What to Expect When You Work With a Buyer's Agent in Paris

If you’re researching how to buy property in Paris, you’ve probably noticed that “buyer’s agent” means something a little different here than it does in the US. There’s no MLS, agency commissions work differently, and the process runs through a notaire rather than a title company. Working with a dedicated buyer’s agent — ideally one who can navigate that process in English — is meant to make it manageable. But it’s worth knowing what that actually looks like before you start. You can also read What Is a Buyer’s Agent in Paris and Why International Buyers Need One to learn more.

Here’s what working with Paris Property Group’s English-speaking team involves, from your first call through closing.

Why Paris Buyer’s Agents Ask for a Commitment Upfront

Most Paris buyer’s agents, PPG included, ask clients to formalize the relationship before beginning an active search. Since there’s no MLS in Paris, finding what’s actually available means working multiple channels at once — public listings, off-market opportunities, private exclusives, and for-sale-by-owner properties — which takes real time and effort on the agent’s side. Formalizing the relationship upfront is standard practice across the industry here, largely because it helps both sides commit to a focused, serious search rather than an open-ended browse.

If you’d like the specifics of how PPG structures this for your situation, that’s best covered in a direct conversation — contact us and we’re happy to walk through it.

What Working With PPG Actually Involves

“Buyer representation” can sound abstract until you see what it looks like day to day. Here’s what’s included when you work with PPG, organized by phase of the search:

Getting Started

•  A buyer consultation to align on your real estate objectives in Paris, budget, and general timeline
•  An introduction to a mortgage broker who specializes in international buyers, so you can get pre-qualified for French financing early if needed
• An introduction to your dedicated personal search agent, who digs into your specific criteria in more depth

Sourcing and Evaluating Properties

•  A curated property “Collection” — public listings, off-market opportunities, private exclusives, and for-sale-by-owner properties that fit your criteria
• Ongoing sourcing from local sellers, notaires, and other agents to keep your options current
• Details on every property we show you — bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, building condition — plus objective pros-and-cons advice
•  Market trend context so you understand where a given property sits relative to the broader market

Making and Negotiating an Offer

• Coordinate and accompany you on showings during your time in Paris
• Building-condition and apartment assessment for negotiation purposes, with outside experts brought in when needed
• Advice on offer strategy and pricing based on current market conditions
• A full review of transaction documents and the disclosure package before you write an offer
• Offer preparation and negotiation with the listing broker and seller on your behalf

From Accepted Offer to Closing

• An introduction to and coordination with an English-speaking notaire experienced with international buyers who can properly address French tax and inheritance considerations before the deed is signed
• Coordination with our network of legal, financial, tax, currency exchange, and renovation partners
• Coordination of the appraisal and monitoring of the mortgage process, if applicable
• A final walk-through, with any issues addressed before signing

After the Keys Change Hands

• Help setting up homeowners insurance, utilities, internet, phone and cable, and a local bank account
•  Transfer of keys and property access
• Lifetime complimentary key-holding and local resource access for all PPG clients — this doesn’t end at closing
• Ongoing property caretaking services post-closing, available as an add-on

How Long Does It Take?

This genuinely depends on your situation. Some clients come to Paris for a few days and see a dozen properties in that window; others prefer a slower search spread across multiple trips. Because there’s no fixed timeline that fits every buyer, this is one of the first things we talk through in your initial consultation, so the search is paced around your actual schedule rather than a generic estimate.

A Note on Who You’re Working With

PPG’s lead agent, Jerome Cacarié, holds a Carte T — the professional license required to legally handle real estate transactions in France — and is a partial owner of PPG’s French entity. If you’re evaluating buyer’s agents generally, this is a reasonable thing to ask any agent about, since it’s a meaningful marker of who’s licensed to represent you in a transaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a buyer’s agent to purchase property in Paris? 

• It’s not legally required, but given there’s no MLS and the process runs through a notaire-driven system that works differently from a US closing, most international buyers find it significantly simplifies the search. See our buyer services overview for more detail on how PPG approaches this.

What’s the difference between working with PPG and searching on my own? 

• A self-directed search means checking a dozen-plus listing sites individually and working with multiple agencies whose agents represent the seller, not you — and missing off-market and private-exclusive opportunities entirely. Buyer representation exists to consolidate that fragmented process into one relationship.

Will a listing agent tell me about problems with the property?

• Probably not, and that’s not a knock on them, it’s just not their role. A listing agent is paid by and represents the seller, so their job is to market the property, not to flag its faults. A buyer’s agent, like PPG, is on the buyer’s side, which means we’re looking for the issues, not glossing over them: structural concerns, co-ownership disputes, or anything else that could affect your decision or your negotiating position.

Do you charge a fee for buyer representation? 

• Yes — the specifics depend on your situation and are best discussed directly. Contact us and we’ll walk you through how this works for your search.

Who will I actually be working with at PPG? 

• You’ll have a dedicated personal search agent for your day-to-day search, with the full team — including Miranda Junowicz, a California-licensed attorney with 20+ years of Paris real estate experience — supporting the transaction throughout.

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Ready to start your own Paris property search? Meet Miranda Junowicz, or read our guide on how to buy an apartment in Paris as an American buyer to see how the process fits together end to end.

Contact Paris Property Group to learn more about buying property in Paris.