Matthieu invested in Nantes from Canada
Can you borrow in France without a permanent contract when you live in Canada? Matthieu bought a 32 m² studio in the heart of Nantes, listed at €115,000 and secured for €105,000, with a €15,000 works budget. His loan also covers the notary and agency fees.
CanadaTestimonial published in May 2025
Matthieu’s studio in Nantes
BeforeAfter
BeforeAfter
BeforeAfterWhat Matthieu had to overcome from Canada
Financing“No French permanent contract, no loan”
People around Matthieu kept telling him that an expat without a permanent French contract would never get a loan, and that banks were no longer lending. In Canada, he does not even have a written employment contract to prove his job. He saw the bank stage as a mountain. With the programme, he learnt what to say to the bank, followed advice on which banks to approach and secured his loan.
Finding the propertyLearning what makes a property profitable
Matthieu dreamt of buying houses in remote places, without knowing what a profitable investment looks like. He learnt everything through the programme, and saw relatives who had bought on impulse end up in difficulty. He chose a 32 m² studio in the centre of Nantes, in the Bouffay district, close to all transport. Listed at €115,000, he bought it for €105,000.
Remote managementBuying without seeing the property
Matthieu bought from Canada without visiting the studio: relatives viewed it for him, and he discovered it through videos and photos. He planned to go and see it two weeks after his interview. He has also built his team: someone who searches for properties for him, and his bank adviser.
Renovation worksBringing the studio up to date
The studio, in a handsome building with exposed stone and a fireplace, needs some work. Matthieu set aside a €15,000 renovation budget, included in his loan along with the notary and agency fees. He plans to renovate it during his trip to France, then let it.
How Matthieu invested in Nantes from Canada
Australia, New Zealand, Canada
Around fifteen years abroad
Originally from Nantes, Matthieu has lived in Australia and New Zealand, then in Canada for the past six years. He had long wanted to invest in France to prepare for retirement: having worked in several countries, he does not feel his pension is secure. But everyone around him said it was impossible without a permanent contract in France.
The first call
“The kick up the backside you need”
He found out there was a programme for expats. He had doubts, then took the plunge. During his first call, he was told that what he needed was “a kick up the backside”. The phrase stuck. He was also looking for a community to turn to with his questions in stressful moments.
The banks
A mountain that becomes a step
His goal: buy at least one property, and above all get a loan, which he saw as a mountain. His situation is unusual: in Canada, he has no written employment contract. He followed the steps, the replays and other members’ stories, and approached the banks recommended by ImmoPourExpat. He found his bank and an adviser he still works with.
Central Nantes
A 32 m² studio for €105,000
He found a 32 m² studio in the centre of Nantes, in the Bouffay district, in a handsome building: separate kitchen, small bathroom. Listed at €115,000, he bought it for €105,000. The location, close to all transport, seemed ideal for letting.
The loan
Price, fees and works financed
His loan covers the price, the notary and agency fees, and a €15,000 renovation budget, for around €134,000. “It all went quite smoothly, I’d say more smoothly than I imagined.”
Today
A studio to renovate, then let
Matthieu has not seen the studio yet: relatives viewed it for him, and he discovered it through videos and photos. He was heading to France two weeks after his interview to see it, renovate it and let it. He now has a team, and a goal: three to five properties over the next five to ten years.
Matthieu tells the story
“You can get there on your own, but there’s a difference between getting there and doing it well.”
Matthieu, who lives in Canada
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