"This is our best August in 30 years": western Paris prime property defies the summer lull

“This is our best August in 30 years.”

A surprised Frank Sylvaire, director of Paris Ouest Sotheby’s International Realty, made the remark to Le Figaro Magazine for its special report on the Greater Paris property market, published on 18 September 2026 (quote translated from French). August is usually one of the quietest months of the year. This one told a different story for the prime segment of western Paris.

In brief. The prime property market in western Paris had a very active summer in 2026. In Neuilly-sur-Seine, prices for quality properties are holding, with negotiation margins of 2 to 5%. Across Île-de-France, lower prices and fears of rising rates ahead of the presidential election are bringing buyers back.

Neuilly-sur-Seine: buyers undeterred by the heatwave

In Neuilly-sur-Seine, the summer heat did little to cool buyer appetite. For Frank Sylvaire, August simply extended an already strong spring.

“The second quarter was very dynamic.”

Frank Sylvaire, director of Paris Ouest Sotheby’s International Realty

Prices on quality properties are holding. Negotiation margins remain contained, at around 2 to 5%. In this segment, value is standing firm.

The report also notes the return of international buyers from the Middle East, with many significant deals between €5 million and €10 million in the second quarter. The average price in Neuilly is estimated at €10,607 per sq m. More peripheral areas, such as the American Hospital of Paris district, show a discount of around €1,000 per sq m.

Why the Greater Paris market is unlocking

Sales are picking up again across most towns in the Île-de-France region. The magazine points to two drivers. Prices have eased almost everywhere. Mortgage rates have edged up, averaging 3.31% in August 2026 across all loan terms, against 3.06% a year earlier, according to Crédit Logement CSA.

The logic looks counter-intuitive. Fearing a sharper rise, buyers are committing now, before the presidential campaign gathers pace.

Boulogne-Billancourt and Levallois-Perret: clear price ceilings

In Boulogne-Billancourt, demand focuses on homes of 50 sq m and above, particularly in the north and centre of town. Deals in Boulogne sud remain less frequent. Houses are still sought after, provided they are priced in line with the market. A fine villa commands up to €2.5 million, rarely more.

The map published by the magazine places median prices for older apartments between €8,000 and €9,800 per sq m depending on the sector, based on listings withdrawn between 1 June and 1 September 2026.

In Levallois-Perret, the average ranges from €7,000 to €9,500 per sq m. The psychological €10,000 threshold is now almost never crossed. The town draws investors with its stock of recent housing, built in the 1990s.

Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Versailles, Vincennes: a two-speed market

In Saint-Germain-en-Laye, prices no longer exceed €10,000 per sq m, save for rare exceptions. A house in the town centre, steps from the place du Marché, sold at €12,000 per sq m, against an average of around €9,200. Address carries real weight. It is not everything.

The report describes a two-speed market. Premium properties sell quickly and at high prices. The rest linger until the price is corrected, often because sellers underestimate the true cost of renovation.

In Versailles, the Notre-Dame and Saint-Louis districts have seen sales return since the start of the year, partly driven by investors buying smaller units.

Vincennes is the exception. Supply is too thin to meet demand, and prices are still rising, up 2.3% over two years. In the town centre, transactions range between €11,000 and €13,000 per sq m. Near Montreuil, values halve. Buyers are turning to houses overlooking the woods in Fontenay-sous-Bois, or to properties near avenue Charles-de-Gaulle in Nogent-sur-Marne.

After summer, the presidential election on the horizon

One unknown remains. The report raises the risk of an abrupt halt in sales within a few months, as the presidential election approaches. For owners considering a sale, timing now matters as much as price.

Summer 2026 made one thing clear in western Paris. Accurately valued properties find buyers, with limited negotiation. Market windows rarely stay open for long.

Property valuation in Neuilly-sur-Seine: assessing the value of your prime home

In a two-speed market, the right asking price often decides how long a sale takes. The teams at Paris Ouest Sotheby’s International Realty assess each property street by street: floor, view, light, outdoor space, condition, true renovation cost. Backed by the Sotheby’s International Realty network, present in 86 countries and territories, every mandate reaches a qualified French and international clientele.

To arrange a complimentary valuation of your property in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Boulogne-Billancourt or the 16th arrondissement, call our teams on +33 1 46 22 27 27.

FAQ: the prime property market in western Paris in 2026

Has the prime property market in Neuilly-sur-Seine recovered in 2026?

Yes. “This is our best August in 30 years,” says a surprised Frank Sylvaire, director of Paris Ouest Sotheby’s International Realty, following a very dynamic second quarter. In Neuilly-sur-Seine, prices for quality properties are holding, with negotiation margins of around 2 to 5%. International buyers from the Middle East are also returning.

Why are property sales picking up in the Paris region?

Sales are recovering on the back of lower prices and a slight rise in mortgage rates. The average rate reached 3.31% in August 2026, against 3.06% a year earlier, according to Crédit Logement CSA. Buyers fear a sharper increase and are committing before the presidential campaign intensifies. The trend extends to almost every town in Île-de-France.

What is the price per square metre in Neuilly-sur-Seine?

The average price in Neuilly-sur-Seine is estimated at €10,607 per sq m, according to figures reported by Le Figaro Magazine in September 2026. More peripheral areas, such as the American Hospital of Paris district, show a discount of around €1,000 per sq m. Final value then depends on address, floor, view, condition and outdoor space.

Which parts of Boulogne-Billancourt are most in demand?

The north and centre of Boulogne-Billancourt attract most of the demand, especially for homes of 50 sq m and above. Boulogne sud remains quieter. Over summer 2026, median prices for older apartments ranged from €8,000 to €9,800 per sq m depending on the sector. For a fine villa, budgets reach €2.5 million, rarely more.

What is a two-speed property market?

It is a market where premium properties sell quickly and at high prices, while others stall until the price is corrected. In Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a house near the place du Marché sold at €12,000 per sq m, against an average of around €9,200. The gap comes down to address, and often to renovation costs that sellers underestimate.

How do you value a prime property in western Paris?

A reliable valuation starts with micro-location: the street, the floor, the view, the light, outdoor space and condition. It factors in the true cost of renovation and timing, with the presidential election approaching. Paris Ouest Sotheby’s International Realty offers complimentary valuations in Paris 16, Paris 17, Neuilly-sur-Seine and Boulogne-Billancourt.