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Locations - Paris

Unique experience

Living in Paris as a foreigner is a unique experience, such is the combination of a compact and well-connected city, with the spirit and elegance of the native Parisians. Its reputation as a city of romance is deserved, given its wealth of museums, opera, theatres, cafés and restaurants, all set on the famous River Seine. It is also easily and cheaply accessible from the UK, by both road and by air.

Limited supply of property

Paris is divided into the ‘le Peripherique’ which is the centre of the city, made up of twenty ‘arondissements’ (the city’s administrative divisions), and the ‘banlieue’, meaning the suburbs. The two areas are permanently divided by a ring road which prevents expansion of the city. With the supply of city centre property limited in this way, demand for centrally located properties has led to a rapid increase in prices over recent years, and a fast moving market where good properties do not remain on the market for long. Foreign buyers have driven up prices in some areas, and in some districts one in three purchases is made by a foreigner.

Sought-after districts

The arrondissements that are most sought-after by foreigners are the sixth and the seventh (Rive Gauche). Other exclusive areas include the fourth (Le Marais, Ile St Louis), sixth (St Germain Des Prés), seventh (Champs De Mars, Tour Eiffel), eighth (Triangle D’Or, Avenue Montaigne) and sixteenth (Trocadéro et Triangle D’or de la Muette).

Choice of properties

From the perspective of the property buyer, there are plenty of opportunities. Many of the properties on the market will be apartments in old buildings, and while they are often beautifully-designed buildings with dramatic high ceilings, they are rarely equipped with lifts to the upper floors or any form of air conditioning, limiting the rental potential. The same applies for the size of apartments; over 100 sq. m. is considered large and such properties are highly sought-after, particularly in ‘le Peripherique’.

New developments

Some new apartment developments are beginning to spring up around the outskirts of the city, and the Val de Marne area, not far from Disneyland Paris, is becoming interesting as an investment option.

Related items

Documents and Reports

	France property investment report (447Kb)
	France property buying guide (1Mb)
	France country guide (991Kb)
Documents and Reports

Other related pages

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