Buying in France for retirement
Dreaming of retiring to France, and wondering if a mortgage is still possible later in life? It often is. Age changes two things, the available term and the insurance, but pension income is real income to a bank. Here is a realistic picture.
General information. This is not an offer of credit or personalised advice, and no rate is guaranteed. Yann Nachtrieb, registered mortgage broker (COBSP) and insurance broker (COA), and financial investment adviser (CIF), ORIAS no. 26009903.
Yes, a mortgage after 60 is possible
Reaching or passing 60 does not close the door. French banks do lend to older borrowers, as long as the usual logic holds: income that covers the payments within the 35% rule, and a term that ends at a reasonable age. Pension income, including a foreign pension, counts as stable income, which is exactly what banks like.
What changes is mostly the term and the insurance, not the principle.
The real variable: insurance
Borrower insurance is where age weighs most. Insurers set an age limit by which the loan must be repaid, often somewhere between 75 and 85 depending on the insurer, and premiums rise with age. This shortens the practical term and raises the cost. The good news: you can shop the insurance separately from the loan, which often makes a later-life purchase work.
If you have a past or present health condition, the AERAS scheme exists to help access insurance and borrowing. It is worth raising early, not hiding.
Later-life borrowing at a glance
| Point | Typical benchmark |
|---|---|
| Income | Pensions count, including foreign pensions |
| Debt-to-income cap | around 35% |
| Insurance age limit | often loan repaid by 75 to 85 |
| Deposit (non-EU non-resident) | often 20 to 30% |
| Health issues | AERAS scheme may help |
General, indicative benchmarks that vary by insurer, bank and profile. Nothing guaranteed.
Making the numbers work
A shorter term means a higher monthly payment, so later-life purchases often lean on a larger deposit to keep payments within reach. Comparing insurers is usually where the project is won or lost. A broker who shops both the loan and the insurance can make a retirement purchase viable that a single bank would turn away.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a maximum age to borrow in France?
There is no single legal age limit, but borrower insurance usually requires the loan to be repaid by a certain age, often between 75 and 85. That, more than the bank, sets the practical limit.
Does a foreign pension count?
Yes. A stable pension, including one paid from abroad, is treated as reliable income, which banks value. Foreign-currency pensions are counted with a cautious margin.
I have a health condition, is it hopeless?
Not at all. The AERAS scheme is designed to help people with a health history access insurance and borrowing. Raise it early so the file is built the right way.
Let’s make the move work.
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