Discover the latest France’s real estate trends as atypical properties—like old mills, barges, and architects’ homes—see record sales growth in 2025. Learn why these unique homes are in demand, who’s buying, and what it means for the future of the French property market.

France’s Real Estate Trends: Why Sales of Atypical Properties Are Soaring

In a year when the broader French real estate market remains tense—affected by rising interest rates and shifting buyer priorities—a fascinating countertrend is emerging. While traditional property sales experience headwinds, the demand for “atypical” or unique real estate is rising rapidly. Homes that defy conventional classifications, be they former industrial lofts, converted mills, architect-designed residences, historic castles, or even floating barges, are experiencing a sales boom in 2025.

New research and reports highlight how these properties are attracting a different type of buyer: less concerned with market trends and mortgage rates and more swayed by emotion, uniqueness, and personal connection. This extensive article delves into the figures, buyer motivations, the kinds of homes in demand, regional hotspots, and what these trends reveal about the evolution of France’s residential real estate market.

1. Atypical Properties in France: What Makes a Home Unique?

The word “atypical” in French real estate signals a departure from the ordinary. Unlike the standard apartment or house, these properties might once have served an entirely different purpose—a printing works, a schoolhouse, a windmill, or a warehouse. Others are defined by innovative design—a home crafted by a visionary architect, or a penthouse boasting 360-degree views across Paris.

Buyers in this segment are drawn to attributes that make each property one of a kind:

Historic significance: Buildings with centuries-old histories or ties to notable figures.
Architectural distinction: Dramatic facades, unique floor plans, ceilings with exposed beams, custom-made details.
Unusual locations: Homes on water, converted barns on the outskirts of a village, or apartments carved from industrial spaces.
Special features: Rooftop terraces, interior courtyard gardens, art studios, or private docks.

The common denominator? These homes provoke a sense of wonder—an emotional spark missing from the average listing.

2. Sales Surge: By the Numbers—2025’s Standout Year

Despite broader market difficulties—including higher borrowing costs and increased selectiveness among buyers—the atypical and high-end real estate segment in France is on a tear. According to figures from specialized agencies and leading networks, activity in this niche jumped more than 24% year-on-year in 2025, reaching sales volumes close to the banner years of 2021 and 2022.

In financial terms, transactions in atypical real estate have nearly reached the €1 billion mark. The heart of the rebound is found in Paris and the surrounding Île-de-France region, where activity rose by an impressive 50%. Properties in the €2 to €3 million bracket have proven especially dynamic, with increased competition and shorter time-on-market reported by several agency heads.

This is not a trend driven by speculation or buy-to-let strategies; rather, it is the sign of an active, passionate acquisition market powered by a distinct buyer profile.

3. Buyer Psychology: Emotion Over Return on Investment

A defining feature of buyers in this segment is the emotional impulse behind their decisions. According to a recent Opinionway study, a remarkable 74% of atypical property purchasers in France buy “on a whim.” For them, the buying process is sparked by love at first sight, far outweighing logical calculations about future resale value or rental yield.

Several factors underline this emotional orientation:

The quest for rarity: A unique property can offer a sense of personal achievement and distinction.
Storytelling: Many buyers are drawn by a home’s narrative—its bygone uses, famous occupants, or the architect’s vision.
Lifestyle aspirations: Buyers imagine not just living, but thriving in these homes—hosting friends on a rooftop terrace, restoring a castle to its former glory, or cultivating a garden in a hidden courtyard.

What This Means for the Market

Properties that can evoke such feelings—through design, history, or setting—create strong competition. Even in a more prudent credit market, emotion-driven sales sustain momentum and can lead to bidding wars for the most desirable listings.

4. Who’s Buying? The Profile of the New French Buyer

Contrary to the perception that the French property market is increasingly international, the core of atypical property buyers remains decidedly French. International buyers are present but are concentrated in specific areas—largely Paris, parts of the Riviera, and a few cultural hotspots.

Current data suggest several defining characteristics:

Nationality: Over 80% of buyers are French citizens, often with deep local ties or family roots.
Motivation: The vast majority purchase with the intention of making it their primary residence, rather than as investment or vacation homes.
Self-financed: Nearly half (50%) of all atypical property transactions occur without the need for credit, reflecting significant personal wealth or liquidity. This shields the segment from the direct impact of higher interest rates.
Demographics: The market is also seeing the return of first-time buyers, often younger professionals or families supported by parental gifts or inheritance.

This buyer composition differs significantly from traditional real estate, where financing plays a more dominant role, and where investment logic (e.g., rental yields, capital growth) is often prioritized.