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In Paris, off-market real estate sales make sellers dream: confidentiality, speed, carefully selected buyers. But this method is only effective for rare and prestigious properties. For more classic apartments, the lack of visibility can actually slow down the sale.
Off-market sales in Paris are increasingly attractive. But not every property qualifies: discover when it’s an asset, and when a traditional sale is more effective.
Over the past few years, off-market sales have become a strong trend in the Parisian real estate market. This method, which consists of marketing a property without public exposure (no online listings, no storefront ads, no wide publicity), appeals for its exclusivity and confidentiality.
But beware: contrary to popular belief, off-market is not suited to every type of property. At Fairway Luxury Real Estate, we guide our clients through this specific approach and know exactly when it adds value… and when it can, on the contrary, slow down a transaction.
- Total confidentiality: ideal for public figures, diplomats, or families seeking discretion.
- Qualified buyers only: only vetted, pre-selected clients known to the agency are contacted.
- Speed: rare and prestigious properties often sell very quickly thanks to this targeted approach.
- Premium positioning: the absence of public listings reinforces exclusivity and attracts the wealthiest buyers.
Off-market is a powerful tool for truly rare properties:
- Large Haussmannian family apartments with exceptional volumes,
- Top floors with terraces or unobstructed views,
- Private mansions and one-of-a-kind estates,
- Ultra-prime addresses around Parc Monceau, Place Vendôme, or the Golden Triangle.
In these cases, demand is so strong that one call to our network is often enough to trigger a sale, sometimes even before the first visit.
By contrast, for more standard properties (mid-sized apartments, without unique features, on lower floors, or in need of renovation), the risks are clear:
- Less visibility = fewer potential buyers
- A network expecting the exceptional: buyers looking off-market only move for truly rare assets.
- A sale that may drag on without the wider exposure of traditional marketing.
That is why, at Fairway, we advise our clients to favor a traditional but polished market launch: high-end photography, targeted communication, and optimal property presentation.
1. Property analysis: location, volumes, condition, and rarity determine whether off-market is suitable.
2. Access to the right network: off-market sales only work if the agency has a genuine pool of qualified buyers, like Fairway’s.
3. Personalized follow-up: every seller benefits from discreet support tailored to their timeline and priorities (speed, price, confidentiality).
Off-market peaked in popularity around 2022. At the time, confidentiality created desire, and many sellers believed that “hiding” their property made it more valuable.
But that aura of mystery has largely disappeared. Real estate TV shows (Stéphane Plaza in France, The Agency on Netflix) have revealed behind-the-scenes details and made luxury appear more accessible in the public eye.
At the same time, social media has accelerated this shift: today, even the most prestigious properties are promoted on Instagram or through international campaigns. Sellers and agencies now understand that curated visibility is the key to reaching qualified global buyers.
In short, off-market no longer carries the sacred aura it once did. It remains effective for rare assets, but the real added value today lies in premium, international communication that targets the right profiles.
In 2025, a 200 m² apartment on the 6th floor with a view of Parc Monceau was sold in less than two weeks through our off-market network: no public advertising, only 3 visits with qualified buyers already in active search.
Conversely, a 95 m² apartment on a low floor in the same area, without outdoor space or a view, took more than 5 months to sell because off-market visibility generated no demand. A broader, more traditional market launch eventually closed the deal.
Selling off-market in Paris can be a winning strategy… but only if the property truly qualifies. Exceptional apartments sell quickly in this confidential framework. For more classic properties, however, lack of visibility can significantly delay the process.
At Fairway Luxury Real Estate, we analyze each case with precision to recommend the most effective method: off-market for rare properties, or a polished and targeted market launch for the others.
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