Political instability and widespread unrest in France are negatively affecting the sentiment of foreign real estate buyers. According to a survey by the international platform Green-Acres, conducted October 20–25, 2026, 70% of foreign respondents stated that the political situation is causing them to question the wisdom of buying a home in the country.
According to the survey results released on October 27, the proportion of potential buyers concerned about the political situation in France has increased significantly over the past year. In 2025, this figure stood at 27%; in July–August 2026, it rose to 54%; and following the mass unrest on October 17, it reached 70%.
The October survey covered 222 foreign Green-Acres users who were actively searching for real estate in France. At the same time, about 60% of participants in a separate survey, which included 204 people, reported that the events of October 17 had heightened their doubts about purchasing a home.
Benoît Gali, founder and CEO of Green-Acres, noted that France’s appeal to international buyers is largely based on the country’s reputation as a stable and comfortable place to live. In his view, political tensions and street unrest are damaging this image and could influence foreigners’ decisions regarding real estate investments.
A potential decline in foreign demand could have the greatest impact on regions of France that have traditionally been popular among international buyers.
According to data from French notaries, between July 2025 and June 2026, non-resident foreigners purchased 14,735 properties in France for a total of EUR5.8 billion.
The largest volume of investment was in the Alpes-Maritimes department, where foreign buyers spent EUR1.27 billion. In Paris, the volume of such transactions totaled EUR890 million; in the Var department, EUR540 million; and in Haute-Savoie, EUR433 million.
Thus, these four regions accounted for over EUR3.1 billion, or about 54% of the total value of real estate purchases by non-resident foreigners in France.
Amid political uncertainty, some potential buyers are considering alternative real estate markets in Southern Europe. According to another Green-Acres survey, 49% of the 659 respondents were looking for a home exclusively in France. Among alternative destinations, Italy attracted the most interest, with 20% of respondents considering it. Spain was mentioned by 13%, Portugal by 7%, and Greece by 5%.
At the same time, experts emphasize that the survey results reflect the sentiments of the platform’s users rather than an actual decline in the number of transactions. The growing proportion of buyers who are unsure about the wisdom of purchasing a home does not yet allow for an assessment of how many investment projects will be postponed or canceled.
Future trends in demand for French real estate will depend on the stabilization of the political situation, lending conditions, and the overall state of the European economy.
Green-Acres is an international real estate search and sales platform founded in France in 2004. The company specializes in residential and suburban real estate, including properties for vacation use, relocation, and the purchase of a second home abroad.
