Banque de France raises usury rates for third quarter

The Banque de France has increased usury rates for the third quarter, raising the legal ceilings above which banks are prohibited from lending. This adjustment is intended to ease access to real estate credit by providing more flexibility for loan applications that were previously blocked by ancillary costs such as insurance and guarantees.

The new thresholds vary by loan type and duration. For fixed-rate loans under ten years, the cap rises to 4.07% from 4%. For loans between ten and twenty years, the ceiling increases to 4.57%. Loans exceeding twenty years now have a threshold of 5.29%. Additionally, variable-rate loan caps have risen to 5.28%, and bridge loans (prêt relais) have increased to 6.39%. While this does not represent a decrease in the cost of borrowing, it relaxes the legal framework for potential borrowers.