The Advantages of using a Foreign Exchange Specialist in times of Uncertainty

Do not allow your property budget to become exposed to unpredictable market conditions. Plan ahead and get some guidance on the best options available to exchange your funds into euros.

If you are buying in France and holding a currency other than Euros, it is more important than ever to seek guidance on the best options available to exchange your funds. Your property price will depend heavily on the exchange rate applied and therefore it is crucial that your account for this from the moment you put an offer in, right through to completion.

The challenge with exchange rates is that they are constantly fluctuating and these movements are often fast and can be quite sharp. The GBP/EUR rate on the 7th March 2022 was 1.215 and a few months later on the 26th September 2022 it fell to 1.089, a 6 year high and a 2 year low. The impact on the cost of a property during 2022 has been substantial due to major global activities effecting the value of currencies. The USD/EUR trend has also made historical movements as on August 23rd it broke above parity for the first time since December 1999, not even a year after its inception. This meant for the first time since 1999 the Euro was worth less than the Dollar. This means that for a person purchasing a property in France with US Dollars, it may be a good time to consider exchanging your funds into Euros.

So, how do you navigate these fluctuations and make sure that they do not ruin your budget?

High Street banks and online only platforms can sometimes miss an important element which is key on the process of exchanging your funds – timing. Having access to the right guidance on the market and the tools to help plan your purchase is vital. This is one of the main advantages of using a foreign exchange specialist.

A foreign exchange company such as Moneycorp treats each customer as a unique individual and with this in mind each account is assigned to a dedicated market specialist who will discuss the specific circumstances with the client (budget, timeline, personal situations…) in order to guide them on the time and best options available to exchange the funds from the deposit to the completion, and even post-purchase.

With a foreign exchange specialist you would have instant access to a variety of tools to help you plan to make the most of your money:

Currency updates– Sign up to receive daily updates on the rates and even rate alerts to make sure you don’t miss any opportunity. We monitor the markets, so you can focus on what matters.

Watch order– They will monitor the markets on your behalf and notify you if a preferential rate is triggered.

Market order– You could target a rate of exchange and if the rate moves to that level they could buy the funds for you automatically so you never miss an opportunity. With the same principle they can set up a limit order to protect your transaction in case the rate falls below certain level.

Forward contract– This allows you to fix a rate of exchange in advance of a payment –up to 2 years. This tool is very popular among property buyers as allows them to fix the whole price of the property ahead of completion giving them the peace of mind and the certainty of how much they are going to pay for the property. Also it can be a great way to take advantage of a positive rate movement, and for future mortgage payments. (Forward contracts may require a deposit)

When shall I get in contact with a foreign exchange specialist?

You should get some guidance on the market early in the process as the exchange rates should be an element of your budget. Make sure you open a free account before you start inspecting properties either virtually or by travelling to France. If you find a property you can act quickly and if you don’t you can keep your account opened –at no cost or obligation- and benefit of market updates and the help of a market specialist.