Nora, 25, was looking for her first flat in the Tolbiac-Chevaleret area of the 13th arrondissement of Paris, with a budget of 235,000 euros. After a year searching on her own and a failed offer that fell through over a succession dispute, she entrusted the search to Frédéric Girard, property hunter at Home Select. The result: a 34 m² two-room flat on a courtyard, with lift, found off-market in just a few weeks, at 240,000 euros.
Mission details
- Property hunter: Frédéric Girard
- Area: Paris 13th, Tolbiac-Chevaleret neighbourhood
- Property type: two-room flat, 34 m², courtyard-facing, with lift
- 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 put a first purchase within reach. She wanted a two-room flat of 28 to 30 m² with a separate bedroom, in a quiet setting, within a precise area: the north of the 13th, around Tolbiac-Chevaleret, less than 40 minutes by public transport from her workplace near Antony.
For a year she viewed properties on her own. There were many disappointments and one offer written on impulse, only for the property to be withdrawn from sale over a succession dispute. A friend, a former Home Select client, suggested she contact Jean Mascla.
The strength of the internal network
Jean Mascla assigned the case to Frédéric Girard. Frédéric does not specialise in the 13th, but that is exactly 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 each one a summary of the case.
Six pre-viewings were arranged. None was truly conclusive. Two flats were shown to Nora in person, neither prompting an offer. The search went on.
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 not yet listed: a 34 m² two-room flat on a courtyard, with lift, in the exact neighbourhood Nora was targeting. At 240,000 euros it ran 5,000 euros over the initial budget, but the value was excellent for the area, 7,060 euros/m² against an average of around 8,000 euros.
Frédéric sent the listing to Nora and a viewing was quickly arranged. 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 flat needed a refresh and the kitchen needed redoing. Nora’s father took on the work himself to keep costs down on this first purchase.
What this mission illustrates
The network between hunters speeds everything up. Frédéric had no contacts in the 13th. Within 24 hours, thanks to his Home Select colleagues, he had a full contact book for the area, and the final property came directly from an agent reached through it.
Small budgets deserve a property hunter. Among two-room flats under 250,000 euros in Paris, competition is fierce and properties sell before they are published. The off-market network makes all the difference.
Word of mouth remains the leading channel. Nora came to Home Select on a friend’s recommendation. After a year of frustrating searching alone, 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 two-room flat in Paris in 2026?
A two-room flat 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, and the Tolbiac-Chevaleret area in particular, offers an excellent price-to-transport ratio thanks to metro Line 14.
Can a property hunter find a flat on a small budget?
Yes. At Home Select, we assist buyers from 200,000 euros. On small budgets, the advantage of a property hunter is decisive: well-located studios and two-room flats sell within hours, often before being listed online. The hunter's professional network opens 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 neighbourhood. 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 neighbourhood. This internal network multiplies sources and accelerates the search.
