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Mortgage Rates: Is Now a Good Time to Borrow?

Is Now a Solid Time to Borrow? Navigating the Current Mortgage Landscape Is it too early to rejoice? Real estate loan rates fell slightly at the beginning of March 2026, reversing a gentle upward trend from the latter…

Mortgage Rates: Is Now a Good Time to Borrow?

Is Now a Solid Time to Borrow? Navigating the Current Mortgage Landscape

Is it too early to rejoice? Real estate loan rates fell slightly at the beginning of March 2026, reversing a gentle upward trend from the latter months of 2025. According to broker Meilleurtaux, banks are now lending at an average of 3.30% over 20 years. This represents a more favorable level than rates seen two years prior.

Currently, a monthly payment of €1,000 allows borrowers to secure a loan of €176,000 at 3.30% excluding insurance, compared to €162,000 at the end of 2023 when rates were at 4.30%. This translates to a gain of €15,141 on the total cost of credit, as reported by Meilleurtaux.

A Market Rebound

The relaxation of rates has spurred a revival in the housing market after a challenging period in 2023 and 2024. Credit production reached €146.7 billion in 2025, excluding renegotiations – a 33% increase from the previous year, according to the Banque de France.

But, the current levels are still significantly below previous peaks.

About the author: Marcus Liu - Business Editor

MBA and ex‑B bureau chief specializing in global finance and fintech. Marcus speaks Mandarin, Japanese, and English, and has interviewed CEOs from the Fortune 50 to Y‑Combinator unicorns. Marcus Liu delivers sharp analysis on markets, startups, and corporate strategy for investors and entrepreneurs alike.