Long-term rental?

[grant]

Hello all, long time no speak. I'm not sure if this really should be posted in this forum, or on the main Paris forum for everyone to see perhaps a bit quicker, but here goes.

I'm pretty much sold on a move to Paris. Really, ASAP. I can wait a few months etc though if the right place come up. My circumstances now dictate that I can move to Paris and work whenever it takes my fancy. What a life huh?

My stumbling block at the moment is searching for a possible apartment. Now whilst i'm not 100% there on committing to a place at this very moment, i'm looking everyday on places like FUSAC, Franglo and on the Paris Craigslist website. And I am having real trouble finding a place.

Now I know Paris' rent is sky high, but I can't help but feel that because the places I am looking in, essentially advertising boards for the English speaking (and gullible), there is a premium to be paid. Studio apartments are mainly around the 1000 EUR mark, and whilst i've seen others, i'm sure there is more variety out there.

So good people based in Paris, or have the knowledge, where else could I be looking where I'll either have more choice, or get marginally better value? Or am I doomed to paying that high rate? The daft thing is I could afford it and it's probably not that much compared to some US rates, but I don't want to pay over the odds when I could have done better.

French websites aren't a problem, my tutoring could probably scrape me by those.

Thank you anyone in advance.

LITTLE EDIT: I'd also be on the lookout for a 2 bedroom property, a friend may be interested in moving with me, but it's not certain.

[Truffaut]

Grant,
Finding an apartment in Paris can be very difficult for someone who's not French (though being EU should help you quite a bit). Try www.pap.fr. A new issue comes out at 12:00am every Thursday, and the really good things are snapped up by Thursday night! There are sections for buying as well as renting. Except for word of mouth, pap is probably the best source for long-term rentals.

[grant]

Merci Truffaut This looks much more promising indeed.

[Anne]

FNAIM is the largest group of independant estate agents in France :

www.fnaim.fr/annonces-immobilier/louer-appartement-paris.html

But Truffy is right : good rentals don't stay on the market for more than a few hours . So if you have really made up your mind about living in Paris, you should actually spend a few days there in order to be able to jump on any nice opportunity .

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Wow, what a great "problem" to have! (Not to downplay the imporance of having a suitable place to live, because of course it's very important, but I do envy anyone whose issue is finding permanent housing in Paris . . . )

[trechic]

I have spent most of this morning viewing the pap.fr apt. rentals...and I was wondering what they mean when they say (some of them) "co-rent". Would that be the same as 'sub-let'?

I happen to have this morning off, and I am 'dreaming' it away while viewing this site!

[Anne]

Tre - I guess that this must be "colocation", i.e. when two or more people, like students for example, rent an appartment together . This used to be VERY unusual in France but has been getting more and more popular in the past few years .