A Franco-British couple based in London was looking for a 2-room pied-a-terre in the 15th arrondissement of Paris with a budget of 420,000 euros. Catherine Ziegler, property hunter at Home Select, identified a 45 sqm apartment on the 5th floor with balcony in 4 weeks, negotiated at 395,000 euros or 8,778 euros per sqm.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Catherine Ziegler, Home Select
- Search area: 15th arrondissement, Commerce / La Motte-Picquet area
- Property type: 2-room apartment, 40-50 sqm
- Budget: 420,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 395,000 euros (-6%)
- Search duration: 4 weeks
- Buyer profile: Franco-British couple based in London, pied-a-terre
The project
James and Sophie, in their forties, live in London, where James works in finance and Sophie in publishing. Sophie is French, originally from Paris. The couple already spent six to eight weekends a year in the city visiting her family and no longer wanted to book hotels or lean on relatives for a bed. They wanted a practical, bright pied-à-terre in a quiet residential neighbourhood with good metro links.
The 15th arrondissement was the natural choice: Sophie’s parents live there, the neighbourhood offers some of the best value on the Left Bank, and line 8 links Commerce directly to the Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est. At 420,000 euros in cash, with no French mortgage, the budget left comfortable room here.
The search strategy
Catherine Ziegler focused on the Commerce / La Motte-Picquet / Félix Faure triangle in the 15th arrondissement. This area offers the best balance of metro access, on lines 6, 8 and 10, quality of life and price per sqm, 8,500 to 9,500 euros on average for 2-room flats.
The main constraint was time: the couple had only one weekend in Paris to view. Catherine therefore pre-selected nine properties, viewing them herself in advance, and kept four finalists that met the criteria exactly. Everything was set for one intensive Saturday of viewings.
The property found
The chosen flat is on rue du Commerce, on the fifth floor of a 1930s building with a lift. The 2-room of 45 sqm has a 22 sqm living room with a 4 sqm south-west balcony running its length, a 12 sqm bedroom, a separate kitchen and a bathroom renovated in 2021. The oak parquet is in good condition and the double-glazed windows were replaced in 2019.
Its decisive asset was an open view over the rooftops from the balcony, with direct sun from 2 pm until dusk. For a pied-à-terre used mainly at weekends, that light made all the difference. The 24-unit building has a full-time concierge, an important point for a property occupied only now and then.
The negotiation
The asking price was 420,000 euros, or 9,333 euros per sqm. Catherine built the negotiation on two points: a kitchen that worked but was dated, with appliances from the 2000s, and the D energy rating, acceptable but improvable, with insulation of the exterior wall estimated at 8,000 euros.
The offer of 390,000 euros drew a counter-proposal at 405,000 euros, and the parties settled at 395,000 euros (8,778 euros per sqm). Catherine coordinated every administrative step remotely: opening James’s French bank account, the notarised power of attorney for the preliminary contract, and liaison with the notaire’s office. The couple made only two trips to Paris in the whole process.
What this mission illustrates
Structuring a remote purchase for non-residents. A London-based buyer cannot view 15 properties over three months. The property hunter filters, views, documents with photos, videos and reports, and arranges one day of targeted viewings. This is our standard approach for expat clients.
Anticipating the post-Brexit paperwork. Opening a bank account, non-EU resident taxation and notarised powers of attorney all need preparation. Catherine coordinated each step with the right professionals. Our guide to buying for foreigners sets out these procedures.
Choosing a building suited to occasional use. A pied-à-terre empty five days out of seven needs an attentive concierge, a well-run building and a settled neighbourhood. The property hunter checks these things, invisible in a listing but vital for peace of mind. Our client reviews often speak to this end-to-end support.
Living abroad and looking for a pied-a-terre in Paris? Contact Home Select: we support non-resident buyers from A to Z.
Frequently asked questions
Can a British citizen buy an apartment in Paris after Brexit?
Yes. Brexit did not change the right to own property in France. A British citizen can buy freely, but mortgage conditions are more restrictive for non-EU residents: a minimum deposit of 30 to 40% is required by French banks and opening a French bank account is mandatory.
What are the additional costs for a property purchase from London?
Beyond notaire fees (7-8% for resale properties), a London-based buyer should budget for currency exchange fees sterling/euro (0.3-0.5% via a specialist broker), notarized power of attorney if the buyer cannot be present at signing (approximately 200 euros), and opening a French bank account (free but mandatory).
How do you manage a Parisian pied-a-terre from London?
Managing a pied-a-terre remotely requires a responsive property manager, a trusted building concierge and possibly a concierge service. In the 15th arrondissement, well-managed condominiums facilitate this arrangement. Home Select can recommend trusted local managers after the purchase.
How much can you negotiate on a 2-room flat in the 15th arrondissement?
The negotiation margin depends on the property's objective flaws. In this mission, the Home Select hunter secured a 6% reduction, bringing the price from 420,000 euros down to 395,000 euros or 8,778 euros/sqm, using two levers: a functional but dated kitchen and a D energy rating requiring wall insulation at an estimated 8,000 euros. Across its missions, Home Select obtains a 6% average negotiation off the seller's price by anchoring the discussion on factual arguments rather than a simple request for a discount.
