What is the ideal deposit for buying new in 2026?

You are preparing to buy your new home and one question keeps coming up: how much deposit do you really need to buy new-build? Too often, you hear that you need "at least 10 %". The reality is more nuanced, especially in new-build property, which benefits from specific advantages such as reduced notary fees or dedicated financing schemes.

At JL HOME, we support first-time buyers and investors every day in structuring a sound financing plan. In this article (context 2026), we give you concrete benchmarks for defining the ideal deposit according to your profile, without preconceptions.

What is the deposit actually for?

The personal deposit is the part of the project you finance with your own funds, without borrowing. It plays several roles:

• Reassuring the bank: a deposit shows your ability to save and manage a budget.
• Covering incidental costs: notary fees, arrangement fees, guarantee fees.
• Reducing the amount borrowed, and therefore the total cost of the loan.
• Improving your profile against the debt ratio, capped at 35 % of your income (insurance included) under current recommendations.

In new-build, the deposit takes on a particular dimension because certain costs are lighter than in older property.

New-build changes the picture on notary fees

This is one of the major advantages of new-build property: notary fees are reduced there, of the order of 2 to 3 % of the price, compared with 7 to 8 % for older property. This difference has a direct impact on the deposit required.

A practical example

For a new-build home at 250 000 €, the notary fees amount to a sum markedly lower than for an equivalent older property. As a result, the "minimum" deposit effort needed to cover these fees is mechanically lighter in new-build.

This point deserves to be factored in from the outset of your simulation, as it can move a project into the "achievable" category.

The ideal deposit depends on your profile

There is no universal deposit. Here is how to reason about it according to your situation.

You are a first-time buyer

If you are buying your main residence, your aim is to move in without weakening your monthly budget. The commonly accepted rule is to have a deposit that at least covers the incidental costs (notary, guarantee, arrangement fees).

Good news: the PTZ (Interest-Free Loan) can supplement your financing subject to conditions on income, area and type of property. Its ceilings and proportions vary by geographical zone. The PTZ does not replace the deposit, but it can reduce the need for a very large deposit by acting as a complementary lever.

Note: certain aids such as Action Logement may also come into play depending on your employer and your situation. Conditions and amounts change: we check them case by case with you.

You are an investor

In new-build rental investment, the logic is different. A smaller deposit can sometimes be favoured to maximise the leverage effect of the loan, while other investors prefer to contribute more in order to lighten the monthly repayment.

Depending on the regime chosen — for example the LMNP with the micro-BIC (a 50 % allowance up to 77 700 € of receipts) or the real regime — the deposit strategy may vary. Please note: no yield is guaranteed and any rental gain depends on many factors (location, management, market). We promise no figures: we build a realistic projection with you.

Can you buy a new-build home without a deposit?

It is possible in some cases, but more demanding. Financing of 110 % (price plus costs) remains conceivable for strong profiles: stable income, good account management, comfortable borrowing capacity.

However, in 2026, banks remain attentive to the soundness of applications. A deposit, even a modest one, markedly improves your chances of obtaining financing on good terms. Current loan rates change regularly: they should be checked with your adviser at the time of your project.

How to build up a deposit intelligently

A few concrete levers to activate:

• Regular saving (savings accounts, PEL): consistency reassures as much as the amount.
• Family gifts, a common lever among first-time buyers.
• Selling a property or releasing employee savings.
• Subsidised loans (PTZ, Action Logement) to complete the arrangement.

The aim is not to reach a magic figure, but to build a financing plan consistent with your income and your life project.

The mistake to avoid: aiming for too high a deposit

Many buyers commit all of their savings to the deposit. This is risky: after the purchase, you must keep a precautionary reserve to face the unexpected (works, life events, a period without a tenant for an investor).

A good deposit strikes a balance between securing your application and preserving your cash flow.

Take stock with a JL HOME expert

Defining the ideal deposit means weighing your borrowing capacity, your area, the schemes you can use and your project horizon. Every situation is unique.

👉 Simulate your project or book an appointment with an adviser JL HOME to get a personalised financing plan, costed on the basis of official scales and tailored to your profile as a first-time buyer or investor.

You will know exactly what deposit to plan for, which aid to activate, and how to optimise your purchase of a new-build property in 2026.