A couple in their thirties bought a 68 sqm Haussmannian 3-room on the 4th floor with lift in the Nouvelle Athènes neighbourhood, 9th arrondissement, for 635,000 euros, or 9,338 euros per sqm. Catherine Ziegler, property hunter at Home Select, negotiated the flat 5.2% below the asking price of 670,000 euros. The search took six weeks.
Mission overview
- Property hunter: Catherine Ziegler
- Area: Paris 9th, Nouvelle Athenes neighbourhood
- Property type: 3-room 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 in publishing, had rented a 42 sqm 2-room in the 10th arrondissement for five years. With a first child on the horizon, they wanted a 3-room within a tight area: the 9th, between rue des Martyrs and place Saint-Georges. The neighbourhood suited their lives, with its theatres, bookshops and restaurants, and kept both their commutes short.
They had searched on their own for two months, but the flow of new listings and the speed of sales in the area left them behind. Two flats slipped away before they could even arrange a viewing. They decided to hand the search to a property hunter for the speed they needed.
The search strategy
Catherine Ziegler knows the 9th arrondissement inside out, having completed more than 40 transactions there at Home Select. Her strategy combined three approaches: daily monitoring of new listings on professional portals, her direct contacts with six local agencies, and tracking private sales between individuals.
The decisive criterion was natural light. The couple ruled out ground floors and lower courtyard-facing units, which at once removed 60% of the supply within their budget. Over six weeks Catherine pre-selected eight flats, set aside five after studying the floor plans and aspects, and put three to the couple for viewings arranged over two half-days.
The property
The chosen flat is on the 4th floor of an 1880 Haussmannian building with a lift. It has an entrance hall, a 28 sqm double living room with a marble fireplace and two street-facing windows, a 14 sqm bedroom on the quiet courtyard side, a separate 10 sqm kitchen, a bathroom and a separate WC. Ceilings of 3.10 metres. Original Hungarian-point parquet, intact mouldings and ceiling roses.
The flat was in good cosmetic order, though the kitchen and bathroom dated from the 1990s. The couple set aside 25,000 euros to update both rooms.
The negotiation
The asking price was 670,000 euros. Catherine built an offer of 625,000 euros around the kitchen and bathroom works required, service charges slightly above the local average (a facade renovation had been approved and a capital call was expected), and recent sale prices of comparable flats nearby.
The seller, under pressure from a purchase of their own in the provinces, came back with a counter-offer of 640,000 euros. The parties settled at 635,000 euros, a saving of 35,000 euros against the asking price. The preliminary contract was signed within the week, the financing file already approved by the couple’s bank, something Catherine had insisted on from the outset.
What this mission illustrates
Speed decides everything in the 9th arrondissement. Good flats in the 9th sell in under two weeks. A property hunter who watches the market daily and has direct contacts with local agencies can arrange viewings within 48 hours of a listing going live. Without that speed, Julie and Antoine would have lost this flat as they had the two before it. This is the advantage of an exclusive search mandate.
Having your financing ready strengthens the buyer’s hand. Catherine asks her clients, as a matter of course, 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 tip the balance against a rival buyer whose funding is not yet secured. It is one of the key points of the preliminary sales agreement.
Close knowledge of an arrondissement saves wasted viewings. Of eight pre-selected flats, Catherine ruled out five before viewing, drawing on her knowledge of the buildings, the aspects and possible nuisances. The couple viewed only three flats, all relevant, and concluded in six weeks without tiring or wavering. This field expertise is at the heart of the property hunter’s role in the 9th.
Looking for a flat in the 9th arrondissement of Paris? Catherine Ziegler and the Home Select team know every street in the neighbourhood. Contact us to start your search.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average price per sqm in the Nouvelle Athenes area of the 9th arrondissement?
In 2026, the average price in the Nouvelle Athenes / Saint-Georges area ranges between 9,500 and 11,500 euros per sqm depending on the floor, natural light and condition of the property. Apartments with a continuous balcony or an open rooftop view can exceed 12,000 euros per sqm.
How can you find a bright Haussmannian apartment in the 9th?
Bright Haussmannian apartments in the 9th are mainly found on upper floors (3rd and above) on the street side, or on lower floors on the courtyard side when the building has a wide courtyard. A property hunter specialising in the arrondissement identifies these configurations before visiting, using cadastral plans and in-depth knowledge of the buildings.
Should you buy in the northern 9th (Trudaine) or the southern 9th (Nouvelle Athenes)?
The southern 9th (Nouvelle Athenes, Saint-Georges) offers exceptional architectural heritage and proximity to the Grands Boulevards. The northern 9th (Trudaine, Martyrs) has a more village-like atmosphere and slightly lower prices. The choice depends on lifestyle: lively shops to the north, residential calm and museums to the south.
