A British family relocating to France acquired a 95 sqm 4-room apartment with an 18 sqm terrace in Boulogne-Billancourt for 890,000 euros, negotiated at -5% from the listed price of 940,000 euros. The Home Select property hunter conducted the search in 8 weeks, running parallel searches in Paris 16th and Boulogne.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Home Select
- Area: Boulogne-Billancourt, Silly / Jean-Jaures
- Property type: 4 rooms, 95 sqm + 18 sqm terrace, 6th floor with elevator
- Initial budget: 1,000,000 euros (agency fees included)
- Listed price: 940,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 890,000 euros (-5%)
- Search duration: 8 weeks
- Buyer profile: British couple, 2 children (ages 5 and 8), relocating from London
The project
This couple worked in finance in London. The husband’s transfer to a position at La Defense brought them to settle in the Paris area with a non-negotiable criterion: outdoor space. After eight years in a Victorian house with a garden in Richmond, they could not imagine living in an apartment without a terrace or balcony.
Their initial search targeted the 16th arrondissement, a logical geographic choice for La Defense. But the first market feedback had been discouraging: 4-room apartments with terraces in the 16th systematically exceeded 1.3 million euros, beyond their budget. The Home Select property hunter then proposed widening the search to Boulogne-Billancourt, bordering the 16th and served by the same metro lines.
The search strategy
The mission was conducted across a dual perimeter: Paris 16th (Auteuil, Passy) and Boulogne-Billancourt (Silly, Jean-Jaures, Escudier). The terrace criterion made the search structurally difficult: barely 5% of properties on the market have outdoor space exceeding 15 sqm.
The property hunter activated two channels in parallel: the network of local agents specialising in properties with outdoor space, and daily monitoring of new listings. Automatic alerts from property portals were supplemented by direct calls to managers of recent developments, where terraces are more common.
In 8 weeks, 12 properties were visited (7 in Boulogne, 5 in the 16th). Properties in the 16th with terraces were all over budget or disappointing (a 6 sqm terrace marketed as “large outdoor space”). The best options were in Boulogne, in buildings from the 2000s-2010s offering genuine liveable terraces.
The property found
A 95 sqm 4-room apartment on the 6th floor of a 2008 building, with an 18 sqm south-west-facing terrace and open views over the rooftops of Boulogne to the Eiffel Tower. The 32 sqm living room opened directly onto the terrace through a bay window. Three bedrooms of 14, 12, and 11 sqm, a bathroom and a shower room, a separate WC.
The building was in excellent condition (facade, common areas, elevator). The energy performance certificate showed a C rating, standard for a 2008 construction built to RT2005 standards. Charges amounted to 320 euros/month (concierge, elevator, landscaping). A garage in the basement was included in the price.
The location on Rue de Silly offered pedestrian access to line 9 (Marcel Sembat, 7 minutes on foot) and tramway T2 (Musee de Sevres stop, 10 minutes). The Bois de Boulogne was 800 metres away.
The negotiation
The listed price of 940,000 euros corresponded to 9,895 euros/sqm (excluding terrace) or 8,319 euros/sqm (integrating the terrace weighted at 50%). The property hunter compared this with recent DVF transactions in the area: 8,500 to 9,200 euros/sqm for recent 4-room apartments without outdoor space. The terrace justified a premium, but not one of 10%.
The offer at 870,000 euros was rejected. Agreement was reached at 890,000 euros, a saving of 50,000 euros that covered the notary fees and international relocation. The included garage represented an estimated bonus value of 25,000-30,000 euros.
What this mission illustrates
Widening the search to Boulogne-Billancourt can unlock a budget-constrained project. For a 4-room apartment with terrace, the price difference between the 16th and Boulogne represents 30 to 40% for equivalent quality. The additional commute time is marginal: 5 minutes by metro.
Properties with terraces require a specific and proactive search. They represent less than 5% of the supply and sell on average twice as fast as standard properties. A property hunter who tracks recent constructions and developments with terraces has a decisive advantage, as detailed in our guide on Paris terraces and rooftop views.
Support for expatriate families goes beyond the property search. The Home Select property hunter also directed this family towards bilingual schools in the area and administrative procedures for non-resident Europeans. The property purchase is just one link in an overall relocation project.
Preparing to relocate to the Paris area from abroad? Describe your project. Our property hunters cover Paris and the inner suburbs to find the best compromise for you. First consultation free, fees 100% on success.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Boulogne-Billancourt attract expatriate families?
Boulogne-Billancourt combines immediate proximity to Paris (metro lines 9 and 10, tramway T2), quality schools (including bilingual schools), green spaces (Bois de Boulogne, Parc de Billancourt), and more spacious apartments than inner Paris for an equivalent budget, around 8,000 to 9,500 euros/sqm compared to 10,000 to 12,000 euros in the neighbouring 16th.
Can a property hunter search in both Paris and the suburbs?
At Home Select, our property hunters cover inner Paris and the inner suburbs, including Boulogne-Billancourt, Neuilly-sur-Seine, Levallois-Perret, and Saint-Mande. This dual coverage allows for objective comparison of options and finding the best value based on the client's priorities.
What budget for a 4-room apartment with terrace in Boulogne-Billancourt?
A 4-room apartment of 85 to 100 sqm with terrace in Boulogne-Billancourt sells for between 800,000 and 1,100,000 euros in 2025. Properties with terraces are rare and represent less than 5% of the available supply, which justifies a premium of 10 to 15% compared to properties without outdoor space.
