Overcoming Lending Barriers for an Irish-Italian Couple Purchasing in Cannes

Client Profile

A professional couple aged 52 and 53 residing in Ireland contacted Blue Sky Finance with a common yet frequently overlooked financing challenge. The husband is a self-employed lawyer, while the wife is a key account manager with a global multinational firm. Their joint income was strong and well-documented — but they faced difficulty securing a mortgage due to the modest loan size they required.

Project Overview

The couple had identified an ideal holiday apartment in Cannes, a lifestyle investment to enjoy part of the year and share with family. The property’s price point made it an attractive opportunity, but also created friction in sourcing financing due to falling below the €250,000 threshold many French banks impose for non-resident mortgages.

Key Details

• Location: Cannes, French Riviera
• Purchase Price: €240,000
• Loan Amount: €170,000
• Loan-to-Value: 71%
• Usage: Holiday home (non-rental)

The Challenge

Although the clients were financially sound and offered a strong profile in terms of:

• Stable income (salaried and self-employed)
• Low debt exposure
• Strong liquidity

They encountered multiple rejections from French retail banks and brokers unwilling to process international loans under €250,000 — an increasingly common threshold due to regulatory pressure and margin constraints.

Our Solution

Blue Sky Finance leveraged its private lender network and boutique lending partners open to sub-€250k transactions for cross-border buyers. We structured a deal that met the clients’ expectations on all fronts:

• A €170,000 capital repayment mortgage over 15 years
• 3.6% fixed interest rate
• No early repayment penalties, giving them the flexibility to settle the loan early if they choose

Our team also coordinated with local notaires and ensured the clients’ Irish financial documentation was formatted to French underwriting standards, eliminating the risk of administrative delays.

Outcome

• The mortgage was approved without the typical minimum loan threshold block
• The clients secured a 15-year fixed-rate loan with no hidden charges or repayment penalties
• The purchase completed on time, with the couple already enjoying their Riviera escape

Client Benefit

This case demonstrates how niche financing solutions and personal lender relationships can overcome thresholds that exclude many buyers in the sub-€250k bracket. Blue Sky Finance ensured the clients did not have to compromise on location or financing structure, and secured a competitive solution well aligned with their financial goals.