Bridging Loans France

Bridging Loans France: Short-Term Finance from €500,000 Against French Property

Page last reviewed: October 2026.

Bridging loans in France provide short-term, asset-backed finance against Parisian offices and residential blocks, Riviera and Alpine hospitality assets, regional commercial property, development sites and portfolios. We arrange French bridging facilities from €500,000 up to €500m+ for developers, institutional investors, funds, family offices and corporate borrowers, whether they are based in France or overseas. Larger requirements can be arranged as syndicated lending with multiple lenders, on request. This is unregulated commercial lending, not finance for buying a home to live in.

French Bridging Loans at a Glance

Why French Bridging Is a Specialist Product

French property finance is bank-dominated, and French banks lend overwhelmingly on amortising terms. The French prêt relais, which most search results describe, is a consumer product for homeowners who need to buy before they sell. That is a regulated bank product and not what this page covers. Commercial bridging in France, meaning short-term, exit-led lending to companies and professional investors, is supplied mainly by international and private lenders.

The practical effect is that fewer lenders compete for each deal, and that the right lender depends heavily on the asset type and the region. Some lenders keep to particular regions so they can watch their security closely.

Where French Bridging Is Used

• Acquiring prime assets quickly in Paris and the Île-de-France before a bank mortgage process could complete.
• Buying hotels and hospitality assets on the Riviera and in the Alps ahead of a season or a refinance.
• Securing development and renovation sites, where a bridge funds the purchase while permits and construction finance are arranged. See our France development finance page.
• Refinancing a maturing facility when a replacement lender has not completed.
• Portfolio acquisitions by funds and family offices.

Asset Classes in the French Market

• Offices and commercial buildings in Paris and the main regional cities, especially those being repositioned.
• Residential blocks and portfolios, including build-to-rent, managed residences, student housing, co-living and senior living.
• Hotels, resorts, leisure and holiday parks, particularly on the Côte d’Azur, in the Alps and in rural tourist areas.
• Retail and mixed-use property with identifiable tenants.
• Logistics and industrial assets near the main transport corridors.
• Development land and renovation projects.

Security, the Notary and French Law

The borrower is normally a French company that owns the asset. The lender takes a first-ranking mortgage (hypothèque) or, for acquisition finance, a lender’s privilege (privilège de prêteur de deniers), executed before a notary, and commonly a pledge over the shares in the borrower, an assignment of rents and a sponsor guarantee.

• Commercial leases: French commercial tenancies carry strong tenant protections, which affect income assumptions and the exit.
• Pre-emption rights: the notary checks whether any public pre-emption right applies to the acquisition.
• Planning and heritage: permitted use, protected-area rules and any pending works affect value and saleability.

Valuation in France

Lenders instruct an approved valuer and apply their gearing to their own figure. On income assets they test the value against lease terms and tenant covenants, and on hospitality assets against trading history. French gearing is usually kept conservative, so test the lender’s likely valuation before committing to a price.

Exit Strategies Lenders Accept in France

• Sale of the asset, with agent appraisals and comparable transactions.
• Refinance onto a French bank or institutional term loan once the asset is stabilised.
• Institutional take-out, particularly for residential blocks and offices.
• Development finance, where the bridge secures a site that will be funded for construction.

Bridging Across Paris, the Riviera and the Alps

We arrange bridging against assets across France. Lenders assess the asset, the location and the exit rather than a fixed list of places, but the markets below generate most enquiries.

• Paris and the Île-de-France: offices, residential blocks and mixed-use buildings in established districts.
• The Riviera and the south: Nice, Cannes, Antibes and Saint-Tropez, where hotel and prime residential assets dominate.
• The Alps and regional cities: Chamonix, Annecy, Courchevel and Méribel, plus Lyon, Bordeaux and other regional markets.

Bridging Loans by City and Region: Where We Cover in France

We arrange bridging loans against assets across France. The cities and areas below are where most enquiries come from, though we will look at any well-structured asset.

