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The French Property Hunters Federation

Home Select is a member of the French Property Hunters Federation (FCI), the leading professional body governing the property hunter profession in France. Membership commits us to a strict ethical charter covering transparency, the exclusive defence of the buyer, professional competence and confidentiality. Since it was founded in 2011, Home Select has placed ethics and high standards at the heart of every search, and our FCI membership is the concrete proof. A property hunter is the French equivalent of a buyer's agent: mandated and paid by the buyer alone, on success (see our English-speaking buyer's agent in Paris).

Parisian buildings along the Canal Saint-Martin

6%

avg. nego.

1 200+

clients

4,8/5

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The guarantee

What is the FCI and what does it guarantee?

The FCI (French federation of property hunters) brings together licensed hunters bound by a code of ethics, a professional licence and insurance. Home Select is a member: professional licence (carte T) no. CPI 7501 2018 000 028 939 issued by the Paris CCI, up-to-date professional liability insurance, 100% success-based fees since 2011.

What is the FCI?

The French Property Hunters Federation (FCI) is the professional organisation that brings together certified property hunters in France. Created to structure and professionalise a fast-growing profession, the FCI holds its members to a rigorous ethical charter. It guarantees buyers that the property hunter at their side follows precise rules on transparency, competence and independence. In 2026, the FCI gathers the most recognised firms in the sector and is the main point of reference for anyone looking for a trustworthy property hunter in Paris or the Ile-de-France.

  • Define and enforce an ethical charter shared by all members
  • Establish measurable quality standards to guarantee a consistent service
  • Represent the profession before public authorities and property bodies
  • Facilitate exchanges between members, particularly access to off-market properties
  • Organise continuing training for member property hunters
  • Monitor legal and regulatory developments for the benefit of the profession
  • Promote public recognition of the property hunter profession

Our commitment: Home Select is an active member of the FCI. Our 16 property hunters apply the profession's standards and help raise its profile. Day to day, this involvement translates into a level of quality that goes beyond the regulatory obligations: every search is conducted according to the principles of the FCI charter, from the first meeting to the signing at the notaire's office.

Why choose an FCI hunter?

An FCI hunter

  • Is bound by an ethical charter overseen by their peers
  • Meets defined quality standards that are regularly audited
  • Has access to the FCI off-market network for exclusive properties
  • Trains continuously on legal developments and the market
  • Guarantees the exclusive defence of the buyer's interests
  • Carries verified professional liability insurance and a financial guarantee

A non-FCI hunter

  • No ethical charter imposed or verified
  • Variable service quality with no external oversight
  • A more limited professional network, with no shared off-market access
  • No peer review and no disciplinary commission
  • Risk of a double mandate (representing seller and buyer at the same time)
  • Legal guarantees that are sometimes incomplete or hard to verify

Our six quality commitments

Complete transparency

Our fees of 2.5% of the purchase price (minimum €10,000 incl. VAT) are stated from the very first conversation. You receive detailed reporting at every stage: properties analysed, viewings carried out, market feedback and the progress of the negotiation.

Exclusive defence of the buyer

Never double-hatted: Home Select represents your interests alone, never the seller's. This independence sits at the heart of the FCI charter and guarantees that every piece of advice, every negotiation, serves your interest only.

Professional competence

Our 16 property hunters follow a continuing training programme covering property law, town planning, taxation and the technical analysis of properties. This standard of competence, written into the FCI charter, ensures expert guidance at every stage of your project.

Confidentiality

Your personal, financial and wealth information is strictly protected. No data is shared with third parties without your explicit consent. This duty of confidentiality, reinforced by the FCI charter, applies during and after the search.

Objective advice

We will advise you against a property if we believe it does not match your criteria, hides a defect or is overpriced. Our role is to protect you, not to close a transaction at any cost.

Insurance and guarantees

Professional liability insurance, a financial guarantee with an approved body and the professional 'T' card issued by the CCI: every legal protection is in place. These guarantees, verified on joining the FCI, cover the search from start to finish.

Professional property card and official documents

Our legal guarantees

Professional card

"T" card issued by the CCI, renewed every 3 years, certifying the right to practise as a property intermediary

Financial guarantee

Protection of funds entrusted by clients, taken out with an approved body in accordance with the Hoguet law

Professional liability

Professional liability insurance covering every search, advisory and negotiation assignment

Frequently asked questions

How can I verify that a hunter is an FCI member?
You can consult the member directory published by the French Property Hunters Federation. You can also ask the hunter directly for their FCI membership card, which is renewed each year. Finally, do check that the firm holds a valid professional 'T' card, professional liability insurance and a financial guarantee: these are compulsory prerequisites for joining the FCI.
What if a hunter does not abide by the charter?
The FCI has a disciplinary commission made up of independent professionals. Any breach of the charter can be reported by a client or by a fellow member. The commission examines the facts, hears the parties and can impose sanctions ranging from a warning to permanent exclusion. This internal oversight mechanism is one of the main advantages of engaging an FCI-certified property hunter.
Is a non-FCI hunter necessarily a poor choice?
Not necessarily. Some competent professionals have not yet joined the federation. FCI membership is nonetheless a verifiable mark of seriousness: the hunter has voluntarily chosen to commit to an ethical charter, to submit to peer review and to meet defined quality standards. For a buyer, it is an objective selection criterion that considerably limits the risks.
What are the fees of an FCI property hunter such as Home Select?
At Home Select, our fees come to 2.5% of the purchase price, with a minimum of €10,000 incl. VAT. They are due only on success, that is when the final deed is signed at the notaire's office. Nothing is charged upfront. This transparent pricing policy complies with the requirements of the FCI charter, which insists that fees be stated clearly from the first contact.
Does Home Select train new hunters?
Yes. Home Select regularly trains new property hunters in house, in line with FCI standards. The training path covers in-depth knowledge of the Paris market, search and negotiation techniques, the legal framework of property transactions and professional ethics. This rigorous training is what allows our team of 16 hunters to maintain a consistent level of service and a 4.8/5 Google rating.
How does the FCI differ from other property organisations?
The FCI (French Property Hunters Federation) stands apart from other organisations in the sector through its exclusive focus on the property hunter profession. Unlike generalist bodies that bring together estate agents, property managers and developers, the FCI concentrates on defending the buyer's interests. Its members undertake never to represent the seller, which removes any conflict of interest. This makes the FCI the reference body for anyone looking for a certified property hunter in Paris.
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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.

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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
Jean Mascla

Content reviewed by , Founder of Home Select, property hunter in Paris since 2011, and updated on .