French Buyers Hesitate Over Property as the Presidential Election Casts a Shadow

For Philippe, waiting is itself an investment decision. “In times of uncertainty, not investing immediately is also an investment decision,” says the 62-year-old, an architect by training who now directs urban renewal at Logirep.

Philippe already owns several apartments in Paris and has built up a substantial property portfolio over the years. He is still considering buying another property to rent out, but he is approaching the decision more cautiously. Interest rates, taxation, rent controls and the future cost of renovation now weigh more heavily in his calculations.

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In times of uncertainty, not investing immediately is also an investment decision.

“Investing in property means committing for a long period, with significant capital and, in my case, borrowing,” he says. The possibility of a presidential election adds another layer of uncertainty to a decision that already involves large sums and long-term commitments.

The article presents this hesitation as part of a broader French relationship with property, politics and personal wealth. One in three French people says the election result could speed up or delay a rental-property project. That response reflects a longstanding attachment to real estate, reinforced by public policies that encouraged access to home ownership for decades.

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Investing in property means committing for a long period, with significant capital and, in my case, borrowing.