An American executive based in New York, in the process of relocating to Paris, acquired a 120 sqm 5-room apartment in the 16th arrondissement for 1,350,000 euros, 8% below the listed price of 1,470,000 euros. The entire search and negotiation was conducted by the Home Select property hunter, with only two trips to Paris by the buyer.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Home Select
- Area: Paris 16th, Passy / La Muette
- Property type: 5 rooms, 120 sqm, 4th floor with elevator
- Initial budget: 1,500,000 euros (agency fees included)
- Listed price: 1,470,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 1,350,000 euros (-8%)
- Search duration: 6 weeks
- Buyer profile: American expatriate, 39 years old, professional relocation, family of 4
The project
Our client, CFO of a pharmaceutical group, was relocating from New York to his company’s European headquarters at La Defense. He was arriving with his wife and two children aged 6 and 9, educated in the American school system. Enrolment at the Lycee International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye had been considered, but the family preferred living in Paris to facilitate integration.
The 16th arrondissement met their criteria: proximity to La Defense (line 1 from Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile in 8 minutes), international sections in local secondary schools, a family environment with the Bois de Boulogne, and a housing stock offering large family apartments.
The main challenge was the timeline: the move from New York was planned in four months. The entire search had to be conducted remotely, with a maximum of two trips to Paris for final viewings.
The search strategy
The Home Select property hunter organised the mission in two phases. Phase 1, entirely remote: identification of properties, pre-visits filmed on video with live commentary (living room, brightness, view, noise), sending of complete files (floor plans, diagnostics, AGM minutes, charges). Phase 2: the client travelling to Paris to visit the 3 finalists in one weekend.
The search focused on the Passy-Muette-Ranelagh triangle, the area combining the best schools, proximity to metro line 9 and the RER C, and a calm environment with open views. The brief was demanding: minimum 5 rooms, at least 110 sqm, high floor with elevator, well-maintained Haussmann building, and a decent energy performance certificate (C or D maximum).
In six weeks, 16 properties were pre-visited by the property hunter, 7 were the subject of detailed videos sent to the client, and 3 were shortlisted for the visit weekend.
The property found
A 120 sqm 5-room apartment on the 4th floor with elevator, in a Haussmann building from 1895, Rue de l’Annonciation in Passy. A 35 sqm double living room with a continuous balcony overlooking the street (south-west facing), three bedrooms of 15, 13, and 12 sqm, a 12 sqm closed kitchen that had been refurbished, two shower rooms, and a separate WC. An 8 sqm cellar.
The building had been restored in 2022 (facade, common areas, staircase). The energy performance certificate showed a C rating, rare in Parisian Haussmann buildings and the result of double-glazed windows installed by the previous owner and a recent individual gas boiler.
Co-ownership charges amounted to 420 euros/month (concierge, elevator, common area maintenance). No major works voted or planned for the next three years.
The negotiation
The listed price of 1,470,000 euros corresponded to 12,250 euros/sqm, slightly above the market for the Passy area (DVF median at 11,500-12,000 euros/sqm for comparable 5-room apartments). The property hunter negotiated using two levers: the DVF comparison and the fact that the property had been on the market for 11 weeks without a firm offer, a sign of slight overpricing.
The initial offer at 1,300,000 euros was rejected. After discussion, agreement was reached at 1,350,000 euros, or 11,250 euros/sqm. The saving of 120,000 euros represented nearly three times the property hunter’s fees.
The preliminary agreement was signed by notarised power of attorney, the client still being in New York. He travelled a second time for the signing of the final deed, three months later.
What this mission illustrates
Remote purchasing is perfectly achievable with a property hunter. Video viewing tools, combined with the property hunter’s on-the-ground expertise, allow filtering 90% of properties without travelling. For an expatriate in the process of relocating, it is the only effective method when the timeline is tight.
The 16th arrondissement remains the reference choice for international families. Schools, space, security, transport to La Defense and the business district: the 16th ticks all the boxes. But prices vary significantly from one micro-neighbourhood to another, as detailed in our buying guide for foreigners.
A property on the market for more than 8 weeks in a good neighbourhood signals a price to negotiate. Owners who refuse to adjust their price end up accepting a larger discount than an early correction. This is a signal that every experienced property hunter knows how to exploit.
Are you an expatriate preparing to buy property in Paris? Contact our team. We support over 80 international families each year in their Paris relocation. First consultation free, fees 100% on success.
Frequently asked questions
Can an expatriate buy an apartment in Paris from abroad?
Yes, an expatriate can buy property in Paris from abroad. A notarised power of attorney allows signing the preliminary agreement and the final deed remotely. Financing can be obtained from French banks specialising in non-residents, with a deposit generally required of 20 to 30%.
Why does the 16th arrondissement attract expatriate families?
The 16th arrondissement has several international schools (Lycee Janson-de-Sailly international section, bilingual schools), green spaces (Bois de Boulogne, Trocadero gardens), a secure living environment, and large family apartments. The transport links to La Defense via line 1 and RER C are also an asset for expatriate executives.
What budget for a 5-room apartment in the 16th arrondissement?
A 5-room apartment of 100 to 130 sqm in the 16th arrondissement sells for between 1,100,000 and 1,800,000 euros in 2025, depending on the micro-neighbourhood. The Passy-Trocadero area is the most expensive (13,000-15,000 euros/sqm), while Auteuil and La Muette offer more accessible prices (10,000-12,500 euros/sqm).
