Graham Britton is a firm believer that this trend will
continue:
"Confinements have restricted the ability of Parisians to
get away and enjoy open spaces. Those working from
home are often in cramped spaces with no balconies.
The housing stock in the centre is usually old, with poor
insulation and not practical for modern life and the
increasing WFH culture. Parking is often difficult. This
means that more modern property (and particularly new
builds) in the suburbs has seen a dramatic hike in demand.
Commuter times are falling and with Line 15 expected to
open in 2025 many journeys to work will be cut in half. If
you are looking for capital growth then this is the area to
invest in".
His colleague, Helena Hermanns, is in complete
agreement:
"I have been very active in the Hauts-de-Seine (92) and Valde-Marne
(94), where there are a lot of new developments
catering to this demand. Buyers are now seeking bigger
apartments with outside space, and houses are in great
demand - of course, these are hard to find in central
Paris. Communication links are improving and housing
around international schools (mostly in western Paris) is
With major supply constraints in central Paris, and
buyers now looking for lighter and more spacious
properties, much is being written about the exodus
out to the suburbs. There is no doubt that this is
where the strongest demand is, with the repurposing
of commercial buildings boosting the existing
residential supply.
ÎLE-DE-FRANCE - 92,94,95,77,78
incredibly popular with expats struggling to get access if
they don't already have ties in the community".
Florence Allard covers the Yvelines (78) where she has
seen a sharp rise in demand:
"The health crisis has confi rmed a trend of strong demand
for detached houses with gardens in the Yvelines (78), with
unfortunately few properties put on the market. As a result,
we are witnessing a real rise in prices, which is accelerating.
Parisians want to move to the western suburbs of Paris
to enjoy a better quality of family life (where it is green
and quiet), and at the same time they want to be close to
the capital, 30 minutes away from La Défense (with public
transport). It's a good compromise. These are particularly
sought-after locations, with a real craze for family homes
with 3, 4 or 5 bedrooms". She goes on to identify four areas
within the department that are "ones to watch": Le Vésinet, Le
Pecq, Montesson and Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
In the Val-d'Oise (95) Edward Hoyle sees similar activity
levels:
"The market trend is increasingly positive in the vallée de
Montmorency in the Val-d'Oise (95) as Parisians continue to
head to the suburbs in search of living space and improved
quality of life. The greatest demand is for 4 bedroom meulière
stone built houses with a garden in the €450,000 to €700,000
price range and close to a station with direct links with Gare
du Nord.
At Saint-Leu-La-Forêt, 28 minutes from Paris by train, prices for
houses have risen 6% in 2021 and continue to rise. A budget
of €550,000 to €650,000 will buy a house with 3/4 bedrooms,
home offi ce and a garden in one of the most sought after
areas north of Paris, with its strong historical links with the
Bonapartes and proximity to the Forest of Montmorency
which is ideal for outdoor activities with the family".
Current sales trends
Seine-et-Marne (77) 2,980 euros per m²
Yvelines (78) 3,830 euros per m²
Hauts-de-Seine (92) 7,030 euros per m²
Val-de-Marne (94) 4,880 euros per m²
Val-d'Oise (95) 3,080 euros per m²
*source Notaires de France, median price of all apartment
sales between Jan - June 2021