Paris Property Finders for American and French Buyers
Buying in Paris from the US, or from France? Maison Cécile Guillo's team searches, visits and negotiates for you, from the first conversation to the keys, in English or French.
Buying an Apartment in Paris from the US
Buying an apartment in Paris is one of those decisions that is equal parts emotion and diligence. You fall for a parquet floor, a balcony over a quiet street, the light on a fifth floor in the 9th. Then come the questions: Is the price right? What does the co-ownership really cost? How does the French notaire system work? And how do you manage it all from New York, Chicago or San Francisco, or from elsewhere in France?
Answering them is our job. We only show you the apartments worth your time, with our honest opinion, and we defend your interests at every step.
Why hire a buyer's agent in Paris?
If you have bought a home in the United States, you are used to a buyer's agent and a shared listing database. Paris works differently, and that is exactly why a buyer's agent here is so valuable.
There is no MLS (shared listing database) in Paris: properties are spread across dozens of agencies, portals and private sellers, each with its own listings and habits. A property search in Paris means watching the whole market, every day, and knowing which listings are worth a visit.
Listing photos rarely tell the whole story: floor, orientation, noise, the state of the stairwell and of the building, what the co-owners have voted for or postponed: these are the things that make or break an apartment, and they only show up in person and in the paperwork.
The best apartments move fast: when a well-priced apartment in the Marais or the 9th comes on the market, being able to visit the same day and react with a solid file makes all the difference.
Someone is on your side of the table: the listing agent represents the seller. With a buyer's mandate, we represent you: your criteria, your budget, your interests in the negotiation.
The French process has its own vocabulary: promesse de vente, compromis, diagnostics, loi Carrez, notaire, acte authentique: we explain each step in plain terms, in English or French, so you always know where you stand.
Our method
Preparing the search
1. The brief: understanding your project
Everything begins with a conversation, in person in Paris, by phone or by video call. We talk about your favorite neighborhoods, how much light, space and quiet matter to you, the number of bedrooms, floor and elevator, outdoor space, your budget and your timeline. Primary residence, pied-à-terre or long-term family base: each project calls for a different search.
2. The search mandate
Before any work begins, we sign a buyer's search mandate together. It sets out the scope of our assignment, its duration and our fees, so that everything is clear from day one. It can be signed electronically, wherever you are.
3. Financing and choosing your notaire
Early on, we encourage you to clarify how you will finance the purchase and to choose your own notaire. In France, the notaire drafts and authenticates the deed of sale and handles the transfer of funds. Buyer and seller can each have their own, at no extra notary cost to the buyer. If you wish, we put you in touch with trusted notaires, mortgage brokers, banks and French-American tax advisors.
4. The search and first viewings
We monitor the market and visit the apartments likely to suit you, so you don't have to. Properties listed by our own agency can also be part of your search; you can subscribe to receive our listings before they go online. Through our network of fellow agents and notaires, we also have access to off-market properties.
5. The annotated shortlist
Each apartment we retain is presented with our view of its character, its layout, its value and its potential: what we loved, what concerns us, how the price compares with the neighborhood. You receive photos, videos and our notes, and your feedback helps us refine the search.
Buying with confidence
6. Your visits, in person or by video
When an apartment deserves a closer look, we organize the viewing with you: on site if you are in Paris, or by live video if you are not. If you plan a trip to Paris, we can line up several viewings over a few days so you make the most of your stay.
7. Offer and negotiation
Once you have found the one, we help you set the right price and the right terms, prepare a written offer and negotiate on your behalf. We review the key documents with you, so you commit with full knowledge.
8. The promesse de vente and the notaire
After the offer is accepted, the notaires prepare the preliminary contract. Once it is signed, a buyer who is a private individual has a legal 10-day cooling-off period. A deposit is placed in the notaire's escrow account, and the final deed is usually signed a few months later, after the notaires have completed their checks and, if applicable, your mortgage has been approved.
9. Final signing and keys
Just before the final signing, we can check that the apartment is in the expected condition. The balance of the price and the purchase costs are paid through the notaire, the deed is signed, and the keys are handed over. Welcome home.
Buying property in Paris from the US: a remote purchase, step by step
Many of our international buyers cannot be in Paris for every step, and they don't need to be. Here is how a remote purchase works in practice.
Video viewings.
We visit first, then walk you through the apartments that pass our filter on a live video call: the view from each window, the noise level, the stairwell, the condition of the building. You ask questions in real time, exactly as if you were there.
Detailed presentations.
For each shortlisted apartment you receive photos, videos and our written assessment, to share with your family and decide calmly.
Time difference.
Paris is six hours ahead of New York and nine hours ahead of Los Angeles. We plan calls and video viewings at times that suit you, and keep you updated in writing at every stage, so nothing waits for a phone call.
Signing without traveling: the power of attorney.
If you cannot attend a signing, French practice allows you to give a power of attorney (procuration) to someone who will sign on your behalf, usually a member of the notaire's team. The notaire prepares the document; depending on the case, it may have to be signed before a notary in the US and apostilled. Many contracts can also be signed electronically or remotely: your notaire will tell you which options apply to your file.
Wiring the funds.
The deposit and the balance of the price are wired to the notaire's escrow account, never to the seller directly. Plan ahead: international transfers and the notaire's compliance checks on the origin of funds take time. Always confirm wiring instructions by phone with your notaire before sending money.
A French bank account and taxes.
