Buying property in Paris as a foreigner

Buying an apartment in Paris as a foreigner is straightforward: France places no restrictions on non-residents, and the whole purchase can be handled remotely. With a dedicated property hunter, the search takes 45 days on average, against six months alone. Home Select has guided international buyers since 2011, and about 30% of our clients live abroad. One difference from the United States or the United Kingdom: in France the buyer pays the property hunter, not the seller. Our fee is charged only on success: nothing is due if no property is found.

6 %

avg. negotiation

1 200+

clients assisted

4,8/5

Google

Tell us about your search

Buying property in Paris as a foreigner with Home Select

avg. nego.

1 200+

clients

4,8/5

Google

Tell us about your search

Buying remotely

Can an expat buy a Paris apartment remotely?

Yes: there is no nationality restriction on buying property in France, and French tax residency is not required. 30% of Home Select clients are expats: bilingual French-English service, video visits, power of attorney to sign remotely, and a 2.5% fee paid only on success. Average search time: 45 days.

English-speaking hunters

Are there property hunters in Paris who speak English?

Yes. At Home Select, eleven property hunters work in English, from the first call through to signing at the notary. The firm also covers German, Spanish, Italian and Persian. An English-speaking buyer never has to bring their own translator or make sense of a French preliminary contract alone.

The English-speaking hunters on the team, with their working languages. Every profile is public: you know who will be handling your search before the first meeting.

The whole process in English

Brief, viewing reports, negotiation case, review of the preliminary contract: documents and conversations happen in your language, legal points included.

The other professionals too

We work with notaires and mortgage brokers used to international files, able to explain a conditional clause or a financing plan in English.

Time zones accounted for

Meetings set to your time zone, viewings streamed live on WhatsApp, FaceTime or Zoom, and written reports for those who cannot make the call.

A practice, not a claim

30% of the firm's clients live abroad: United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, the Emirates, Singapore. English is a daily working language here, not a listed option.

See the full team

Why a property hunter when you're buying from abroad

Off-market access

15 to 25% of Paris properties are never advertised online. Only a hunter based in the city, with a network of 15,000 partner agents, can reach them on your behalf.

The time difference

In Paris, well-priced properties sell within 24 to 48 hours. From abroad you cannot react fast enough. Your hunter acts in real time on the ground.

Unable to visit

Flying in for every viewing is not realistic. Your hunter visits, filters and sends a detailed video report for each shortlisted property.

Administrative complexity

Preliminary contract (compromis), conditions precedent, notaire, diagnostics: the French framework is dense and unlike most countries. We translate every step into plain English.

Financing for non-residents

A French mortgage as a non-resident needs a tailored application and a 20 to 30% deposit. Our partner brokers specialise in international profiles.

How to buy in Paris from abroad?

Video viewings

Live or recorded, with a complete tour of the property, the building and the neighbourhood.

Detailed reports

HD photos, video, a technical review of the property, the co-ownership accounts and a breakdown of the charges.

Remote negotiation

A reasoned offer, with price and terms negotiated on your behalf and no need to travel.

Signing by proxy

Preliminary contract and completion by proxy. We coordinate with the notary and your lawyer.

Specialist broker

An introduction to brokers who specialise in non-resident financing and will sharpen your application.

Refurbishment management

If the property needs work, we coordinate with architects and local contractors.

What you handle, what we handle

Buying from abroad does not mean handing everything over. Here is the real split on a typical search, and the four logistics points that come up in every conversation.

Your side

Set out the project and the budget at the first video meeting
Gather the documents the bank and the notary will ask for (list below)
Approve or rule out properties from the videos and viewing reports
Decide the offer price and how hard to negotiate
Sign, in person or by power of attorney

Our side

Source on the public market and off-market, and alert 15,000 partner agents
View every shortlisted property and film it with a detailed report
Analyse the co-ownership, service charges, energy rating and works needed
Draft the offer and run the negotiation (6% achieved on average)
Coordinate notary, broker and bank through to the signing of the deed

The logistics of buying remotely

Video meetings

The first meeting, the progress reviews and the viewing debriefs all happen by video, in English or French. No travel is needed to start a search.