• Major cities: bridging loans in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nantes, Lille and Strasbourg.
• The Riviera and the south: Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Saint-Tropez, Montpellier and the wider Provence and Côte d’Azur area.
• The Alps: Chamonix, Annecy, Courchevel, Méribel and other ski and mountain locations.
• The Atlantic coast: Biarritz and the surrounding coastal markets.

If your asset is not listed, send us the details anyway. Lenders assess the asset, the location and the exit rather than a fixed list of places.

A Worked Example

The figures below are illustrative only and do not represent an offer or a real case.

A hospitality group agrees to acquire a hotel in the French Alps. The lender’s valuer values it at €35,000,000. At 55% of that figure, the facility is €19,250,000, and the group funds the remaining €15,750,000 of value, plus costs, from equity. The exit is a refinance onto a term loan once the hotel has completed a full winter and summer season.

Costs, Rates and Terms

Pricing varies with the lender, the asset, the gearing and the exit, and is usually quoted per month. As a general guide only:

• Interest: for strong assets and sponsors, monthly pricing often starts at around 0.9% a month, rising for higher gearing, secondary assets or less certain exits. Interest is usually retained or rolled up.
• Arrangement fee: typically around 1% to 2% of the facility, with some lenders also charging an exit fee.
• Third-party costs: valuation, notary fees and registration costs, and legal fees on both sides.
• Term: usually 3 to 24 months.

Any figures we give for your deal will come from live lender feedback, not from this page.

From First Call to Completion in France

1. Initial summary. You send us the asset, borrower, amount, term and exit.
2. Lender approach. We approach lenders active in your asset class and region. With a complete summary, indicative terms can often come back within days.
3. Due diligence. The lender instructs a valuer and French counsel, who review title, leases, planning and structure.
4. Documentation. The facility, mortgage or privilege, share pledge and guarantees are agreed and signed before a notary.
5. Registration and completion. Security is registered and funds are released.

Allow around six to twelve weeks on most deals. Syndicated facilities take longer.

Common Reasons French Bridges Stall

• Lease or tenancy issues found late in due diligence.
• Valuation shortfalls against the lender’s figure.
• Planning or heritage constraints that affect permitted use.
• An exit that is hoped for rather than evidenced.

How We Can Help

We start with a conversation about the asset, the structure and the exit, so we can tell you quickly whether French bridging fits and what a realistic facility looks like. We then approach lenders whose appetite and region match, help you present the case the way they need to see it, and stay involved through valuation, legal work and completion. Our international bridging loans overview explains how the six markets fit together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can French developers and investors use specialist bridging, or is it only for foreign borrowers?
Both. French sponsors use specialist lenders when they need more speed or flexibility than a bank will give, and foreign borrowers are equally welcome. The loan is normally made to a French company owned locally or from overseas.

What is the minimum loan size?
We arrange French bridging facilities from €500,000.

What is the maximum?
Up to €500m+, with syndicated lending with multiple lenders available on request for larger requirements.

Is this the same as a prêt relais?
No. The prêt relais is a consumer product for homeowners. This is commercial lending for companies and professional investors, secured on investment, commercial or development property.

How much can I borrow against the property?
Typically 50% to 60% of the lender’s valuation, up to around 65% for very strong assets and sponsors.

How long is the term?
Typically 3 to 24 months.

Is interest paid monthly?
Usually it is retained or rolled up, though some lenders accept serviced interest.

Will I need to give a guarantee?
Lenders commonly ask for a guarantee from the sponsor or a group company. Terms vary by lender and deal.

Can I borrow in a currency other than euro?
French facilities are normally in euro. Any currency hedging is a matter to discuss with your own advisers.

How is the broker paid?
How we are paid, and any fees, are confirmed to you in writing before you proceed.

Is this regulated lending?
No. This is unregulated lending, arranged for business purposes, so it is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Bridging Loans in Other Countries

We also arrange bridging finance across Europe, including Ireland bridging loans, Spain bridging loans, Italy bridging loans, Germany bridging loans and Netherlands bridging loans. If you need build funding after the bridge, see our France development finance page.

Tell us about the asset, the structure and the exit, and we will tell you what the French market is likely to offer.