Nora, 25 years old, was looking for her first apartment in the Tolbiac-Chevaleret area of the 13th arrondissement of Paris. Budget: 235,000 euros. After a year of solo searching and a failed offer due to a succession dispute, she entrusted her search to Frédéric Girard, property hunter at Home Select. Result: a 34 m2 two-bedroom apartment on a courtyard, with elevator, found off-market in just a few weeks. Price: 240,000 euros.
Mission details
- Property hunter: Frédéric Girard
- Area: Paris 13th, Tolbiac-Chevaleret neighborhood
- Property type: 2-bedroom, 34 m2, courtyard-facing, with elevator
- Budget: 235,000 euros (final: 240,000 euros)
- Off-market property: yes
- Search duration: a few weeks
- Buyer profile: First-time buyer, 25 years old, referred by a former client
The project: leaving the family home
Nora lived in the family house in the Paris suburbs. An unexpected sum of money allowed her to consider a first purchase. She wanted a 2-bedroom of 28 to 30 m2 with a separate bedroom, in a quiet setting, within a precise area: the north of the 13th arrondissement, Tolbiac-Chevaleret neighborhood, less than 40 minutes by public transport from her workplace near Antony.
For a year, she visited properties on her own. Many disappointments, one offer written on impulse, but the property was withdrawn from sale due to a succession dispute. A friend, a former Home Select client, recommended that she contact Jean Mascla.
The strength of the internal network
Jean Mascla assigned the case to Frédéric Girard. Frédéric does not specialize in the 13th, but that is precisely where the Home Select network comes into play: he contacted his fellow property hunters, gathered their best estate agent contacts in the area, and sent a presentation of the case to each one.
Six pre-viewings were organized. None was truly conclusive. Two apartments were shown to Nora in person, without triggering an offer. The search continued.
The off-market property: an agent from the network calls back
An estate agent contacted for this case came back to Frédéric with a property that was not yet listed. A 34 m2 two-bedroom on a courtyard, with elevator, in the exact neighborhood Nora was targeting. The price of 240,000 euros slightly exceeded the initial budget by 5,000 euros, but the value for money was excellent for the area: 7,060 euros/m2 where the average was around 8,000 euros.
Frédéric sent the listing to Nora. A viewing was quickly organized. On leaving, Nora made an offer at the asking price. The estate agent was satisfied: one viewing, one offer at asking price, case closed.
Minor renovations before moving in
The apartment needed a refresh and the kitchen required refurbishment. Nora’s father committed to doing the work himself to keep costs down on this first purchase.
What this mission illustrates
The network between hunters accelerates everything. Frédéric had no contacts in the 13th. Within 24 hours, thanks to his Home Select colleagues, he had a complete contact book for the area. The final property came directly from an agent contacted through this network.
Small budgets deserve a property hunter. In the segment of 2-bedroom apartments under 250,000 euros in Paris, competition is fierce and properties sell before being published. The off-market network makes all the difference.
Word of mouth remains the top channel. Nora came to Home Select through a friend’s recommendation. After a year of frustrating solo searching, a few weeks were enough with a property hunter.
Planning your first purchase in Paris? Entrust your search to our property hunters: 1,200+ buyers assisted since 2011.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum budget to buy a 2-bedroom apartment in Paris in 2026?
A 2-bedroom apartment of 25 to 35 m2 in Paris sells for between 200,000 and 350,000 euros depending on the arrondissement and the condition of the property. The 13th, 19th and 20th arrondissements offer the most accessible entry prices, between 6,500 and 8,500 euros/m2. The 13th arrondissement, particularly the Tolbiac-Chevaleret area, offers an excellent price-to-transport ratio with metro Line 14.
Can a property hunter find an apartment on a small budget?
Yes. At Home Select, we assist buyers starting from 200,000 euros. On small budgets, the advantage of a property hunter is decisive: well-located studios and 2-bedroom apartments sell within hours, often before being listed online. The hunter's professional network provides access to these off-market properties that a solo buyer would never see.
How does the internal network between property hunters work at Home Select?
The 16 Home Select property hunters share their estate agent contacts internally by neighborhood. When a hunter receives a mandate outside their usual area, they reach out to their colleagues to immediately access the right contacts in the targeted neighborhood. This internal network multiplies sources and accelerates the search.