Power of attorney

You can sign both the preliminary contract and the deed by notarised power of attorney, drawn up before a French notary, a consulate, or a local notary with an apostille. This is the route most of our non-resident clients take.

The notary

A notary is compulsory and works for the security of the transaction, not for either party. You may appoint your own: splitting the fee between two notaries costs the buyer nothing extra.

Banking

A French bank account is not required in order to buy, but most lending banks ask for one in practice and it makes the transfers simpler. Non-resident lending exists, usually with a higher deposit.

The documents to prepare

Gathering these before you start saves two to three weeks. Banks and notaries require sworn translations for documents issued outside France.

Identity and status

Valid passport or national identity card
Proof of address less than three months old in your country of residence
Marriage certificate, prenuptial agreement or civil partnership where relevant

Income and assets

Last three payslips, or accounts if self-employed
Last two tax returns from the country where you are tax resident
Bank statements for the last three months
A statement of your savings and outstanding loans

For a mortgage

Employment contract or letter of employment
Proof of deposit and where it came from
Amortisation schedule for any existing loans
Sworn translations of documents issued abroad

The complete guide to buying from abroad

Two searches run remotely

Real searches, with the country of residence, the budget, the area, the timeline and the result.

British family based in London

Country of residence: United Kingdom
Brief: Main home, ready before the family arrived
Property found: 4-room, 85 sqm with balcony, Grenelle (15th)
Price: €780,000, down from €820,000 asking
Negotiation: 4.9%, a €40,000 saving
Timeline: 9 weeks
Viewings: Filmed viewings, no trip before completion

Read the full case study

Couple based in Singapore

Country of residence: Singapore
Brief: Wealth-focused investment
Property found: 2-room, 45 sqm, 10th arrondissement
Price: €395,000
Negotiation: 5.9%, on a property sold with a sitting tenant
Gross yield: 4.1%
Viewings: Entirely remote, the couple never left Singapore

Read the full case study

Which expats use a property hunter?

Returning from abroad

Coming back to France and looking for your main home. We get ahead of your return.

Parisian pied-à-terre

For your regular stays in Paris. We focus on neighbourhoods that suit a second home.

Investing from abroad

Building your Paris portfolio. Yield analysis and turnkey lettings management.

Relocating to Paris

Your company is sending you to Paris. We find your home before you arrive.

International buyers

You are not French but want to buy in Paris. Full support in English from start to finish.

30%

expat clients

1,200+

buyers helped

English-speaking hunters

45 days

average search

The Paris market in 2026: what a foreign buyer should know

The median price in Paris stands at €9,900/sqm in 2026 (€11,100/sqm on average, DVF April 2026), ranging from about €8,200 to €14,500 depending on the arrondissement. Here are the price brackets in the areas most in demand among international buyers.

Area	Price per sqm	Neighbourhoods
6th arr.	€14,000 - 16,000/sqm	Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Luxembourg
7th arr.	€12,000 - 15,000/sqm	Invalides, Rue Cler, Gros-Caillou
8th arr.	€11,000 - 13,000/sqm	Golden Triangle, Champs-Élysées
16th arr.	€11,000 - 14,000/sqm	Trocadéro, Passy, Auteuil
9th arr.	€10,000 - 12,000/sqm	SoPi, Nouvelle Athènes

Sources: DVF/Cerema, updated April 2026

15 to 25% of Paris transactions happen off-market, with no online listing. Reaching these properties requires a hunter based in the city, which is decisive when you are buying from another time zone.

Home Select is featured in the 2026 comparison of property hunters for expatriates published by lepetitjournal.com, the reference outlet for French citizens living abroad. On the rules that apply to non-resident buyers, the reference source remains the French tax administration, whose International: an individual section is published on impots.gouv.fr; on the purchase process itself, the Notaires de France publish their property purchase guide.

