Buying an Apartment in Paris? Here’s Everything You Need To Know.

Welcome to the Ultimate Adventure – Champagne optional, Sanity Required

One of the top questions we get from readers and clients is:“I’m ready to buy an apartment in Paris—what’s the first step?”

First of all, bravo! You’re aiming for real estate in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Second, brace yourself. Buying property anywhere can be a little complicated. Buying in Paris, while sitting thousands of miles away, is like trying to assemble IKEA furniture blindfolded. In French.

If you’ve got unlimited time and a bottomless bank account, maybe you can do it all yourself. But for the rest of us mere mortals? Enter: buyer’s agents. They’re your secret weapon for navigating France’s famously complicated real estate process and avoiding a meltdown. The Buyer’s Agent does the heavy lifting, so you can focus on the fun stuff, like deciding if your pied-à-terre will have a view of the Eiffel Tower or a boulangerie within sniffing distance.

Here are five key things you need to know before diving in.

5 Things To Know ABout Buying Property in Paris

1. Paris Doesn’t Believe in an MLS… So, Grab a Map and a Magnifying Glass

If you’re used to real estate in the U.S. or other places with a Multiple Listing Service (MLS), welcome to Paris! Here, there’s no such thing. Instead, you’ve got 3,500+ real estate agencies all doing their own thing, each clutching their exclusive listings like secret family recipes.

Oh, and properties can be listed with more than one agency… which sounds helpful, but usually just means you’ll fall in love with a place and then find out someone else snapped it up while you were still figuring out how to pronounce arrondissement.

A buyer’s agent acts like your personal detective. They sift through all the chaos and use their insider contacts, including to find off-market deals. They give you a shot at finding The One before someone else does. They also keep you from wasting time on properties that turn out to be money pits (or have neighbors who practice the accordion at midnight).

2. In France, Agents Work for the Seller… Not You. (C’est vrai!)

Plot twist: French real estate agents work for the seller, not you, the buyer. Their job? Get the seller the best deal and move that apartment fast. They’re not paid to make sure you get a sweet deal or avoid buying a flat that used to be a nightclub.

And here’s the kicker: You usually pay their fee, which hovers around 5% of the purchase price. Sound unfair? That’s why having your own buyer’s agent is a game-changer. They’re in your corner, giving you the full picture instead of the curated brochure version, thanks to their privileged intel.

3. No Bidding Wars… But Don’t Pop the Champagne Just Yet

Forget the frenzied bidding wars you hear about in other markets. Parisian sellers usually avoid them. But just because you offer full asking price doesn’t mean they have to sell to you.

If the property is being sold through an agency, the seller can still say non, merci, even at full price. If they’re selling as a private individual, though, they’re legally required to accept a full-price offer. Complicated? Bien sûr! That’s why you need someone who speaks fluent real estate.

4. No Home Inspections… But You Do Get a Pile of Diagnostics

In France, the seller foots the bill for a series of required property diagnostics before the place even hits the market. These reports cover everything from energy efficiency to lead paint to whether you’re inheriting a secret termite colony.

They’re included in the preliminary contract and are helpful, but they’re mostly “FYI” documents. If the place needs work, the seller isn’t required to fix anything. So if you find out the energy rating is as bad as your high school report card, you’re on your own.

5. It’s All Handled by Notaires…

In France, notaires are the legal wizards who oversee real estate transactions. Think of them as a combo lawyer, mediator, and referee—all rolled into one. Once your offer is accepted, a notaire makes sure everything is legit and above board.

Usually, the notaire drafts the sales contract (promesse de vente or compromis de vente). The notaire’s version usually gives you more protection than one whipped up by a seller’s agent.

Pro tip: Bring your own notaire to the party! They’ll represent your interests and split the fee with the seller’s notaire. And the fee? Expect to pay around 7-8% of the purchase price, which includes the stamp duty tax that the notaire pays on your behalf, unless you’re buying brand-new construction, which comes with lower fees. (Something to tell your accountant!)

Final Thoughts (and a Toast to Your Future Parisian Life)

Buying an apartment in Paris isn’t for the faint of heart. But with a little guidance, the right buyer’s agent, and a notaire who knows their stuff, you’ll be picking out curtains and sipping café crème on your balcony in no time.

Written by HiP Paris. Dreaming of buying property in France but don’t know where to start? Looking for off market-deals? Intimidated by searching in a foreign language? Found an apartment you’re dying to view? We’re excited to announce our new property search service. Our expert team helps you secure the perfect home. We connect you with top professionals for every step of the process—from search to purchase. Contact us at info@hipparis.com to get started.

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