Expatriates in North America: a pied-a-terre with Eiffel Tower views in the 15th

Theodore and Carine, a French couple expatriated in North America with two children, purchased a pied-a-terre in the 15th arrondissement with a view of the Eiffel Tower, in an Art Deco residence on the 6th floor, thanks to Catherine Ziegler. The offer was made based on photos and videos, and Catherine handled the full supervision of the renovation works during the owners’ absence.

Mission summary

• Property hunter: Catherine Ziegler
• Area: 15th arrondissement (Pasteur area)
• Property type: 3 rooms (2 bedrooms), 6th floor, Art Deco residence, Eiffel Tower view
• Budget: Appropriate for the area, with renovation budget included
• Negotiated price: Offer very close to the asking price, accepted immediately
• Search duration: 6 weeks
• Buyer profile: Expatriate couple with 2 children, holiday pied-a-terre

The project

Theodore and Carine live in North America with their two children. School holidays and Christmas bring them back to Paris regularly, but hosting four people at friends’ homes had reached its limits. They were looking for a pied-a-terre with a minimum of two bedrooms, in a beautiful period building, with Parisian charm and character, in the Pasteur area of the 15th.

The couple did not want major works: at most a fresh coat of paint. Bathroom and kitchen needed to be redone. Catherine Ziegler offered to help coordinate renovation works if necessary, but Theodore and Carine initially preferred a turnkey property.

The search strategy

Catherine assessed the budget as appropriate but tight if the couple refused any renovation. The first pre-visits of Haussmann properties confirmed the diagnosis: in this price range, apartments without any work needed were rare. Every property visited required renovations exceeding a simple coat of paint.

A few days before Christmas, Catherine spotted a promising property at 20,000 euros above budget. A Haussmann apartment, the only drawback: a 2nd floor with limited brightness. The estate agent confided that the owner was in a hurry to sell. The couple, having arrived in France, visited and made an offer at 20,000 euros below the asking price. The agent hinted the proposal could work. But in the meantime, another buyer came forward at the full price. The property was lost.

The property found

Past the disappointment and the family holidays, Catherine contacted the couple again. She had found a property with remarkable features, sourced through a suburban agency that was handling the sale for a friend of the manager. A source most buyers would never consult.

The apartment was located slightly further south than the couple’s preferred zone, but the 6th floor made up for everything. The well-maintained Art Deco residence offered a setting that was less expensive than Haussmann, allowing the renovation works to fit within the overall budget. And above all: a panoramic view of the Eiffel Tower and the rooftops of Paris from the living room.

The property had two bedrooms and needed interior reorganisation: swapping the kitchen and bathroom, opening the kitchen onto the living room to make the most of the view, sanding the parquet, and installing wardrobes in the bedrooms. Real works, but manageable with a reliable contractor.

The negotiation

Based on Catherine’s dozens of photos and videos from her pre-visit, Theodore and Carine made an offer very close to the asking price, even before travelling to view. The absence of a financing contingency and the speed of their decision made the difference. The owner accepted within 48 hours.

Theodore and Carine only discovered the apartment in person at the signing of the preliminary agreement. No disappointment: Catherine’s exhaustive photographic coverage had already fully reassured them. The renovation works were planned with several contractors put in competition during subsequent visits.

Needing to return to North America, they gave power of attorney to a family member for the signings. Catherine committed to site supervision: weekly photos, coordination with the contractor, real-time adjustments when a paper plan did not work in the actual space. The contractor delivered on time and within the agreed budget.

What this mission illustrates

The property hunter as a permanent relay for expatriates. When the owners live thousands of kilometres away, the property hunter’s role does not stop at the signing. Catherine supervised the renovation site week after week, not hesitating to pause works when the circulation in the space did not match the initial plan. This level of support transforms a remote purchase into a controlled project. We describe this method in our guide on buying property in Paris remotely.

Art Deco as a budget-friendly alternative to Haussmann. Art Deco buildings offer charm and character at a lower price per square metre than classic Haussmann. For a couple whose budget is tight for an unrenovated Haussmann property, pivoting to Art Deco allows the inclusion of a renovation budget without exceeding the overall envelope. Catherine identified this option as the solution to the couple’s budget-versus-expectations equation.

The lesson of the first lost offer. Theodore and Carine lost a first property by negotiating 20,000 euros below the price. On the second, they made an offer close to the asking price without hesitation. This shift was not impulsiveness: it was a learning experience guided by the property hunter, who calibrates the offer and negotiation strategy based on the context of each property.

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