What aid is available for a first-time buyer?
The main scheme for a first-time buyer is the zero-rate loan (PTZ), an interest-free and arrangement-fee-free credit subject to income and zone conditions. Added to this are the Action Logement loan, the social accession loan (PAS) and the conventioned loan.
Who is a first-time buyer?
A first-time buyer, for the purposes of accession aid, is a person who has not owned their main residence during the two years preceding the loan offer. You can therefore already own another property (buy-to-let, second home) and remain a first-time buyer for your main residence.
This status conditions access to several forms of aid, first and foremost the zero-rate loan.
The zero-rate loan (PTZ)
The PTZ is a State-aided loan, interest-free and without arrangement fees, that supplements a main loan. It is subject to income conditions (ceilings according to geographic zone and household composition), and its amount, its quota and the repayment duration depend on these same parameters. It generally includes a repayment deferral period.
The PTZ finances the purchase of a new-build home, and the purchase of an existing home with works under certain conditions (the works having to represent a significant part of the operation and improve energy performance). The scheme and its scope have been modified recently and are liable to change: always check the conditions and ceilings in force on Service-Public.fr before building your financing plan.
The income ceilings, quotas and zoning are deliberately not stated here, as they are revised regularly. Rely only on up-to-date official scales.
The other aids you can mobilize
Beyond the PTZ, several loans can reduce the cost of your acquisition or supplement your financing. Combinable under conditions, they work alongside your main bank loan.
- Action Logement loan (formerly "1% logement"): a reduced-rate loan for employees of contributing non-agricultural private-sector companies
- Social accession loan (PAS): reserved for households under income ceilings, it opens entitlement to accession housing benefit (APL accession) in certain cases and caps the fees
- Conventioned loan (PC): granted without income conditions, it can finance the entire home
- Home-savings loan (PEL / CEL): according to the rights accrued on your home-savings plan or account
- Local aid: certain municipalities, inter-municipalities, departments or regions offer accession loans or subsidies, to be checked with the ADIL
Frequently asked questions
Does the PTZ finance the whole purchase?
No. The PTZ is a supplementary loan: it covers only part of the operation's cost (a quota varying according to zone and income) and must be combined with a main loan. Its maximum amount depends on household composition, location and income.
Can you get the PTZ for an existing home?
Yes, under conditions. The PTZ for existing property requires works of a significant amount improving energy performance, and certain conditions. The rules change: consult the up-to-date conditions on Service-Public.fr before committing.
Can you combine several accession aids?
Yes, within the limits of the rules specific to each scheme. The PTZ is commonly combined with an Action Logement loan, a PAS or a conventioned loan, as well as with local aid. Your broker or your bank optimizes the assembly according to your profile.
Where do I check the income ceilings?
On the official sites: Service-Public.fr and economie.gouv.fr publish the scales in force. As the ceilings are revised regularly, never rely on an old figure. The ADIL of your department provides free information on the aid you can mobilize.
Read next
- Service-Public.fr - Prêt à taux zéro (PTZ) (F10871)
- economie.gouv.fr - Prêt à taux zéro (PTZ)
- ANIL / ADIL - Les prêts aidés à l'accession à la propriété
- Action Logement - Prêt accession
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