Martine, could you tell us about the birth of Junot?

Martine: After 10 years in the industry, our passion for stone led my father and I to renovate beautiful properties in Paris and on the Côte d'Azur in the 1980s. Our office, avenue Junot, was called “Junot Investissements”. It gradually became a real estate agency, because our neighbors and friends asked us to buy or sell their beautiful properties in the neighborhood.

How did you developed Junot’s Business?

Martine: We have always focused on quality of service and professionalism with tight teams of salaried and trained consultants. This involved in-depth knowledge of each property and the specific needs of our clients in order to offer them personalized advice and create value for their assets.

What was the specificity of your customers?

Martine: There have always been a lot of artists in Montmartre. Very quickly, we started working with well-known personalities, designers, actors, singers... I think our seriousness and discretion were appreciated by these people whose time is short and who want to be able to trust their agent 100%.

The period between 2006 and 2015 marks an era of innovation with the arrival of Sébastien and Anne, the new generation

Martine: The arrival of Sébastien constituted a strategic shift. His training at Dauphine then at ESCP, his international experience acquired in England and in the office real estate sector at CBRE, have enabled him to import innovative methods into our activities. Sébastien first took the time to learn the profession as a consultant, before taking on management and development responsibilities.

Sébastien: When I started, I managed both the sale of studios and the negotiation of high-end properties. This experience revealed the complexity and human richness of the profession of real estate consultant. We do a "people business", and the teams that make up Junot are not only real professionals, but also people who play as a team. It is this combination of values, placing the customer at the center of our attention, which is at the heart of Junot's identity and its development.

Anne, how did you arrive? Did it influence the direction of the company?

Anne: When I arrived at Junot in 2008, with a background in communications and marketing in mass distribution, and after completing my studies at Celsa, the company had only three agencies. My role was varied, touching on communication, which was in its infancy, the management of existing agencies, but also supporting new openings. With Sébastien, we worked to develop an innovative marketing approach consistent with Junot's identity, emphasizing our professionalism, our expertise, and our attention to aesthetic details.

Between 2006 and 2015, what major changes did the company experience and how have they contributed to its growth?

Sébastien: This period was marked by significant growth, with a series of strategic developments. We expanded our presence by opening new agencies in Paris, which allowed us to reach new markets and strengthen our local expertise. We also opened the rental and management department with the aim of offering a tailor-made service to our clients to administer their rental assets.

What were the challenges and opportunities of Junot's international expansion, notably with the launch of Junot Fine Properties | Knight Frank?

Sébastien: We have chosen to partner with the best agencies around the world, allowing us to present our Parisian properties to them and, in return, to benefit from their international clientele. This strategy facilitated our integration into the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World network, then our association with Knight Frank, for our private office department Junot Fine Properties. This partnership allows us to manage the real estate projects of very wealthy clients in Paris and offers our clients access to a global network of exceptional properties.

Faced with the economic and real estate crises, how did the Junot company navigate and adapt?

Sébastien: Crises, such as that of 1992 and the financial crisis of 2008, were decisive moments, showing the importance of solid, long-term financial management as a “good father”. Experience has proven that professionalism and an appropriate strategy are essential to get through these difficult times and continue to serve our customers effectively.

What developments have you noticed in the luxury and ultra-luxury sector?

Sébastien: Since the creation of Junot Fine Properties | Knight Frank, we have observed growing interest from international buyers in Paris, with Asians and Middle Easterners increasingly present alongside Americans. The city is attractive because it is unique with its remarkable architecture. It is perceived as being extremely stable in terms of real estate, notably due to fixed and long-term interest rates.

How do you see the future development of the real estate market?

Sébastien: The future should see increased consolidation of market players, favoring well-structured and professional agencies. In a relatively unstable world in which French pensions will no longer be funded, the appetite for real estate will remain very strong, and therefore values should continue to increase in the long term.

What are your projects and ambitions for Junot in the years to come?

Sébastien: Our ambition is to continue our growth, while maintaining an exceptional level of service for our customers. We will offer our expertise in other places that we like - in France and beyond - and will continue to support the development of new activities, such as retail, life annuity and even professional premises.

What are these 40 years of existence represent for you?

Sébastien: These 40 years are a reflection of our passion and our commitment to Junot, which intertwine with our personal life. Seeing the company grow is a source of great pride and satisfaction, especially as we have been doing it with loyal and close-knit teams for years, if not decades.