Remaining cost to fund
Remaining cost to fund is the amount a borrower must cover from personal savings after all obtained loans (main loan, PTZ zero-rate loan, employer housing loan, etc.) are deducted from the total transaction cost. It represents the portion of the deal not covered by external financing and must be met by the borrower's down payment.
Key points
- The remaining cost includes acquisition fees (notary, guarantee, brokerage) if these are not financed by any loan.
- It is calculated after deducting all assisted loans (PTZ, PAS, employer loan, action logement loan).
- A zero or negative remaining cost means loans cover the entire transaction — a so-called 'no-down-payment' file.
- The bank verifies the borrower actually holds the funds needed to cover the remaining cost before approving the loan.
- Reducing the remaining cost involves optimizing the financing plan by identifying all available assisted loans.
Frequently asked questions
How can a borrower calculate their remaining cost to fund before approaching a bank?
The formula is: total transaction cost (price + notary fees + guarantee fees + any renovation) minus the sum of all loans obtained or eligible (main loan + PTZ + employer loan + action logement loan). A positive result equals the minimum down payment required. The broker runs this calculation systematically in the financing plan to confirm the borrower can close the deal.
Why might the remaining cost increase between the initial simulation and the final signing?
Several events can increase the remaining cost: a revision of notary fees following a price change, loss of eligibility for an assisted loan if income ceilings are exceeded, or discovery of unexpected work costs at the preliminary contract stage. The broker monitors these variables and updates the financing plan at each step of the process.
What is the difference between the mortgage remaining cost and the health-insurance remaining charge (RAC santé)?
The term is the same but the contexts are unrelated. In healthcare, the remaining charge refers to the share of medical costs not reimbursed by national health insurance and complementary coverage. In real-estate financing, it refers exclusively to the portion of the transaction cost the borrower must fund personally after mobilizing all available loans.
In practice
A couple buys a new-build property for €310,000. Reduced notary fees (2.5%) total €7,750 and the guarantee €2,000, giving a total cost of €319,750. They secure a main loan of €260,000 and a PTZ zero-rate loan of €40,000. Their remaining cost is €19,750 (€319,750 – €300,000). Their broker confirms they hold this amount in savings accounts before submitting the files to the bank.
Official sources
- Obtaining a mortgage loan · Service-Public.gouv.fr
- Mortgage credit (official guide) · Service-Public.gouv.fr