Blog

European Economic Outlook for 2011

Excerpts from the press interview with Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the ECB & Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the ECB - 3 February 2011

Posted February 10, 2011

The Complete Mortgage Process

Contrary to mortgage processes in countries such as the United States and the UK, the French mortgage process requires a comprehensive study of the buyer’s financial profile. This is to reassure the banks that the borrowers will be financially stable enough to meet all the mortgage payments throughout the duration of the mortgage.

Posted January 18, 2011

French Property Taxes Image

There are two main types of taxes on French residential properties to be aware of : property taxes (taxe fonciére) and residential taxes (taxe d’habitation).

Posted November 25, 2010

The Benefits of Hiring a Mortgage Broker

If you’re interested in buying or investing in French real estate, hiring a French mortgage broker will help you demystify how home finance works in France and save you time and money. Expert mortgage brokers have built and maintained strong relationships with numerous French mortgage lenders, so they can provide you with a comprehensive overview of which mortgage products are most suitable for your needs.

Posted November 10, 2010

Qualifying for a French Mortgage

Unlike the mortgage processes in many other countries around the world, the French mortgage process involves a rather manual client analysis to determine eligibility to borrow. There are two primary elements to consider when determining whether an interested buyer is qualified for a French mortgage: obtaining French life insurance and proving sufficient income to cover the monthly mortgages.

Posted October 28, 2010

Primary Costs Involved With a French Mortgage

When searching for a French mortgage, it is important to know that there are three main types of costs associated with obtaining a mortgage in France. The three main costs are: the mortgage deposit, bank arrangement fees and notaire/legal fees.

Posted September 22, 2010

Fixed or Variable Mortgage Rate?

An important decision when dealing with French mortgages is choosing a fixed mortgage rate or a variable mortgage rate. Both types are very popular, but your final decision depends on whether you want more security or more risk.

Posted September 6, 2010

French Leasebacks

For those who are unfamiliar with French leasebacks, here is a short description of what they are and the benefits. A French leaseback allows investors to buy a freehold French property that allows investors to cover a majority of the mortgage repayments with the tax-free rental income they receive.

Posted August 23, 2010

Increase in Confidence of French Real Estate Market

2010 has seen a sharp increase in consumer confidence of the French real estate market. The French property market has slowly been recovering from the economic downturn, and more and more international buyers are looking into investing in French properties and Paris apartments. France Home Finance has seen a 65% increase in the number of inquiries by buyers from the UK in Q1 2010.

Posted May 12, 2010

Key French tax deadlines for 2010

Key French tax deadlines to note for 2010

30/04/2010 is the deadline to submit :

• 2009 VAT declaration for French leasebacks
• 2009 income declaration for furnished French rental property
• 2009 French income tax declaration for French "Société Civile Immobilière" or “SCI”s

Posted December 20, 2009