Riviera or Atlantic
Lifestyle first.
Holding costs visible.
The mortgage brief should include intended use and the funds that remain after deposit and transaction costs. Local legal and tax advice sits beside it.
Countries / France
France within reach.
The lender file
travels first.
Coast, countryside or Alps: French lenders can consider non-resident UK buyers, but the quality and sequence of the file matter from the start.
- Market
- French lender assessment
- Purchase
- Notaire-led legal process
- Terms
- Indicative until assessed
Close by, locally different
The journey is short.
The process stays French.
A familiar destination does not mean a UK-style mortgage or conveyance. The lender, notaire and any independent adviser each own a different part of the route.
Offer, lender, notaire
The mortgage moves
inside a French sequence.
The financial and legal tracks have to meet at the right points without being confused for one another.
- 01You + OMF
Shape the brief
Region, use, price, cash, income and existing commitments.
- 02OMF + lender
Build the application
Match the case, translate the evidence and manage lender questions.
- 03Notaire + advisers
Run the legal route
Preliminary contract, searches, conditions and independent advice.
- 04Lender + notaire
Complete and register
Offer conditions, funds and the final deed need coordinated timing.
One country, different property stories
Where will France
meet your plans?
Use and property type shape the questions. Start with the closest version of the purchase.
Lifestyle first.
Mountain property
Seasonal appeal.
Property detail matters.
A chalet or apartment still needs a lender valuation and careful legal review. Any rental plan and local restrictions need specialist advice rather than assumption.
Village or rural home
Character outside.
Evidence inside.
Older and distinctive homes can raise property-specific questions. Keep lender security checks separate from your own legal and building due diligence.
Current OMF context, still indicative
Useful markers.
Not a personal offer.
Indicative maximum LTV
OMF’s current France guide says lending may reach around 80% LTV for strong non-resident profiles. The lender, borrower and property decide the actual outcome.
Buyer cooling-off period
OMF’s current buying guide describes a 10-day cooling-off period after the preliminary contract process. Your notaire or lawyer should confirm how it applies to your transaction.
The LTV context comes from OMF’s current France country page; the cooling-off context comes from OMF’s France buying guide, last updated 27/02/2026. Neither is a mortgage offer or legal advice. Source context checked 11/08/2026. Current OMF France page Current OMF France buying guide
The French mortgage file
Prepared evidence.
Fewer loose ends.
French lenders are document-led. A complete, coherent case lets terms be discussed in the right context.
- 01Identity
Identity and residence evidence
Provide current identification and clear evidence of where you live and pay tax.
- 02Affordability
Income, debt and assets
The lender examines evidenced income, existing commitments and the wider financial position.
- 03Funds
Deposit and transaction cash
The deposit is only one part of the cash plan; legal and purchase costs sit outside the headline price.
- 04Property
Valuation and notaire file
The lender values its security while the notaire manages the formal property transaction and registration work.
The notaire is not your broker
Connected work.
Distinct responsibilities.
OMF handles the mortgage search and application. The notaire carries the formal transaction. Independent legal, tax and planning advice may still be appropriate for your circumstances.
- Mortgage and lender route — OMF
- Formal property transaction — notaire
- Independent legal and tax advice — your chosen specialists
France questions
Know the sequence
before the signature.
01Can a non-resident UK buyer apply for a French mortgage?
Yes. OMF’s current France guidance says French lenders remain open to non-resident UK buyers. Approval and terms depend on the full borrower and property assessment.
02Should I plan around 80% LTV?
No. Around 80% is an indicative upper marker for some strong cases in current OMF guidance, not a standard entitlement. Build the purchase around an assessed outcome and a separate cost reserve.
03What does the notaire do?
The notaire is the state-appointed professional who manages the formal property transaction and registration. OMF manages the mortgage work; the roles are connected but different.
04How long should I allow?
Current OMF content gives broad timing guidance, but documents, lender review, valuation, contract conditions and the notaire process can all change it. Treat the timeline as transaction-specific.
France, file ready
Keep the destination.
Lose the document fog.
Bring the property plan, deposit and income picture. OMF will separate what can be assessed now from what still needs local advice.
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