Our fees: transparent and success-based

Rate

2.5% of the purchase price

Minimum

€10,000 incl. VAT

Terms

100% on success

First meeting

Free, no obligation

Unlike the United States, where the buyer's agent is paid by the seller, in France the buyer pays the property hunter. The negotiation we obtain (6% on average off the asking price) usually more than covers the fee: on an €800,000 property, that is €48,000 saved against €20,000 in fees.

View full fee schedule

They bought from abroad

"From Dubai, everything was handled remotely. The video viewings were extremely detailed. We signed by proxy and picked up the keys to our pied-à-terre in the 6th without a single trip back."

Alexandre & Sarah K.

Pied-à-terre from Dubai, 6th arrondissement

"Back from New York after eight years, we needed a family flat fast. Five weeks later, it was done. The hunter handled everything while we were still in the US."

Julie & Marc R.

Returning from abroad, 15th arrondissement

"As an American buying in Paris for the first time, the process seemed overwhelming. Home Select handled everything in English, from viewings to the notaire. Exceptional service."

James W.

Investment from London, 11th arrondissement

See all client reviews

Go further : The complete guide to buying in Paris from abroad ·Returning to Paris after years abroad ·An American buying property in France

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreigner buy property in Paris?

Yes, with no restrictions whatsoever. France places no conditions of nationality or residency on property ownership: you do not need a visa, a residence permit or French citizenship to own an apartment in Paris, and a non-resident buys under exactly the same conditions as a French resident. No extra tax or surcharge applies at purchase because you are foreign. The whole process can also be handled remotely, with live video viewings and signing by power of attorney. Around 30% of Home Select's clients live abroad when they buy, and the search takes 45 days on average.

Who pays the property hunter in France, the buyer or the seller?

In France the buyer pays the property hunter, unlike the United States or the United Kingdom where the buyer's agent is typically paid by the seller. At Home Select the fee is 2.5% of the purchase price (minimum €10,000 incl. VAT), charged only on success, and the 6% average negotiation usually more than offsets it.

Are there English-speaking property hunters in Paris?

Yes. At Home Select, eleven property hunters work in English, and the team also covers German, Spanish, Italian and Persian. The service runs in English from the first call through to signing at the notary: brief, viewing reports, negotiation case and review of the preliminary contract. Each hunter's languages are listed on their public profile on the team page. We also work with notaires and mortgage brokers used to international files, able to explain a conditional clause in English.

Can an English-speaking buyer handle the whole purchase in English, deeds included?

The search, the negotiation and every explanation happen entirely in English. The notarial deeds themselves are drawn up in French: that is a requirement of French law, not a limit of the firm. The notaire will provide a translation or read the deed with an interpreter if you ask, and your hunter walks you through every clause beforehand, so nothing is discovered on signing day.

Do I need to be a French tax resident to buy?

No. Non-residents are fully entitled to buy in France. The tax that applies to your purchase and any future rental income depends on the tax treaty between France and your country of residence; we connect you with bilingual notaires and tax advisers so nothing is left unclear.

How do I arrange a mortgage as a non-resident?

Several French banks lend to non-residents, typically with a 20 to 30% deposit and a debt ratio capped at 35% of income. Foreign-currency earnings are accepted with a discount. Secure an agreement in principle before the active search; our specialist broker partners sharpen international applications.

Can I buy without travelling to Paris?

Yes, and many of our clients do. Between live video viewings, detailed written reports and signing by proxy (procuration) at the notaire, both the preliminary contract (compromis de vente) and the final deed (acte authentique) can be completed entirely from abroad.

How do I buy in Paris from Geneva or elsewhere in Switzerland?

Exactly as from any other country, with one advantage: the time zone is the same, so live video viewings happen during your office hours. No restriction applies to Swiss residents, and the whole purchase runs remotely: mandate signed electronically, filmed viewings, offer, preliminary contract and final deed by power of attorney. French banks lend to non-residents with a 20 to 30% deposit, Swiss-franc income being counted with a discount. At Home Select, Switzerland is among the top countries of the international client base: the search takes 45 days on average, as it did for a couple based in Switzerland whom the firm assisted with a pied-à-terre in the 6th arrondissement.

