Ask The Experts: French Mortgage FAQ’S

Frequently Asked Questions about Mortgages for French Property

Q. How much will I be able to borrow?

Most lenders in France will let you borrow 40% to 80% of the value of your property. However, it all depends on your monthly income and the duration for which you shall be taking out the mortgage. your nationality and country of residence may also be a factor.

Typically, the calculation works on the principle that the total monthly costs of the French mortgage payment, plus any UK mortgage or rent, plus any other long-term borrowings, should not exceed a third of the buyer’s gross monthly income. As an example, if a buyer’s UK mortgage was £500 per month and the proposed French borrowing was £300 per month, this totals £800 per month, so the buyers’ gross pay would need to be at least £2,400 per month for the bank to consider the loan.

An important thing to consider is the minimum loan amount in France of €100,000.

Of course, the amount you can borrow is entirely dependent on your personal circumstances. To obtain a personalised quote you should complete an online application.

Q. What are the additional costs of buying a French property?

In addition to the standard fees, most lenders will charge an up-front fee of 0.5 – 1.0 % of the amount borrowed. Life assurance costs will vary based on your circumstances, and you should try and obtain a quote before going ahead with a loan. French house prices normally include agent’s fees which means they can be included in your loan. In France, the buyer usually pays the agency fees. In addition, the buyer has to pay the notaire fees which are generally around 8% or the property purchase price, and this fee cannot be added to your loan.

If you choose to use a mortgage broker, there may be additional broker fees.

Q. What will the interest rate be?

The interest rate will depend on whether you take a fixed rate or a variable rate mortgage.
However, interest rates in France are currently around 1.5% to 2.5% (September 2020).

Q. How long does the mortgage process usually take to complete?

This depends on the efficiency and response times of both the borrower and the lender. Purchasing a property in France usually takes 3 months from Compromis Acte de Vente, so the mortgage process usually slots into that time without extending it. It is worth collecting your documents as soon as you want to move forwards on a property to save time. However please note that if documents are older than 3 months you will need to provide new versions.

Q. Will my income be sufficient? / Are self-employed people accepted?

In order to assess whether you can afford the mortgage you want, most French lenders will take 1/3 of the gross amount you receive each month from all outgoings, including salary or profit from self-employment, or pension income, plus investment income. They will then deduct the amount you are paying out each month for all your existing loans (UK mortgage, car loan, any other personal loans) plus alimony and rent if paid and of course the cost of your proposed French mortgage. Formal proof of all income sources is required. Self-employed people will have to provide a minimum three years accounts.

Rental income is treated differently; the monthly cost of the mortgage you have taken to fund the property is deducted directly from the rent, or potential rent, that you earn from the property, before they look to your 1/3 of income for support.

To obtain a personalised quotation complete an online application.
Q. Can I get a fixed rate French mortgage?

Yes. Fixed rate mortgages are the most common type on the French market. An advantage of such a mortgage is the fact that early repayments are often possible for fixed rate loans, and the maximum fee that can be charged is 3%. With a fixed rate mortgage, you will pay the same rate throughout the life of the loan which can be a duration of up to 25 years.

Q. Can I get a variable rate French mortgage?

Yes, they are freely available and widely used for French mortgages. These loans can often be obtained at a cheaper rate of interest than the Fixed rate schemes mentioned above and can usually be cleared in all or part before the end of the loan period without any penalty. Variable rates should be lower than fixed rates, although as their name implies, they can go up or down in line with rates in the market.

Q. Can I get a mortgage approved before buying?

Yes. There are many benefits to getting your mortgage approved by a bank (Approval in Principle) before putting an offer in on a house. An estate agent will automatically refer you to a bank to get the proposed mortgage approved when you put in an offer on a house, so if you have already had your mortgage approved, it will save you time and thus give you an advantage over other buyers. The estate agent will also see you as a more serious buyer and it may enable you to achieve a better price on the property. You will also know how much you can borrow and how much it will cost you so you can ensure that you are looking at properties within your budget.

Q. Is it better to remortgage on an existing property or obtain a new mortgage?

Remortgaging is not very common with French lenders, although some are starting to offer mortgages on this basis, allowing the borrower to take advantage of rising values and equity and it can also be a quicker process. In general, if you think that you will need additional funds later, it is better to raise these at the time of purchase, when it may be easier to obtain the finance.

For example, if a buyer was to raise money for home improvements, most banks would insist on paying the builder directly on invoice, rather than allowing the borrower to handle the money. Even if it proves to be possible, the extra funds are likely to be more expensive than those raised for purchase. With remortgaging you may have to pay your existing lender a redemption fee of up to 3% of the outstanding loan amount and the repayment period may be longer. If remortgaging a French property care needs to be taken to ensure that there are no excessive redemption penalties and the applicant could have an application fee of 1% of the loan plus legal fees of perhaps 3% of the mortgage value.

It is always wise to discuss your personal situations before making any decisions. To determine whether remortgaging would be beneficial for you, contact FrenchEntrée’s mortgage consultants who are always happy to provide advice.

Q. What happens if I have signed a Compromis de Vente, but the mortgage is declined?

Once you have found your French property and a price has been agreed with the vendor, both parties will sign a preliminary contract called a Compromis de Vente and the buyer lodges a deposit with the notary. The preliminary contract is binding to both buyer and vendor. The balance of the purchase price and all fees are payable to the notary before the completion date, when the vendor and buyer sign the definitive sales contract.

Under French Law, if your mortgage is declined and you are no longer able to buy the property you will get your 10% deposit back. This assumes that you have a ‘clause suspensive’ in your contract enabling you to pull out in the event of an unsuccessful mortgage application.

Q. Will I need a French bank account?

You will almost certainly need a French bank account to service the mortgage, but you will need it anyway if you have a French property. The big French banks are pretty efficient and normally keen to open current accounts. However, since it inevitably takes a certain time to go through the necessary formalities it is recommended that you start working on this during your first viewing trip to France.

If you have any questions about mortgages in France, please don’t hesitate to get in touch – [email protected].