Paris Real Estate Prices Drop Slightly in Q1 2015

The market in the greater Paris Île-de-France area has seen prices fall a slight 0.4% during the first quarter of 2015 versus the previous quarter, according to the official quarterly figures published by INSEE/Notaires de France on May 28. The average price over the past twelve months has gone down by 2.1 percent.

For sales of real estate in Paris exclusively, the drop is slightly higher, with average prices down by 0.7% during the first quarter of 2015 compared with the 4th quarter 2014. The average price over the past twelve months has gone down by 2.9 points.

On a national scale results show a slightly different landscape. For the first time in months, the average price of resale homes (excluding new builds) has stabilized, and even showed a slight increase of 0.6%. This could be an indication that the real estate market is picking up. Figures published by INSEE/Notaires de France are based on formal real estate closings, meaning that there is a two to three-month delay from the time when the sales price was agreed and the offer was first signed. It awaits to be seen how the trends continue.

Mortgage rates

Borrowing rates have reached historical low levels. The average fixed 20-year mortgage is currently 2.3%, according to the loan comparison site Empruntis.

Lower prices

Prices were declining through 2014 as the scales were tipped in favour of buyers. With more properties on offer than buyers ready to make a decision to buy, sellers had to adjust their price expectations accordingly. The recent national figures signal that the economy may be stabilizing and buyers are coming back to the market.

An additional bonus for overseas buyers

The climate is particularly favorable for dollar and sterling buyers because of the weak euro. As an example a buyer of a €300,000 apartment in Paris in 2008 would have paid $465,000 USD. At today’s rate the same apartment would cost $327,000 USD.  That’s a whopping 40% differential, and investors are taking notice. As reported by Notaries de Paris Île-de-France, foreign buyers represented 9.2% of transaction in the first three months of this year, compared to 8.2% for the same period last year.