A couple in their thirties with a young child wanted to leave their Parisian 2-bedroom flat for a family apartment in Boulogne-Billancourt. The Home Select property hunter found a 3-bedroom flat of 62 sqm with a balcony in the Silly-Gallieni neighborhood, negotiated at 549,000 euros against 579,000 euros listed, a saving of 30,000 euros.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Home Select
- Area: Boulogne-Billancourt (Silly-Gallieni)
- Property type: 3-bedroom, 62 sqm, balcony
- Initial budget: 580,000 euros
- Asking price: 579,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 549,000 euros (-5.2%)
- Search duration: 6 weeks
- Buyer profile: couple with a 2-year-old child
The project
Sophie and Thomas were living in a 42 sqm 2-bedroom flat in the 15th arrondissement. With the arrival of their first child, the space was becoming insufficient. They had targeted Boulogne-Billancourt for its proximity to Thomas’s office (La Defense) and the presence of numerous nursery schools. Their budget, including the proceeds from selling their current apartment and additional borrowing, stood at 580,000 euros.
The couple had started searching on their own for two months, but response times to listings and the impossibility of visiting during the week, as both worked full-time, held them back. Several properties had slipped through their fingers before they could even view them.
The search strategy
Our property hunter concentrated the search on three neighborhoods of Boulogne-Billancourt: Silly-Gallieni for its liveliness and shops, Point-du-Jour for its more accessible prices, and the Marcel-Sembat area for its metro access. The brief specified a 3-bedroom flat of at least 55 sqm, with outdoor space (balcony or terrace), in a building with an elevator.
Alongside standard alerts, the property hunter contacted seven locally established estate agencies to access exclusive mandates. This approach identified three properties not visible on public listing portals.
The property found
After 9 viewings spread over five weeks, the chosen property was located on rue de Silly: a 3-bedroom flat of 62 sqm on the 4th floor with elevator, in a well-maintained 1970s residence. The apartment comprised a 25 sqm living room opening onto a 6 sqm south-west facing balcony, two bedrooms (12 and 9 sqm), a functional enclosed kitchen, and a bathroom with bathtub. Co-ownership charges amounted to 180 euros per month, including collective heating.
The DPE rated the property as C, a good result for this generation of buildings. The facade renovation, completed two years earlier, eliminated any risk of significant levy in the short term.
The negotiation
The asking price was 579,000 euros, i.e. 9,339 euros/sqm. Our property hunter analyzed comparable sales in the residence and neighboring buildings over the last 12 months. DVF transactions showed a median price of 8,700 euros/sqm for similar 3-bedroom flats in the neighborhood.
The initial offer, set at 540,000 euros, was based on this data and on the cost of a kitchen refresh (estimated at 8,000 euros). After two counter-proposals, the seller accepted 549,000 euros. The 30,000 euros saving amply covered the kitchen renovation costs and the property hunter’s fees.
What this mission illustrates
The inner suburbs offer real opportunities for Parisian families. In Boulogne-Billancourt, the same budget provides 15 to 20 sqm more than Paris intra-muros, with a living environment better suited to children. Our page dedicated to Boulogne-Billancourt presents up-to-date market data.
Accessing exclusive mandates changes the game. Of the 14 properties identified during this mission, three came from exclusive mandates obtained through direct contact with local agencies. It was precisely one of these properties that was selected. The article on accessing the off-market in Paris details these mechanisms.
Local market knowledge sharpens the negotiation. Precise DVF data from the neighborhood justified an offer 5.2% below the asking price, where an unassisted buyer would probably have offered the asking price. Our guide on property negotiation in Paris explains how to leverage this data.
Are you looking for a family apartment in Boulogne-Billancourt or the inner suburbs? Describe your project: your dedicated property hunter will call you back to assess your options.
Frequently asked questions
What are the advantages of Boulogne-Billancourt for a family with a child?
Boulogne-Billancourt offers a family-friendly environment with 90 hectares of green spaces (including the Parc de Billancourt and the Albert-Kahn gardens), 67 public and private schools, and direct access to Paris via metro lines 9, 10 and the T2 tramway. The average price per sqm (8,200 to 9,500 euros) remains 15 to 20% lower than neighboring Parisian arrondissements.
Can you buy in Boulogne-Billancourt with a budget of 550,000 to 600,000 euros?
Yes, a budget of 550,000 to 600,000 euros allows you to acquire a 3-bedroom flat of 55 to 65 sqm in the central neighborhoods of Boulogne-Billancourt. The Silly-Gallieni and Point-du-Jour areas offer the best value for money, while the Princes-Marmottan neighborhood sits at the higher end.
Does a property hunter also work outside Paris intra-muros?
Yes, Home Select property hunters cover Paris and the first ring of the Ile-de-France region, notably Boulogne-Billancourt, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Levallois-Perret, Vincennes and Saint-Mande. Around 20% of our missions concern the inner suburbs, where our network of partner agents is equally developed.
