In an episode of This American Life recorded back in 2000, writer David Sedaris takes host Ira Glass on a tour of Paris—his adopted home.
Here’s how Glass introduces Sedaris…
“Two years ago, at the age of 41, barely speaking French, David Sedaris moved to Paris. He had no special feelings about France, no particular interest in the French. It would be the same if it’s Korea, he said to me, a sentence that, I think, if the French ever heard that he said it, they would deport him.”
The deeply cynical Sedaris also made a pact with himself to avoid all the usual tourist traps in the city. In pre-smoking-ban France, he says of the Louvre…
“Why come to Paris and go to the one place where you’re not allowed to smoke? As a matter of fact, it’s my goal to be the only person who’s come to Paris and has never set foot in the Louvre.”
I get Sedaris.
I’m not easily won over by a place. And, for me, Paris was a slow burner.
It didn’t wow me the first time.
Or the second.
Third time, though, I was converted…
Because I stumbled on Montmartre.
Now this part of the 18th arrondissement—where the LIOS Paris office is located—has become my favorite part of the city.
Here in Montmartre, there’s a strong village feel. Birthplace of the Moulin Rouge and the Chat Noir, no doubt this is a heavily touristed area. But real life happens here, too…
Sitting at an outdoor table in the evening—even in chilly October—you’ll see everything from serious runners with head torches dodging the hipster on an electric scooter… to young families chasing their kids on bicycles… to a troupe of priests trying to find a table for 30…
Soaking it all up during my visit to the Paris office last week, one question haunted me…
How much for a square meter here in the 18th arrondissement?
I’ll tell you the answer in a moment. But first, let’s take a look at how the Paris market is doing as a whole right now…
What’s Happening On The Paris Property Scene?
Unlike other major cities around the world where the pandemic has had a negative effect on prices (both buyers and sellers are being cautious), Paris is benefitting.
In 2019, pre-pandemic, a U.K. buyer bought a 16-room, 1,000-square-meter apartment in the 7th arrondissement. The 39-million-dollar sale became a new record for the city. This was a sign of what was to come…
The same year, the average property price broke the 10,000-euro mark. Prices in more than half of the city’s 20 arrondissements now sit above that average.
The most sought-after addresses are in the 1st, 6th, 7th, and 8th arrondissements. Limited demand (because if you own an apartment in one of these neighborhoods, you typically hold on to it) keeps prices high…
If you’re looking to make an investment in a rental property, note that the 6th arrondissement is the most expensive in the city. This is where all the tourists want to be, meaning a rental here will always find a tenant. The buy-in is hefty—currently averaging over 15,000 euros a square meter—but the occupancy rates can compensate.
More interesting from a cost-per-square-meter perspective can be the 11th (around the Place de la Republique), the 18th (Montmartre), the 19th (home to Buttes-Chaumont park and the popular Bassin de la Villette), and the 20th (one of the most multi-cultural areas of this city), all neighborhoods are benefitting from gentrification and becoming increasingly trendy. You could buy in the 18th or 19th for as little as 6,000 or 7,000 euros per square meter with a reasonable expectation for both rental cash flow and near-term appreciation of value.
Note that property moves quickly in the city. The average time to sell a property in Paris today is 42 days, but property in the most sought-after areas can have the sale agreed in as little as a week.
How To Recognize A Good Buy
If you’re thinking about entering the Paris property market, here are three critical criteria behind any good purchase…
- Location. This comes down to both the arrondissement and the neighborhood. Look at things like proximity to food shops and open markets… proximity to parks, gardens, and areas for jogging… and proximity to Metro stops and train stations… these things are important both for your own enjoyment and also for attracting renters…
- Characteristics. Carefully examine what the building offers—including the façade, the stairwell, the elevator (or lack thereof), a courtyard, etc.—as well as the apartment itself. Valuable characteristics in a Paris apartment include things like parquet, moldings, fireplaces, shutters, and original fixtures and hardware. A cave (underground storage place, intended originally and specifically for wine) is another good characteristic…
- Again, the most expensive addresses in Paris are found in the 6th, 7th, 1st, 5th, 3th, and 8th arrondissements. Prices are recorded and reported religiously and reliably by the Notaires in Paris, making it easy for you to get an idea of what you should spend for whatever and wherever, exactly, you want to buy…
Current Offerings From Montmartre
For our property samples, let’s stay in the 18th arrondissement, in and around Montmartre, where you’ll have a steady flow of tourists… and, again, per-square-meter prices are reasonable for the city.
Note that for this selection, I’ve stuck to property that has the charm visitors look for when renting in the city. You’ll find cheaper options, but most likely they will be soulless.
- A 54-square-meter apartment, close to the Lamarck-Caulaincourt Metro station. On the second floor, it has an open view over a courtyard, has been renovated throughout, and has an open kitchen and living area, bedroom with a shower room, laundry room/toilet, and cellar. Price: 634,000 euros. Click here for currency conversions at today’s exchange.
- An apartment with 65 meters of living space is spread over the second and third floors of a stone building. It has an entry hall, large living room (with a view over the square below), kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and two cellars. Price: 765,000 euros.
- A loft apartment with lots of natural light, accessed through a wooded courtyard. With 45 square meters of living space, it has an open kitchen/living/dining area, bedroom, bathroom, and mezzanine office. Option to rent as residential or commercial space. Price: 620,000 euros.
- An old courtyard shop that’s been converted to a two-room apartment. Close to the Metro, this 52-square-meter property has a kitchen, large living room with fireplace, bedroom, and two bathrooms. Home theater system with retractable screen included. Price: 550,000 euros.
- In the heart of Montmartre, close to a theater, a 46-square-meter apartment that’s on the ground level. It has open kitchen/living area, bedroom, bathroom, separate shower room, and cellar. It’s a quiet space with no neighbors above and has access to a small courtyard. Price: 460,000 euros.
- As a part-time foothold/rental, this studio may work… On the third floor of a building (without elevator), it’s 21 square meters and includes one bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Price: 251,000 euros.
Lynn Mulvihill