A 28-year-old professional, a first-time buyer, was looking for a two-room flat with outdoor space in north-east Paris on a budget of 330,000 euros. In 5 weeks the Home Select property hunter found a 38 sqm property with a 12 sqm terrace in the 19th arrondissement and negotiated it to 312,000 euros, or 8,211 euros/sqm.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: the Home Select property hunter
- Search area: 19th and 20th arrondissements of Paris
- Property type: two-room flat, 35-45 sqm, with balcony or terrace
- Budget: 330,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 312,000 euros (-5.5%)
- Search duration: 5 weeks
- Buyer profile: Young professional, 28 years old, permanent contract, first-time buyer
The project
Marion, 28, a digital strategy consultant, earned 42,000 euros gross a year and had built up a deposit of 55,000 euros through five years of disciplined saving and a family gift of 20,000 euros. Renting a 22 sqm studio in the 10th arrondissement at 890 euros/month, she wanted to turn her rent into loan repayments and gain a proper living space.
Her non-negotiable was outdoor space, however modest. After months cooped up in a studio, Marion had made a balcony or terrace an absolute criterion. North-east Paris, the 19th and 20th arrondissements, gave the best chance of finding a two-room flat with outdoor space within her budget.
The search strategy
The property hunter began by validating the financing with a partner mortgage broker. The loan certificate for 275,000 euros over 25 years, a monthly payment of 1,250 euros at a debt ratio of 33%, combined with the 55,000 euros deposit, set the real budget at 330,000 euros including notary fees, or about 305,000 euros net to the seller.
The search targeted two zones in the 19th: the Buttes-Chaumont area, dearer but in high demand, and the Danube-Place des Fêtes neighbourhood, more affordable, with 1970s-1990s buildings with balconies. Recent and 1970s buildings have outdoor space far more often than the Haussmann stock. The property hunter filtered 18 properties and viewed 5.
The property found
The flat sits on rue de Crimée, on the top floor, the 6th, of a 1980s building with a lift. The 38 sqm two-room flat has a bright 20 sqm living room opening onto a 12 sqm south-west-facing terrace, an 11 sqm bedroom, an open-plan kitchen and a shower room. The terrace looks out over Parc des Buttes-Chaumont and the rooftops of the 19th.
The C energy rating, good for a building of this era, and the original double glazing, in good condition, kept the works to a cosmetic refresh of paint and bathroom flooring, an estimated 4,000 euros. The well-run 48-unit co-ownership had moderate charges of 180 euros/month, covering the lift and concierge.
The negotiation
The listed price was 330,000 euros, or 8,684 euros/sqm. The property hunter built the negotiation on three points: the worn bathroom floor, a risk of future water damage; the paint to be refreshed throughout; and a price per sqm slightly above the neighbourhood average for a 1980s building with no architectural character.
The offer of 305,000 euros drew a counter of 320,000 euros. The final agreement at 312,000 euros (8,211 euros/sqm) was helped by Marion’s profile: the seller, an investor keen to sell quickly and reinvest, valued the strength of the financing file and the absence of a chain, with no property to sell first.
What this mission illustrates
A first-time buyer can buy in Paris with the right support. Many young professionals think Paris is out of reach. With a deposit of 15 to 20% and a properly set budget, the 19th and 20th arrondissements remain within reach of first-time buyers. The property hunter makes every euro count by targeting undervalued properties. Our article on mortgages in 2026 sets out the current conditions.
Targeting 1970s-1990s buildings for outdoor space. Terraces and balconies are rare in the Haussmann stock but common in more recent buildings. The property hunter steers the search towards the property types most likely to fit the brief, even if that means stepping away from the classic image of the Parisian flat.
A solid financing file beats overbidding. Marion could not afford to overbid. But her solid financing file, a validated loan certificate, a verified deposit and no sale condition, convinced the seller to choose certainty over a higher price. The property hunter makes a point of this for first-time buyers.
Are you a first-time buyer in Paris? Contact Home Select: our property hunters find your first home at the best price.
Frequently asked questions
Can you buy alone in Paris at 28 with a salary of 42,000 euros?
Yes, under certain conditions. With a net salary of 2,800 euros/month, a deposit of 50,000 euros and a rate of 3.2% over 25 years, borrowing capacity reaches around 280,000 euros, for a total budget of 330,000 euros. In the 19th or 20th arrondissement, that buys a two-room flat of 35 to 45 sqm.
Is the PTZ available for a purchase in the 19th arrondissement in 2026?
In 2026, the interest-free loan (PTZ) is available in zones A and A bis (including Paris) for first-time buyers meeting income conditions. For a single person, the income cap is 49,000 euros in zone A bis. The maximum PTZ amount finances up to 40% of the purchase price for new builds and 20% for existing properties with works.
Why should a first-time buyer use a property hunter?
A first-time buyer often lacks the benchmarks to evaluate a property, negotiate effectively and anticipate hidden costs (works, co-ownership charges, property tax). The property hunter secures every step, from viewing to signing. At Home Select, the negotiation achieved generally offsets the property hunter's fees.
