Sources of French mortgage funds

France has a large variety of lending institutions.  As a foreign real estate investor, you have a lot of choices to make when it comes to securing financing for your real estate purchases.  Some financing institutions may be better prepared and willing to work with non-residents than others.

1.  Our first source of funding is one that you may never have guessed existed.  La Banque Postale is the lending branch of the French postal service.  They have only been in the home loan business since 2006 and offer highly competitive solutions in an effort to gain market share.

2.  Institutions which regularly do business in two or more countries are called Multi-National Banks.  Due to the broad nature of their business, Multi-National Banks are often equipped with bi-lingual services and documentation.

3.  Loan Brokers work with multiple financial institutions and can help you get quotes and compare offers from several sources.  Sometimes loan brokers can offer you better rates and conditions because of inside information or volume discounts; sometimes the additional fees charged by loan brokers can increase the cost of obtaining a loan.  Be sure to compare information carefully.  Large brokerage firms are generally able to offer bi-lingual services.

4.  Specialist Property Banks are just that, specialized.  They are not deposit banks and work strictly within the real estate mortgage markets.  They may be able to offer lending solutions that are unavailable through standard banks and may be more willing to work with non-residents.

5.  General and Mutual Banks offer loans to clients.  If you do not have an account with the bank, they will not do business with you.  Long standing and high value clients may receive preferential treatment or be able to negotiate better rates.

by Cheryl Hartzman, AboutFrenchProperty.com - Copyright © About French Property