A retired couple based in Lausanne wanted a pied-à-terre in Paris for their regular cultural trips. The Home Select property hunter found a 35 sqm two-room flat in the Notre-Dame-des-Champs quarter of the 6th arrondissement, bought at 430,000 euros against an initial budget of 450,000 euros, in a mission conducted entirely remotely.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Home Select
- Area: Paris 6th arrondissement (Notre-Dame-des-Champs)
- Property type: 2-room flat, 35 sqm, 3rd floor
- Initial budget: 450,000 euros
- Listed price: 449,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 430,000 euros (minus 4.2%)
- Search duration: 5 weeks
- Buyer profile: Retired Swiss couple, ages 67 and 64
The project
Eric and Martine, retired for two years, came to Paris five or six times a year for exhibitions, shows and family gatherings (their daughter lives in the 15th arrondissement). Until now they had stayed in hotels; they wanted a pied-à-terre in a central, culturally rich quarter. Their budget, drawn entirely from savings without borrowing, came to 450,000 euros including notaire fees.
The couple did not know the workings of the Paris property market and could not travel back and forth between Lausanne and Paris for viewings. They needed a trusted, French-speaking and responsive contact to run the search on their behalf.
The search strategy
The Home Select property hunter focused on two quarters of the 6th arrondissement: Notre-Dame-des-Champs for its residential calm and proximity to the Luxembourg Gardens, and Vavin-Raspail for its cultural life. The secondary perimeter took in the northern 14th (Denfert-Rochereau) and the southern 5th (Port-Royal), adjacent areas offering a better price-to-surface ratio.
The brief was precise: a two-room flat of at least 30 sqm, bright, in a period building with character (mouldings, parquet, fireplace), quiet on a courtyard or a high floor. The lack of any financing constraint was a real advantage for moving quickly.
The property found
After 6 viewings over five weeks, the property hunter found a 35 sqm two-room flat on rue de Fleurus, on the 3rd floor of an 1890 building without a lift. South-facing onto a tree-lined courtyard, it offered an 18 sqm reception room with a marble fireplace and point de Hongrie parquet, a 10 sqm bedroom, a fitted kitchenette and a shower room. The mouldings and 3.10-metre ceilings gave it an authentically Parisian charm.
The condominium was sound, with charges of 150 euros a month and a façade renovation scheduled in two years (the provision already set aside). The DPE was rated E, a point also used in the negotiation.
The negotiation
Listed at 449,000 euros (12,829 euros per sqm), the property was at the high end of the neighbourhood for a DPE E rating. The property hunter compiled recent sales in adjacent streets and found that E-rated properties sold on average 8 to 12% cheaper than C or D-rated properties in the same area.
The offer of 425,000 euros, backed by the DPE and the estimated 6,000 euros to replace the windows, drew a counter at 435,000 euros. The seller accepted a final 430,000 euros, or 12,286 euros per sqm, won over by a file with no mortgage condition, a decisive advantage.
What this mission illustrates
Buying without a mortgage is a powerful negotiating lever. With no mortgage condition, Eric and Martine’s file offered the seller maximum security and made it easier to accept a price below the asking figure. Our guide to buying in Paris as a foreigner sets out the particulars of this kind of transaction.
Remote management calls for a rigorous protocol. Each viewing came with a 10 to 15-minute video report, a fact sheet with annotated photos and a commentary on the diagnostics. Contractual exchanges were handled by notarised power of attorney. This service is detailed on our expat page.
The DPE has become an essential negotiating point. Since the 2023 reform, the energy rating directly affects the sale price. A property hunter builds it into the analysis as a matter of course to calibrate the offer. The 6th arrondissement page presents price statistics by DPE class in this area.
Living in Switzerland and looking to buy a pied-a-terre in Paris? Describe your project: your property hunter manages the entire search and all procedures remotely.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Swiss resident buy property in Paris without any restrictions?
Yes, Swiss nationals can freely buy property in France without restriction. The process is identical to that of a French buyer. Financing may require a larger deposit (30 to 40%), as French banks apply specific criteria to non-residents. The Franco-Swiss tax treaty governs the applicable taxation.
What are the prices for a studio or 2-room apartment in the 6th arrondissement of Paris?
In the 6th arrondissement, a studio of 25 to 30 sqm sells between 300,000 and 400,000 euros in 2026. A 2-room flat of 35 to 45 sqm is listed between 400,000 and 600,000 euros depending on the micro-neighbourhood. The Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Odéon area is the most expensive (14,000 to 16,000 euros per sqm), while Notre-Dame-des-Champs remains slightly more accessible.
How does a 100% remote property purchase work with a property hunter?
The property hunter conducts all viewings and sends detailed video reports. Contractual exchanges (offer, preliminary contract) are handled electronically. A notarised power of attorney allows the final deed to be signed remotely. At Home Select, roughly 25% of missions are conducted entirely remotely, mainly for expat clients or those based in Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Does buying without a mortgage help negotiate the price in Paris?
Yes, it is a powerful lever. By removing the mortgage condition, the buyer offers the seller maximum security: no risk of a loan refusal, so a near-certain sale. In this mission, the Swiss couple financed their pied-a-terre from savings, with no borrowing. That advantage let the Home Select hunter secure a 4.2% reduction, bringing the 35 sqm flat in the 6th from 449,000 down to 430,000 euros, the seller having preferred the reliability of the file over a potentially higher offer subject to a mortgage condition.
