The second quarter is the moment of truth for the Parisian property market. Spring concentrates the annual peak of activity: more properties listed, more viewings, more preliminary agreements signed. In Q2 2026, this high season delivered on its promises: the recovery that began in late 2025 is consolidating, volumes are accelerating markedly, and prices continue their gradual climb.
This quarterly barometer, the second in the 2026 series, draws on transactions followed by our 16 property hunters, Paris notary data and DVF records to deliver a precise snapshot of the market at mid-year.
Quarter Summary: Acceleration Confirmed
The average price per square metre in Paris stands at 10,600 euros in Q2 2026, up +1.4% from Q1 (10,450 euros) and +2.6% since the start of the year. The spring dynamic played its accelerator role: the simultaneous influx of buyers and sellers improved market fluidity, reducing transaction times and tightening price gaps.
Transaction volumes are up 18 to 22% compared to Q2 2025. This rebound places the Parisian market on an annual trajectory that could approach 32,000-34,000 transactions, a level still below the 2019 records (37,000) but well above the 2024 trough (24,000-26,000). Market normalisation is underway.
The average selling time stands at 62 days in Q2, down from 72 days in Q1. This compression of selling times is the clearest signal of a tightening market: buyers hesitate less, offers come in faster, and transactions close more quickly. At Home Select, the average search time for our clients remains at 45 days, but the proportion of properties requiring a decision within 48 hours has increased significantly.
The negotiation margin narrows to 5%, down from 5.5% in Q1. This decline reflects a balance of power gradually shifting in favour of sellers, at least in the most sought-after areas. Our property hunters maintain a higher margin (averaging 5.8% in Q2) through their analytical capability and access to overpriced properties or those that have been on the market for a long time.
Price Evolution by Arrondissement: Q1 to Q2
The arrondissement-by-arrondissement analysis reveals the quarter’s dynamics.
The 1st arrondissement rises to 13,600-13,700 euros/sqm (+1.2% vs Q1). The market remains narrow, with very few transactions, but the rare sales conclude at sustained levels. The 2nd (12,300-12,400 euros/sqm, +1%) benefits from the dynamism of the Sentier-Bourse quarter, attracting tech and creative buyers. The 3rd (12,900-13,000 euros/sqm, +1.3%) and the 4th (13,700-13,800 euros/sqm, +0.8%) confirm the Marais premium, where every square metre is contested.
The 5th (12,500 euros/sqm, +0.8%) and the 6th (15,800-15,900 euros/sqm, +0.5%) move marginally. In these arrondissements, prices are already at levels that limit upside potential. The 7th (14,300 euros/sqm, +0.7%) remains the preserve of a patrimonial and international clientele, relatively insensitive to rate fluctuations.
The 8th (12,200 euros/sqm, +0.8%) displays stability that masks highly contrasting micro-markets: the golden triangle (Montaigne, George V) operates in its own orbit, while the residential areas near Gare Saint-Lazare remain more accessible and dynamic.
The 9th confirms its status as the locomotive: 11,000-11,100 euros/sqm (+2.5% over the quarter). Demand structurally exceeds supply, and quality properties sell within days. The 10th (10,000 euros/sqm, +2%) and 11th (10,400-10,500 euros/sqm, +2.3%) follow the same trend, driven by a young and active clientele.
The 12th (9,500-9,600 euros/sqm, +1.5%) is gaining in attractiveness, particularly the Nation-Picpus area which appeals to families. The 13th (8,700-8,800 euros/sqm, +1.2%), 14th (9,900 euros/sqm, +1%) and 15th (9,700-9,800 euros/sqm, +1.3%) make modest gains.
The 16th (12,500 euros/sqm, +0.8%) and 17th (10,700-10,800 euros/sqm, +1.5%) move in line with the general trend. The 18th (9,400-9,500 euros/sqm, +2%) remains the arrondissement offering the greatest revaluation potential, with spectacular price gaps between its micro-neighbourhoods (from 7,500 euros/sqm in the northern Goutte d’Or to 12,000 euros/sqm in western Montmartre).
The 19th (7,900-8,000 euros/sqm, +1.5%) and 20th (8,500-8,600 euros/sqm, +1.2%) remain the gateways to the Parisian market, accessible to first-time buyers with a budget of 300,000 to 450,000 euros.
The Spring Dynamic: What the Numbers Don’t Tell
Beyond the averages, Q2 2026 is characterised by a market atmosphere that our property hunters perceive through viewings, negotiations and relationships with agencies.
