A bright 3-bedroom in the 9th: 68 sqm negotiated to 635,000 euros near Nouvelle Athenes

A couple in their thirties purchased a 68 sqm Haussmannian 3-bedroom on the 4th floor with elevator in the Nouvelle Athenes neighborhood, 9th arrondissement of Paris, for 635,000 euros, or 9,338 euros per sqm. Catherine Ziegler, property hunter at Home Select, negotiated the property 5.2% below the asking price of 670,000 euros. The hunt lasted six weeks.

Mission overview

• Property hunter: Catherine Ziegler
• Area: Paris 9th, Nouvelle Athenes neighborhood
• Property type: 3-bedroom Haussmannian, 4th floor with elevator
• Budget: 680,000 euros
• Negotiated price: 635,000 euros (listed at 670,000 euros)
• Surface area: 68 sqm (loi Carrez)
• Search duration: 6 weeks
• Buyer profile: Couple in their thirties, permanent contracts, first-time buyers

The brief

Julie and Antoine, both publishing industry professionals, had been renting a 42 sqm 2-bedroom in the 10th arrondissement for five years. With a first child on the horizon, they wanted to buy a 3-bedroom within a tight perimeter: the 9th arrondissement, between rue des Martyrs and place Saint-Georges. The neighborhood matched their lifestyle, with its theaters, bookshops and restaurants, and allowed them to keep a short commute to their respective offices.

The couple had tried searching on their own for two months, but the pace of new listings and the speed of sales in the area overwhelmed them. Two properties had slipped away before they could even arrange a visit. They decided to entrust their search to a property hunter to gain the reactivity they needed.

The search strategy

Catherine Ziegler knows the 9th arrondissement inside out, having completed more than 40 transactions there over the course of her missions at Home Select. Her strategy for this search combined three levers: daily monitoring of new listings on professional portals, activating her direct contacts with six local agencies, and tracking private sales between individuals.

The decisive criterion was natural light. The couple refused ground floors and lower courtyard-facing units, which immediately ruled out 60% of the available supply within their budget. Catherine pre-selected eight properties over six weeks, dismissed five after analyzing floor plans and orientations, and proposed three to the couple for viewings organized over two half-days.

The property

The chosen apartment is located on the 4th floor of an 1880 Haussmannian building with an elevator. It features an entrance hall, a 28 sqm double living room with marble fireplace and two street-facing windows, a 14 sqm bedroom on the courtyard side (quiet), a separate 10 sqm kitchen, a bathroom and an independent WC. Ceiling height: 3.10 meters. Original Hungarian-point parquet flooring, intact moldings and ceiling roses.

The property was in good cosmetic condition, but the kitchen and bathroom dated from the 1990s. The couple planned a renovation budget of 25,000 euros to update both rooms.

The negotiation

The asking price was 670,000 euros. Catherine structured an offer at 625,000 euros based on the necessary kitchen and bathroom renovations, co-ownership charges slightly above the neighborhood average (facade renovation approved, a capital call was expected), and recent sale prices of comparable apartments in the area.

The seller, under pressure from a purchase project in the provinces, responded with a counter-offer at 640,000 euros. The final agreement was reached at 635,000 euros, saving 35,000 euros compared to the asking price. The preliminary contract was signed within the week, with a financing file already approved by the couple’s bank. Catherine had insisted on this from the very start of the mission.

What this mission illustrates

Reactivity decides everything in the 9th arrondissement. Quality properties in the 9th sell in under two weeks. A property hunter who monitors the market daily and has direct contacts with local agencies can arrange viewings within 48 hours of a listing going live. Without this reactivity, Julie and Antoine would have missed this property just like the two before it. This is the advantage of an exclusive search mandate.

Having your financing ready strengthens the buyer’s position. Catherine systematically asks her clients to obtain a financing certificate before the search begins. In a competitive market, a complete file presented on the day of the offer reassures the seller and can make the difference against a competing buyer whose financing is not yet secured. This is one of the key points of the preliminary sales agreement.

In-depth knowledge of an arrondissement avoids unnecessary viewings. Out of eight pre-selected properties, Catherine dismissed five before visiting thanks to her knowledge of the buildings, orientations and potential nuisances. The couple only visited three apartments, all relevant, which allowed them to conclude in six weeks without fatigue or hesitation. This field expertise is at the heart of the property hunter’s role in the 9th.

---

Looking for an apartment in the 9th arrondissement of Paris? Catherine Ziegler and the Home Select team know every street in the neighborhood. Contact us to start your search.