Although economic conditions remained difficult in 2013, the annual survey conducted by the General Secretariat of the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (SGACPR) revealed that the amount of new loans granted by French banks to professionals in the property sector1 rose year-on-year (+5.5%). This increase was driven by two main components: new lending to overseas professionals (+19% in Europe alone) and new lending to property investors and property companies (+3%). Trends in new lending varied across banks, however, with some continuing to cut back loan production, and others boosting their activity over the year.