Is France right for your strategy?
Capital preservation and deep long-term rental markets
Calculate with your own budget
Enter the planned property price to estimate acquisition costs, gross rent and recurring ownership costs.
Financing for foreign buyers
Non-resident lending is possible but affordability and documentation tests are strict.
Tax position
Income tax, social charges, capital gains and wealth-related property exposure may apply.
Buyer costs at a €1m reference price: €70k–€80k
This common price is used only to compare countries consistently. It is not a minimum or recommended investment amount.
Resale-home illustration using typical acquisition/notaire cost range; qualifying new-build treatment differs.
Markets to compare within France
Paris
Capital preservation and liquidity
Nice & Côte d’Azur
Prime international lifestyle market
Lyon
Large diversified rental market
Stable and selective
Opportunity
Energy-efficient properties in deep employment markets can outperform weaker stock.
Primary watchpoint
Energy-performance rules, rent controls and high transaction costs.
Sources and data status
Reference period: latest published 2025–2026 official and established market data available at review. Last editorial verification: 28 September 2026.
Transaction-specific figures must be confirmed with the relevant authority and an independent local adviser before commitment.
2026 snapshot
- Indicative gross long-term yield: 3–5.5%
- Typical buyer costs: around 7–8% on older property and commonly 2–4% on qualifying new property
- Short-term rental position: legal but heavily regulated locally
- Property-linked residence: no
Main investment locations
- Paris: global safe-haven market with lower yields
- Côte d’Azur: premium international second homes
- Lyon, Lille, Toulouse and Montpellier: employment and student demand
- French Alps: seasonal and premium resort property
- Provence: lifestyle and limited-supply locations
Who can buy?
France generally allows EU and non-EU citizens to buy without a nationality-based residential restriction. The notaire controls conveyancing, title and tax collection. Buyers need identity, marital-status and source-of-funds documentation. Property ownership does not give immigration rights.
Purchase and ownership costs
Older homes carry notaire and transfer costs that are usually much higher than for new builds. Agency commission may be paid by the seller or buyer and is often embedded in the advertised price. Annual costs can include taxe foncière, co-ownership charges, insurance and wealth tax on French real estate above the relevant net threshold.
Renting and short-term letting
Long-term rentals are strongly regulated and energy-performance rules affect whether some homes can be let. Short-term rentals may require declaration, registration and change-of-use permission. Municipalities can impose a 90-night primary-home limit, compensation requirements or stricter local caps. Paris and several major cities are high-control markets.
Key risks
Energy-efficiency restrictions, co-ownership works, heritage rules, wealth-tax exposure and strict short-let enforcement can materially change returns.
Continue your research
Take the next step in France
Method: calculations assume an individual cash buyer acquiring a resale residential property, without mortgage, renovation or buyer-specific relief. Figures are indicative planning ranges, not quotations or promised returns. Read the methodology →