The city of Paris is made of 20 sections or arrondissements, which spin out in a widening spiral from the centre of the city. Paris is often described as a city made up of many different villages and it’s an apt description to keep in mind when choosing your future home. Simply because a given arrondissement is not famous for its history or cobbled streets, you may find a little corner of the city with a perfect boulangerie and florist, a friendly cheese seller, a small park full of kids, unpretentious and welcoming neighbours and discover that living far from Avenue Foche isn’t so bad. Expats tend to live in one of seven different arrondissements: the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 16th. Of course there are exceptions, but you will find that the greatest population of expats, particularly Anglo expats, is in these neighbourhoods. Not surprisingly, these happen to be the most expensive neighbourhoods in the city. Each has its clear advantages – charm, safety, familiarity and beauty among others – but don’t dismiss other lesser-known arrondissements simply because they’re unfamiliar; there is a lot to be said for being the only expat on the block. The same is true in the suburbs and expats tend to end up in Neuilly-sur-Seine, St Cloud, Versailles or St Germain-en-Laye. But again, there are many charming, beautiful, villages within a short train ride or drive from Paris that can provide what you might have come for – something new, something authentic, and something unlike where you were before.