The return of competition between buyers is the standout feature of the quarter. After two years of a buyer’s market, where each property received one or two offers at best, spring 2026 sees the reappearance of competitive situations: three, four, sometimes five offers on the same property in competitive areas. This phenomenon, which had disappeared in 2023-2024, does not reach the frenzied levels of 2021 but substantially changes the negotiation dynamic.
The spring supply of new listings was abundant. Owners who had been waiting for positive signals to put their property on the market took the plunge in March-April, feeding the market with fresh stock. This supply was quickly absorbed in central and dynamic arrondissements but remains available in peripheral areas, offering opportunities for patient buyers.
The buyer profile is evolving. Our internal data shows an increase in the share of second-time buyers (owners who sell to buy larger or better-located) at the expense of first-time buyers, whose borrowing capacity remains constrained. Second-time buyers, who have capital from selling their previous property, are less rate-sensitive and can position themselves more aggressively on coveted properties.
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Focus: The High-End Market in Q2
The high-end segment (properties above 1 million euros) displays its own dynamic in Q2 2026. This market, representing about 8 to 10% of Parisian transactions but a much larger share by value, is driven by a clientele less dependent on credit.
Transactions above 1.5 million euros are up 15% compared to Q2 2025. This growth is fuelled by international clients, American, British and Middle Eastern, taking advantage of a competitive euro and Parisian prices still discounted from the 2022 peak. The luxury market follows its own rules, but it pulls the broader market upward in the arrondissements where it is concentrated.
Properties with outdoor space, balcony, terrace or private garden, continue to command a significant premium in the high-end segment. A 120 sqm apartment with a terrace in the 7th sells at 20 to 30% above an equivalent property without outdoor space. This added value, a legacy of the post-Covid period, now seems permanently embedded in Parisian pricing.
Q1 to Q2 Comparison: Key Signals
The transition from Q1 to Q2 confirms and amplifies the trends identified at the start of the year. Prices accelerate slightly (+1.4% in Q2 vs +1.2% in Q1). Volumes rise more sharply in Q2, a classic seasonal effect. Selling times compress further (62 days vs 72). The negotiation margin narrows (5% vs 5.5%).
The most important signal is probably the shift in psychology. In Q1, buyers systematically negotiated, and sellers prepared for it. In Q2, in the most sought-after areas, negotiation becomes optional: some properties sell at asking price, or even above asking price in overbidding situations. This psychological shift, if confirmed in Q3, will mark the return of a seller’s market in a significant part of Paris.
Summer and Q3 Outlook
Summer 2026 opens under mixed auspices. On one hand, the traditional seasonal slowdown should calm things down: fewer listings, fewer viewings, a market catching its breath. On the other hand, the fundamentals driving the recovery (easing rates, returning confidence, growing volumes) do not disappear during the holidays.
For strategic buyers, summer can represent an opportunity: competition decreases, unsold spring properties are available at more negotiable prices, and property hunters working in July-August benefit from a responsiveness advantage in a slower market.
The Q3 barometer will confirm whether the spring momentum survives the summer pause. In the meantime, the detailed analysis of prices by arrondissement and the spring market update allow you to calibrate your project with precision.
At Home Select, our 16 property hunters remain mobilised all summer, and this is actually the period when our completion rate is highest, as good properties face less competition than in spring. 96% of our clients declare themselves satisfied with our support, and our average 45-day timeline incorporates these seasonal variations.
Frequently asked questions
How did the price per sqm in Paris evolve in Q2 2026?
The average price per sqm in Paris rises to 10,600 euros in Q2 2026, an increase of +1.4% compared to Q1. Over six months, the gain reaches +2.6%. Dynamic arrondissements (9th, 11th) outperform with increases of 2 to 3% in the quarter alone.
Did transaction volumes increase in Q2 2026?
Yes, Q2 2026 records a volume increase of approximately 18-22% compared to Q2 2025. The spring effect combined with returning buyer confidence and a slight easing of rates explains this acceleration. The market is returning to an activity level close to 2019.
What is the negotiation margin in Paris in Q2 2026?
The average negotiation margin sits at around 5% in Q2 2026, down from 5.5% in Q1 and 6.2% in H2 2025. The narrowing of margins reflects a tightening market where sellers are regaining the upper hand in the most sought-after areas.
Which are the most affordable arrondissements in Paris in Q2 2026?
The 19th arrondissement remains the most accessible at 7,800-8,000 euros/sqm, followed by the 20th (8,400-8,600 euros/sqm), the 13th (8,600-8,800 euros/sqm) and the 18th (9,200-9,500 euros/sqm). These arrondissements still offer opportunities for budgets under 500,000 euros.
