Literature-loving retirees: an apartment facing Saint-Sulpice negotiated to 1.15 million euros

A retired couple from Bordeaux, passionate about literature and cultural life, were looking for a 4-room apartment in the Saint-Sulpice quarter of Paris with a budget of 1.2 million euros. Catherine Ziegler, property hunter at Home Select, identified an 85 m² apartment on the 3rd floor of an 18th-century building in 8 weeks, negotiated to 1.15 million euros, saving 100,000 euros on the initial asking price.

Mission summary

• Property hunter: Catherine Ziegler, Home Select
• Search area: 6th arrondissement, Saint-Sulpice / Odeon / Luxembourg quarter
• Property type: 4-room apartment, 75-90 m²
• Budget: 1,200,000 euros
• Negotiated price: 1,150,000 euros (-8%)
• Search duration: 8 weeks
• Buyer profile: Retired couple, primary residence, sale of a property in Bordeaux

The project

Pierre and Francoise, 68 and 65, had lived in Bordeaux for thirty years in a house that had become too large. Their children settled in Paris, their passion for theatre, bookshops and the Left Bank made the move a natural step. They had sold their Bordeaux house for 820,000 euros and had additional savings, bringing their total budget to 1.2 million euros including renovation.

The Saint-Sulpice quarter held everything that attracted them: proximity to the Jardin du Luxembourg, a high density of bookshops, the Odeon and Vieux-Colombier theatres, the organic market on boulevard Raspail. They wanted a bright apartment with character, in a period building, with no ground-floor requirement despite their age, as Pierre and Francoise were in excellent physical shape.

The search strategy

Catherine Ziegler has known the 6th arrondissement for more than fifteen years. The market is distinctive: low turnover, sellers often emotionally attached to their property, and a high proportion of off-market transactions. The 1.2 million euro budget including renovation meant targeting partly refurbished properties, as perfect-condition apartments in this area exceed 15,000 euros/m².

The property hunter activated three channels simultaneously: the network of Left Bank specialist estate agents, the notarial offices of the 6th for inheritance sales, and building concierges in the Saint-Sulpice/Odeon perimeter. Over 8 weeks, 11 properties were shortlisted and 5 viewed with the buyers, who travelled from Bordeaux for each grouped viewing session organised by Catherine.

The property found

The apartment is located on rue Ferou, a discreet street connecting place Saint-Sulpice to the Jardin du Luxembourg. It occupies the 3rd floor of an 18th-century building with 12 units and a cut-stone facade. The 85 m² property comprises a 32 m² double reception room with a period fireplace, two bedrooms, a bathroom needing modernisation, and a closed kitchen.

The reception room windows look onto the street with a view of the towers of Saint-Sulpice. The original Versailles parquet, mouldings and 3.10 m ceiling heights are major heritage features. The DPE rating of E and the 1980s bathroom justified an estimated renovation budget of 50,000 euros.

The negotiation

The property was listed at 1,250,000 euros, or 14,706 euros/m². Catherine structured the negotiation around several arguments: the DPE E rating requiring insulation work (mandatory energy audit for co-ownerships), the bathroom needing complete refurbishment, and the absence of a cellar, a standard feature in buildings of this calibre.

The initial offer of 1,100,000 euros was refused. The seller, an heir under pressure from an estate settlement, counter-proposed at 1,180,000 euros. Catherine negotiated a final agreement at 1,150,000 euros, or 13,529 euros/m². Compared to the market price for a renovated property in the quarter (15,000-16,000 euros/m²), the deal was coherent: after 50,000 euros of works, the couple acquired a property valued around 14,100 euros/m², below market rate.

What this mission illustrates

Targeting inheritance sales in premium quarters. In the 6th arrondissement, estate settlements represent a significant share of transactions. Heirs, often pressed by tax deadlines, accept discounts of 5 to 10% for a quick sale. A property hunter connected to the quarter’s notaires accesses these opportunities in advance.

Organising viewings for out-of-town buyers. Pierre and Francoise could not view properties on a rolling basis from Bordeaux. Catherine grouped viewings into half-day sessions during their Paris visits, filtering out non-matching properties upstream. This approach is standard for our remote buyer clients.

Factoring renovation into the overall calculation. A 1.2 million euro budget including works offers more flexibility than 1.2 million for a turnkey property. The property hunter accurately estimates renovation costs before making the offer, avoiding post-purchase surprises. Our guide on viewing checkpoints details this methodology.

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Considering a purchase in the 6th arrondissement? Contact Catherine Ziegler and the Home Select team: we know every street in the Saint-Sulpice quarter.