An American executive based in New York, in the middle of a move to Paris, bought a 120 sqm five-room flat in the 16th arrondissement for 1,350,000 euros, 8% below the listed price of 1,470,000 euros. The Home Select property hunter ran the entire search and negotiation, with the buyer making only two trips to Paris.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Home Select
- Area: Paris 16th, Passy / La Muette
- Property type: 5 rooms, 120 sqm, 4th floor with lift
- 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 moving from New York to his company’s European headquarters at La Défense. He was arriving with his wife and two children aged 6 and 9, schooled in the American system. A place at the Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye had been weighed up, but the family preferred to live in Paris to ease their settling in.
The 16th arrondissement met their criteria: proximity to La Défense (line 1 from Charles-de-Gaulle Étoile in 8 minutes), international sections in local secondary schools, a family setting with the Bois de Boulogne, and a stock of large family flats.
The main challenge was timing: the move from New York was set for four months out. The whole search had to run remotely, with at most two trips to Paris for final viewings.
The search strategy
The Home Select property hunter ran the mission in two phases. Phase 1, entirely remote: identifying properties, pre-viewings filmed with live commentary (living room, light, view, noise), and complete files sent over (floor plans, diagnostics, AGM minutes, charges). Phase 2: the client coming to Paris to view the 3 finalists in one weekend.
The search focused on the Passy-Muette-Ranelagh triangle, the area combining the best schools, proximity to métro line 9 and the RER C, and a calm setting with open views. The brief was demanding: at least 5 rooms and 110 sqm, a high floor with a lift, a well-run Haussmann building, and a decent energy rating (C or D at most).
Over six weeks, the property hunter pre-viewed 16 properties, sent detailed videos of 7 to the client, and shortlisted 3 for the viewing weekend.
The property found
A 120 sqm five-room flat on the 4th floor with a lift, in an 1895 Haussmann building on Rue de l’Annonciation in Passy. A 35 sqm double living room with a running balcony along the street (south-west facing), three bedrooms of 15, 13 and 12 sqm, a refurbished 12 sqm closed kitchen, two shower rooms and a separate WC. An 8 sqm cellar.
The building had been restored in 2022 (façade, common areas, staircase). The energy certificate showed a C rating, rare in Parisian Haussmann buildings, thanks to double glazing fitted by the previous owner and a recent individual gas boiler.
Co-ownership charges came to 420 euros/month (concierge, lift, upkeep of common areas). No major works were voted or planned for the next three years.
The negotiation
The listed price of 1,470,000 euros worked out at 12,250 euros/sqm, slightly above the market for Passy (DVF median of 11,500-12,000 euros/sqm for comparable five-room flats). The property hunter negotiated on two fronts: 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 opening offer of 1,300,000 euros was rejected. After discussion, agreement came at 1,350,000 euros, or 11,250 euros/sqm. The saving of 120,000 euros was nearly three times the property hunter’s fees.
The preliminary agreement was signed by notarised power of attorney while the client was still in New York. He came a second time for the signing of the final deed, three months later.
What this mission illustrates
Remote purchasing works well with a property hunter. Video viewing tools, combined with the property hunter’s on-the-ground knowledge, filter out 90% of properties without travel. For an expatriate in the middle of a move, it is the only workable method when time is short.
The 16th arrondissement remains the obvious choice for international families. Schools, space, safety, transport to La Défense and the business district: the 16th ticks every box. But prices vary widely from one micro-neighbourhood to another, as set out in our buying guide for foreigners.
A property on the market for more than 8 weeks in a good area points to a price worth negotiating. Owners who refuse to adjust end up accepting a deeper cut than an early correction would have cost. It is a signal every experienced property hunter knows how to use.
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 (the Lycée Janson-de-Sailly international section, bilingual schools), green spaces (Bois de Boulogne, Trocadéro gardens), a safe setting and large family flats. The links to La Défense 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 flat 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-Trocadéro 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).
