A French couple returning from five years of expatriation in Singapore acquired an 88 sqm 4-room apartment in the 15th arrondissement of Paris for 760,000 euros, negotiated at -6% from the listed price of 810,000 euros. The Home Select property hunter organised the entire search from Singapore, with only one trip by the couple to Paris for the final viewings.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Home Select
- Area: Paris 15th, Commerce / Felix-Faure
- Property type: 4 rooms, 88 sqm, 5th floor with elevator
- Initial budget: 850,000 euros (agency fees included)
- Listed price: 810,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 760,000 euros (-6%)
- Search duration: 7 weeks
- Buyer profile: French couple, aged 38 and 40, 2 children (ages 4 and 6), returning from expatriation
The project
This couple had left Paris in 2020 for a five-year assignment in Singapore. Executives in an agri-food group, they were preparing their return to France planned for September 2025. The goal: buy a family apartment in Paris before their arrival, to move in directly without going through a temporary rental.
The 15th arrondissement was the natural choice. They had lived there before leaving, knew the schools, shops, and neighbourhood atmosphere. Their eldest daughter, 6 years old, was to start her first year of primary school in September: school enrolment depended on the home address. The timeline was therefore constrained: the final deed had to be signed before the start of the school year.
The additional challenge: managing everything from Singapore, with a 6-hour time difference and the inability to visit regularly.
The search strategy
The Home Select property hunter set up an entirely remote process, refined through dozens of similar missions with expatriates. Phase 1: precise briefing by video conference (one hour, on a Saturday morning Singapore time). Phase 2: viewings filmed in real time with audio commentary, immediate sending of diagnostics, AGM minutes, and dimensioned floor plans. Phase 3: a single trip by the couple to visit the 3 shortlisted properties in one weekend.
The brief was standard for a family returning from expatriation: minimum 4 rooms with three separate bedrooms, at least 80 sqm, high floor with elevator (a reflex acquired in Singapore where people live in high-rises), and walking distance to a primary school and a park.
The perimeter covered the Commerce-Felix Faure-La Motte-Picquet triangle, the most family-friendly part of the 15th, with Square Saint-Lambert, Parc Andre-Citroen within cycling distance, and several well-regarded school clusters within a 500-metre radius.
In 7 weeks, 13 properties were pre-visited by the property hunter, 5 were the subject of detailed videos, and 3 were retained for the in-person viewing weekend.
The property found
An 88 sqm 4-room apartment on the 5th floor with elevator, in a 1955 bourgeois building on Rue du Commerce. A 24 sqm living room overlooking the street (south-facing, open views over the rooftops), three bedrooms of 14, 12, and 10 sqm, a 9 sqm closed kitchen, a bathroom, and a separate WC.
The apartment had been renovated by the previous owner: fitted kitchen, refurbished bathroom, sanded parquet. The energy performance certificate showed a C rating, a good score for a building of this era, the result of external wall insulation carried out during the 2021 facade renovation. Double-glazed windows provided adequate acoustic comfort despite the bustle of Rue du Commerce.
Co-ownership charges amounted to 290 euros/month (concierge, elevator, maintenance). The nearest primary school was 300 metres away, Square Saint-Lambert 400 metres.
The negotiation
The listed price of 810,000 euros corresponded to 9,205 euros/sqm. The property hunter analysed DVF transactions in the area: the median for recently renovated 4-room apartments in the Commerce-Felix Faure perimeter stood at 8,600-8,900 euros/sqm. The asking price was therefore 3 to 5% above the market.
The negotiation was built on two elements: the DVF comparison and the fact that the seller, an institutional investor liquidating a property portfolio, prioritised speed of transaction over maximum price. The offer at 740,000 euros was countered at 780,000 euros. Agreement at 760,000 euros (8,636 euros/sqm) was facilitated by the strength of the financing: the couple had 300,000 euros in deposit.
The preliminary agreement was signed by power of attorney from Singapore. The couple travelled only once, for the final deed at the notary’s office, at the end of August, three weeks before the start of the school year.
What this mission illustrates
Returning from expatriation is the ideal time to buy. Expatriates generally have savings built up abroad (tax advantages, reduced cost of living) that allow for a substantial deposit. This deposit, combined with French mortgage rates, makes buying more profitable than renting from the second year onwards, as detailed in our article on returning from expatriation and buying property.
The school calendar imposes a strict countdown. Primary school enrolment in Paris depends on the home address. For expatriate families returning for the September school year, the final deed must be signed by end of August at the latest, meaning the search should be launched by May-June at the latest.
The 15th arrondissement is the quintessential family neighbourhood on the Left Bank. It is the arrondissement with the highest concentration of 4- and 5-room apartments in all of Paris, with prices 20 to 30% lower than the neighbouring 7th. For families returning from expatriation accustomed to spacious living, it is often the best compromise between surface area, budget, and quality of life.
Are you preparing your return to France and want to buy in Paris? Describe your project. Our property hunters organise the remote search and manage everything through to key handover. First consultation free, fees 100% on success.
Frequently asked questions
How to buy an apartment in Paris from abroad before returning?
Buying from abroad is organised in three steps: obtaining an agreement in principle from a French bank that accepts non-residents (HSBC, BNP Paribas International), mandating a property hunter for viewings and negotiation, and signing the preliminary agreement via notarised power of attorney. Most of our expatriate clients travel only once or twice.
Why is the 15th arrondissement popular with families returning from expatriation?
The 15th arrondissement offers three assets for families returning from expatriation: large family apartments (the 15th has the most 4- and 5-room apartments in all of Paris), quality schools with international sections (Lycee Buffon, College Camille-See), and a safe, calm living environment comparable to what residential neighbourhoods offer in major Asian cities.
Should you buy or rent when returning from expatriation?
Buying is generally preferable when returning from expatriation if the expected stay in Paris exceeds 5 years. Expatriates often have a substantial deposit (savings built up abroad, expatriation bonuses) and mortgage rates in France remain competitive. Renting is more suitable if the return is uncertain or if another move abroad is planned within 3 years.
