Paris, France: Real Estate Sales

True, Paris is known as the city of Lights but it is also the city of lovers, linguistics, architecture, history, culture, arts, and gastronomy. The Seine River cuts across Paris and divides it into the right and left banks and the city is further divided into twenty districts. Most structures of central Paris dates back to the thirteenth century or further beyond and the more modern buildings are found in its suburban outskirts that tend to be much calmer, have more greenery and their properties are larger and more affordable. Commuting time from the suburbs to central Paris and its business areas by car can take over an hour but with public transportation it is rarely more than forty-five minutes.

So who would not want to live in the exciting and ever-bubbly environment of Paris or its quieter suburbs with Paris only minutes away? However, finding a property in Paris is not easy. The properties are in high demand, the prices are relatively lower than many other European capitals, and the competition is brutally fierce.

Another very important factor that adds to the hardship of hunting for your ideal property is the fact that there are no multiple listing systems in place in France. Each one of Paris’ hundreds of real estate agencies has its own listing and one agency will not show properties of another agency. To make the most of your search you would need to go to each agency separately and that cannot possibly be an easy task.

Keeping all that in mind, I would advise you against attempting to search on your own, unless you have an exceptionally large network of local people and businesses that could be of assistance. Otherwise, you would do much better with professionals who know how to do it effective and efficiently.

The city of Paris has many property search consultants. If you decide to follow my advice and work with a property search consulting firm, please make sure that you select one that has been in business for a long time, that you understand the agreement that you will be signing with them, and that you are very specific about your needs, preferences and expectations. Also, make sure that the firm of your choice is operating legally and carries the required insurances and licenses for their business.

These consultants are not real estate agents who sell property but they work with buyers and solely represent buyers to maximize their search for family and luxury apartments, lofts, or investment properties. These consultants charge for their services, of course, but they will save you a whole lot of time, stress, aggravation and disappointments:

• They target only the properties that fit your needs and pre-screen and preview them before arranging for your viewing.
• They have close affiliation with real estate agencies and contacts that give them access to private listings before they even make it into the market. Furthermore, these firms have resources that are not available to the general public. They do not share in the real estate profits because their commitment is to you, the buyer, not the seller.
• They offer assistance to you during negotiation to ensure that you get the best price and conditions possible.
• If you like, they will continue to guide you through the entire buying process and will then set you up with legal, financial and insurance advisors.
• They can also direct and introduce you to top designers, trade and craft people, architects and engineers.

Happy hunting through Paris, France real estate sales.

Posted in France Vacation Guide