Old printing house, old mill, architect’s house, castle or even barge… 74% of buyers of atypical properties buy first and foremost on impulse, well before any logic of return, according to an Opinionway study. This emotional dimension constitutes one of the main drivers of the segment, where traditional real estate remains more correlated to borrowing conditions.
“Above all, buyers are looking for a rare good that provokes immediate emotion.» explains Julien Haussy, founding president of the Espaces Atypicals network, for whom this singularity explains the resistance of the market. In fact, the majority of customers remain French, with international buyers remaining in the minority and concentrated on certain targeted markets.
A market driven by buyers who are not very dependent on credit
The figures observed in 2025 confirm a buoyant dynamic. In the atypical and high-end real estate segment, activity increased by more than 24% year-on-year, with a volume of transactions close to one billion euros, returning to levels comparable to those of 2021–2022. In Paris and the inner suburbs, the recovery is particularly markedwith an increase in activity of around 50%, while transactions between 2 and 3 million euros are clearly on the rise again.
This performance can also be explained by the structure of demand. Based on data observed by the network, nearly 50% of transactions are carried out without recourse to credit, which largely isolates this segment from the impact of rising rates. The return of first-time buyers, around 30% of buyers, often helped by donations, also contributes to the fluidity of the market. Conversely, rental investment remains marginal: atypical real estate hardly attracts profiles looking for yield or purchase-resale. These are above all goods acquired to be occupied.
Favorite properties that sell quickly
Contrary to popular belief, atypical is not necessarily synonymous with prices disconnected from the market. If the average price is around 550,000 euros, it covers very diverse realities. “It is not the budget that defines the atypical, but the rarity and quality of the property», recalls Julien Haussy. Housing renovated by an architect, bright, with an outdoor space or a clear view concentrates demand and can still sell in a few days, sometimes with several competing offers.
In a market that has become more selective, the hierarchy is clear: atypical properties combining architectural quality, functionality and emotion continue to sell quickly, while those with structural defects struggle more. “Despite the context, people want to continue to have fun and feel good at home», concludes Julien Haussy, a reality which explains why, even today, sales of atypical real estate continue to take off.
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