You want to purchase a property as your main residence, a secondary residence, or you want to make a rental investment. For this, you are looking to obtain a mortgage loan from a bank or a credit institution. However, it is not always easy to find the best financing solution among the different offers. Here are some things to know before getting started.
| Key Advice | Description and impact on obtaining the loan |
|---|---|
| Manage your finances carefully | Avoid overdrafts, stabilize your accounts, and show good budget control. This reassures banks about your ability to repay. |
| Define your project precisely | Calculate the total cost (purchase, notary fees, work, guarantees) to present a coherent and realistic file. |
| Plan a personal contribution | A contribution of 10 to 20% of the property’s amount facilitates loan acceptance and can improve the conditions offered. |
| Compare banking offers | Approach several institutions or use a broker to get the best rate and the best guarantees. |
| Prepare a solid file | Gather pay slips, bank statements, savings proofs, and documents related to the property. |
Major guidelines: I consider that a mortgage loan file is not just a simple income calculation, but a demonstration of impeccable financial hygiene. In my opinion, the bank primarily seeks reassurance about your ability to manage the unexpected. I find that the regularity of savings is often more convincing than a high salary without a contribution. To me, this is a true banking seduction strategy: you must present a “seamless” profile where every bank statement proves your seriousness and long-term stability.
What are the average borrowing rates?
The last quarter of 2022 showed a clear increase in mortgage rates.
- On average 2.09% for a mortgage loan spread over 10 years
- On average 2.33% for a mortgage loan spread over 20 years
- On average 2.52% for a mortgage loan spread over 25 years
Compared to 2020, statistics show that this rate has more than doubled. Fortunately, we remain on a fairly low scale. Indeed, let us recall that the average mortgage rate over 20 years in 2001 was 7%.
Today, credit rates vary according to geographical areas, the borrowers’ situation, the loan duration, the loan amount, and also vary from one bank to another. To simulate your mortgage loan, there are very effective tools available on the internet.
During my first purchase, I was convinced that my file would pass smoothly thanks to my permanent contract. However, my advisor hesitated over a series of small impulsive online purchases in the months preceding the appointment. The realization was immediate: for a banker, these disorganized flows indicate fragility, even if the balance is positive. I had to postpone my project by three months to present “clean” statements, without any overdrafts or unnecessary expenses. This experience taught me that obtaining a loan is a marathon that must be prepared well before stepping through the agency’s door: the form of the file matters as much as the content.
Why is it interesting to use a broker?
Today, more and more individuals are turning to the services of a broker specialized in mortgage loans. They indeed find several advantages there. First, the simplicity since this professional will assist you in assembling your file and will centralize all this data to save you from having to prepare multiple application files with different banks and credit institutions. Next, the broker has partnerships with a number of lending institutions and can thus obtain more favorable borrowing conditions for their clients. So there is a financial advantage here. Finally, the broker will make sure to find several offers, compare them (just like loan insurance offers) and will find the one that best suits your needs.
Tips to clean up your finances
- Clean up your finances before a mortgage loan: When seeking to obtain a mortgage loan, you need to clean up your finances to provide the lending institutions with the clearest possible picture.
- Reduce your disposable income: For this, it is useful to try to reduce your disposable income by renegotiating some of your contracts with insurances, internet service providers, or mobile phone operators, for example.
- Consolidate your existing loans: If you have taken out several loans, it may be interesting to consolidate them before applying for a mortgage loan.
- Increase your borrowing capacity: First because this allows you to reduce your disposable income to increase your borrowing capacity.
- Clarify your accounting documents: This helps bring more clarity to the review of your accounting documents.
- Choose the right contact person: This can be done through a credit institution, but brokerage firms also offer this service to their clients.
So give yourself every chance to obtain a mortgage loan by calling on a professional who will provide you with expertise in this field and by increasing your disposable income. You will thus benefit from better borrowing conditions.
Dashboard for a solid financing file
| Indicator | Target Objective | Impact on Decision |
| Debt Ratio | Maximum 35% (including insurance) | Decisive (legal limit) |
| Personal Contribution | Minimum 10% of the sale price | Essential for notary fees |
| Payment Gap | As low as possible | Reassures about repayment capacity |
| Residual Savings | 6 months of installments after purchase | Security against life’s unforeseen events |
| Account Management | 0 incidents in the last 3 months | Essential condition |
Tips for Obtaining a Mortgage Loan: Your Strategic Questions in 2026
A personal contribution is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended. It shows your ability to save and reassures banks. Generally, a contribution of 10 to 20% of the property’s price allows for better loan conditions.
To get a good rate, you need to present a solid file: stable income, good account management, little or no debt. Comparing offers from several banks or going through a broker can also make a difference.
Yes, consolidating your loans helps reduce your remaining living expenses and increase your borrowing capacity. It makes your financial situation clearer for lending institutions and can facilitate the acceptance of your application.
