An American couple based in New York purchased a 4-room apartment of 95 sqm at 1,280,000 euros on a quiet street two minutes from the Luxembourg Gardens, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. Catherine Ziegler, property hunter at Home Select, managed this remote purchase mission in 7 weeks, with a negotiation of 70,000 euros (5.2%).
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Catherine Ziegler, property hunter at Home Select
- Area: Luxembourg / Odéon, Paris 6th
- Property type: 4-room apartment, 95 sqm, 3rd floor with elevator
- Initial budget: 1,400,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 1,280,000 euros (listed at 1,350,000 euros)
- Search duration: 7 weeks
- Buyer profile: American couple, ages 45 and 47, planning relocation to Paris
The project
James and Sarah, both Manhattan attorneys, were preparing to move to Paris the following autumn. James had taken a position at an international law firm on boulevard Saint-Germain. They wanted a family flat of at least 4 rooms in the Luxembourg, Saint-Sulpice and Odéon area, within walking distance of his future office and of the bilingual school for their two children. Unfamiliar with the Parisian market and able to travel only now and then, they needed a property hunter who specialises in expat purchases.
The search strategy
Catherine Ziegler ran the mission in two phases. First a precise brief over video call: the non-negotiable criteria, a lift, at least two bathrooms, a quiet street or courtyard, the maximum budget, and a timeline set by the planned arrival date. Then a targeted search within that perimeter. The 6th is a market of scarcity, where large family flats change hands quietly. Catherine drew on her off-market network and approached building concierges in the neighbourhood directly.
The property found
By the third week, a 4-room flat of 95 sqm came up in an 1880s cut-stone building, on the third floor with lift. It had a 32 sqm living room with a period fireplace, two bedrooms of 14 and 13 sqm, a 9 sqm study, a fitted kitchen and two bathrooms. The south-west aspect over a tree-lined courtyard gave both quiet and light. The herringbone parquet and mouldings were original. Service charges were 350 euros a month, and the facade had recently been renovated.
Catherine filmed a 45-minute walkthrough with English commentary for James and Sarah. The couple flew over the following weekend to view it in person and confirmed their interest.
The negotiation
The asking price was 1,350,000 euros, about 14,210 euros per sqm. Catherine prepared a comparative file showing recent transactions in the area at 13,000 to 13,800 euros per sqm for properties of equivalent standing. The opening offer was 1,260,000 euros; the seller countered at 1,300,000 euros. The parties settled at 1,280,000 euros (13,473 euros per sqm), helped by the strength of the financing and flexibility on the signing date. The 70,000-euro reduction is 5.2% off the opening price.
What this mission illustrates
A remote purchase needs a trusted intermediary. James and Sarah made only one trip to Paris before signing the preliminary contract. Catherine handled all the prospecting, pre-selection and technical checks. A property hunter in the 6th arrondissement knows the codes of this discreet market.
The off-market network is decisive in the 6th. Nearly 40% of transactions here happen with no published listing. Without working her local contacts, Catherine would never have been able to offer the couple this flat.
Sound financing reassures sellers faced with an unusual buyer. A non-resident American buyer looks like a risk to a seller. The complete banking file Catherine prepared in advance removed that doubt and made the negotiation possible.
Are you an expat looking to buy in Paris? Contact Home Select for tailored support from a bilingual property hunter.
Frequently asked questions
Can an American expat buy an apartment in Paris without living in France?
Yes. An American citizen can buy real estate in France with no nationality restriction. The main challenge is financing: few French banks lend to non-residents, but solutions exist through specialist brokers or a substantial down payment.
What budget should you expect for a family apartment near Luxembourg Gardens?
The Luxembourg area in the 6th arrondissement has prices ranging from 12,500 to 16,000 euros per sqm depending on the street and floor. A 4-room apartment of 90 to 100 sqm typically sells between 1,150,000 and 1,550,000 euros.
How does a property hunter manage a remote purchase for expats?
The property hunter conducts all viewings with detailed video reports, coordinates surveys and the notaire, and accompanies the buyer during occasional trips for decisive viewings and signing. At Home Select, we have helped more than 200 expat families.
Why is the off-market network decisive in the 6th arrondissement?
In the 6th arrondissement, nearly 40% of transactions close without any published listing, through the off-market network. Large family flats change hands discreetly, by word of mouth between concierges, notaires and local agents. Without proactively working these contacts, a buyer, especially a foreign one, misses most of the real supply. The property hunter who masters this confidential market accesses properties invisible on the portals, like this 95 sqm flat near the Luxembourg Gardens found in the third week of the search.
