The 1st arrondissement does not buy like elsewhere: narrow market, rare properties, omnipresent off-market. METROREALTY opens the access — agency on rue Molière since 2004.
The 1st arrondissement is among the smallest in Paris and one of the most sought-after. Supply is structurally rare: old buildings, listed stock, no new-build programmes. Each year only a few hundred transactions change hands — for a demand, French and international, far in excess.
The consequence: a significant share of properties never appears on portals. The finest apartments — garden views, Palais-Royal galleries, larger surfaces — change hands off-market, by word of mouth, via notaries, building managers and the agencies truly rooted in the district.
This is where METROREALTY makes the difference. Based at 18 rue Molière since 2004, our agency knows the buildings, the co-ownerships and the real prices of the 1st. We give you access to properties before they go public — and we negotiate alongside you, with fair value in mind.
Highly sought-after in the 1st, where over 40% of homes are second homes. Ideal for occasional or rental use.
The heart of the market: parquet, mouldings, fireplaces. A good balance between surface, character and central location.
Three to four bedrooms, rarer in the 1st. For a principal residence, favour quieter streets: Richelieu, Petits-Champs, Sainte-Anne.
Duplex, garden view, apartments above the Palais-Royal galleries. Extremely rare, often off-market, with unique heritage value.
Every district of the 1st has its personality and its market. Here is how to read them before buying.
Exceptional pieds-à-terre, garden views, galleries. The tightest market in the 1st.
Exceptional properties, international demand, transactions very largely off-market.
For the garden view and the light. Pieds-à-terre prized by international buyers.
Dynamic and historic. High-standing buildings, balanced neighbourhood life and prestige.
A lively district, more accessible prices, the best rental yield in the 1st.
Façades over the Seine, period buildings. Rarer volumes, heritage-driven demand.
The 1st has never experienced a lasting decline. Listed stock, locked supply, global demand: buying here protects capital over the long term.
The Louvre, the Palais-Royal, the Tuileries, rue Saint-Honoré. You cannot be more central — or more prestigious — in Paris.
More than one in six buyers is foreign. This global demand supports prices and makes resale easier, even when the rest of the market slows.
“In the 1st, the best property is not on the portals. It is in the address book of a local agency.”METROREALTY — estate agency, 18 rue Molière, Paris 1st
We frame your search together: budget, district, use, property type. The clearer the brief, the more effective the selection.
We activate our network and our confidential portfolio. You see properties before — or instead of — their public release.
An agent visits with you on site, decodes the building, the co-ownership, the real condition and the fair price against DVF transactions.
We negotiate in your interest and support you to the final deed, in liaison with the notary and your bank.
Americans, British, Belgians, Dutch, Middle Eastern clients: more than one buyer in six in the 1st comes from abroad. METROREALTY supports this clientele end-to-end, in their language, without them having to travel before the right property appears. Our team speaks English, Spanish and Italian.
The median price per m² in the 1st stands at around €12,100/m² in 2025-2026, with strong variations by micro-district: from around €11,200/m² near the Louvre up to over €16,800/m² near Place Vendôme. As a guide, a 25 m² studio is often between €280,000 and €420,000, a one-bedroom flat of 45 m² between €500,000 and €750,000. METROREALTY calibrates your search to your actual budget and target district.
For a rare, heritage pied-à-terre: the Palais-Royal and surroundings of Place Vendôme. For a quieter principal residence: rues Richelieu, des Petits-Champs, Sainte-Anne and Molière. For a view and proximity to the garden: the streets along the Tuileries on the Rivoli side. For better price-to-vibrancy and rental use: Les Halles and Montorgueil. The choice depends on use — METROREALTY guides you.
The 1st is one of the few arrondissements where pieds-à-terre and second homes exceed 40% of dwellings. Well-located studios and one-bedroom flats hold their value strongly and suit occasional or rental use. For a principal residence, two- to four-bedroom apartments in quieter streets offer better comfort per m². METROREALTY helps you balance address scarcity, surface area and budget.
A significant share of transactions in the 1st close off-market, with no publication on portals — especially for exceptional properties. METROREALTY maintains a network of notaries, building managers and wealth managers active in the 1st, along with a file of qualified buyers. By entrusting us with your search, you gain access to properties presented before — or instead of — any public distribution.
Not strictly required, but a real advantage in such a narrow and competitive market. A locally-rooted agency like METROREALTY knows the buildings, the real DVF prices, the co-ownerships and off-market properties. It prevents you from overpaying, filters properties to your project, organises viewings and negotiates on your behalf. In the 1st, local knowledge often makes the difference between buying and missing out.
Yes, and it is common: the 1st is one of the most international arrondissements of Paris. METROREALTY supports American, British, Belgian, Dutch and Middle Eastern buyers. Video viewings, detailed survey reports, financing up to 70-80% by French mortgage available for non-residents, signing by notarial proxy. Our team speaks English, Spanish and Italian.
For an existing property, allow approximately 7 to 8% of notary fees (transfer duties and notarial fees). On top, agency fees are borne by the buyer at METROREALTY, calculated by bracket on the net-to-seller price — from a €4,000 flat fee below €40,000 up to 5% above €800,000, VAT included. Details are set out in our public fee schedule.
Timing depends on the rarity of the desired property and your responsiveness. For a studio or one-bedroom flat, a few weeks to a few months; for an exceptional property (garden view, galleries, large surface), the search can be longer. METROREALTY shortens this lead time through off-market access and rigorous pre-selection. Once the property is found, allow about 3 months between the preliminary agreement and the final deed.
Tell us about the property you are looking for in the 1st. A METROREALTY agent calls you back within 24 hours and activates off-market access — including if you are abroad.
Explore further — property in the Paris 1st arrondissement
Studios, one- to two-bedroom Haussmann apartments and exceptional properties in the 1st and central Paris.
View the listings → Property Palais-RoyalThe Palais-Royal micro-market: galleries, streets, prices and advice to buy in the district.
Discover the district → Estate agency Paris 1stThe METROREALTY agency of the 1st arrondissement: districts, team, roots on rue Molière since 2004.
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