Pretto Pretto
3.50% initial
- Taux initial: 3,50%
- Ratio prêt/valeur: 85%
- Période initiale: 20 ans
- Fonctionnalité clé: Courtier en ligne
Compare the top mortgages providers in France — see cover, features and typical rates side by side.
24 live offers compared from 18 providers, from 3.50% initial. Updated daily.
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Price on request
Price on request
Price on request
Price on request
A mortgage (crédit immobilier or prêt immobilier) is a long-term loan to buy a home, typically over 15 to 25 years at a fixed rate — the norm in France, where variable-rate loans are rare. Fixed rates give borrowers certainty for the whole term. Loans are almost always paired with borrower insurance (assurance emprunteur) and, frequently, a guarantee such as a caution rather than a traditional mortgage lien.
Retail banks originate most home loans: Crédit Agricole, BNP Paribas, Société Générale, LCL, Caisse d'Epargne, Crédit Mutuel and Crédit du Nord, with online bank BoursoBank competing on rate. Many buyers use a broker (courtier) to shop lenders. French underwriting is income-based and conservative, guided by the HCSF rules that generally cap total debt service at around 35% of income and the term at 25 years, which keeps default rates low. Rather than judging affordability on the property's value alone, banks focus on stable income, the reste à vivre after repayments, and job security, and they often want the borrower to move their salary and savings across. This prudence, combined with widespread fixed rates and mandatory borrower insurance, is why French mortgage arrears remain among the lowest in Europe.
Rate certainty — Fixed rates fix your repayment for the life of the loan, insulating you from market moves.
Insurance portability — The loi Lemoine lets you change borrower insurance at any time, often cutting cost.
Support schemes — First-time buyers may access the interest-free prêt à taux zéro (PTZ) alongside the main loan.
Compare the TAEG, which bundles the interest rate, borrower insurance, guarantee and fees, rather than the nominal rate alone. Weigh the term against total interest, check early-repayment penalties (indemnités de remboursement anticipé), and shop borrower insurance separately since delegation often beats the bank's group policy. Factor in notaire fees, which add several percent to a purchase.
Crédit Agricole is the largest home-loan lender, with BNP Paribas, Société Générale, LCL, Caisse d'Epargne and Crédit Mutuel all major players. BoursoBank competes online on rate, while Crédit du Nord serves regional borrowers. Brokers help access the sharpest deals across these banks.
Average fixed rates in 2026 have sat broadly in the 3% to 3.5% range for 20-year loans, with this comparison showing rates around 3.5% to 3.95%. Rates are capped by the quarterly taux d'usure. On top of interest, budget for borrower insurance, the guarantee cost, and notaire fees of roughly 7% to 8% on existing property (lower on new-build). Borrower insurance can represent a large share of the total cost of a loan, which is why the right to switch it under the loi Lemoine matters so much — moving from a bank's group policy to a delegated contract can save several thousand euros over a 20-year term. When you compare offers, the TAEG is the number that captures all of this together, unlike the bare nominal rate lenders advertise first.
Mortgage lending is supervised by the ACPR and governed by the Code de la consommation, which gives a mandatory offer-reflection period, a standardised information sheet, and a 10-day minimum before you can accept the loan offer. The HCSF sets macro-prudential limits on term and debt ratio. Borrower insurance rules under the loi Lemoine and loi Bourquin protect the right to switch cover.
Are French mortgages fixed-rate? — Overwhelmingly yes; fixed rates for the full term are standard.
Can I change my loan insurance? — Yes, at any time under the loi Lemoine, which can save thousands over the term.
What extra costs apply? — Notaire fees, the guarantee or mortgage registration, and borrower insurance, all on top of interest.
Giraffy tracks 5 mortgage products across Pretto,BoursoBank,Bienprêter,Fortuneo,Renault Bank lenders in France. Use the sort and filter controls to compare fixed versus variable rates and initial deal lengths.
A fixed-rate mortgage locks your interest rate for a set period — typically 2, 5, or 10 years — giving payment certainty. A variable rate moves with the central bank benchmark rate set by the ACPR (Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution). Fixed rates suit those who want stability; variable suits those who expect rates to fall.
Most lenders apply an income multiple — typically 4–5× your gross annual income for a conventional mortgage. Affordability assessments also factor in outgoings, existing debts, and the property's loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. A mortgage adviser or broker can run a full affordability assessment for free.
Loan-to-Value (LTV) is the mortgage amount as a percentage of the property's value. A 90% LTV means you're borrowing 90% and putting down 10% as a deposit. Lower LTV means less risk for the lender — you'll typically be offered a lower interest rate with a deposit of 20–25% or more.
An indicative approval can usually be obtained the same day online. Full mortgage approval — after property valuation and underwriting — typically takes 2–6 weeks. Having all your documents ready (pay stubs, bank statements, ID) speeds up the process significantly.
Sharia-compliant home-finance products structure the transaction without interest, typically through Murabaha (cost-plus financing) or Ijara (lease-to-own) arrangements. Check with individual lenders for availability in your market.
Lenders often charge arrangement, origination, or application fees to set up a mortgage — amounts vary by lender and market. You can usually add them to the loan, but you'll pay interest on them for the full term. For large loans, a higher-fee/lower-rate deal may be cheaper overall — compare total cost over the initial fixed period.