A Franco-Singaporean couple returning from six years in Singapore bought a 68 sqm three-room flat in the Commerce quarter of Paris 15th, after 7 weeks of searching. Catherine Ziegler, property hunter at Home Select, ran the entire search remotely and brought the price down from 620,000 to 588,000 euros, a saving of 5.2%.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Catherine Ziegler
- Area: Paris 15th, Commerce / La Motte-Picquet
- Property type: 3 rooms, 68 sqm, 5th floor with lift
- Initial budget: 650,000 euros
- Listed price: 620,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 588,000 euros (-5.2%)
- Search duration: 7 weeks
- Buyer profile: Couple in their forties, returning from 6 years of expatriation in Singapore
The project
The couple had lived in Singapore for six years for the husband’s career in finance. The return to France was settled: a new post in Paris-La Défense for him, freelance work resumed for her. Their four-year-old daughter was due to start nursery school in September.
They wanted to buy before their actual return, set for three months out. The timing was tight: find, negotiate and sign a preliminary agreement from Singapore, across a 6-hour time difference. The target area was the left bank of the 15th, along métro line 6 (Bir-Hakeim, Dupleix, La Motte-Picquet, Commerce), a route linking the Eiffel Tower to Montparnasse with quick access to La Défense via the RER C or line 6 with a connection.
The search strategy
Catherine Ziegler set up an expatriate protocol from the first video call. The criteria were precise: at least three rooms and 60 sqm, a high floor with a lift, a well-run building, proximity to line 6, a family area with local shops. The budget of 650,000 euros was comfortable here, leaving a good range of choice.
The remote protocol covered viewings filmed live by video call (when the time difference allowed) or recorded with audio commentary, a full co-ownership analysis (minutes from the last three AGMs, maintenance log, charges), and pre-qualification of financing through a specialist expatriate mortgage broker.
Over seven weeks, Catherine viewed 14 flats and presented 5 complete files to the couple.
The property found
A 68 sqm three-room flat on the 5th floor of a 1965 building, with lift and concierge. A 25 sqm double living room with a 3 sqm south-west-facing balcony, two bedrooms (14 and 11 sqm), a 7 sqm closed kitchen, a bathroom and a separate WC. The flat had been partly renovated in 2020 (bathroom, electrics). Oak parquet, built-in wardrobes in the bedrooms. Energy rated C.
The highlight: an open view from the 5th floor over a tree-lined vista, and complete quiet, the building set back from the street and reached by a private lane. Commerce station (line 8) is 4 minutes on foot, La Motte-Picquet (lines 6, 8, 10) 7 minutes away.
The negotiation
The listed price of 620,000 euros worked out at 9,118 euros/sqm, at the top of the market for this part of the 15th (8,500-9,300 euros/sqm). The property earned a premium for its light and quiet setting, but two points justified negotiation.
The kitchen, unrenovated, needed a complete overhaul estimated at 10,000-15,000 euros. And the co-ownership had a vote on lift replacement due in 2026, with an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 euros per unit.
Catherine put in a reasoned offer of 580,000 euros. After a phone call with the seller, a retired couple moving to the provinces, agreement came at 588,000 euros, or 8,647 euros/sqm. The preliminary agreement was signed by power of attorney while the couple were still in Singapore.
What this mission illustrates
Returning from abroad is a critical moment for a property purchase. Time is short, local market knowledge has dated, and the financing is more complex. A property hunter who specialises in expatriate support saves weeks and avoids misjudging a market that has moved on during the absence.
The 15th remains the Left Bank’s best-kept secret. Cheaper than the 7th or 6th, the 15th arrondissement offers generous floor areas, genuine neighbourhood life and excellent transport. The Commerce-La Motte-Picquet area gathers the advantages without the tourist downsides of nearby districts.
Notarised power of attorney makes buying from abroad possible. Signing a preliminary agreement remotely is entirely legal and common. The property hunter works with the notaire to set up the power of attorney and check that every document is in order. We handle this step several times a month for our non-resident clients.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you buy an apartment in Paris while still living abroad?
A property hunter runs the whole search remotely: setting the criteria, filmed viewings with technical reports, co-ownership analysis, negotiation. The buyer travels only to confirm the final property and sign the preliminary agreement. At Home Select, 30% of our clients are expatriates or non-residents. Catherine Ziegler regularly assists clients returning from abroad.
Is getting a mortgage more difficult for an expatriate returning to France?
The main difficulty is the absence of income declared in France over recent years. Banks require a signed French employment contract and a larger deposit (20 to 30% versus 10 to 15% for a resident). Some banks (HSBC, BNP) have departments specialising in returning expatriates. A specialist expatriate mortgage broker is strongly recommended.
Which Parisian neighbourhoods are most popular with returning expatriates?
Returning expatriates favour well-connected areas (near airports and TGV stations), with international shops and good schools. The 15th (Commerce, Grenelle), the 16th (Passy, Auteuil), the 7th and the 6th are the most in demand. The 15th offers the best surface-to-price ratio among these premium areas.
Can you sign a preliminary sale agreement in Paris from abroad?
Yes. The preliminary agreement can be signed by notarised power of attorney from abroad, which is entirely legal and common. In this mission, the couple returning from Singapore signed the agreement by power of attorney without travelling, and came only once for the final deed. The property hunter works with the notaire to set up the power of attorney and checks that every document is in order. Home Select handles this type of operation several times a month for non-resident clients.
