Real estate: second-time buyers regain credit and the share of bridging loans rebounds

Who are they? What is their project? How are they financing it? Here's some answers from Empruntis, which, in an exclusive study, draws up a composite portrait of those who are getting started at the start of this year.

After a drop in the share of financing for primary residences for secondary school students in 2024, it will pick up again in 2025 to reach the same levels as in previous years.

Despite being hit by the rate increases against buyers two years ago, and not benefiting from any specific government aid measures, they have nevertheless returned to the market, thus bringing fluidity to an old market that had become quite static.

They sell their first home to buy a new one: these are second-time buyers. The Empruntis study shows that it is most often families with children who opt for older homes, which they finance through credit, with a deposit and a reasonable down payment rate, and by resorting to a bridging loan in more than a third of cases.

Forty-somethings with children. At the beginning of 2025, second-time buyers are starting out on average at 42,5 years old, an age that has not changed since 2023. Slightly more of them are in a relationship (74,2% in 2025 compared to 72% two years earlier). Today, nearly seven in ten have children; this figure was only 59% at the beginning of 2023.

Old houses. 93% of projects concern existing homes, with 80% involving houses. This type of housing is well-suited to families with children, with additional bedrooms and gardens remaining highly sought-after. New construction remains marginal (2,7% of projects) and the construction of single-family homes is losing ground (4% of projects compared to 6% in 2023).

Rising income. €5.763 per month in 2023, €5.955 per month in 2025: the income of second-time buyers is increasing. This €200 increase is not insignificant: it represents an additional €60 on the monthly payment. Second-time buyers can thus increase the amount borrowed or lower the monthly payment for the same borrowed capital. This reduces the eQort rate and increases the remaining amount to live on, making it easier to obtain a loan. The study shows that their eQort rate in 2025 is around 28%.

Decreasing budgets. In 2025, second-time buyers will spend €390.800 on their project, compared to €419.700 in 2023. This is a consequence of the price decline in 2022/2024, but also of distance: houses, their preferred property, are further from city centers and therefore less expensive. The contribution remains stable and accounts for 17% of the project. It most often comes from the resale of the first primary residence.

Bridging loans that are holding up. 37% of second-time buyers are using this option, which allows them to buy without waiting to sell in 2025, compared to 35% in 2023, proving that banks continue to support these projects.

For Caroline Pasquereau, Director of Marketing and Communications at Groupe Empruntis: "Contrary to popular belief, second-time buyers remain very present in the market. They know how to optimize their financing to complete their project, and their first experience in real estate gives them greater confidence in financial institutions. With this in mind, Empruntis provides them with help and advice to obtain the best conditions in terms of interest rates, repayment flexibility, and loan insurance. We put all our expertise at their service, particularly in the context of bridging loans, a formula that requires highly personalized support to properly build your project and optimize your budget."

Methodology

This study is based on a comparison of the profiles of second-time buyers between the first quarter of 1 (Q2023 1) and the first quarter of 2023 (Q1 2024). The data analyzed comes from two sources: applications processed by Empruntis network agencies located across France, and applications submitted online on the empruntis.com platform.

The data was extracted on April 4, 2025, from the internal Empruntis database grouping together real estate financing requests for the periods concerned.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.