Succession: the unknown tip to pay the rights without selling your property

The weight of inheritance tax leads to heirs to sell in the precipitate, and with a discount, the property received in inheritance. A device little known in France avoids this.

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Inheriting, that’s good, but you still have to be able to pay inheritance rights! While 12 OECD countries have deleted them, it is in France that they weigh the heaviest in the gross domestic product, according to a report by the Court of Auditors published in 2024. Report which underlines how much inheritance tax is “Unpopular”in France. It must be said that because of their weight, “For thousands of families, inheriting rhyme with financial emergency”with “Heirs forced to sell (real estate) in the precipitation, sometimes below the market price”notes with Capital Bougardier, specializing in heritage financial engineering.

Pending a possible reform of inheritance tax, regularly put on the table, “Solutions exist to mobilize its real estate assets without giving it back”ensures this cabinet. One of them lies in the mortgage credit, which allows you to borrow a sum of money guaranteed by the value of a property while retaining it. A device that “remains rather unknown In France”recognizes Véronique Bougardier, founder of the cabinet.

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Borrow more and over a longer duration

She cites the example of two sisters who inherited their parents, among other goods, a very beautiful apartment used as a rental investment. Not having the means to pay inheritance rights, they do not see any other alternative than the sale of this apartment to finance them. Aged in his forties, the two sisters would however prefer to keep this rental investment in order to ensure a supplement of income for their retirement. And then, by selling the apartment, Do they not risk selling it ? The payment of inheritance tax having to intervene no later than six months after the death of their parents, they are indeed in the situation of a constrained sale, which places the buyers in a position of strength to negotiate a discount, especially in the current context of real estate crisis.

The two sisters have requested credit with their usual banks to pay inheritance rights but They were refused. “The inheritance tax corresponds to tax debt and classic banks do not like it too much”explains Véronique Bougardier. Of which the firm, as a mortgage broker, oriented them towards this type of loan, pledged on the value of the inherited apartment and whose repayment monthly payments are funded by rental income from good. “We are running this“She says, also evoking the case of a property received as a inheritance and impossible to sell to pay inheritance tax, certain heirs wishing to keep it.

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A value of at least 400,000 euros

Another advantage of mortgage credit, compared to consumer credit, “It allows you to borrow more and over a longer term”for example over 15 years, explains Véronique Bougardier. The bank, often foreign or specialized in mortgage credit, indeed lends a sum representing 50% to 60% of the value of the property. Which must rise to “At least 400,000 euros”admits Véronique Bougardier.