Who is buying in Paris?

Rest assured we are not looking at a price drop in the Capital. Transactions started to get back to normal after the Christmas break by about mid-March despite a "phoney war" period as buyers were on tenter-hooks waiting to see if prices would begin to drop.

Not a chance! Paris is still a reasonable price for a world class capital on a global level and we will not see property prices tumbling here, even after the seven year hike which some predicted would pan out. 

So who's been buying in Paris over the last 6 months?  The following is translated from an article in French by Richard Bellanger.

Italians:  - Still the biggest group of foreign buyers.  Looking for small spaces with great views.  At one time very active in the Marais and Montorgueil but now colonising the 1er arrondissiment (Louvre-Marché St Honoré) Paris' "Little Italy".
Russians : - Despite grave economic problems there are plenty of Russian buyers (albeit a little less jet-set) searching in the 16ème and the Triangle d'Or area (Champs Elysées-Montaigne).  Looking for properties of 150m² with a preference for apartments with a beautiful facade, entrance and zero renovation needs.
Middle Eastern : - There has been a return of the buyer from Dubai the UAE and Qatar.  With a notable preference for the 8ème, 16ème and Neuilly, 300m² + with one bathroom per bedroom. Sought after properties are those which are private and secure.
New on the scene :  From Asia; buyers from India, Laos and Korea, from the eastern European countries; Bulgarians, Yugoslavians and Ukrainiens and a resurgence of buyers from Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg.