Department Guides to Île-de-France

PARIS PROPERTY GUIDE   MAP
Paris is considered to be one of the most romantic cities in the world. It is certainly one of the most vibrant and offers plenty for everyone. Unsurprisingly therefore, property is expensive and potential buyers are well advised to look in the lesser-known, up-and-coming areas if they are serious about getting value for money in Paris. However, if you do buy here, you are virtually guaranteed a steady rental income which might help offset the burden of your initial outlay.

SEINE-ET-MARNE PROPERTY GUIDE   MAP
The Seine-et-Marne is the largest of the Ile-de-France's departments and contains vast swathes of protected countryside and marvellous stately chateaux. This department offers something for everyone.

YVELINES PROPERTY GUIDE   MAP
The Yvelines to the west of Paris has long been a popular choice amongst visiting world leaders. The Presidential retreat at Rambouillet still entertains foreign guests. The rest of the state residences, however, including St-Germain and Versailles have now been opened to the public and mostly function as museums. The affluent neighbourhoods found in the department are becoming increasingly affordable and a popular choice amongst those commuting daily to Paris.

ESSONNE PROPERTY GUIDE   MAP
The Essonne department makes a peaceful retreat from Paris with the luxury of having the capital's many attractions just minutes away. The area is very much a mixture of the old and the new but prices are high throughout the department as Paris is so close and accessible.

HAUTS-DE-SEINE PROPERTY GUIDE   MAP
The Hauts-de-Seine is part of the Ile-de-France région. It encompasses a large part of Paris itself but remains small and densely populated. The department houses the modern office, theatre, and shopping complex known as La Défense with its modern Grande Arche. Property here is generally luxurious and comes at a price.

SEINE-SAINT-DENIS PROPERTY GUIDE   MAP
The Seine-Saint-Denis is a highly industrial department which has suffered from high unemployment in recent years. The department is famously home to the Stade de France and the Basilique de Saint-Denis. High quality residential properties are quite few and far between in the department but industrial property is easy to find. Due to the department's proximity to Paris, prices are above the national average despite the industrial downturn of recent years.

VAL-DE-MARNE PROPERTY GUIDE   MAP
The Val-de-Marne has a reputation for being the suburb favoured by the capital's bourgeois commuters. Whilst the department does have excellent transport links into the capital and is home to the relatively affluent middle classes, the Val-de-Marne also has an industrial zone and agricultural areas. Property is, nevertheless expensive, particularly around the lively and chic towns in the north-east of the department such as Vincennes and Saint-Mandé.

VAL-D'OISE PROPERTY GUIDE   MAP
The Parisian lifestyle has something for everyone and there's a huge range of things to see and do in easy reach of Val-d'Oise. However, this variety comes at a price - house prices in the Val-d'Oise are high.

Town Guides to Île-de-France

AUBERVILLIERS PROPERTY GUIDE   MAP
Aubervilliers is a commune or town that is located just to the north-east of Paris, in the department of Seine St Denis, one of France's smallest departments. Aubervilliers has been known as an undesirable area in the past but it is currently the scene of considerable urban regeneration, making it an exciting prospect for property purchase.

CERGY PONTOISE PROPERTY GUIDE   MAP
Cergy Pontoise is located close to Paris, in the north of central France. Benefiting greatly from its proximity to the country's wonderful capital city, Cergy Pontoise offers a great city environment with superb facilities alongside history, culture and beautiful lakes and countryside.

MAISONS LAFFITTE PROPERTY GUIDE   MAP
Maisons Laffitte is a very chic suburb of Paris, beautifully located (partly on an island) along the River Seine, in the north of central France. Lying just over eighteen kilometres from the centre of the capital of France, Maisons Laffitte is a very interesting proposition for anyone wishing to have easy access to this great city and to enjoy the stylish elegance of Paris without the noise and hassle of city centre living.

PARIS ARRONDISSEMENTS PROPERTY GUIDE   MAP
The nation's capital is a melting point for different social and cultural groups and has long been a setting for romance and adventure. The Parisian lifestyle has something for everyone and there's an almost infinite range of things to see and do.

PARIS BUTTE-MONTMARTRE (ARRONDISSEMENT 18) PROPERTY GUIDE   MAP
The 18th arrondissement of Paris has a considerable appeal for foreign property buyers as this area contains the some of the famous city's loveliest and best known sights. There is Montmartre, with its Bohemian café society, the Moulin Rouge and the fabulous Sacré Coeur Basilica.

VERSAILLES PROPERTY GUIDE   MAP
The city of Versailles hardly needs any introduction, so renowned is it throughout the world. Most famous for its fabulous Palace of the Sun King, the city lies some ten miles south-west of Paris, and is the capital city of the Yvelines department.