Depending on your situation, you may need a French bank account for utilities, charges and property tax, and advice on US–French tax rules.
Where to Buy an Apartment in Paris?
We cover all of Paris, all 20 arrondissements, and the nearby suburbs: from the Marais and Paris Centre to the Left Bank (Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Latin Quarter), from the elegant West (8th, 16th, 17th) to the 9th and Montmartre, from Bastille to Montparnasse, all the way to Neuilly, Boulogne or Vincennes. We help you choose the neighborhood that fits your life.
Browse our properties for saleBuying property in Paris from the US: a remote purchase, step by step
Many of our international buyers cannot be in Paris for every step, and they don't need to be. Here is how a remote purchase works in practice.
Video viewings.
We visit first, then walk you through the apartments that pass our filter on a live video call: the view from each window, the noise level, the stairwell, the condition of the building. You ask questions in real time, exactly as if you were there.
Detailed presentations.
For each shortlisted apartment you receive photos, videos and our written assessment, to share with your family and decide calmly.
Time difference.
Paris is six hours ahead of New York and nine hours ahead of Los Angeles. We plan calls and video viewings at times that suit you, and keep you updated in writing at every stage, so nothing waits for a phone call.
Signing without traveling: the power of attorney.
If you cannot attend a signing, French practice allows you to give a power of attorney (procuration) to someone who will sign on your behalf, usually a member of the notaire's team. The notaire prepares the document; depending on the case, it may have to be signed before a notary in the US and apostilled. Many contracts can also be signed electronically or remotely: your notaire will tell you which options apply to your file.
Wiring the funds.
The deposit and the balance of the price are wired to the notaire's escrow account, never to the seller directly. Plan ahead: international transfers and the notaire's compliance checks on the origin of funds take time. Always confirm wiring instructions by phone with your notaire before sending money.
A French bank account and taxes.
Depending on your situation, you may need a French bank account for utilities, charges and property tax, and advice on US–French tax rules.
Where to Buy an Apartment in Paris?
We cover all of Paris, all 20 arrondissements, and the nearby suburbs: from the Marais and Paris Centre to the Left Bank (Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Latin Quarter), from the elegant West (8th, 16th, 17th) to the 9th and Montmartre, from Bastille to Montparnasse, all the way to Neuilly, Boulogne or Vincennes. We help you choose the neighborhood that fits your life.
Browse our properties for saleFrequently asked questions
What does a Paris property finder do?
A property finder, or buyer's agent, searches the Paris market on your behalf for apartments that match the criteria we define together. We carry out the first viewings, present an annotated shortlist, organize your visits in person or by video, negotiate the price and terms, and support you with your notaire until the keys are handed over.
Can Americans buy property in Paris?
Yes. There is no restriction on Americans or other foreign nationals buying real estate in France, and you do not need to be a resident. The process is the same as for a French buyer, with a few practical points to anticipate: financing, the transfer of funds and, possibly, a power of attorney if you cannot attend the signings.
Can I buy an apartment in Paris without traveling to France?
Yes. Video viewings, detailed presentations and our written assessments let you discover apartments remotely, and signings can often be handled through a power of attorney or remote signature, depending on your notaire. Many buyers still like to see their chosen apartment in person before committing: we then organize the viewing around your trip.
How long does it take to find an apartment in Paris?
It depends on your criteria, your budget and what is available. From our first meeting we discuss your deadlines, then review the progress of the search with you regularly. Once an offer is accepted, allow roughly three months on average until the final deed, longer if you need a mortgage.
What are your fees as buyer's agents?
Our buyer's-agent fee under a search mandate is 3.6% of the purchase price including VAT, with a minimum of €12,000 including VAT. Nothing is due if the search does not lead to a purchase. The exact scope, duration and fees are set out in the search mandate signed before we start.
See the full fee scheduleDo I need my own notaire?
You are not required to, but it is often recommended. In France, buyer and seller can each choose their own notaire, and the notaires share the fees, so having your own does not usually increase your costs. Your notaire checks the legal aspects of the purchase and protects your interests.
What are notaire fees and closing costs in Paris?
On the purchase of an existing apartment, the "notary fees" (mostly transfer taxes collected for the State, plus the notaire's regulated fees) are typically in the range of 7–8% of the price, and lower for a new-build property. Your notaire will provide a precise estimate for your purchase.
What is the 10-day cooling-off period?
After signing the preliminary contract (promesse or compromis de vente), a private buyer purchasing a home has 10 days to withdraw, without penalty or justification. The deposit is then refunded in full. The seller does not have this right.
Can I get a mortgage in France as an American?
It is possible, although French banks apply specific criteria to non-residents and US citizens. Many buyers work with a mortgage broker specializing in international clients, or finance the purchase from the US. Obtaining your loan is usually a condition of the preliminary contract, which protects you if financing is refused.
Which neighborhoods do you cover?
All of Paris, across all 20 arrondissements: from the Marais and Saint-Germain-des-Prés to the elegant western districts, from the 9th to Montmartre, from Bastille to Montparnasse. We also cover the nearby suburbs, such as Neuilly, Boulogne, Vincennes and Saint-Mandé, when your project calls for it.
Can I use your services if I already live in France?
Yes. Our service is also designed for buyers who live in France: Parisians who lack the time to search and visit properties, as well as buyers coming from another region. We make a first selection so you can focus on the most relevant apartments.
In which language do you work?
Our team works with you in English or French throughout your search, and explains each document and each step of the French process in plain terms.