What are the real costs of buying in Paris as a foreigner?

No cost is added because of nationality. Plan for the purchase price, notaire fees of 7 to 8% on an existing property (including 5.81% transfer duties) and a property hunter fee of 2.5% (minimum €10,000 incl. VAT, only on success). On an €800,000 flat that is roughly €60,000 in notaire fees and €20,000 for the hunter.

Will I pay French wealth tax on a Paris apartment?

Only above a threshold. The impôt sur la fortune immobilière (IFI) is charged to non-residents on their French real estate once its net taxable value passes €1.3 million, on a sliding scale beyond that, with outstanding mortgage debt deductible from the base. It looks at your French property alone, not at your worldwide wealth, so a single apartment valued below that threshold falls outside it. On a prime Paris purchase the question is worth settling before you sign rather than after: we introduce you to bilingual tax advisers at the start of the search.

What tax will I pay when I sell my Paris apartment?

French capital gains tax applies to any property that is not your main residence: 19% income tax plus 17.2% social levies on the gain. Taper relief reduces both the longer you hold, clearing the income tax after 22 years and the social levies after 30. Sellers resident in the EEA, the United Kingdom or Switzerland pay a reduced 7.5% solidarity levy in place of the 17.2%; residents of the United States do not qualify for that reduction. The France to United States tax treaty then relieves double taxation through a foreign tax credit, which is your own adviser's territory rather than ours.

Can I let my Paris apartment short-term when I am not using it?

Not freely, and this is the assumption that catches foreign buyers out most often. In Paris, short-stay letting is capped at 90 nights a year when the property is your main residence (Le Meur law, since 1 January 2025). For a second home, Paris requires a change-of-use authorisation granted against commercial compensation, which in practice puts it beyond reach for most individual owners. Conventional letting, furnished or unfurnished, carries no such limit. Tell us at the brief if rental income matters to you: it changes which buildings and which arrondissements are worth visiting.

How do I transfer the funds from abroad?

The money goes through the notaire's escrow account, which requires it to come from an account in the buyer's own name, with a traceable origin. Two things decide what the transfer really costs you. Timing: an international wire takes several working days and has to be started well before completion day, or signing is pushed back. Exchange rate: on a Paris purchase, the gap between a high-street bank's rate and a currency transfer specialist's runs into thousands of euros. We introduce you to our currency transfer, financing and tax partners, chosen for their experience of international files.

Trouvez votre appartement

Paris buyer's guide

The eight steps to buy in Paris, from financing to the notaire, explained for foreign buyers.

Searching on your behalf

Who can run the search for you, what each option can do, and what it costs.

English-speaking buyer's agent

Six verifiable checks to run on any Paris firm before you sign a search mandate.

Our fees

2.5% of the purchase price, paid only on success. A transparent fee structure.

Tell us about your project: your dedicated bilingual hunter calls you back within 24 hours.

Your project starts here

Let's talk through your search over 30 minutes. First call free, no commitment. Our 16 property hunters are ready to find your home in Paris.

Home Select, property hunter in Paris since 2011.

Tell us about your search See our fees

Who writes this page

Home Select is a property hunting firm founded in 2011 by Jean Mascla. 16 hunters cover Paris and the Paris region, working for buyers only. The figures quoted on this page come from our 1,200+ completed searches since 2011 and from public French land registry (DVF) data.

Verifiable credentials

Professional licence CPI 7501 2018 000 028 939 (CCI Paris Île-de-France)
Company registration SIREN 531223931 (RCS Paris 531 223 931)
Professional indemnity Suffren Assurances Associés
Membership Member of the FCI (French federation of property hunters)
Press coverage 20 Minutes (first in its top 5 Paris apartment hunters), Le Petit Journal, L'Essentiel de l'Éco

More about the firm

Content reviewed by Jean Mascla, Founder of Home Select, property hunter in Paris since 2011, and updated on August 15, 2026.