Buying property in Languedoc from abroad
From Carcassonne to Pézenas, Narbonne or Uzès, the Languedoc has long attracted buyers from the UK and Northern Europe: stone village houses, vineyards, sea and mountains. Lysiane Tendil, a Montpellier-based mortgage broker, helps you finance the project from abroad.
Zones matter: what they change for financing
| Town | Official zone | Interest-free loan (PTZ) |
|---|---|---|
| Limoux, Lézignan-Corbières, Castelnaudary | C | New builds, and older homes with works |
| Carcassonne | B2 | New builds, and older homes with works |
| Béziers, Pézenas, Narbonne, Perpignan, Uzès | B1 | New builds only |
Zoning in force since 26 June 2026 (order of 23 June 2026). In zones B2 and C, the PTZ can finance an older home if the works represent at least 25% of the total cost. The PTZ is reserved for first-time buyers who will live in the property as their main residence, under income limits: it does not apply to a holiday home.
Old stone houses: budget the works
- Many village houses need renovation. Works can be included in the mortgage if they are quoted before the loan offer (builders' estimates).
- Check the energy performance certificate (DPE): poorly rated homes face renting restrictions and may need insulation work.
- Notary fees for an existing home are roughly 7 to 8% of the price; budget them on top of the works.
Holiday home or main residence?
A second home is financed like any other property, but schemes such as the PTZ are reserved for a main residence. If you plan to rent it out, French tax rules and the tax treaty with your country apply: get advice from a notary or a tax adviser.
Financing from abroad
Banks assess your country of residence, income currency, deposit and the property itself. See mortgage in France as a non-resident, UK buyers and the mortgage calculator.
Questions
Can I get the French interest-free loan (PTZ) for a holiday home in Languedoc?
No. The PTZ is reserved for first-time buyers who will live in the property as their main residence, under income limits.
Can renovation works be included in a French mortgage?
Yes, if they are quoted before the loan offer. In zones B2 and C, a first-time buyer may also use the PTZ for an older home when works represent at least 25% of the total cost.
Which zone is Carcassonne in?
Carcassonne is in zone B2 of the official French zoning in force since 26 June 2026.
Get a first review of your project
Describe your project, country of residence, income currency and deposit. You can write in English. A first review is free, does not commit you and is not a loan agreement: no rate is promised before a written bank offer.