30/12/2025
𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲: 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐔𝐒-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐀𝐥𝐩𝐬 🇫🇷🏔️
𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞:
➡️ US-based buyer (US Fiscal resident)
➡️Purchasing a property in the French Alps
➡️Multiple income sources (business income, investments, and variable earnings)
𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: finance the purchase in France without tying up significant capital in France.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞
French banks are notoriously cautious when it comes to US clients with complex income structures with many banks simply refusing to take on the case. In this case, the client’s diversified income profile, perfectly acceptable in the US, was seen as high risk by most French lenders.
As a result, the majority of banks refused the application outright, or required six figure sums to be placed in AUM as a condition for approval.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬
This application encountered multiple stumbling blocks along the way:
❌ Repeated re-analysis of income sources
❌Internal bank credit committee delays
❌Shifting requirements mid-process
❌A general reluctance to move forward without substantial pledged capital
Progress stalled more than once, and the file required constant follow-up, negotiation, and justification.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲
Rather than accepting a blanket refusal or excessive capital requirements, I invested hours of direct discussions with the bank’s credit teams, personally travelled to meet decision-makers face to face, negotiated alternatives to large asset placements while maintaining bank security.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫:
👉 Secure financing without tying up all of the clients capital in France.
The Result ✅
Despite the complexity, the mortgage was approved with the following outcome:
Mortgage interest rate: 3.54% fixed
Minimal capital placed with the bank as financial security
No requirement for significant assets under management
The client retained her liquidity to invest in higher-yielding opportunities elsewhere
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
For international buyers, especially US clients, persistence and expertise make the difference. French mortgages for non-residents are rarely straightforward, and many strong applications fail simply due to a lack of specialist advice.
𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞:
✅The client achieved her dream property in the French Alps
✅Her cash continued to work harder in her existing investments.
✅A solution was found where many lenders said “no”
Thinking of buying property in France as a non-resident or US citizen?
📩 Let's talk! drop us an email to [email protected]
Complex profiles don’t mean impossible financing, with the right strategy and determination, solutions exist.
