At the national level, mortgage rates have suffered a very slight rise at the start of 2026. According to Cafpi, the average rate stands at 3.18% (excluding insurance) over 15 years, 3.27% over 20 years and 3.39% over 25 years. The strongest profiles manage to obtain a little better, around 2.95% over 15 years, 3.05% over 20 years and 3.15% over 25 years. Good news, the arrival of spring, a traditionally favorable period for the real estate market, should make it possible to “maintain rates at a level close to that of January over the coming months», assures the broker.
But in detail, some regions appear more attractive than others. According to Cafpi, in January 2026, over 15 years, the most competitive regions are Normandy (3.06%), Île-de-France (3.12%) and Grand Est (3.13%). Over 20 years, the podium changes: Hauts-de-France comes first with 3.13%, ahead of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Centre-Val de Loire at 3.16%. Finally, over 25 years, the most advantageous conditions are found in PACA (3.33%), Île-de-France and Center-Val de Loire (3.34%), and Corsica (3.35%).
A measured but very real impact
Conversely, other territories display higher rates : Nouvelle-Aquitaine is at the bottom of the pack over 15 years (3.35%), the overseas departments over 20 years (3.41%), while in Hauts-de-France, the average rate is 3.46% over 25 years.
Apparently modest differences, but far from trivial. “The differences between regions remain fairly containedputs Caroline Arnould, general director of Cafpi, into perspective. Despite everything, these few tenths of a point can represent, over 20 or 25 years, several thousand euros“.
With equivalent profiles and incomes, two borrowers located in different regions will therefore not necessarily benefit from the same conditions. Concretely, a resident of Brittany and a buyer from the Côte d’Azur may be offered different rates for a comparable file.
Why are there such differences between regions?
Unlike large national banks which display homogeneous scales, “regional banks manage their commercial objectives individually and from one month to the next», explains Caroline Arnould. Each establishment thus adjusts its policy according to its strategy and the local context.
A bank may, for example, decide to reduce its margins to attract first-time buyers, while another, in a more dynamic real estate market, will be more selective, with higher rates. In general, the stronger the banking competition in a territory, the more borrowing conditions improve.
How to take advantage of these differences?
Problem: difficult to see clearly, because these commercial policies are constantly evolving. The scales vary from one month to another, from one duration to another, and the map of the least expensive regions is regularly redrawn. Hence perhaps the interest in go through a brokerwhich follows local scales and knows how to identify the most offensive banks according to your profile and your project.
Can we then apply for a bank in another region to get a lower rate? For a primary residence, “regional banks prefer to only finance properties located in their region», warns Caroline Arnould. They fear not controlling the risk of a real estate market on the other side of France and, quite simply, losing the client as their main bank after a move.
Concretely, a Norman borrower who wishes to benefit from the attractive rate of his regional bank (the most attractive region over 15 years) will have difficulty financing a main residence in another region. On the other hand, for a second home or a rental investment in New Aquitaine, he can contact his regional bank, which has every interest in maintaining the banking relationship. He can thus hope to gain up to 0.30 points on his rate.
>> Our service – Save money by testing our home loan insurance comparator
