British property buyers have been displaced as France's largest group of foreign homebuyers—here's who's buying now.
For decades, Britons dominated foreign property purchases in France. That's no longer true. Recent data shows that other nationalities—including Belgians, Germans, and Dutch buyers—now account for a larger share of foreign purchases, and the shift has implications for how expats approach buying abroad.
The change reflects several forces: Brexit made it harder for Britons to move to France long-term, so fewer are buying primary residences. At the same time, buyers from neighboring EU countries face fewer visa and residency barriers, making property investment more straightforward. Currency fluctuations also matter—when the pound weakens, British buyers have less purchasing power.
Brexit and currency shifts have displaced Britons as France's largest group of foreign homebuyers.
For American expats, the takeaway is that you're not part of an established buyer community anymore. The infrastructure that helped Britons navigate French property law—English-speaking notaires, familiar mortgage processes, established expat networks—is still there, but it's less dominant. You'll need to work harder to find English-speaking professionals and may pay more for their services.
The other shift: properties that used to appeal mainly to British retirees—countryside estates, village houses—are now attracting younger European buyers looking for second homes or investment. Prices in popular areas have risen accordingly. If you're planning to buy in France, expect more competition and higher prices than five years ago.
Source: original report ↗
Free alerts
Free: the visa and tax changes that move your plans.
Get the immigration, residency and tax changes that actually affect living abroad — verified, dated, and explained, in your inbox. Free, and one click to leave.
Free · weekly · unsubscribe anytime. Privacy.
Knowing the rule changed is the easy part.
Seasoned Expat Pro tells you what each visa change, tax rule and residency decision actually means for your move — and the paperwork it changes — in a two-minute read.
Get the edge · $20/mo
Join the readers who move before the rules do. Cancel anytime, one click.
