions. These figures are not a loan offer: everything depends on the application and the timing.

It can make things more complicated, but rarely closes every door. The bank looks at the currency of your income, its remedies in case of non-payment and its compliance obligations, such as FATCA for the United States. Anaïs saw her bank close the door at the word “Switzerland”, Anne-Claire was told that Dubai was on a blacklist, Julien was refused as a US citizen. All were financed by changing bank, with a complete application.

Yes. Our members see the banks before viewing: they know what they can buy and move faster at the offer stage. Marc and Sylvie obtained their financing before looking for their property.

There is no list that is valid for everyone: the reception varies depending on your country of residence, the currency of your income and the bank itself. In the eurozone, the choice is widest. Outside the European Union, it narrows and the down payment asked often rises to 25 or 35%, without making financing impossible. Sophie (Luxembourg) was, for example, financed by Crédit Mutuel. Our 2026 bank ranking helps you target the right institutions.

Yes. A pledge blocks savings, for example a life insurance policy, as security for the loan. It stays yours, but you can no longer freely dispose of it. Some banks ask for it on top of the down payment: a client says on Trustpilot that they were asked for a 50% down payment and a 30% pledge. To compare two offers, always add the down payment and the blocked savings together. Marie-Lou, for her part, was financed without a pledge.

Yes, but the application is more demanding, because the bank first looks for stability. Prepare your accounts and income tax returns for recent years. A long-established business and regular income are reassuring, and a salary paid by your company can help. In our video testimonials, a self-employed expat in the United Kingdom invested with an 8% down payment.

Yes, but not always in full. A bank may apply a discount to income in foreign currency, because of exchange-rate risk. For bonuses and variable income, it mainly looks at their regularity: keep your supporting documents over several years. Each bank has its own rules, to be checked before submitting your application.

Plan several weeks before signing. The bank prefers regular, visible savings to a last-minute transfer. Keep the proof of the origin of the funds, as the bank and the notary may ask for it. Also compare the cost of exchange before converting, since a gap in rates quickly weighs on a down payment.

During the deferral, you do not repay the principal, sometimes nothing at all. This leaves time to carry out the renovation works and find a tenant. Our members cite deferrals of 2 to 36 months. “It is my tenant who rebuilds my down payment,” sums up Camille.

No, we are not a bank. You remain the borrower and you are the one who presents your application. We give you the method, the templates, your coach’s review and the network’s banking contacts.

A refusal is common at the start, especially from your existing bank, and it reflects a bank’s policy, not the value of your project. Prepare a complete application and approach several banks in parallel, until the final offer. Yanis (Denmark) was rejected by a regional committee two weeks before the deadline, and a second bank took over. The team helps you understand the reason for the refusal and adjust the application.