A couple living in Dunkirk purchased a 38 sqm 2-room apartment in the 9th arrondissement of Paris in 3 weeks of searching. Catherine Ziegler, property hunter at Home Select, identified the property through the off-market network and negotiated the price from 335,000 euros down to 317,000 euros, a saving of 5.4%.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Catherine Ziegler
- Area: Paris 9th, Trudaine / Rochechouart neighborhood
- Property type: 2-room apartment, 38 sqm, 3rd floor without elevator
- Initial budget: 330,000 euros
- Listed price: 335,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 317,000 euros (minus 5.4%)
- Search duration: 3 weeks
- Buyer profile: Couple in their fifties, primary residence in Dunkirk
The project
This couple of senior executives had lived in Dunkirk for twenty years. Their children were studying in Paris and they wanted a pied-a-terre for their regular visits to the capital: cultural weekends, family gatherings, and eventually a base for their future retirement.
Their main constraint was distance. Making round trips between Dunkirk and Paris to view apartments was incompatible with their professional pace. They had tried searching on their own via property portals for six months, but the interesting listings systematically sold before they could organize a trip.
The search strategy
Catherine Ziegler defined a tight brief: a 2-room apartment between 35 and 45 sqm, in the 9th or 10th arrondissement (lively neighborhoods, well served by the metro and the TGV at Gare du Nord), with character (parquet, moldings) and if possible limited overlooking.
The remote purchase protocol was set up from day one: each pre-selected property was the subject of a filmed viewing by Catherine, accompanied by a written technical report (condition of the property, condominium, charges, DPE, sound environment). The couple received the entire package within two hours of the viewing and validated or dismissed the property remotely.
In three weeks, Catherine visited 9 apartments and submitted 4 complete files.
The property found
A 38 sqm 2-room apartment on the 3rd floor of an 1890 building, without elevator. A 12 sqm bedroom overlooking the courtyard, an 18 sqm living room with period fireplace and two street-facing windows, an open fitted kitchen, and a bathroom renovated in 2021. Hungarian point parquet, moldings, ceiling height of 2.90 meters. DPE rated D.
The property had been listed discreetly by an expatriate owner who wanted to avoid multiple viewings. Catherine identified it through a partner agency in the 9th that she works with regularly.
The negotiation
The asking price of 335,000 euros represented 8,816 euros per sqm, consistent with the Trudaine area market. Two elements enabled negotiation.
The absence of an elevator on the 3rd floor, which excludes a portion of potential buyers and reduces competitive pressure. And the DPE rated D, implying a future investment in insulation (estimated at 8,000-12,000 euros for windows and ceiling insulation under the roof).
Catherine submitted an offer at 310,000 euros backed by DVF comparable sales. After an exchange with the owner via their agent, the agreement was reached at 317,000 euros, or 8,342 euros per sqm. The couple came to Paris for a single day: confirmation viewing in the morning, signing of the preliminary contract at the notaire’s office in the afternoon.
What this mission illustrates
Remote purchasing works when the property hunter is the client’s eyes and ears. A third of our mandates concern buyers living outside the Ile-de-France region or abroad. The filmed viewing and technical report protocol enables fast decision-making without unnecessary travel. This is one of the concrete advantages of a property hunter in Paris.
The 9th arrondissement remains an excellent choice for a pied-a-terre. Close to two TGV stations (Gare du Nord, Gare Saint-Lazare), lively without being touristy, with a quality period housing stock, the 9th arrondissement offers a rare balance between charm, practicality and appreciation potential.
A property without an elevator is a negotiation opportunity. On the 3rd floor, the absence of an elevator discourages approximately 30% of potential buyers, reducing competition and providing a negotiation margin that properties with elevators do not offer. For an active couple using the property a few days per month, it is a non-issue.
Living outside Paris and looking to buy a pied-a-terre in the capital? Our property hunters manage your search from A to Z, with a proven remote purchase protocol. Describe your project
Frequently asked questions
How do you buy a pied-a-terre in Paris when you live outside the Paris region?
A property hunter manages the entire search remotely: property selection, viewings with photo and video reports, technical analysis, negotiation. The buyer only travels for the confirmation viewing of the selected property and the signing of the preliminary contract. At Home Select, 25% of our clients live outside the Ile-de-France region.
What budget should you plan for a pied-a-terre in Paris in 2026?
A 2-room apartment of 35 to 45 sqm sells between 280,000 and 450,000 euros depending on the arrondissement and floor. The central arrondissements (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th) and the 7th are the most sought-after for pieds-a-terre. The 9th and 10th offer a good quality-price compromise with properties starting from 300,000 euros.
Is a pied-a-terre in Paris a good asset investment?
A pied-a-terre in Paris combines personal use and asset appreciation. The average capital gain observed over 10 years in Paris is 15 to 25% depending on the arrondissement. The property can also be rented as furnished accommodation when unoccupied, generating a gross yield of 3 to 4% in standard rental, more in short-term rental if local regulations permit.
