The French housing market is gradually moving out of its downturn and entering a more stable phase. According to France’s notaries, housing demand is recovering, while prices have started to rise again in most regions. However, experts emphasize that this is not a rapid rebound, but a gradual stabilization after the weaker period of 2023–2024.

📊 The key sign of recovery is the increase in transaction volume. From February 2025 to February 2026, France recorded 958,000 property transactions. This is well above the recent low of 832,000 sales registered between September 2023 and September 2024. However, the market has not yet returned to its pre-crisis level: before the pandemic, from January 2019 to January 2020, France recorded 1,093,000 transactions.

📈 Key market figures:

— 958,000 transactions were registered from February 2025 to February 2026;
— 832,000 transactions were recorded at the lowest point of the 2023–2024 downturn;
— 1,093,000 transactions were registered before the pandemic;
— resale property prices increased by 1.1% year-on-year;
— outside Île-de-France, prices rose by 1.2%;
— in Île-de-France, prices increased more moderately, by 0.7%.

🏘 What is especially important is that the recovery is not only reflected in transaction numbers, but also in prices returning to growth. According to the notaries, resale property prices in France rose by 1.1% between the fourth quarter of 2024 and the fourth quarter of 2025. In the regions outside Île-de-France, the increase was slightly stronger than in the Paris region, pointing to a more balanced recovery beyond the capital and its suburbs.

🏙 At the same time, the market remains uneven. In Île-de-France, price growth was weaker, and houses in this region even fell by 0.4%. This shows that buyers are still carefully assessing their budgets, mortgage rates, and the cost of maintaining a property. In small and medium-sized cities, the situation appears more resilient: price recovery is more visible there, while entry budgets are often lower than in Paris and the most expensive resort markets.

💶 Mortgage rates remain an important factor. At the beginning of 2026, rates increased slightly: in February, the average rate for a 20-year loan was around 3.3%, compared with 3.17% in January. Even a moderate change affects purchasing power, especially for households relying on credit while also facing higher energy and transport costs.

⚖️ This is why French notaries describe the current situation not as a new boom, but as stabilization. Demand is returning, and buyers are becoming more active, while prices are still rising moderately. According to the notaries, the market is currently adjusting more through negotiations between sellers and buyers than through sharp price increases. This creates a calmer environment for those considering property in France for living, holidays, or long-term investment.

🏗 The new-build market remains a separate challenge. The number of building permits increased slightly: in January–February 2026, permits rose by 3.3%. However, the number of projects actually started fell by 1.6% over the same period. This means that new housing supply is recovering more slowly than demand. New-build sales increased by 4.5%, but land shortages and developer caution continue to limit the market.

📌 For buyers, the current situation may be especially interesting. The market has already moved past its weakest phase, but it has not yet returned to overheated conditions. This means that in some regions, it is still possible to find properties with a reasonable budget, especially compared with the peak years of 2021–2022. At the same time, the gradual recovery in demand may support liquidity in major cities, popular tourist regions, and locations with stable rental demand.

🔎 You can explore available properties in France for living, holidays, or investment on our website.