A 27-year-old engineer, a first-time buyer, purchased his first flat in Paris: a 38 sqm two-room flat in the Jourdain neighbourhood of the 20th arrondissement, for 310,000 euros, or 8,158 euros/sqm. The Home Select property hunter negotiated it 6.1% below the listed price of 330,000 euros. The mission lasted five weeks.
Mission summary
- Property hunter: Home Select
- Area: Paris 20th, Jourdain neighbourhood
- Property type: two-room flat, 2nd floor without a lift
- Budget: 340,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 310,000 euros (listed at 330,000 euros)
- Surface area: 38 sqm (Carrez law)
- Search duration: 5 weeks
- Buyer profile: IT engineer, 27 years old, single, permanent contract
The project
Raphaël, an engineer on a permanent contract at a tech company in Boulogne-Billancourt, was renting a room in a flatshare in the 11th arrondissement for 750 euros a month. On a net salary of 3,400 euros and with a deposit of 55,000 euros built from a family gift and four years of saving, he wanted to buy his first property: a two-room flat that would build wealth while cutting his monthly housing costs.
Raphaël knew little of the Parisian property market. His first attempts alone had discouraged him: misleading listings, properties gone before the viewing, and the difficulty of judging a flat’s real condition. A friend who had used Home Select for his own purchase suggested he turn to a property hunter.
The search strategy
The property hunter steered Raphaël towards the 20th arrondissement, which he had not first considered. She set out the strengths of the Jourdain neighbourhood: village atmosphere, local shops, Parc de Belleville a few steps away, line 11 metro 3 minutes away, and above all prices per sqm 15 to 25% below the neighbouring 11th and 10th.
The brief was set to the budget: a two-room flat of 35 to 42 sqm, lower or middle floor, since he did not need a lift, in good condition or needing only light works, in a healthy co-ownership. The property hunter set up daily monitoring and called on her partner agents in the neighbourhood. Over five weeks she shortlisted seven properties, viewed five and kept two for viewings with Raphaël.
The property found
The flat sits on the 2nd floor of a 1900 suburban-style building, without a lift, on a quiet street in Jourdain. It has a bright 18 sqm living room with two street-facing windows, an 11 sqm courtyard-facing bedroom, quiet, a separate 5 sqm kitchen and a shower room with WC. Ceiling height 2.80 m, original parquet, roller shutters.
The property was in average condition: tired paintwork, a functional but dated kitchen, an adequate shower room. The property hunter put the refresh budget at 8,000 euros for a full repaint and minor repairs. The building was well kept, with renovated common areas and no major works voted. Monthly charges of 90 euros were very reasonable.
The negotiation
The listed price was 330,000 euros, or 8,684 euros/sqm, slightly above the Jourdain median for a 2nd floor without a lift. The property hunter put in an offer at 300,000 euros, arguing from the works needed, the lack of a lift, and recent transactions on the same street, where a similar two-room flat had sold at 7,900 euros/sqm two months earlier according to DVF data.
The seller, who had already turned down a low offer from an investor, warmed to Raphaël’s profile: a motivated young professional keen to settle in the neighbourhood. Agreement came at 310,000 euros, a saving of 20,000 euros. For Raphaël, this cut his monthly loan payment by 95 euros over 25 years.
What this mission illustrates
The property hunter also supports first-time buyers on small budgets. Professional expertise is not reserved for large budgets. For a first-time buyer the pitfalls are more numerous, from fragile co-ownerships to hidden defects and overpricing, and the cost of a mistake is proportionally heavier. The property hunter spared Raphaël three problematic properties ruled out after analysis, including one with a façade renovation of 12,000 euros per unit voted at the general assembly. This kind of check is second nature to an experienced property hunter.
Widening the search perimeter creates opportunities. Raphaël had not considered the 20th arrondissement. By walking him through the Jourdain neighbourhood, the property hunter opened up a market where his budget bought a proper, bright two-room flat, where the 11th would have confined him to a dark studio. Detailed knowledge of each arrondissement is a decisive advantage.
Every euro negotiated counts when the budget is tight. The 20,000 euros saved came to 36% of Raphaël’s initial deposit. Spread over a 25-year loan, they cut the monthly payment by 95 euros, making the project more comfortable. This is why preparing the mortgage in advance and negotiating rigorously are the two pillars of a successful first purchase.
Are you a first-time buyer starting out on your first property purchase in Paris? The Home Select property hunter and our team guide you at every step. Contact us to get started.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to buy in Paris at 27 on a single salary?
Yes, under certain conditions. With a stable permanent contract, a net salary of 3,000 euros and a deposit of 40,000 to 60,000 euros, a first-time buyer can borrow between 230,000 and 280,000 euros. Targeting the 19th and 20th arrondissements, where prices range from 7,500 to 9,000 euros/sqm, makes a two-room flat of 30 to 40 sqm attainable.
What are the advantages of the 20th arrondissement for a first-time buyer in 2026?
The 20th offers the most accessible prices in central Paris, with a median of 8,200 euros/sqm in 2026, lively local life in Ménilmontant, Jourdain and Belleville, a dense metro network on lines 2, 3, 3bis, 9 and 11, and medium-term appreciation potential tied to urban renewal projects and the area's growing appeal.
Is a property hunter worthwhile for a small budget?
Particularly so. When the budget is tight, every euro counts. The property hunter negotiates on average 4 to 8% off the listed price, which can mean 15,000 to 30,000 euros saved on a 300,000 euro property. They also head off costly mistakes, fragile co-ownerships, hidden works, property defects, that first-time buyers do not always spot.
How much was negotiated on this two-room flat in the Jourdain neighbourhood?
On this mission the Home Select property hunter negotiated a 38 sqm two-room flat on the 2nd floor in the Jourdain neighbourhood from 330,000 to 310,000 euros, a 20,000 euro saving (6.1%), at 8,158 euros per sqm. The case rested on the property's condition (8,000 euros of refresh works), the lack of a lift and a comparable street sale at 7,900 euros per sqm. This saving represents 36% of the buyer's deposit and cuts his monthly payment by 95 euros over 25 years. Home Select averages 6% negotiation, paid only on success.
