A senior executive based in Lyon, in Paris three days a week, instructed Home Select to find a workable pied-à-terre in the central Left Bank neighbourhoods. Our property hunter found a two-room flat of 38 m² in the 7th arrondissement and negotiated it down to 395,000 euros from 425,000 euros, a saving of 30,000 euros, in just five weeks.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Home Select
- Area: 7th arrondissement, Left Bank
- Property type: two-room flat, 38 m², 4th floor with a lift
- Initial budget: 450,000 euros
- Listed price: 425,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 395,000 euros (-7%)
- Search duration: 5 weeks
- Buyer profile: Senior executive, 48 years old, main home in Lyon
The brief
Our client held a director-level post that required his presence at the Paris headquarters three days a week. For two years he had alternated between hotels and Airbnb rentals, at an estimated 25,000 euros a year. Buying a pied-à-terre meant both a better quality of life and a sound investment.
His criteria were specific: a two-room flat or large studio in the 6th, 7th or 15th arrondissements, close to a metro line running directly to Gare de Lyon, quiet, with good natural light. The maximum budget was set at 450,000 euros.
The search strategy
The main constraint was the client’s availability. Based in Lyon, he could only travel on Friday afternoons. Our property hunter therefore set up a proxy viewing protocol: each shortlisted property was documented in a detailed report with photos, video and a co-ownership analysis.
Of 23 properties identified over five weeks, 14 were ruled out on paper for excessive charges, nuisances or co-ownership works already voted, 6 were viewed by our property hunter, and 3 were presented to the client with a full file. The one he chose was the first he viewed in person.
The property
A two-room flat of 38 m² on the 4th floor of a Haussmannian building with a lift, on rue de Grenelle: an 18 m² living room onto a tree-lined courtyard, an 11 m² bedroom, a fitted kitchen and a renovated shower room. Original solid parquet, mouldings, a decorative fireplace and a 4 m² cellar.
The decisive advantage was that the property came furnished, with quality pieces, allowing an immediate move-in. Co-ownership charges were 180 euros/month, with no works voted.
The negotiation
The property was listed at 425,000 euros, or 11,184 euros/m², in line with the 7th arrondissement market for this kind of surface. Our property hunter saw two levers:
- Time on the market. The property had been listed for 8 weeks without an offer, a sign the price sat slightly above market for this configuration
- A strong buyer profile. Financing with no mortgage contingency clause, a cash purchase, and the readiness to sign quickly
The opening offer of 385,000 euros was declined. A counter-proposal at 395,000 euros was accepted within 48 hours, a 30,000 euro saving on the listed price.
What this mission illustrates
1. Remote purchases call for a trusted intermediary. When the buyer lives outside Paris or abroad, the property hunter in Paris acts as their eyes and ears on the ground, filtering properties, documenting every viewing and making sure the client only travels for validated opportunities.
2. A pied-à-terre is as much an investment as a practical decision. Beyond day-to-day comfort, buying property in Paris in a central arrondissement builds a long-term asset. The 7th arrondissement has seen average appreciation of 3.2% per year over the past decade.
3. Speed of decision is a competitive advantage. A buyer who can offer without a mortgage contingency clause and sign quickly gains real leverage with motivated sellers. The property hunter puts this to work in every negotiation.
Considering buying a pied-à-terre in Paris? Contact Home Select for an initial discussion about your project.
Frequently asked questions
What minimum budget should you plan for a pied-à-terre in the 7th arrondissement?
In 2026, a pied-à-terre in the 7th arrondissement needs a budget of at least 350,000 euros for a studio of 25 to 30 m². For a workable two-room flat of 35 to 45 m², expect between 400,000 and 550,000 euros depending on the floor and aspect.
How can you buy a pied-à-terre in Paris when you live outside the city?
A property hunter handles the whole search: shortlisting, video tours or video-call viewings, technical analysis of the property and the co-ownership. The client travels only once or twice, for the final viewings and the signing of the preliminary agreement.
Can a Parisian pied-à-terre become a rental investment?
Yes. Many executives rent out their pied-a-terre as furnished accommodation when they are not using it, under the LMNP (non-professional furnished landlord) regime. Net yields in Paris range from 2.5% to 4% depending on the arrondissement and surface area, with long-term capital appreciation potential.
How much was negotiated on this pied-à-terre in the 7th bought remotely?
On this mission the Home Select property hunter negotiated a 38 sqm two-room flat on rue de Grenelle from 425,000 to 395,000 euros, a 30,000 euro saving (7%), at 10,395 euros per sqm. Two levers came into play: a property listed for 8 weeks without an offer, and a cash buyer with no mortgage contingency, ready to sign fast. The search, run remotely for an executive based in Lyon, took 5 weeks. Home Select averages 6% negotiation and a 45-day average, paid only on success.
