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A flat with a sea view in Nice, a villa in the hills above Antibes, a pied-à-terre close to the Croisette in Cannes: the French Riviera is one of the most sought-after places in Europe to own a second home. The good news is that French banks do lend on holiday homes, including to buyers who live abroad. The key is knowing how they look at your file before you fall in love with a property.
Can you get a French mortgage for a second home?
Yes. French banks finance résidences secondaires (second homes) for French residents, expats and non-residents alike. What changes is how much scrutiny your file receives. Because the property is not your main residence, the bank looks closely at your existing housing costs, your savings and the stability of your income, wherever it is earned.
What French banks look at
- Your total monthly commitments, including the rent or mortgage on your main home: French lenders apply a strict debt-to-income limit.
- Your deposit: plan for at least the purchase costs (notary fees are roughly 7–8% on resale properties), and more for a stronger file.
- Savings left after the purchase: banks like to see a cushion, and some ask for assets to be held with them.
- Currency and country of income: salaries in pounds, dollars or Danish kroner are accepted by some banks, not all.
- Borrower insurance (assurance emprunteur): usually required, with a health questionnaire.
Can you rent it out when you are not there?
Many buyers plan to let their Riviera home for a few weeks a year. That is possible, but check the local rules first: Nice, Cannes and Antibes regulate short-term holiday lets (meublés de tourisme), with registration requirements and, in some cases, limits. Banks will rarely count future holiday-let income in full when assessing what you can borrow, so build your budget on your current income.
Why preparing before viewings changes everything
Good properties on the Riviera sell quickly, and French sellers and agents favour buyers who can show their financing is realistic. Once you sign the compromis de vente (preliminary sale agreement), you usually have a set period to secure your loan. Arriving with a clear budget and a file already reviewed by a broker avoids last-minute surprises.
How I can help, and what it costs
I work with banks that lend to international buyers on the Côte d'Azur, and I handle the whole process in English, remotely if you are abroad, through to the signing at the notaire (notary).
- For non-resident applicants only, a feasibility study: €975 incl. VAT. I review your situation and tell you precisely what banks can finance. It is deducted from my fees if you then entrust me with arranging your mortgage and your loan is obtained for a property found within 6 months of the study. French residents do not pay a file assessment fee.
- Then my broker fees: 2% of the property price, with a minimum of €4,500, payable only once your loan is signed.
In short
Financing a holiday home on the French Riviera is very achievable when you prepare early: know your budget, line up your documents and choose a bank that understands international profiles. Book a free 30-minute discovery call and we will look at your project together, with no obligation.