A 39-year-old professional, a tenant for twelve years in Paris, took the plunge into her first property purchase: a 45 sqm two-room flat in the Alésia neighbourhood of the 14th arrondissement, bought for 420,000 euros, or 9,333 euros/sqm. The Home Select property hunter negotiated it 4.5% below the listed price of 440,000 euros. The mission lasted six weeks, two of them spent reassuring the client about the case for buying.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Home Select
- Area: Paris 14th, Alésia neighbourhood
- Property type: two-room flat, 4th floor with a lift
- Budget: 450,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 420,000 euros (listed at 440,000 euros)
- Surface area: 45 sqm (Carrez law)
- Search duration: 6 weeks
- Buyer profile: Communications professional, 39 years old, single, first-time buyer
The project
Sandrine had rented a flat in the 14th arrondissement for eight years, after four years renting in the 6th. On a rent of 1,250 euros a month and a net salary of 4,200 euros, she had built up savings of 90,000 euros. Several times over the years she had thought about buying, but the process unnerved her: the fear of a bad deal, the apparent complexity of financing, the difficulty of picturing a purchase on her own.
It was a colleague, a former Home Select client, who persuaded her to contact us. At the first meeting, our property hunter took the time to dismantle Sandrine’s reservations one by one: a financing simulation, a detailed comparison of the cost of renting and buying over 10 years, and a step-by-step walk through the process.
The search strategy
Sandrine wanted to stay in the 14th, an arrondissement she knew inside out after eight years of daily life there. Our property hunter targeted the Alésia-Mouton-Duvernet area, a residential and commercial neighbourhood that offers good value within the arrondissement, at prices 10 to 15% below the Denfert-Montparnasse area.
She wanted a two-room flat of 40 to 50 sqm, on an upper floor with a lift, bright, in a well-kept building. Our property hunter set up a targeted watch and worked her contacts among local agencies. Over four weeks of active searching, six properties were identified, four viewed by the property hunter and two presented to Sandrine.
The property found
The flat sits on the 4th floor of a 1960s building with a lift, 3 minutes’ walk from Alésia metro station on line 4. It has a 20 sqm living room with a large south-facing window, a 12 sqm bedroom on the courtyard side, a separate 7 sqm kitchen and a bathroom with WC, plus a 5 sqm cellar.
The general condition was good, with floors redone in 2020 and a recent bathroom. The kitchen needed replacing, an estimated 6,000 euros. The 45-unit co-ownership was healthy, with a well-funded works reserve and a façade renovation completed in 2022. Monthly charges of 180 euros covered the concierge and cold water.
The negotiation
The listed price of 440,000 euros put the property at 9,778 euros/sqm, in line with the Alésia average for a 4th floor with a lift. Our property hunter offered 410,000 euros, arguing from the kitchen works required, charges above average for buildings of the same type in the area, and comparable DVF transactions within a 200-metre radius.
The seller, already settled in his new home in the provinces, wanted to complete before the end of the month. Agreement came at 420,000 euros, a saving of 20,000 euros. Sandrine signed the preliminary contract with a smile she no longer tried to hide. Her first property purchase was becoming real after twelve years of hesitation.
What this mission illustrates
The property hunter’s role goes beyond finding properties. For Sandrine, the real obstacle was not the market but her own doubts. Our property hunter spent two weeks on emotional and financial support before the search even began. This human side of the profession is often underrated, yet it is essential for first-time buyers crossing a major life milestone alone. The search mandate formalises this commitment to full support.
The financial simulation removes the last barriers. By showing Sandrine that her loan payment of 1,850 euros would exceed her current rent by only 600 euros while building wealth, our property hunter turned an abstract anxiety into a rational decision. Preparing the mortgage is as much a decision-making tool as a financing one.
Buying in the neighbourhood you rent in is a real advantage. Sandrine knew the 14th intimately: the quiet streets, the shops, the possible nuisances. This local knowledge sped up the decision and removed the risk of post-purchase disappointment. Our property hunters encourage clients to draw on their experience as tenants when searching in their neighbourhood of residence.
Still hesitating about your first purchase? Our property hunters support you at your own pace, from reflection to signing. Contact us to discuss it.
Frequently asked questions
Is it too late to buy your first property in Paris at 39?
No. The average age of a first property purchase in Paris is 36, and many buyers take the step after 35. With a permanent contract and savings built up through years of renting, a 39-year-old first-time buyer can obtain a loan over 20 to 25 years on favourable terms. The key is having a deposit of 10 to 15% of the property price.
How can you overcome hesitation when considering your first property purchase?
Hesitation is normal and often linked to the fear of making a mistake. A property hunter helps to objectify the decision by providing concrete data: market prices, profitability compared to renting, appreciation projections. They also guide the client through the administrative and legal steps, which reduces the anxiety associated with the unknown.
Is it better to buy or continue renting in the 14th arrondissement in 2026?
In the 14th, a rent of 1,200 euros for a 45 sqm two-room flat comes to 14,400 euros a year, or 72,000 euros over 5 years. Buy the same property at 420,000 euros with a 25-year loan and the monthly payment excluding insurance is around 1,800 euros, of which a growing share repays capital. After 5 years, the owner has built up 80,000 to 90,000 euros in repaid capital, against zero for the tenant.
How much was negotiated on this two-room flat in Alésia, in the 14th?
On this mission the Home Select property hunter negotiated a 45 sqm two-room flat on the 4th floor with a lift, in the Alésia neighbourhood, from 440,000 to 420,000 euros, a 20,000 euro saving (4.5%), at 9,333 euros per sqm. The case rested on the kitchen to be replaced (6,000 euros), charges above the local average and comparable DVF transactions within a 200-metre radius. The mission lasted 6 weeks, two of them spent supporting the decision. Home Select averages 6% negotiation, paid only on success.
