Currency and your viewing trip to France

What you need to know about exchange rates and currency transactions when making a property viewing trip to France.

Booking your first property viewing trip is when planning your new life in France suddenly feels very serious. 

If you’re booking your first trip, one crucial aspect that many buyers underestimate is the role of currency and foreign exchange. As anyone knows who has tried to change money on a ferry or at an airport kiosk, exchange rates differ widely. Fine for some holiday cash maybe, but magnify that to the cost of buying a house and you could be throwing away a lot of money.

But that’s not even the biggest risk. 

Understanding the basics: why currency matters

When you’re buying property in France, the exchange rate between your home currency and the euro directly affects what you pay. The tricky part is that exchange rates move constantly, influenced by economic data, central bank decisions, political events and market sentiment. 

Over time the differences can be big: five, ten or even more percentage points. For example, for Americans buying in France at the start of 2025 a €500,000 property would have cost them $513,000. A year later it would have cost them $595,000. They can probably thank President Trump for that, but any currency is similarly at risk.

The good news is that you can stay in control, if you plan things out. Here is what you need to know to protect your purchase and potentially save money, taking it step by step.

Step one - Setting a budget

Before you call an estate agent in France it’s important to know what you have to spend. 

If you have £250,000 to spend, how far will that get you in France? You won’t quite get the rate that you see on the news (at about €1.15 for each pound at the time of writing, that would be about €287,500), but with Smart Currency you’ll get pretty close to it. With a bank you can be a long way off, because currency isn’t really their main business. With Smart Currency, it is! A bank may also add fees – with Smart Currency there are no fees.

Remember that that may not be the rate by the time you come to buy – currencies move every minute of the day.

The benefit of working with Smart Currency is that as soon as you set up your free account you can talk to your own account manager. He or she will talk you through the process and outline any upcoming risks. You can also book a call if the rate looks like it may be getting worse, or to lock in a rate if it looks good.

Why not register for your free account right now?

Working with a specialist like Smart Currency Exchange means you can establish a plan early, so you aren’t making last-minute decisions under pressure. You’ll get personalised guidance and access to competitive rates, which can help you stick closely to your budget.

Step two – be prepared to pay a deposit

So you’ve found the right property – well done you! 

It’s common in France for buyers to pay a small reservation deposit when they find a property they love during their viewing trip. This is sometimes called a dépôt de garantie. The amount varies, but it could be several thousand euros. Paying this on the day shows the seller that you are serious.

Because these deposits are often required immediately, it’s important to have your currency arrangements in place before you arrive. Waiting until you’re on the ground to transfer large amounts of money can mean you get a less competitive exchange rate. 

With Smart Currency you can prefund your account so you’re ready to pay.

Step three – Understand when you’re committed and protect your rate 

In France, once you and the seller agree on terms, you typically sign a preliminary contract called the compromis de vente. This is a legally binding agreement that sets out the sale price, conditions and timeline. At this point, you are much closer to committing to the purchase financially.

Because the sale price is fixed in euros, you need to think carefully about how and when you exchange your funds. 

If the rate was 1.15 when you agreed to buy a €200,000 house you might have budgeted to pay about £174,000 (plus buying costs). But if by the time you come to pay the rate has sunk to 1.10, you’ll need to find £182,000. If you can’t find the extra £8,000 in a hurry you may lose the French property you have set your heart on, and your deposit.

With Smart Currency we have a simple solution called a forward contract, which locks in your rate until the property purchase is completed. Our clients tell us this offers huge peace of mind at a stressful time.

To conclude

Some buyers wait until after their viewing trip to sort out their currency needs, but that can be a costly mistake. The best time to speak to a currency expert is as soon as you start thinking seriously about buying in France. This gives you time to:

• understand how rates affect your budget

• set up an account with Smart Currency

• discuss the tools available to manage rate risk

• plan transfers for your viewing trip and beyond

Having a trusted specialist means you have someone to talk to when the rate moves and when important milestones — like signing the compromis — approach. They can help you make informed decisions rather than rushed ones