Practical advice for a successful property purchase in Paris
Buying a property in Paris involves steps specific to the French market: preliminary sales agreements, conditions precedent, technical diagnostics, notary fees. Our practical guides break down every stage of the purchase, from the first viewing to key handover. Written by our property hunters who handle over 200 transactions per year, these articles give you the knowledge to make informed decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and secure your acquisition in the capital.
26 articles
Co-ownership in Paris: general meeting minutes, works fund, hidden charges and ongoing proceedings. The traps that 80% of buyers discover too late.
Obtaining keys before the final deed signing carries major legal risks. Precarious occupancy agreement, insurance, liability: what you need to know.
A property amendment modifies a preliminary sales agreement or lease without cancelling the original contract. Use cases, drafting, timelines: complete guide.
Property diagnostics in Paris: EPC, asbestos, lead, loi Carrez. What a property hunter deciphers in each report and the real impact on price.
Average prices by arrondissement, purchase steps, financing, mistakes to avoid: the complete guide to buying an apartment in Paris in 2026.
Deferred possession allows the seller to remain in the property after the sale. Clauses, occupation indemnity, risks: everything you need to know before signing.
Authentic deed at the notaire in Paris: process, documents, duration and pitfalls to avoid. Complete guide by an apartment hunter (1,200+ transactions).
A private agreement (acte sous seing prive) is a contract signed between parties without a notary. Preliminary contract, promise, offer: when to use it and what risks to know in Paris in 2026.
2-bedroom, 3-bedroom or larger: how to find a family apartment in Paris in 2026. Arrondissements, budgets, criteria and search strategy.
Commercial use status (commercialite) determines whether a property can be used for business purposes. Definition, change-of-use procedure and implications for your purchase in Paris in 2026.
The 10-day cooling-off period after signing the preliminary sales agreement in France: how it works, how to exercise your right, and pitfalls to avoid.
Pre-emption rights allow the city to purchase a property as a priority. How it works in Paris, timelines and impact on your purchase in 2026.
The reformed DPE changes the game for buyers in Paris in 2026. Rating, rental bans, impact on prices and purchasing strategies.
The urban planning information notice reveals the constraints on a property. How to obtain, read and use it before your purchase in Paris.
The mandatory and prohibited documents for building a strong rental application in Paris in 2026. Complete checklist for tenants and guarantors.
The pre-completion viewing is your last chance to check the property's condition before signing at the notary's office. Checklist and practical advice.
Apartment viewing in Paris: the professional checklist from Home Select. 50+ points to check, traps to spot, questions to ask. Property hunter guide since 2011.
Preliminary sales agreement (compromis de vente) in Paris in 2026: 10-day cooling-off period, conditions precedent, 5-10% deposit, clauses to check. Home Select guide, property hunters since 2011.
How to write a purchase offer in Paris in 2026: amount, validity period, conditions, negotiation margin (6% on average), winning strategy. Home Select guide.
Mortgage in Paris in 2026: rates at 3.2%, minimum deposit 10%, borrowing capacity, broker vs bank, contingency clauses. Home Select guide.
Buying in a co-ownership in Paris in 2026: documents to request, charges to analyze, general meeting minutes, property manager, planned works, red flags. Expert guide by Home Select, property hunter since 2011.
EPC in Paris in 2026: 10 to 20% discount for thermal sieves (F-G), ban calendar, energy renovation costs. Home Select analysis.
First-time buyer in Paris in 2026: realistic budget from 250,000 euros, accessible arrondissements, PTZ, assistance, mistakes to avoid. Expert guide from Home Select, property hunters since 2011.
Buying in Paris in 2026 costs 10 to 15% more than the listed price. Notaire fees, renovations, charges, property tax: full simulation on a 500,000 euro purchase.
Buying a Haussmann apartment in Paris in 2026: prices by arrondissement, characteristics, pitfalls (lead, energy rating, facade renovation), refurbishment. Home Select expert guide.
Buying in Paris in 2026: average prices by arrondissement (10,450 euros/m2), key steps, financing, negotiation. Expert guide by Home Select, property hunters since 2011.
The main steps are defining your criteria, active searching, viewings, making an offer, signing the preliminary agreement (followed by a 10-day cooling-off period), obtaining financing, and signing the final deed at the notary. The entire process typically takes 3 to 4 months in Paris.
You should budget for notary fees (approximately 7-8% for existing properties), any agency or property hunter fees, additional diagnostic costs, and renovation budget if needed. In total, plan for around 10-12% in additional costs above the listed price.
Cross-reference the price per square metre for the neighbourhood (DVF data and notary records), the property's condition, floor level, orientation, co-ownership status and charges. A property hunter analyses these parameters to advise a fair offer price and negotiate effectively.
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