Mortgage: How to Increase Your Down Payment Without Having to Save a Lot

With an average down payment now exceeding 50,000 euros, buying a home is becoming a challenge for many households. However, there are several ways to strengthen your application and convince a bank, even without substantial savings from the start.

A high down payment has become the norm
The required down payment for a mortgage has risen sharply in recent years. According to market data, it will average 52,000 euros in 2025, or about 17% of the total cost of a project. In major cities, the bar is even higher, with more than 100,000 euros in Lyon and more than 130,000 euros in Paris.
 

For a single borrower, this often amounts to more than one year’s salary. This trend can be attributed to the tightening of credit conditions observed between 2023 and 2024, a period during which some banks required a down payment of up to 20 percent. While requirements have eased slightly since then, a lack of savings remains a major obstacle to obtaining a loan.
 

Faced with this constraint, prospective buyers must focus on factors other than simply the amount of money they have available.

Demonstrate sound financial management
The first step is to maintaina strong banking profile. In the eyes of lenders, the way a borrower manages their money is almost as important as the amount they have saved.
 

Setting up a regular savings plan—even a modest one—demonstrates your ability to set aside surplus funds each month. Automatic transfers to accounts such as the Livret A, the LDDS, a life insurance policy, or a home savings plan help lend credibility to your application. Ideally, you should be able to provide several months of bank statements showing no issues, with consistent and transparent financial management.
 

With this in mind, it is also recommended to reduce or pay off existing consumer loans. Even small monthly payments can increase your debt-to-income ratio and weaken your application, especially given the regulatory limit of 35%.

Take advantage of all available financing options
The second strategy involves using subsidized loans, which can supplement or replace part of the down payment. Several programs can be utilized depending on the borrower’s profile and the project.
 

The Zero-Interest Loan allows, under certain conditions, for a significant portion of the purchase to be financed interest-free, particularly for new construction or for certain first-time homebuyers. The Action Logement Loan, meanwhile, offers low-interest financing for private-sector employees.
 

The home savings plan also offers a hybrid solution, combining a savings phase with the right to a loan at a regulated interest rate. Finally, the social home purchase loan is intended for low-income households and can finance a large portion of a real estate project.
 

The value of these strategies lies in how they complement one another. When combined effectively, they can significantly reduce—or even partially offset—the down payment required by the bank.

Family support: a decisive catalyst
A final—and often decisive—lever is the use of family assistance. The French tax framework allows for the transfer of significant sums tax-free, under certain conditions.
Each parent can give up to 100,000 euros to their child every fifteen years without incurring gift tax. In addition, there are supplementary provisions, such as family cash gifts or a temporary exemption related to the purchase of a primary residence, in effect until the end of 2026.
These mechanisms can be combined and allow for the accumulation of a substantial down payment without incurring taxes. Assistance can also come from grandparents, who have their own tax allowances.
Beyond the amount itself, this type of support plays a key role in strengthening the loan application. It reassures the bank of the borrower’s ability to finance their project and reduces the overall credit risk.

Ultimately, a down payment isn’t simply a sum already available in an account. It results from a broader strategy combining financial management, optimization of existing resources, and, often, family support. In a lending environment that remains selective, it is this combination that makes all the difference.