A young couple begins by buying a small apartment, then resells it to afford larger at the birth of children. These “”residential journey » classic “More frequent” In recent years, observes the Seloger real estate advertisement site, in its monthly barometer of the prices of old housing, published this Wednesday, October 1. Five years ago, in 2020, when the mortgage rates were at their lowest historic of 1%, many young couples took the opportunity to buy a first small accommodation instead of staying rental, even if it means reselling it fairly quickly once it became parents, to acquire a much more spacious.
Many of them have had the hollow nose without knowing! By having bought five years ago and by reselling today, they “have already reconstructed their initial contribution and even have an average net assets higher than the capital invested, in almost all of the 50 largest cities in France ”underlines Seloger. An observation drawn up by simulating a “type purchase” funded by 30,000 euros in personal contribution And a loan over 25 years, under the rate conditions in force in 2020.
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The rise in prices erases the weight of acquisition costs
“”Real estate assets are built over several years. After three years of lower prices (linked to the outbreak of credit rates), the dynamics are already changing (this year). In some cities, the pricing quickly erases the weight of acquisition costs (notary fees and agency fees funded by the personal contribution) ”, explains Barbara Castillo Rico, director of economic studies to seloger.
HAS Toulonfor example, the prices of the old apartments have climbed almost 1% in the month of September alone, which brings their rise over a year to more than 6%. By way of comparison, prices only returned to 0.4%, on average, in the 50 main cities of France, in the last 12 months. Same thing Montpellierwhere prices increased by 0.7% in September, thus showing an increase of 4.5% in one year. HAS Canesthey rebounded 0.8% last month and more than 5% over a slippery year.
Reconstituted contribution and small capital in pocket
Thanks to these rapid prices lifts, these cities are among those where a resale in 2025 allows owners who bought five years earlier to see their contribution already reconstructed (see infographic). HAS Canes and at Nicethe sellers do even better, with a net heritage (value of the deceased property of the remaining capital due) of 52,708 euros and 41,259 euros, for goods purchased in 2022, only three years ago! In these two cities, “The sellers have not only reconstructed their contribution but they have in addition to a small capital in your pocket”decrypts Seloger.
But it is only in 16% of the 50 largest cities in France that the current level of prices makes it possible to reconstruct the contribution in two or three years, nuance Seloger. In the majority of cities (51%), four years are necessary and, in a third of cases, it is necessary to wait five to six years. In contrast, reselling today a property bought five years ago does not allow you to enter your costs In Paris, Lyon, Villeurbanne and Nantes (see infographic). The reason? In these large metropolises, even in those where prices have started to go up, the drop in prices since 2020 –11.7% in Paris, -5.4% in Lyon, -4.4% in Villeurbanne and -4.4% in Nantes -was too strong to allow buyers of five years ago to reconstruct their contribution by reselling today.
