Yes. French banks lend to buyers living abroad for apartments in Marseille on the usual terms, commonly 70–80% for strong files from the UK, Ireland, the EU or Switzerland and 50–70% for others. What sets Marseille apart is how much the arrondissement and the building matter: the valuer compares your price with sales in the same streets, and the bank reads the co-ownership documents closely. Tourist lets of a second home need an authorisation with compensation, so banks plan without that income.
Prices by arrondissement
Marseille has 16 arrondissements, and prices differ more between them than in most French cities. Figures from the PAP price observatory for March 2026:
| Area | Average price per m² |
|---|---|
| Whole city | €3,321 |
| 7th (Endoume, the Corniche) | €5,230 |
| 8th (Périer, Prado, Pointe-Rouge) | €4,450 |
| 1st (city centre) | €3,174 |
| 3rd | €1,781 |
| 15th | €1,674 |
The 7th and 8th run along the sea, which largely explains their prices. Non-residents are a small part of this market: Notaires de France figures for 2022 put them at under 1% of sales in the Bouches-du-Rhône, so not every local branch sees such files often. A broker who places them regularly saves time.
Why the street matters to the bank
A bank lends on the value it could recover if it had to sell. In Marseille, two flats a few streets apart can differ widely in price and in how quickly they would resell. A low price in a district where sales are slow does not guarantee a matching valuation, and some lenders lend less, or ask for a larger deposit, outside the areas they know.
If you are buying to let, the rent has to fit the district too. Banks count rent they can verify from a lease or a letting agent's estimate, commonly at around 70%. Our buy-to-let guide explains the calculation.
Old buildings and the state of the co-ownership
The collapse of buildings in rue d'Aubagne, in the Noailles district, in November 2018 made the condition of old buildings a public issue in Marseille. For a buyer, the documents of the copropriété (co-ownership) matter as much as the flat. Ask for the minutes of the last three general meetings, the building's summary sheet, any multi-year works plan and the managing agent's statement of sums due. The law requires most of these documents to be attached to the compromis, so ask for them before you sign rather than after, and send them to the broker with your file.
Look for structural works voted or pending, unpaid charges by other owners and any municipal safety order (arrêté de mise en sécurité) on the building. A lender is unlikely to finance a flat in a building under such an order, and large voted works reduce what you can afford to repay.
Tourist lets need compensation
Since 2025, letting a second home in Marseille to tourists needs a change-of-use authorisation from the first day, granted only with compensation: the owner must turn a commercial space, such as a shop or office, into a long-term home of comparable size in the same group of arrondissements. The flat must also have an energy rating between A and E. In June 2025 the administrative court refused to suspend these rules, and letting without authorisation can bring a civil fine of up to €100,000.
Compensation is seldom practical for an individual buyer, so plan the loan on a long-term or furnished lease, or on your own income. Marseille also applies the maximum 60% surcharge on the council tax for second homes. It falls on a flat you keep for your own use; one let to a tenant on a long lease as their main home carries no council tax for you.
Next steps in Marseille
Start with the eligibility check and tell us the arrondissement and whether you plan to live in the flat or let it. We will introduce you to one English-speaking broker who places files in Marseille, at no cost to you. French Notaires in Marseille can connect you with an English-speaking notaire to review the co-ownership documents before the compromis. For houses in the hills and villages inland, see our Provence guide. The mortgage calculator shows the repayment and purchase costs for the price you have in mind.
Your purchase deed is signed before a notaire. French Notaires matches English speakers with a bilingual notaire nearby, free of charge: Notaires in Marseille.
Questions
Can a non-resident get a mortgage for an apartment in Marseille?
Yes. Banks lend on the usual non-resident terms, commonly 70–80% of the price for strong files from the UK, Ireland, the EU or Switzerland and 50–70% for residents elsewhere.
Which arrondissements of Marseille do banks prefer?
Banks lend across the city but value each flat against nearby sales. Districts with steady demand, such as the 7th and 8th, are easier to value and resell, which helps the file.
Can I rent my Marseille apartment on Airbnb?
A second home needs a change-of-use authorisation from the first day, granted only with compensation by converting a commercial space into housing. Letting without it can bring a fine of up to €100,000.
What should I check before buying a flat in an old Marseille building?
Read the minutes of recent general meetings, the works plan and the statement of sums due, and check that no safety order applies to the building. The bank will read the same documents.