British expat family: a 4-bedroom in the 15th found before the move

A British family, a couple with two children aged 6 and 9, purchased an 85 sqm 4-bedroom in the Grenelle neighborhood, Paris 15th, for 780,000 euros before even arriving in France. Catherine Ziegler, property hunter at Home Select, conducted the entire search from London and negotiated the price from 820,000 to 780,000 euros, a reduction of 4.9%.

Mission overview

• Property hunter: Catherine Ziegler
• Area: Paris 15th, Grenelle / Bir-Hakeim
• Property type: 4-bedroom, 85 sqm, 4th floor with elevator
• Initial budget: 850,000 euros
• Asking price: 820,000 euros
• Negotiated price: 780,000 euros (minus 4.9%)
• Search duration: 9 weeks
• Buyer profile: British family, relocating from London to Paris

The project

This Anglo-French couple, she a Frenchwoman who had been living in London for fifteen years, he British, had decided to settle in Paris for family and professional reasons. The wife was joining the Paris office of her consulting firm, and the couple wanted to bring their children closer to their French grandparents.

The timeline was tight: the children needed to be enrolled in school in Paris by September. The couple needed to finalize the purchase before the move, ideally three months before the start of the school year. Buying from London without knowing the current Parisian market made a property hunter essential.

The criteria were demanding: a 4-bedroom of at least 80 sqm with three bedrooms, in a family-friendly neighborhood close to a bilingual school, with a balcony or terrace if possible, in a quality building.

The search strategy

Catherine Ziegler directed the search towards the 15th arrondissement, Grenelle-Commerce area, for three reasons: the proximity of the EIB Grenelle bilingual school, the quality of the property stock (1960s-1970s buildings with elevator and large floor areas), and prices per sqm lower than the neighboring 7th for a comparable quality of life.

The remote protocol was identical to the one used for all expat clients: viewings filmed live or recorded, complete co-ownership analysis, and financing coordination with a broker specializing in British nationals (post-Brexit, lending conditions are stricter).

Over nine weeks, Catherine visited 18 apartments and presented 6 complete files to the couple via video conference.

The property found

An 85 sqm 4-bedroom on the 4th floor of a 1968 building with elevator and concierge. A 28 sqm living room with dual east-west exposure, three bedrooms (15, 12 and 10 sqm), a separate 10 sqm kitchen, bathroom and separate WC. A 6 sqm continuous balcony on the west side with an open view over the rooftops of the 15th. The apartment had been partially renovated: kitchen and bathroom refitted in 2019, fresh paintwork. Varnished parquet flooring, built-in wardrobes in two bedrooms. Energy rating C.

The EIB Grenelle school was 12 minutes on foot. The Bir-Hakeim station (Line 6) was 5 minutes away, and the Champ de Mars accessible in 10 minutes for weekend activities.

The negotiation

The asking price of 820,000 euros represented 9,647 euros per sqm, in the upper range for the Grenelle area (9,000 to 9,800 euros per sqm for comparable family properties). The property had been on the market for two weeks with one previous offer already rejected (deemed too low by the seller).

Catherine built an offer of 770,000 euros based on three elements: the high co-ownership charges (420 euros per month including collective heating and concierge), the upcoming replacement of the collective heating system (switch from gas to the district heating network, voted at the general meeting, estimated share of 5,000 euros), and two recent DVF comparables on the same street, which had closed at 9,100 and 9,300 euros per sqm.

After negotiation, the agreement was reached at 780,000 euros (9,176 euros per sqm). The preliminary agreement was signed by power of attorney from London. The family moved directly into the apartment upon their arrival in Paris, one week before the start of the school year.

What this mission illustrates

Buying before arrival is the best strategy for an expat family. Searching for an apartment after the move means months in temporary accommodation (expensive and stressful with children) and a search conducted under pressure that often leads to compromises. Engaging a property hunter in advance allows you to move directly into your own home.

Post-Brexit financing adds a complexity that only a specialist can manage. British nationals face stricter borrowing conditions since Brexit. Coordinating an expat broker, a bank that accepts income in pounds and a notary experienced in international transactions is an orchestrating task. This is one of the key skills of our property hunters specializing in expat support.

The 15th arrondissement is the quintessential family neighborhood of the Left Bank. With its large floor areas, quality schools (including several bilingual options), parks and neighborhood life, the 15th arrondissement is the natural choice for families wanting space without leaving Paris. Prices are 20 to 30% lower than the 7th for comparable surfaces.

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