{"id":75894,"date":"2022-04-29T13:25:39","date_gmt":"2022-04-29T20:25:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=75894"},"modified":"2026-02-18T09:42:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T17:42:36","slug":"what-is-a-pied-a-terre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/what-is-a-pied-a-terre\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Pied \u00e0 Terre? A Home Away From Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you live in a big city, you\u2019ve probably heard the term \u201cpied \u00e0 terre,\u201d or maybe you\u2019ve seen one. But what is it, exactly? Are they as fancy as they sound?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A pied \u00e0 terre is a luxury apartment or condo in a big city that someone uses as their second home. People generally invest in pieds \u00e0 terre for convenience, proximity to work, to visit a particular city, or as a home away from home. Read on to learn about where you can find pieds \u00e0 terre and how you can choose one that makes the most sense for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pied \u00e0 terre meaning<\/span><\/h2>\n

The pied \u00e0 terre (pronounced pee-ay-dah-tare) is a French phrase that translates to \u201cfoot on the ground\u201d (pied translates to foot, and terre translates to ground or earth). The plural of pied \u00e0 terre is pieds \u00e0 terre, or \u201cfeet on the ground.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pied \u00e0 terre are typically apartments, condos, or co-op units in luxurious buildings in big cities that people use to travel, visit family, or work. Depending on your unique needs, you can buy or rent a pied \u00e0 terre. They can also be an investment property, although some regions have restrictions on when and how people rent out pieds \u00e0 terre. Most cities don\u2019t allow short-term rentals, but long-term rentals are more common.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before you invest in a pied \u00e0 terre, make sure to check state and city laws and the building\u2019s rules about subletting or renting this type of home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where can you find pieds \u00e0 terre?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

You can usually find Pieds \u00e0 terre in larger cities. They are common in Hong Kong, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, and many European cities like London and Paris. \u201cThey are especially common in New York,\u201d says Stoyan Panayotov, financial advisor with Babylon Wealth Management<\/a>. \u201cThe other U.S. markets are a lot smaller.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Why do people own a pied \u00e0 terre?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Who wouldn\u2019t want a luxurious apartment in a fun, new city? \u201c<\/span>Many people in New York City use pieds \u00e0 terre primarily as a means to be at work on time and\/or as an investment,\u201d says Matthew Bizzarro from <\/span>BIZZARRO<\/span><\/a>, a notable New York City real estate firm. \u201cWhether someone needs to visit the city often for extended periods of time or live primarily out on Long Island,\u201d he says, \u201chaving a place to go to in the city can make the commuting aspect of your work life so much easier.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Below are some other common reasons people rent or buy a pied \u00e0 terre.<\/span><\/p>\n

Commuting\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Business travelers often invest in a pied \u00e0 terre. Sometimes people split their time evenly between two different cities. Since a pied \u00e0 terre is usually cheaper than frequent hotel stays, they are common among those who frequently travel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Timothy Mazanec, Wealth Management Advisor with <\/span>The Harvest Group<\/span><\/a>, suggests buying a pied \u00e0 terre to bring comfort and familiarity. \u201cA pied \u00e0 terre gives you the control and familiarity of being at home while living in a new city. If you travel to a destination often, wouldn’t you prefer familiarity and comfort when you arrive? Luxury comes at a financial cost, one that you may need to plan to achieve.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Investment\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Some people purchase a pied \u00e0 terre to invest in the local real estate market or to rent to other people. While renting is popular, there are often restrictions about when and how you can rent out or sublet a pied \u00e0 terre. Some cities don\u2019t allow short-term rentals of pieds \u00e0 terre at all. In other cities, you can sublet a pied \u00e0 terre only after you\u2019ve had the unit for a year. Check local real property tax law and building regulations before investing in a pied \u00e0 terre.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOwning a pied a terre can be a great way to participate in the appreciation of the real estate market,\u201d says Jonathan Bird from <\/span>Farnam Financial<\/span><\/a>. \u201cOwners can benefit from renting their unit out with services like AirBnb. Our tax law allows you to collect two weeks of rental income tax free every year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Visiting family<\/span><\/h3>\n

People often use pieds \u00e0 terre to be near family. People also typically rent a pied \u00e0 terre near their elderly parents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pieds \u00e0 terre are becoming more common as the cost of living increases. Since more people are putting off buying a home, they may not have as much space to host family. Because of this, their extended family might buy a pied \u00e0 terre.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Big-city life<\/span><\/h3>\n

Pieds \u00e0 terre are an excellent way for people to live in new, exciting cities. For example, a couple who is <\/span>living in Buffalo<\/span><\/a>, might want to <\/span>buy a home in<\/span><\/a> New York City to experience the shops, restaurants, and big-city life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yann Rousseau, Managing Partner of <\/span>Barnes New York<\/span><\/a>, suggests owning a <\/span>pied \u00e0 terre if you live in New York City. \u201c<\/span>Owning a pied a terre in NYC mostly has advantages if you can afford it. Importantly, it provides the considerable advantage of having an actual home to go when visiting NYC. Because NYC mostly forbids any short-term rentals under 30 days, a <\/span>pied \u00e0 terre<\/span> can be cheaper than frequent stays at hotels.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pied \u00e0 terre amenities<\/span><\/h2>\n

Pieds \u00e0 terre tend to have generous amenities. These can include:<\/span><\/p>\n