HOUSES AND PROPERTY FOR SALE IN Paris - Ile-de-France

Paris: the city of lights, the city of love, the fashion capital of the world. Whatever name you give it, you can expect to be wowed. For sure, Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and renowned for its famous landmarks. There is only one place to start, the Eiffel Tower is the tallest structure in Paris, and it dominates the landscape. Constructed as the centrepiece of the 1889 World’s Fair it is a global cultural icon and welcomes around 6m visitors a year.

A list of the other “must see” landmarks would be as long as your arm. The Arc de Triomphe is the bookend at the top of the Champs-Elysée, built in 1806 it is one of the biggest arches in the world and the view from the top of the monument is superb. The view from the Sacré-Coeur, atop the hill of Montmartre is not too shabby either. This architectural masterpiece has four minor domes that encircle the huge main dome of the Basilica.

Leggett has an office in the heart of Paris, close to Notre Dame cathedral, the most visited monument in the city. It took almost 200 years to complete, and when you visit you will understand why. The intricate décor and glorious stained-glass windows have seen weddings, coronations, and funerals of the French aristocracy for centuries.

Or how about the Louvre, or the Palais Garnier, or the Musée d’Orsay, or the designer shops, or the historic markets. The list is endless – expect to always want to come back for more!

You can get to Paris from anywhere in the world.There are three main airports: Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Orly, and Beauvais. Orly is to the south of the city and used mostly for domestic flights, with CDG (also known as Roissy) to the north-east. CDG is the biggest airport in Europe, with over 70m passengers every year, and this is where most long-haul flights land. Beauvais is known as the airport where most budget airlines fly in to, with direct flights throughout Europe and north Africa.

From Paris, the A1 heads north towards Lille, Belgium, and the channel tunnel, the A4 heads east to Reims, the A6 heads south-east towards Dijon and Geneva, the A10 heads due south to Orleans, the A11 heads out west towards Rennes and Nantes, and the A13 heads up towards Rouen, Le Havre and Caen.

All of the major cities in Europe are accessible by train via the six main stations: Gare du Nord, Gare de l’Est, Gare de Lyon, Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare Montparnasse and Gare Saint-Lazare.

The Paris metro system covers 227 km’s and has 308 stations, covered by 16 lines. The Grand Paris Express project is the largest transport project in Europe and is revolutionising the capital. It will be completed by 2030 and will better connect the three main airports with the business districts. It will also make the daily lives of 2m commuters easier. It will add four new lines to the metro system, as well as extending two lines. It will make travel throughout Paris and the Ile de France much easier, and it is having significant impact on property prices.

For an in-depth analysis, read our latest Paris/Ile de France market comment (below), which includes average prices in all the arrondissements, and expert comment from our Paris team of agents.

Prices in Paris and Ile de France had been rising dramatically in recent years but levelled off in 2022. There simply wasn’t enough stock (particularly inside the périphérique) to meet demand, from both French and overseas buyers. Apartments were often selling before they hit the open market. Many people were looking in the suburbs, often buying in new-build developments. These increased in popularity during and after the pandemic, as buyers looked for more internal space, balconies, and even gardens. Property prices in the suburbs rose accordingly.

There is still a strong demand throughout Paris and the Ile de France, but things have cooled slightly. This is meaning more choice for buyers, and is opening the door for those from overseas, many of whom have been watching as locals snapped up most of the available property.

The recently published European Living Cities Index analysed 142 capitals and large cities throughout Europe, to determine which were the most attractive and liquid, helping investors develop a profitable property portfolio. Paris came out in first place (followed by London and Berlin). It is undoubtedly an excellent place to buy an apartment or house – both with your heart and your head.

The market is sure to receive a further boost in 2024 when Paris hosts the Olympic Games. Local hotels and businesses will reap the rewards of the 9.7m spectators flooding into the capital.