Bons-en-Chablais pursues its development

Thanks to a new 4-lane expressway and the CEVA railway line (Cornavin-Eaux-Vives-Annemasse) which will soon link the commune to Geneva, Bons-en-Chablais is being targetted by numerous “frontaliers” drawn by the assets of this address whose diverse property market offers good value for money.

At the heart of the province of Le Chablais in Upper Savoy, this charming commune with a population of over 5,000 lies 15 km south-west of Thonon-les-Bains and 23 km from Geneva, thus benefiting from a strategic location. Providing all the shops and infrastructures required for a pleasant family life (primary and intermediate schools, sports and cultural facilities, a weekly market…), Bons-en-Chablais is pursuing its policy of urban development to cater for its population growth as efficiently as possible. The town centre is being livened up with the construction of over 270 new homes and the creation of an urban station. Traditionally a rural setting, Bons-en-Chablais now proposes diverse and well balanced development between built-up and country areas.

Based in Thonon for 31 years, the Chablais Transaction agency, now bearing the Neowi label, specializes in the area within a radius of 20 km around the commune. “Our clientele is mainly comprised of people working across the border, aged from 25 to 40. Their average budget ranges from 350,000 to 400,000 €, enabling them to set their sights on a classic 3-bedroomed house of about 120 m2, with a garden of around 800 m2,” says agency manager Hervé Dupraz. “Old properties are not very popular, unless they have been treated to quality renovation, especially in terms of insulation and energy standards. Buyers are much more attracted by new properties - either houses or apartments -, guaranteeing modern comfort, meeting today’s norms, and on offer at appealing prices.” By way of example, our estate-agent mentions a new development comprised of three villas on the neighbourhing commune of Draillant. Proposing a contemporary timberframe style, each villa of 160 m2 is set in enclosed private grounds of over 1,000 m2. Low-energy, thanks to photovoltaic panels, they are priced at slightly under 500,000 €.

Hervé Dupraz’s comments are shared by Thibaut Houssard of the Poirier agencies, currently seeing a boom in the area. “We are now based in the centre of the commune,” says this specialist, currently looking for new members to join his team. “New properties are indeed attracting lots of attention. New buyers, mostly working across the border and including numerous first-time buyers, are aware of current standards, especially the “RT 2012”. Villas are pegged at around 3,400 € per sqm, apartments from 3,200 € per sqm.” The prices of old properties are evidently falling. “Houses over ten years old can be found at about 2,900 € per sqm, apartments in good condition at 3,100 € per sqm. These averages are still falling, but it’s hard to get the message through to sellers, too many of whom continue to estimate their properties above their real market value. Consequently, some of them stay on the files for many months without a single visit, whereas homes offered at prices estimated by our agency find takers within three months.” Though more numerous as compared to 2014, buyers nevertheless arrive with lower budgets. “The budget we see most frequently is around 350,000 € for a house.” Even so, after a year of ups and downs, marked by concerns on the part of “frontaliers” following government measures that inevitably sparked a wait-and-see atitude, 2015 certainly seems to be more promising.