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You are here: Home Housing Buying Renting vs buying in France

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23/02/2010Renting vs buying in France

Renting vs buying in France Buying a home in France is relatively easy compared to other European countries but renting it first allows you to know the place better and avoid costly mistakes.

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Buying a house in France

In France, particularly in the major cities, renting is very much seen as the norm and you will find that many French people do not have as strong a desire to purchase a house.

Although prices do not in general tend to increase as rapidly as they often do in the UK, the property market in France is stable and buying your dream home there is a relatively safe option compared to some other European countries. Furthermore, obtaining a mortgage on a property is relatively straightforward and interest rates are currently low.

The key to a successful purchase in France is forward planning: France is a large country and making the right decision will be easier with good knowledge of the various regions.

Ask yourself these questions:
• Is the purchase for a holiday home or a permanent move?
• How does life in your chosen area compare from season to season?

Renting a property in France has the advantage of allowing you time to get to know an area before committing yourself hook, line and sinker to purchasing there.

A winter let will give you real insight into what life there is really like as opposed to basing a decision to live there after a lovely summer holiday. If you like it in the winter months when it is darker and quieter, you are likely to love it in the summer.


A long-term rental of, say, six months – possibly in two different areas - may be the answer for those who are very tempted to buy but not entirely confident of getting it right.

Although renting a property can sometimes be seen as dead money, it may give you a feel for staying longer term in France without the immediate commitment of a purchase.

Since buying a property abroad is a big decision, money spent on renting may in fact make the difference between a successful and non-successful purchase later.

By renting, you are also likely to make friends, learn to speak French and integrate into the French way of life before committing yourself to buy. It is an excellent way of testing the waters.

To buy or rent in France really depends on how confident you are of your decision to go there. Renting could serve you well as a stop gap. However, if you have done your homework with regard to where you want to be, how you are going to fund your purchase and how you see your life in France, buying a property will give you the comfort and pride of knowing you own the home and there no landlord in the background to answer to.

Both options have its benefits: buying a property in France is a hugely attractive proposition while renting may simply give you the confidence to take the plunge to buy.

This article is published with the permission of The Overseas Guides Company on February 2010. If you are considering renting or buying a property in France, click here to obtain a regular FREE France Buying Guide newsletter.


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