GMG International Bridging Loans Team
What Is a France Bridging Loan?
In France, the traditional bridging loan is called a prêt relais — a short-term facility that lets you buy before you sell. But for international buyers and non-residents, accessing a prêt relais from a French bank is notoriously difficult: without French tax residency, complex income documentation, or an existing relationship with a French bank, approvals are slow, conditions are strict, and rejections are common.
GMG's international bridging loan platform bypasses these limitations entirely. Our France bridging loans are:
- Approved based on property value and exit strategy — not French bank bureaucracy
- Available to non-residents and foreign nationals — no French tax residency required
- Structured as interest-only — preserving cash flow while you execute your exit
✅ No French income tax residency required
✅ Open to non-residents and foreign nationals
✅ Approval in 24–48 hours
✅ Funding in 5–10 business days
✅ No debt-to-income ratio restrictions (French banks cap at 33–35%)
Why France? Why Now?
France remains one of the most desirable property markets in the world for international investors and lifestyle buyers:
- Paris: A global tier-1 city with sustained demand, international liquidity, and a perennially supply-constrained prime market
- Côte d'Azur: Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Saint-Tropez — among Europe's most coveted coastal addresses
- The Alps: Chamonix, Courchevel, Méribel, Val d'Isère — world-class ski property with strong rental yields
- Provence: Aix-en-Provence, Luberon, Gordes — lifestyle property with growing international demand
- Declining ECB rates: The European Central Bank has been cutting rates through 2025, improving the refinancing environment
Yet French banks remain among Europe's most restrictive for non-resident borrowers — requiring 25–40% deposits, strict DTI ratios of 33–35%, 10–12 week processing timelines, and extensive French documentation. For international buyers who don't fit the mold, traditional French financing often isn't an option.
GMG provides an alternative.
Why Choose a GMG France Bridging Loan
| Advantage | GMG Bridging Loan | French Bank (Prêt Relais / Mortgage) |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Approval in 24–48 hrs | 10–16 weeks to process |
| LTV | Up to 75% of property value | 60–70% for non-residents |
| Eligibility | Based on asset value + exit plan | DTI ≤33–35%, French tax residency preferred |
| Borrower Profile | Non-residents, expats, complex income welcome | French residents strongly preferred |
| Loan Structure | Interest-only | Capital repayment (interest-only very rare) |
| Documentation | Streamlined international process | Extensive French documentation required |
When to Use a France Bridging Loan
- Buy Before You Sell — Secure your French property now; repay when your existing property completes. The traditional prêt relais use case — but available internationally and without French bank restrictions.
- Time-Sensitive Acquisitions — Prime Paris and Côte d'Azur properties move quickly. Bridging finance ensures you don't lose your deal to slower buyers.
- Non-Resident Equity Release — Unlock the equity in your existing French property for reinvestment, tax planning, or capital needs — without selling.
- Development and Renovation — Fund renovation of French property not currently eligible for standard mortgage finance.
- Transaction Bridging — Your notaire process is underway but funds need to be in place before your long-term finance is arranged.
- Portfolio Restructuring — Release capital from French real estate to deploy elsewhere without triggering a full sale.
Understanding the French Purchase Process
France's property purchase process involves several stages that make speed of financing critical:
- Compromis de vente — Preliminary contract signed with a deposit (typically 5–10% of purchase price)
- 10-day cooling off period — Buyer's right to withdraw without penalty
- Acte authentique — Final deed signed before a notaire, typically 2–3 months after compromis
- Notaire fees: Budget 7–8% of purchase price for resale properties (taxes, registration, notaire fees)
A bridging loan gives you the certainty of funds well ahead of the acte authentique — removing financing risk from your transaction.
Exit Strategies
Every bridging loan requires a credible repayment plan. Common exits in France include:
- Property sale → Repay with proceeds from French or international asset sale
- Refinance to French mortgage → Transition to long-term prêt immobilier once documentation is complete
- Refinance to international mortgage → GMG operates across 23 countries for seamless long-term financing
- Liquidity event → Asset sale, inheritance, business exit, or portfolio rebalancing
- EUR rate opportunity → With ECB rates declining in 2025, refinancing to longer-term EUR-denominated debt may be strategically attractive
Eligible Properties
- Residential: Parisian apartments, Riviera villas, Alpine chalets, country estates, pied-à-terre
- Commercial & Mixed-Use: Commercial premises, boutique hotels, mixed-use buildings
- Development: Properties requiring renovation, licensed development land
- Regions: Paris (all arrondissements), Côte d'Azur, Provence, Normandy, the Alps, Bordeaux, Lyon
Approval is based on property value and market liquidity — not borrower income or French residency status.
Note: French property loans may be subject to hypothèque (mortgage registration tax) which varies by loan amount. GMG's team will advise on all transaction costs.
Example: Securing a Côte d'Azur Villa Before Your Hong Kong Apartment Closes
You've found a €4M villa in Antibes. The seller wants to move quickly. Your Hong Kong apartment is under contract but won't complete for 3 months. A French bank requires French tax residency and months of documentation — and may still decline. GMG structures a bridging loan against the French villa (up to 75% LTV), funds within days, and you sign the acte authentique on schedule. When your Hong Kong proceeds arrive, the bridge is repaid and the villa is yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can non-French residents access a France bridging loan?
A: Yes. GMG's bridging loans are specifically designed for non-residents and foreign nationals. French tax residency is not required.
Q: How is this different from a French prêt relais?
A: A traditional prêt relais from a French bank requires French residency, strict income documentation, and takes weeks to approve. GMG's international bridging loan is approved based on property value and exit strategy — without French bank requirements.
Q: How fast is approval?
A: 24–48 hours with funding typically in 5–10 business days.
Q: What's the minimum and maximum loan size?
A: Minimum €1,000,000. GMG regularly facilitates transactions of €5M–€20M+ for prime French properties.
Q: Are French notaire fees included?
A: No. French notaire and acquisition costs (7–8% for resale properties) must be funded separately and are not included in the LTV calculation. Your GMG advisor will help you plan for these.
Q: Can I refinance to a long-term mortgage after the bridge?
A: Yes — and this is one of the most common exits. GMG's international mortgage platform operates across 23 countries, allowing seamless transition to long-term EUR or multi-currency financing.
Why GMG for France
- International platform with deep French market expertise
- High LTV up to 75% based on property value
- No French tax residency, income proof, or DTI restrictions
- Interest-only structure for maximum cash flow flexibility
- Streamlined documentation — designed for international profiles
- Seamless long-term refinancing through GMG's 23-country mortgage network
- Specialist knowledge serving Asian HNW investors and family offices investing in French real estate
Get Started Today
GMG specializes in asset-based bridging finance for international investors navigating France's complex and documentation-heavy property market. Whether you're acquiring in Paris's 7th arrondissement, a villa on the Côte d'Azur, or an Alpine chalet in Courchevel, GMG gives you the speed and certainty to close — without French bank delays.
1️⃣ Book a Free Consultation – Discuss your French property and exit strategy.
2️⃣ Receive a Loan Estimate – Preliminary LTV and cost breakdown within 24 hours.
3️⃣ Fund Your French Property – Close in days, not months.
