Many investors find it financially attractive to purchase their property using a French mortgage.

French banks offer a range of mortgage products some of which are suitable to foreign investors and interest rates are often much lower than those in the UK.

However, the downside to French mortgages is that they can be slow and difficult to obtain - as a result you may wish to use a French broker who has good contacts with the lenders and can enable you to obtain a better deal (some people can experience delays of over four months when they go direct to the lender, where a good mortgage broker can often get a decision and offer in a few weeks.)

French lenders take into account different criteria when calculating if they will lend and advice should be sought regarding your borrowing power.

When purchasing with a French mortgage it is necessary to open a French bank account to deposit your rental income and for your mortgage repayments direct debit.

Because new build French property is paid for in staged payments, the lenders have adapted their mortgage offerings. This example shows how the mortgage would be drawn on a typical development payment schedule (assumed 70% Loan to value):

- 5% reservation deposit (comes from purchasers funds)
- 20% Upon signing the Acte Authentique (comes from purchasers funds)
- 10% When foundations are complete (5% from purchaser funds, 5% drawn from mortgage)
- 25% When 1st floor is complete (drawn from mortgage)
- 10% When the roof goes on (drawn from mortgage)
- 13.6% When the windows go in (drawn from mortgage)
- 6.4% When interior walls are complete (drawn from mortgage)
- 5% When building is complete (drawn from mortgage)
- 5% On delivery (drawn from mortgage)