How much can you borrow in France?
Your budget in France rests on one main rule and a few adjustments for non-residents. Here is how banks work out what you can borrow, how your overseas income is counted, and what sits on top of the loan.
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.
The 35% rule
French banks keep your total loan repayments, including this new mortgage and any existing credit, at around 35% of your gross income, insurance included. This cap shapes your maximum monthly payment, and from there the amount you can borrow, depending on the rate and the term.
A longer term lowers the monthly payment and lets you borrow more, but costs more overall. A shorter term does the opposite. The art is finding the point where the payment stays comfortable. You can put your own figures into the mortgage calculator to see the effect in seconds.
How your income is counted
Salaries, stable self-employment profits and, in part, rental income all count. If you earn in a foreign currency, such as pounds, banks usually take it into account with a margin of caution for the exchange rate. Existing loans, including a mortgage back home, reduce your capacity, because they already use part of the 35%.
This is where presentation matters: showing clean accounts and reliable income raises what a bank is comfortable lending.
What shapes your budget
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Debt-to-income cap | Around 35% maximum |
| Term | Longer term, higher amount, higher cost |
| Foreign-currency income | Counted, with caution |
| Existing loans | Reduce your capacity |
| Deposit and buying costs | On top of the loan |
General, indicative benchmarks that vary by bank and profile. No amount or rate is guaranteed.
What sits on top
Your borrowing capacity is not your full budget. You also need a deposit, often 20 to 30% of the price for a non-EU non-resident, plus buying costs of around 7 to 8% of the price on an existing home. Factoring these in from the start avoids a nasty surprise late in the process. See the cost of buying guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does my UK mortgage reduce what I can borrow?
Yes. Existing loan repayments, including a mortgage abroad, count towards the 35% cap, so they lower your French borrowing capacity. Banks look at your total commitments.
Is foreign income accepted?
Yes, French banks do lend against foreign-currency income, usually with a cautious margin for exchange-rate risk. How it is treated varies by bank, which is where comparing helps.
Can I get a precise figure quickly?
A realistic estimate takes only your income, existing loans, deposit and target term. Try the mortgage calculator for an indicative figure, then we can refine it together on a free call against real bank criteria.
Let’s work out your budget.
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