A Franco-American family returning from abroad were looking for a large family flat with Eiffel Tower views in the southern part of the 15th arrondissement. Catherine Ziegler, property hunter at Home Select, found a 130 sqm 5-room flat on the 8th floor with panoramic views and negotiated it to 1.52M euros, 80,000 euros below the asking price, after 12 weeks of targeted searching.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Catherine Ziegler
- Area: Paris 15th, Grenelle / Dupleix
- Property type: 5-room, 130 sqm, 8th floor with elevator
- Initial budget: 1,600,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 1,520,000 euros (-5% from the listed price of 1,600,000 euros)
- Search duration: 12 weeks
- Buyer profile: Franco-American family, 2 children (ages 8 and 11), returning from New York expatriation
The project
The couple, she French, he American, were returning from 6 years in New York. Their two children had been at a bilingual school and needed a similar one in Paris (an international lycée or bilingual school in the 15th or 16th). The couple’s one non-negotiable was an Eiffel Tower view: having lived with a Central Park view, they wanted its equal in Paris.
The 15th arrondissement struck the best balance between price (against the 7th or 16th), available flat sizes and proximity to bilingual schools. The Grenelle-Dupleix neighbourhood was their first target, with Beaugrenelle as a fallback.
The search strategy
Flats with Eiffel Tower views in the 15th are rare and do not stay on the market for long. Catherine Ziegler set up a multi-channel watch: alerts on property portals filtered for upper floors within the Grenelle-Dupleix area, contact with the managing agents of high-rise blocks in the Front-de-Seine, and her network of agents specialising in prestige property on the Left Bank.
The particular challenge here was that flats with Eiffel Tower views often change hands between expatriates through international networks. Catherine therefore extended the search to English-language portals (Lodgis, Paris Property Group) used by the expatriate community.
Over 12 weeks: 9 flats found with view potential, 5 viewed, 3 with the view confirmed (it depends on exact aspect and floor).
The property found
The chosen flat took the 8th floor of a 1970s block on boulevard de Grenelle, with lift and concierge. 130 sqm: a 45 sqm triple reception with panoramic windows facing the Eiffel Tower, 4 bedrooms of 11 to 15 sqm, a separate 12 sqm kitchen, two bathrooms, a storage room and a cellar.
The view was exceptional: the Eiffel Tower stood in full frame from the living room and the main bedroom, with no overlooking buildings. In the evening the hourly sparkle was visible from the sofa. The 8 sqm wraparound balcony gave a 180-degree sweep from the Trocadéro to Montparnasse.
The flat needed bathroom and kitchen work (estimated at 65,000 euros), but the reception rooms were in good order with well-kept solid parquet.
The negotiation
The asking price of 1,600,000 euros worked out at 12,308 euros/sqm, at the top of the range for the area but justified by the exceptional view. The flat had been on the market for 6 weeks, with two viewings that produced no offer.
Catherine Ziegler built the negotiation on three points: the cost of the bathroom and kitchen work (65,000 euros), the high service charges (5,200 euros a year) of a full-service block, and an analysis of the last 4 sales of flats with Eiffel Tower views within 500 metres, which put the average at 11,500 euros/sqm.
The offer of 1,480,000 euros was rejected. The parties settled at 1,520,000 euros, or 11,692 euros/sqm, in return for a quick signing of the preliminary contract. The saving was 80,000 euros, on top of the renovation budget.
What this mission illustrates
The Eiffel Tower view is a market within the market. Fewer than 0.5% of flats in the 15th arrondissement have a direct Eiffel Tower view. These follow their own rules of pricing and marketing, often through international networks. A specialist property hunter knows where to look and how to reach these confidential listings.
Returning from abroad calls for particular support. Families coming home have expectations set by international standards: space, light, amenities. Catherine Ziegler regularly guides expatriates through this transition, turning their expectations into criteria suited to the Parisian market.
A flat that needs work but has a prestige view is often the best value. Buyers who want turnkey pay a 15 to 20% premium. By taking on 65,000 euros of work, this family saved considerably more on the purchase price. The total cost, 1,585,000 euros, stays below the initial budget of 1,600,000 euros.
Looking for an exceptional flat in Paris? Contact our team for a tailored search in the prestige segment.
Frequently asked questions
In which neighbourhoods of the 15th arrondissement can you get an Eiffel Tower view?
Eiffel Tower views in the 15th are mainly found in three areas: the Grenelle neighbourhood (high-rise buildings in the Front-de-Seine complex), the Dupleix-La Motte-Picquet area (upper floors facing the Champ-de-Mars), and streets perpendicular to avenue Emile-Zola. Properties with these views command a premium of 10 to 20% compared to similar apartments without a view.
What is the price of a large family apartment in the 15th arrondissement?
A 5-room apartment of 120 to 140 sqm in the 15th ranges from 1.1M euros to 1.8M euros depending on the neighbourhood and features. The Grenelle-Trocadéro area is the most expensive (11,000-14,000 euros/sqm), followed by La Motte-Picquet (10,000-12,000 euros/sqm) and Commerce-Felix Faure (9,000-10,500 euros/sqm).
Is an Eiffel Tower view a good long-term investment?
Historically, apartments with Eiffel Tower views resell with a capital gain 15 to 25% above the local market average. The scarcity of these properties (estimated at less than 0.5% of the 15th's housing stock) and the permanent international appeal of Paris make them a defensive asset. Foreign demand supports prices even during market downturns.
How was this 5-room with an Eiffel Tower view negotiated down by 80,000 euros?
Listed at 1,600,000 euros (12,308 euros/sqm), the flat was bought for 1,520,000 euros (11,692 euros/sqm), an 80,000 euro saving of 5%. The Home Select buying agent built the case on three points: 65,000 euros of bathroom and kitchen work, high service charges (5,200 euros a year) and an analysis of the last 4 sales with an Eiffel Tower view within 500 metres (average 11,500 euros/sqm). The offer of 1,480,000 euros was rejected before a deal at 1,520,000 euros in return for a quick signing. Home Select's average negotiation is 6% off the seller's price.
