Minimum deposit: how much do you really need to buy?
No French provision sets a minimum deposit: the 10% figure is banking practice, not a rule of law. In practice, budget on the order of 8 to 10% of the price for an existing home and 3 to 4% for a new build, because that is what the bank generally will not finance.
No statutory minimum deposit, but a capped debt-service ratio
No French provision sets a minimum deposit: the 10% figure is banking practice, not a rule of law. In practice, budget on the order of 8 to 10% of the price for an existing home and 3 to 4% for a new build, because that is what the bank generally will not finance: transfer duties, the notaire's fees, and the loan's guarantee and arrangement charges.
The one rule that really is regulated concerns not the deposit but the debt-service ratio: a maximum of 35% including insurance, under decision no. D-HCSF-2021-7 of 29 September 2021 of the High Council for Financial Stability, as amended.
Every figure below is an order of magnitude, not a commitment: the rate of transfer duty depends on the department, and banking and tax thresholds change. Information current at 4 August 2026, to be checked when you buy.
The figure, straight away: what to put together for your project
A deposit is not primarily there to reassure the bank about your good intentions. It covers the part of the transaction that creates nothing resaleable: if the bank had to repossess and resell the property, it would recover neither the transfer duties nor the guarantee charges. That is the economic reason for the 10% figure, and it is why the figure varies so much between an existing home and a new build.
The orders of magnitude below exclude works, any agency fees payable by the buyer, and furniture. They are neither an offer nor a guarantee that finance will be granted: the bank alone decides.
| Type of purchase | Acquisition costs | Guarantee and arrangement charges | Deposit to put together |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existing home | around 7 to 8% of the price | around 1 to 1.5% of the amount borrowed | around 8 to 10% of the price |
| Existing home, first-time buyer, main residence | around 6.5 to 7.5% of the price (the departmental increase in transfer duty does not apply to them) | around 1 to 1.5% | around 7.5 to 9% of the price |
| New build or off-plan purchase | around 2 to 3% of the price | around 1 to 1.5% | around 3 to 4% of the price |
Deposit to budget for, by type of purchase (2026 orders of magnitude, works excluded, non-contractual)
What the deposit covers, item by item
- Transfer duties, whose rate depends on the department, and the notaire's fees: the heaviest item when buying an existing home.
- The loan's guarantee charges, whether a guarantee institution or a mortgage, and the lender's arrangement fee.
- None of these items creates resaleable value, which is why banks prefer to see the buyer fund them.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum deposit required by law?
No. No French provision sets a minimum deposit for a property purchase. The 10% figure so often quoted is banking practice, not a rule of law.
Why do banks ask for around 10%?
Because the deposit covers the part of the transaction that creates nothing resaleable: if the property were repossessed and resold, the bank would recover neither the transfer duties nor the guarantee charges. That is the economic reason for the figure, and it is why it differs between an existing home and a new build.
What is the one rule that really is regulated?
It concerns not the deposit but the debt-service ratio: a maximum of 35% including insurance, under decision no. D-HCSF-2021-7 of 29 September 2021 of the High Council for Financial Stability, as amended.
Do you need the same deposit for a new build as for an existing home?
No. Acquisition costs run at around 2 to 3% of the price for a new build or an off-plan purchase, against around 7 to 8% for an existing home. The deposit therefore falls to around 3 to 4% of the price, against around 8 to 10%.
Are these percentages guaranteed?
No. They are orders of magnitude, not commitments: the rate of transfer duty depends on the department, and banking and tax thresholds change. This information is current at 4 August 2026 and should be checked when you buy. The bank alone decides whether to grant finance.
Read next
- Haut Conseil de stabilité financière : décision n° D-HCSF-2021-7 du 29 septembre 2021 modifiée, relative aux conditions d'octroi de crédits immobiliers
- Service-Public.fr : prêt immobilier et conditions d'octroi
- Service-Public.fr : frais d'acquisition (frais de notaire)
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