French mortgages for non-residents

Begin your search knowing what you can actually spend. Try the numbers below, then talk to a broker — a decision in principle turns a wish list into a shortlist.

Mortgage calculator

What could your French mortgage cost?

Change any figure and every result updates. Nothing here is a quote — it is arithmetic on the numbers you enter.

Your project

€100,000€2,000,000

This simulator runs from €100,000 to €2,000,000. That is a limit of the tool, not a statement about what any particular bank will lend.

Your deposit

20% is a common starting point for a non-resident buyer, not a universal rule — requirements vary by bank and by profile. This is your contribution to the property price; notary and other purchase costs sit on top of it.

Mortgage term

Indicative rate only. Actual mortgage rates depend on your financial profile, residency, deposit and lender.

Optional — enter it to see your estimated debt ratio.

Your estimate

Estimated monthly repayment

—/ month

Loan-to-value (LTV)

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Property price
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Your deposit
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Mortgage required
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Indicative fixed interest rate
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Mortgage term
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Total amount repaid
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Total estimated interest
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The percentage of the property price you are borrowing. At €200,000 with a €40,000 deposit you borrow €160,000, so the LTV is 80%. It is not the same thing as your debt ratio below: LTV compares the loan to the property, the debt ratio compares your monthly payments to your income.

Estimated debt ratioEnter your income to see this

Around 35% is commonly used as a reference point by French lenders. It is not a guarantee of acceptance, and criteria can differ for non-residents — lenders also weigh your deposit, existing loans and professional stability.

Simulation excludes borrower insurance, bank fees, guarantee costs and notary fees.

How French lending differs

If your reference point is a mortgage at home, a few things will be unfamiliar.

  • Affordability replaces income multiples

    Lenders look at your total borrowing commitments — the French payment, any mortgage or rent at home, and other long-term debt — against your net monthly income, rather than lending a multiple of your salary. That total ratio is what the calculator above estimates.

  • Residency drives what you are offered

    How much of the price a lender will advance, over what term, and on what terms all depend on where you are resident. Rates and criteria move, so treat the default in the calculator as a placeholder and ask a lender what applies to you.

  • The decision comes early

    You commit to taking a mortgage in writing, in French, in the compromis de vente — and the loan must be agreed before you sign the acte de vente two to three months later. Allow around six to eight weeks for the application itself.

  • How much deposit will I need?

    French lenders generally expect a personal contribution rather than financing 100% of the purchase price. A 10–20% deposit means borrowing 90–80% of the property price — your loan-to-value ratio, or LTV. Non-resident buyers may need a larger deposit, depending on the lender, their country of residence and their financial circumstances. Budget separately for notary fees and other purchase costs.

A mortgage condition in the compromis de vente lets you withdraw without penalty if your application is refused. Ask for it before you sign, not after.

Explore French mortgage options

A few places international buyers commonly start. These are external resources, listed so you have somewhere to begin — not exclusive Sextant recommendations, and we have no arrangement with any of them. Compare several before you commit.

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