The life annuity market in France today represents approximately 5,500 transactions according to the Viagimmo 2025 observatory. This mode of transaction is experiencing new dynamics, driven by the decline in the purchasing power of seniors, the lengthening of retirement periods and the tightening of conditions for access to real estate credit.
The market remains very largely structured around life annuity busy, which concentrates nearly 65% of transactions. “The occupied life annuity remains the most developed formula. This distribution reflects a central issue for sellers: monetizing part of their real estate assets while retaining the use of their home», observes Sophie Richard, founder of Viagimmo.
The properties concerned remain mainly accessible, houses and apartments in equivalent proportions, for an average market value of 276,000 euros, with only 11% exceeding 500,000 euros. In occupied life annuity, the average monthly annuity reaches 620 euros, supplemented by a bouquet of around 62,000 euros, paid in cash on sale.
A market driven by seniors… and invested by active people
On the sellers’ side, they are mainly seniors aged 76 to 85, seeking to secure their standard of living in retirement. On the buyer side, the market is now driven by assets aged 35 to 50, who see life annuity as a lever for building long-term assets.
The geography of sales then confirms a marked territorial anchoring, with a concentration of transactions in the South-East (45%), far ahead of the North-East (17%).
Life annuity, a solution outside the scope of rental rules
The specific taxation applicable to life annuities, with a progressive reduction depending on the age of the seller, reinforces the attractiveness of the system as a sustainable retirement financing tool. “Life annuity is outside the scope of rental rules. It now offers readability and simplicity that traditional rental no longer guarantees.», underlines Sophie Richard.
Another booming strategy, transfer of bare ownership allows you to receive immediate capital while retaining the usufruct of the property, to anticipate the transfer of assets, to reduce the tax base on real estate wealth and to transfer major works within the meaning of article 606 of the Civil Code to the buyer, as well as future regulatory developments.
In an environment where furnished rentals are becoming more uncertain, life annuity and bare ownership thus appear as real asset stabilization tools. “Life annuity is no longer a marginal solution. Today, it responds very concretely to the expectations of owners and investors in terms of security, income and simplicity.», concludes Sophie Richard.
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