On paper, the signature of compromise often feels like the home stretch. In fact, nothing has yet been completely achieved. Between the agreement reached on the price and the final signature at the notary, several weeks remain to go, sometimes longer. During this period of time, the property disappears from the market, the seller plans his next purchase and the buyer begins his banking procedures. A pivotal period during which the slightest grain of sand can still call into question the entire the transaction.
This is precisely where the files become fragile. “The main cause is loan refusal. We sign the agreement thinking that everything is in order, then ultimately the bank does not follow the buyer”observes Maître Léandre Alix, notary at the Louvre office. According to him, the real breaking point comes later: “The main thing is the bank’s agreement. » For both the seller and the buyer, the stakes are high: several months can be lost before even officially noting the failure of the sale.
The signed compromise does not yet guarantee the sale
Once the agreement is signed, many sellers take the transaction for granted. However, this is often when the most uncertain stage begins: obtaining financing. “The main thing is the bank’s agreement”summarizes Master Alix.
If the legal withdrawal period 10 days always allows a buyer to reverse their decision without justification, this is generally not where transactions fail. “The option of withdrawal exists, but in principle, it is rarer”underlines the notary. In the vast majority of unsuccessful cases, the breaking point occurs later, when the bank finally refuses to support the buyer.
If financing conditions have improved compared to the peak of tension observed in 2023 and 2024, access to credit remains selective. According to the Pretto barometer, average rates still stood at 3.47% over 20 years And 3.53% over 25 years in June 2026. Income, debt ratio, professional stability and contribution level continue to be closely examined by lending institutions.
For the buyer, the suspensive loan condition constitutes an essential protection. “it allows them to recover their security deposit if they do not obtain their loan”recalls Master Alix. For the seller, on the other hand, the consequences can be serious. “Between the creation of the file, the promise then the bank processing, a seller can resubmit his property several months later”he observes. In some cases, the transaction starts from zero almost six months after the first marketing.
When a sale threatens to fall through, real estate agents are already anticipating
In the field, professionals rarely wait for official confirmation to react. “When a financing file begins to show signs of fragility, we get back in touch with the visitors who had shown interest in order to preserve the commercial dynamic”explains Michelle Rose, independent real estate agent.
Concretely, this means calling back buyers who had hesitated, following up with those who considered the price too high or quickly putting the property back on display. if the folder freezes. “When a first bank refusal appears or the deadlines begin to lengthen, we know that the file becomes more fragile”she explains. Michelle Rose also points out that some suspensive clauses may require the purchaser to produce several refusal certificates loan before officially noting the failure of the financing, which can further delay the re-listing of the property.
Furthermore, a canceled compromise does not necessarily mean a price reduction. The property is generally put back on the market at the amount at which the offer was accepted.
Before signing, precautions that can change everything
To limit the risk of disruption, professionals recommend locking in financing as early as possible. First exchange with the bank, precisely calibrated borrowing capacity, supporting documents already gathered: so many steps which make it possible to secure the compromise even before signing. A precaution that has become strategic in a market where banking establishments examine files with greater rigor.
The wording of the financing clause also deserves particular vigilance: amount borrowed, duration of credit, target rate and level ofpersonal contribution must be clearly stated. A point that has become strategic in the current context. “personal contribution is a bit of the crux of the matter with banks”summarizes Maître Léandre Alix.
In other words: in real estate, the compromise does not yet secure the sale. In 2026there often remains the stage where everything can still be confirmed… or come to a complete stop.
