Property Hunter

15 August 2026 ·11 min read

15 years of property hunting in Paris: what I have learned

In fifteen years, public DVF data (2019) and the weight of the DPE have professionalised the trade. Home Select: 1,200+ purchases since 2011, 16 hunters.

Becoming an Estate Agent in France: Carte T, Training and Career Realities in 2026

Working as an estate agent in France requires the Carte T issued by the CCI: valid for 3 years and renewed after 14 hours of training a year.

Pre-viewings: How a Property Hunter Filters 90% of Properties Before You See Them

Out of 100 properties spotted, a hunter rules out nearly 90 before any client viewing. At Home Select that filtering leaves 3 viewings on average.

Property Viewing Slip: Complete Guide

No, no law requires it: the bon de visite is absent from the 1970 Hoguet law and does not commit the buyer to purchasing through that agent.

Professional Property Licence: a Guide

The carte T is issued by the CCI for three years, on the basis of a qualification or experience. Renewal requires 42 hours of continuing training.

15 August 2026 ·6 min read

Becoming a Property Hunter: Training, Career and Earnings in 2026

The job requires the carte T licence under the Hoguet Law: via a diploma, 10 years' employed experience, or as an agent under a licence holder's card.

Property hunter and notary: the two allies every buyer should have

Appointing your own notaire costs nothing extra: the two notaires share the same fee. The property hunter negotiates, the notaire secures the title.

Mortgage Broker: Role and Key Differences

A broker negotiates the financing for the borrower: 1,500 to 3,000 euros in Paris, for a rate usually better than one obtained directly.

Delegation of Real Estate Mandate: A Guide

Mandate delegation entrusts a sale to a colleague holding the carte T, with the seller's consent: fees are split 50/50, at no extra cost to the client.

Becoming a Property Sales Agent: A Complete Guide to the Status and Process

A property sales agent registers with the RSAC (around 25 euros) and works under a licence holder's carte T, on commission only: 50 to 70% of the fees.

Financing File: How Your Property Hunter Strengthens Your Purchase Offer

An offer backed by a bank feasibility certificate is accepted in 78% of cases, versus 51% without, at the same price. Home Select data, Paris 2026.

Property Agent (Mandataire): Status, How It Works, and Differences with the Agent

A mandataire is a commercial agent listed on the RSAC working under a carte T holder: they hold no client money and cannot draft a preliminary contract.

15 August 2026 ·6 min read

Legal obligations of a property hunter: what the law requires in 2026

The Hoguet Law requires a carte T, financial guarantee, professional indemnity and a written mandate. Working without a card carries a €7,500 fine.

The Psychological Traps of Buying Property in Paris

FOMO, anchoring on the asking price, confirmation bias and decision fatigue are the four biases that cost buyers in Paris the most money.

15 August 2026 ·12 min read

The Home Select Search Report: Transparency as a Method

Home Select sends a weekly report: properties analysed, rejected with the reason, and shortlisted. That is 50 to 100 studied for 3 to 4 presented.

Professional Liability Insurance in Property: The Mandatory Coverage for Hunters and Agents

Yes: the Hoguet Law requires professional liability cover for every property professional. An independent hunter pays 800 to 2,500 euros a year in 2026.

Walking Away from a Property: When Your Hunter Says No

Yes: under the Hoguet Law's duty of advice, a property hunter must warn against a risky purchase: a distressed co-ownership, an inflated price, a poor EPC.

Property Hunter Network: How It Works and Why It Matters

A network pools address books and off-market listings where an independent hunter works alone. Home Select has brought together 16 hunters since 2011.

13 August 2026 ·12 min read

Do you need a buying agent to buy property in Paris?

No, it is never compulsory. It pays off when buying from abroad or against a deadline: 45 days and 3 viewings, against 6 months and 40+ on your own.

27 July 2026 ·10 min read

The Property Search Brief: The Tool That Accelerates Your Search

A useful search brief caps absolute criteria at 3 or 4 and weights the rest. It cuts a Paris search from six months to 45 days, says Home Select.

Apartment Hunter and Developer: Can You Access New-Build Properties?

Yes: a property hunter also searches off-plan (VEFA), where notaire fees drop to 2-3% against 7-8% on resale, at 10,000 to 16,000 euros/sqm in Paris.

2 July 2026 ·10 min read

Property Search in Paris: How Many Properties Do You Need to See?

A buyer searching alone views over 40 flats in six months in Paris, some 150 hours. With Home Select they view 3, in 45 days and 15 hours.

4 June 2026 ·10 min read

Buying as a Couple in Paris: How a Property Hunter Arbitrates Compromises

By separating the 3 to 4 non-negotiable criteria from the flexible ones: Home Select pre-visits 30 to 50 flats to show a couple just 3.

11 May 2026 ·13 min read

16 April 2026 ·12 min read

Property negotiation: behind the scenes of an offer at -8%

In Paris in 2026, a buyer acting alone gets 2 to 3% off. Home Select hunters negotiate 6% on average, using DVF data and recent comparables.

19 March 2026 ·10 min read

Apartment Viewing with a Property Hunter: Why Their Expert Eye Changes Everything

Structure, wiring, true orientation, noise, co-ownership health, energy rating: a Home Select hunter pre-views 30 to 50 flats to present just three.

23 February 2026 ·10 min read

Is an Apartment Hunter Worth It? The Numbers in Full

On a property listed at 500,000 euros, a 6% negotiation saves 30,000 against about 11,750 in fees. Home Select charges 2.5%, payable only on success.

8 January 2026 ·13 min read

8 Common Misconceptions About Apartment Hunters in Paris

No: most apartment hunting mandates in Paris cover budgets of 400,000 to 900,000 euros, and the hunter recommends without ever deciding for the buyer.

8 December 2025 ·11 min read

Buying Without a Property Hunter: The Most Common Mistakes

Buying alone in Paris takes 6 months on average against 45 days with a hunter, and the gap between asking and transaction price hits 8 to 12%.

17 November 2025 ·10 min read

FCI: What Is the Federation of Property Hunters?

The FCI requires members to represent the buyer only, never take a commission from a seller, and set fees in writing. Membership remains voluntary.

30 October 2025 ·13 min read

Behind the Scenes of a Property Hunter: A Typical Day

A Paris property hunter runs 3 to 5 pre-viewings a day, handles 4 to 6 mandates and scans 40 to 80 listings each morning, walking 8 to 12 km across Paris.

13 October 2025 ·13 min read

Hiring a property hunter when you live outside Paris

Yes: 30 to 40% of Paris buyers live elsewhere. A property hunter runs the search remotely; one or two trips cover the 2 to 3 final viewings.

22 September 2025 ·12 min read

How does a search with a property hunter work?

A search averages 45 days: the hunter screens 80 to 150 opportunities, views 20 to 30 alone and presents only 3 to 5. Average negotiation: 6%.

1 September 2025 ·14 min read

The Search Mandate: Everything You Need to Know Before Signing

A search mandate binds a buyer to their property hunter: written under the Hoguet Law, it runs 2 to 4 months in Paris with 14 days to withdraw.

11 August 2025 ·15 min read

Property hunter vs estate agent: the real differences

The estate agent is paid by the seller (3 to 5% in Paris), the property hunter by the buyer (2.5% at Home Select). Same licence, opposite sides.

21 July 2025 ·18 min read

Property hunter fees in Paris: a complete breakdown

A property hunter in Paris costs 2% to 5% of the purchase price in 2026. Home Select charges 2.5%, minimum €10,000 incl. VAT, payable only on success.