Crédit immobilier 2026: despite a more regulated market, it’s still possible to buy, provided you understand the mortgage rates in 2026, the banks’ criteria, the role of the down payment and the rules that directly impact your borrowing capacity. Here’s what you need to know to obtain real estate financing without compromising your project.

In 2026, it’s still possible to get a mortgage, but banks are applying stricter rules than ever before. Property rates, loan duration, debt ratio, loan insurance and the soundness of the application are now analyzed much more carefully.

In concrete terms, buying a home in 2026 no longer depends solely on your desire or the price of the property. Above all, banks assess your borrowing profile, your living allowance, your personal contribution and your ability to absorb an increase in charges over the term of the loan.

👉 This article explains how mortgages work in 2026, what the banks’ new lending criteria are, and above all how to increase your chances of getting a mortgage on the right terms, even in a more demanding environment.

Crédit immobilier 2026: should you buy now?

In 2026, the question is no longer simply “can we buy?” but above all “is it the right time to buy?”. The real estate market has changed: mortgage rates have stabilized, banks are more selective and buyers have unprecedented negotiating power on prices.

In concrete terms, buying now can be an opportunity if the project is well prepared. Sellers are more open to negotiation, selling times are getting longer and some properties are being repositioned at more realistic price levels. For solvent buyers, this creates a more favorable context than in previous years.

Buying in 2026: a decision that depends above all on your situation

There is no universal answer. In 2026, the value of buying depends above all on :

• your professional stability,
• your actual borrowing capacity,
• your personal contribution,
• and your investment horizon.

👉 Buying real estate makes sense if you have a medium- to long-term plan and if the monthly mortgage payment is compatible with your standard of living, even in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Is waiting for interest rates to fall a bad idea?

Many buyers are still hesitating, hoping for a significant drop in real estate rates. However, by 2026, the prevailing scenario is one of gradual stabilization, rather than a rapid return to very low rates.

Waiting carries a risk:

• miss a well-positioned one,
• face increased competition if demand picks up again,
• or buy more if prices start to rise again before rates do.

Buying now can be better than waiting, provided you optimize your financing and secure your budget.

Where do mortgage rates really stand in 2026?

In 2026, mortgage rates stopped rising sharply, but they did not return to the exceptionally low levels seen before 2022. The market has entered a clearer phase: rates are now in a stable zone, with gradual adjustments depending on the loan term and the strength of the application.

So the real change is not just in the rates themselves, but in the way banks analyze real estate projects.

Stabilized rates… but very dependent on borrower profile

In practice, credit conditions in 2026 will vary widely depending on :

• loan term (20, 25 years or more),
• level of personal contribution,
• income stability,
• overall financial management,
• and the coherence of the real estate project.

As a result, two buyers may be offered very different rates for the same property.
The “average” rate no longer has any real meaning: the only thing that counts is the rate actually obtained, depending on the application.

The expert eye of La Crèmerie Immobilier: what we see in the field

From La Crèmerie Immobilier’s point of view, one trend is confirmed in 2026:
successful buyers are not those who wait for “the best rate”, but those who structure their purchase intelligently from the outset.

In the field, the agency notes that :

• banks are more inclined to finance clear, realistic projects,
• A well-priced property with potential for optimization (renovation, furnishing, adding value) is more reassuring to lenders,
• supported projects (accurate estimates, anticipated work, 3D projections) are easier to pass through bank filters.

That’s where La Crèmerie’s global approach to turnkey real estate makes all the difference.

Rates, insurance, work: a global vision of financing

In 2026, banks will increasingly be thinking in terms of overall project costs, including :

• the mortgage rate,
• loan insurance,
• any work required,
• and the borrower’s ability to absorb these charges over time.

Thanks to its complementary service, La Crèmerie Immobilier enables buyers to :

• visualize the final project via 3D projections,
• precisely cost the work,
• secure financing right from the purchase phase.

A well-defined project is often better financed… even at a slightly higher rate.

What banks now require of buyers

In 2026, obtaining a mortgage is no longer automatic, even with a good income. Banks are applying stricter and, above all, more qualitative criteria. They no longer finance just a borrower, but a global project, judged on its soundness and coherence.

👉 The key word in 2026: safety.

Professional stability has become essential

First banking filter: income stability.

Banks have a strong preference for :

• CDIs excluding the trial period,
• civil servants,
• self-employed with at least 2 to 3 years’ stable activity,
• regular, traceable income.

Conversely, profiles deemed unstable (short fixed-term contracts, irregular income, recent professional changes) need to present a much stronger case to convince.

The debt ratio is still limited, but analyzed in detail

The 35% debt limit remains in force in 2026, including insurance.
However, banks are now looking beyond the simple percentage.

They analyze :

• living expenses,
• the level of fixed costs,
• household composition,
• the ability to absorb an increase in expenses (work, energy, children).

Two 34% files can be treated very differently depending on their financial management.

A personal contribution is strongly recommended (but not always compulsory)

In 2026, a personal contribution is no longer a bonus: it’s often a sign of seriousness.

Banks generally wait :

• 10% minimum to cover notary fees and ancillaries,
• more to reassure the buyer’s commitment.

👉 That said, some projects can still be financed without a downpayment, provided you have :

• an excellent profile,
• strong stability,
• and a coherent real estate project.

A clear, realistic and well-presented real estate project

Another key requirement for 2026 is the clarity of the project.

Banks want to understand:

• why this good,
• at this price,
• with what work,
• and in what heritage or residential logic.

A project that is vague, poorly costed or overvalued is often turned down, even with a good salary.

✅ The strongest cases are those where :

• the price is in line with the market,
• the work is anticipated and costed,
• the buyer takes a long-term view.

What banks want to avoid at all costs

In 2026, banking institutions are looking above all to limit risk.
They are particularly vigilant about :

• repeated bank overdrafts,
• outstanding consumer loans,
• no savings after purchase,
• projects that are too financially stretched.

👉 A good dossier is often simple, readable and reassuring, rather than spectacular.

Profiles that get credit (and those that don’t)

In 2026, access to a mortgage is no longer a matter of luck, but of profile. Banks now classify buyers into clearly identified categories, with very precise levels of risk.

👉 For the same file, the profile makes the difference, sometimes more than the property itself.

The profiles that will find it easiest to obtain credit in 2026

Certain profiles remain clearly favored by banks:

• Employees on open-ended contracts outside the trial period, with regular income
• Civil servants and assimilated, perceived as very secure
• Couples with a stable double income, even without a large downpayment
• Prudent investors, with sound management and consistent rents
• Profiles with residual savings after purchase

These borrowers inspire confidence because they have the capacity to absorb risk over the long term.

It is often these profiles that obtain the best terms, even if rates remain high.

Conditionally financeable” profiles

In 2026, certain profiles can obtain credit, but not without preparation:

• Recent self-employed or variable income
• First-time buyers with little down payment
• Single buyers on a tight budget
• Projects with major work not costed

These applications are accepted when they are very well structured:
clear budget forecast, controlled expenses, coherent project.

It’s precisely in these situations that global support (accurate estimates, anticipated work, projections) changes the game.

Profiles that block most often

Certain situations quickly trigger a bank refusal:

• Unstable or unjustified income
• Debt ratio too close to maximum threshold
• Multiple consumer credits
• No savings after acquisition
• Overpriced or poorly positioned real estate project

In 2026, banks are no longer taking unnecessary risks, even on a “coup de coeur” property.

La Crèmerie Immobilier’s eye in the field

At La Crèmerie Immobilier, experience shows that many rejections come not from the profile, but from a poorly presented project.

Accompanied buyers benefit from :

• a realistic appraisal of the property,
• anticipation of the work and its cost,
• a clear vision of the final project thanks to 3D projections,
• and a more legible file for banking partners.

👉 The result: a more credible, and therefore more bankable, project.

Should you buy now or wait?

This is the central question in 2026. After several years of uncertainty, many buyers are still hesitating, hoping for a further fall in rates or prices. Yet the real estate market has changed profoundly.

In 2026, waiting is no longer always the best strategy.

Why waiting can be risky

Today, there are several limits to putting off your real estate project:

• Rates unlikely to fall sharply in the short term
• Well-positioned properties remain rare
• Sellers are already adjusting their prices to market realities
• Competition gradually returns to quality goods

Waiting for the “perfect moment” often means missing out on good opportunities.

Buying in 2026: when does it make sense?

Buying now is particularly relevant if :

• the project is stable in the medium to long term,
• the professional situation is secure,
• the property is correctly valued,
• financing is under control,
• and the project goes beyond the simple rate.

In 2026, it’s not the timing of the market that counts, but the coherence of the project.

The approach recommended by La Crèmerie Immobilier

According to La Crèmerie Immobilier, buying today should be part of an overall strategy, not a matter of urgency or speculation.

The agency supports its customers every step of the way:

• local market analysis,
• property selection at the right price,
• buying assistance for individuals and professionals,
• projection of the property’s potential,
• precise costing of work and follow-up.

👉 This “turnkey” vision means you can buy at the right price, with a clear projection, even in a context of higher rates.

The real leverage in 2026: the price and potential of the property

Rather than waiting for a hypothetical rate cut, smart buyers are focusing on :

• negotiating the purchase price,
• enhancement of the property (work, furnishings),
• the quality of the location,
• project sustainability.

✅ A good purchase today can more than make up for a less favorable rate.

In a nutshell

✔ Rates are no longer the only decision-making factor
✔ Waiting also entails risks
✔ Buying remains relevant for well-constructed projects
✔ The key lies in support and a long-term vision

Conclusion
In 2026, successful real estate buying is no longer about “buying at the best rate”, but about buying the right property, at the right price, with the right support.

Frequently asked questions