In brief
In 2026, Home Select helped a retired couple buy a 110 sqm art deco 4-room on rue de l'Alboni, in the Passy neighbourhood (Paris 16th), with a view of the Trocadéro. Listed at 1,245,000 euros (11,318 euros/sqm) for 11 weeks without an offer, the flat was negotiated to 1,150,000 euros, or 10,455 euros/sqm, a 95,000 euro saving and 7.6% below the seller's price, over a 10-week search. A Paris property hunter since 2011 and a member of the FCI, Home Select secures 6% average negotiation on the seller's price. The art deco buildings of Passy, designed by architects of the 1920s and 1930s, are among the most sought-after addresses in the 16th: the architectural signature and the original fittings account for 10 to 20% of the price.
Key takeaways
- 110 sqm art deco 4-room apartment found on the 5th floor in Passy, Paris 16th, for a retired couple
- Negotiated from 1,245,000 euros to 1,150,000 euros, a saving of 95,000 euros (7.6%)
- Art deco buildings represent less than 8% of the Parisian housing stock, concentrated in the 16th, 7th and 15th
- Properties on the market for more than 10 weeks typically offer negotiation margins of 7-8% below asking price
- The art deco buildings of Passy are among the most sought-after architectural signatures in the 16th
A retired couple wanted to leave their suburban house for a flat with character in Paris, in the Passy neighbourhood. The Home Select property hunter found a 110 sqm art deco 4-room on the 5th floor with views of the Trocadéro and negotiated it to 1.15M euros, 95,000 euros below the initial price, after 10 weeks of searching.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Home Select
- Area: Paris 16th, Passy / Trocadéro
- Property type: 4-room art deco, 110 sqm, 5th floor with elevator
- Initial budget: 1,250,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 1,150,000 euros (-7.6% from the listed price of 1,245,000 euros)
- Search duration: 10 weeks
- Buyer profile: Retired couple, ages 67 and 69, former homeowners in Versailles
Why did this retired couple leave their Versailles house for Passy?
To be near their children, settled in the 15th and 7th arrondissements, and closer to the cultural life of Paris, after 30 years in a 200 sqm house in Versailles. The sale of that house gave them a budget of 1,250,000 euros.
Their criteria reflected a love of old buildings: nothing modern, no 1960s or 70s construction. They wanted character, Haussmann or art deco, with generous proportions, plenty of light and a lift (with reduced mobility in mind). Passy suited their way of life: good shops, the Bois de Boulogne nearby for walks, and familiar surroundings.
How do you spot the art deco buildings of Passy before they are listed?
Through a survey on the ground: 14 art deco buildings of 1925-1935 of the right standard were identified within the Passy-Trocadéro-La Muette triangle, then their managing agents contacted directly. Over 10 weeks: 8 flats found, 5 viewed, 2 of them in listed art deco buildings.
The 16th arrondissement is vast and varied. The property hunter therefore left aside the more modern areas (Front-de-Seine, Porte de Saint-Cloud) to focus on the moulded concrete facades and decorated entrances that mark out art deco, alongside standard monitoring on the property portals.
Which 110 sqm art deco flat was found on rue de l’Alboni?
110 sqm on the 5th floor of a 1928 art deco building on rue de l’Alboni, with a view of the Trocadéro and an original lift modernised in 2018. The layout: a 35 sqm double living room with three panoramic windows, 2 bedrooms of 15 and 13 sqm, a 9 sqm study, a 10 sqm separate kitchen, a bathroom and a separate WC.
The entrance hall, with its gilded mosaic and geometric wrought-iron staircase, spoke to the architectural quality of the whole. The preserved period features, herringbone parquet, arched glazed doors, decorated cast-iron radiators, gave the flat a rare appeal.
How much can you negotiate on a flat unsold after 11 weeks?
Here 95,000 euros, or 7.6%: listed at 1,245,000 euros (11,318 euros/sqm), the flat went for 1,150,000 euros, or 10,455 euros/sqm. The seller, a non-resident heir, had set an optimistic price on the basis of a high valuation, and eleven weeks without an offer confirmed it was out of step with the market.
The property hunter presented a comparative analysis showing recent art deco sales in Passy between 10,200 and 10,800 euros/sqm. The kitchen and bathroom, both from the 1990s, needed renovation estimated at 35,000 euros. The E energy rating added a regulatory point.
The opening offer of 1,100,000 euros was rejected. The parties settled after 3 weeks of discussion, helped along by the seller’s weariness at the lack of other offers.
What can be learned from buying art deco in Passy after thirty years in a house?
In Paris, art deco accounts for less than 8% of the housing stock, concentrated in the 16th, the 7th and the 15th. These buildings are therefore a niche with strong heritage value. These flats draw discerning buyers willing to pay a premium for architectural character, which underpins their long-term value.
Moving from a house to a flat calls for reassurance as much as expertise. Leaving 200 sqm with a garden for 110 sqm on an upper floor is a real upheaval. A property hunter knows how to find flats that make up for the lost space through the quality of their proportions, light and setting.
Flats on the market for more than 10 weeks leave the most room to negotiate. A seller who has had no offers in 3 months is open to a serious proposal, even 7 to 8% below the asking price. A comparison of recent sales turns that openness into an agreement.
Looking for a flat with character in Paris? Contact our team for a targeted search focused on exceptional properties.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
01 What characterizes an art deco apartment in Paris?
Parisian art deco buildings (1920s-1940s) are distinguished by their sculpted concrete facades, geometric ironwork, entrance halls decorated with mosaics and stained glass, and luminous apartments with large bay windows. The 16th arrondissement, particularly Passy and Auteuil, concentrates the finest Parisian examples. These properties are negotiated at a 5 to 15% premium compared to standard Haussmann buildings.
02 What is the typical buyer profile in Passy in the 16th?
Passy mainly attracts affluent families and well-off retirees seeking a quiet residential setting near the Trocadéro and the Bois de Boulogne. Anglo-Saxon expatriates are also well represented thanks to the proximity of international schools. The average buyer budget in Passy exceeds 1M euros.
03 Is the 16th arrondissement still a good real estate investment?
The 16th experienced a price correction of 5 to 8% between 2020 and 2024, making it now more accessible than it has been. The Passy and La Muette neighbourhoods remain safe long-term investments with sustained demand and a near-zero vacancy rate. There is real potential for appreciation on well-located character properties.
04 How much can you negotiate on an art deco apartment in Passy in 2026?
The margin depends on how long the property has been on the market and the gap to the asking price. On this mission, Home Select negotiated a 110 sqm art deco flat on rue de l'Alboni from 1,245,000 euros to 1,150,000 euros, a 95,000 euro saving (7.6%) and a price brought down to 10,455 euros/sqm. The property had been listed for 11 weeks without an offer: that delay, combined with a kitchen and bathroom to renovate (an estimated 35,000 euros) and an energy rating of E, served as leverage. Home Select secures 6% average negotiation on the seller's price.
