VINGT Paris

An exceptional property auction - Place Vauban 75007 and Chateau Ansouis

The best thing about Bonapart is that no day is ever the same. On Monday I attended an auction at the Palais de Justice (French High Court and also housing Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie) on behalf of a client interested in an exceptional property.

The sale was one which comes up only once in a blue moon. It's not often the decendants of the Orleans family are forced to parcel up their heritage and sell it off. We were interested in two lots - a set of family apartments at 3 Place Vauban, Paris overlooking (and I mean overlooking) the Hôtel des Invalides and the full length Tour Eiffel. This 6 room apartment also came with a 181m² garden!

One of the perks of being pregnant is that I skipped the cue on the Bd de Palais opposite Cité Métro station, there was a long line of people hustling to get in. It seemed like a large proportion of the criminal elements of Paris were late to to have their cases heard so I was not keen to get stuck there and be late for the auction. Only the Avocats and officials can enter by the grand gates and up the staircase. I made a mental note to arrive 1 hour early next time.

French Property auctions

1.La vente judiciaire en cas de saisie immobilière. This is a repossession auction and takes place at the bar of the Tribunal de Grande Instance. A lawyer is required to submit the sealed bids.

2.La vente volontaire devant notaire. This is a public auction conducted by a notaire on the instructions of the owner, such as when a property is left to a number of relatives.

3.La vente des domaines. This is a public auction of state-owned property or property that is vacant, such as following a death where there are no named heirs.

Where can people find out about auctions?
Categories 2 and 3 above are public sales, open to everybody and advertised by notaires, usually via small ads in the regional or national press, at the notaire's office and on the internet (Marchê Immobilier des Notaires - MIN). Information usually includes the date and place of the sale and instructions on where you can consult the cahier des charges (property details).

For judicial auctions (Category 1, above), guidelines exist to ensure as widespread a visibility as possible. Such auctions are posted on boards at the property itself, at the Town Hall, the Court house, and advertisements are placed in the legal, local or national press. The whole schedule of upcoming auctions is available from the Tribunal de Grande Instance.