If the free post was the story, this is the part where I hand you the clipboard.
Not a “course” or a fantasy. Just the working notes.
Because if you are trying to get a French mortgage as an American without a French paycheck, the difference between misery and progress is usually one thing:
A system.
This is the system we used, what we’d do again, and what I’d skip.
If you’re new: I’m Kamille. American in rural France, restoring a château and documenting the cultural whiplash. Subscribe if you like smart stories with mud on the hem.
1) First: the honest question to ask before you apply anywhere
French banks are evaluating two things at once:
You and the property.
So before you start applying, ask:
Is this property bank-friendly?
Not “is it beautiful,” because obviously it is. More like:
Is it clearly habitable right now?
Is it in a location the bank considers liquid?
Does it have obvious resale appeal?
Is it a château in a way that reads “historic home,” or a château in a way that reads “future financial headache”?
I hate this reality. But pretending it doesn’t exist will waste months.
2) Why you can’t really get pre-approved (and what to do instead)
In the U.S., pre-approval gives you shopping confidence.
In France, what people often call “pre-approval” is more like:
a bank conversation
a preliminary review
or a letter saying you have funds available
But the final decision often depends on the property itself.
What you can do that helps:
build your dossier (file) in advance
get your French account situation clean
be ready to submit quickly
and shortlist banks that are actually open to your profile
Quick tool: French mortgage calculator
If you want to sanity-check monthly payments while you’re comparing scenarios, this calculator is helpful.
Below: the dossier checklist, outreach pipeline, scripts, and our bank and broker list.