Chambéry, an extendable market

Nicknamed the “City of the Dukes” in reference to its past as the 11th-C. capital of the States of Savoy, then its re-attachment to France in 1860, Chambéry lies halfway between Grenoble and Annecy.

A university town, a town of art and history, Chambéry boasts many cultural amenities. A town for fans of sport, ideally located close to France’s largest skiing domains and the Lake of Le Bourget, where both mountain and sailing activities can be enjoyed. Several large French companies have established their head offices here : Opinel, Pechiney, Transalpine, Cafés Folliet, the Brasserie du Mont-Blanc... creating, alongside administrative bodies and hospitals, a lively source of jobs. The historic neighbourhood is a dense area built from the 14th to 17th centuries, with houses built on 3 or 4 floors, now often without parking facilities. The so-called “reconstruction” neighbourhoods - the centre was partly bombed in May, 1944 - are not particularly attractive. The station and large avenues such as Comte Vert, Turin, Jean-Jaurès and Nicolas-Parent, offer a mixed kind of housing, ranging from bourgeois buildings to the most basic type of accommodation. Les Monts and Montjay are the most highly-prized addresses thanks to their houses of character. In all, the commune has about 30,100 homes, 90 % of which are occupied year-round. Over the past 30 years, housing in Chambéry has doubled and it is still pursuing its expansion, now stretching over the entire agglomeration because, each year, 1,300 new arrivals move into the town.

Three years ago, Dany Meulien was one of them. After obtaining experience in the south of France, she opened the Bellachat Immobilier agency in Chambéry. “The market is lively. Buyers are often in urgent situations, especially if they have been transferred here by their firms.” The most frequent budgets range from 250,000 to 300,000 € for 2-bedroomed apartments, 350,000 to 500,000 € for houses. Very popular because they allow for a life-style in which everything can be done on foot, the neighbourhoods of Montjay and Les Monts also appeal for their 1930’s town houses benefiting from small vegetable gardens surrounded by rose bushes. Very rare, they are hardly ever available on the right side of 500,000 €. “The market is tending to stabilize, though it is hampered by properties which are poorly estimated.” Furthermore, many properties no longer find favour among clients. Out-dated residences with monthly charges of several hundred euros and houses built in the 1960’s which have not been renovated have real difficulty finding takers. On the other hand, properties in good locations, offering impeccable appointments, sell quickly without being subjected to tough bargaining if the original estimate is correct. Buyers who are sensitive to new standards, a property’s EPD (Energy Performance Diagnosis), who can benefit from the various government aids, set their sights on new accommodation. Especially as there are lots of developments currently under construction, such as “Bassens Côté Sud”, a new environmentally-friendly neighbourhood at the entrance to Chambéry. Sober and modern, laid out in “islands”, it is now rising from the earth. To be delivered in several phases, it will propose 350 apartments in all, two office buildings, shops, 44 social-housing apartments, and a residence for seniors. “The neighbourhood will be completed in about 6 to 7 years,” explains Anouk Palmyre of the developer Palmyr’immo which, together with Procédim, is getting ready to deliver the 73 apartments in the first residence named “Terre de Sienne” in a few months’ time. “With apartments offering two to five main rooms, this development has met with real success. First-time buyers are keen to acquire 1-bedroom apartments from 140,000 €, while retirees opt for 2-, 3- or 4-bedroomed apartments priced from 200,000 to 310,000 €.”

These articles might interest you :

Update on the borderline market

Whether in Le Pays de Gex or Upper Savoy, the real-estate market on the border with Switzerland is still in good shape. For both new and old properties, buyers have a wide choice. Possibly a little too wide ?…

 

Le Pays de Gex, a privileged location

At the gateway to Geneva with its airport and international institutions, Le Pays de Gex appeals for its natural, quiet and residential setting. Benefiting from efficient transport networks, shops and amenities, this area in the north-eastern part of...

 

Annemasse, a very buoyant market

An average-sized town with 32,000 residents, Annemasse offers the advantage of a convenient location on the Franco-Swiss border, 2 km from the canton of Geneva. Its very lively property market mainly revolves around acquisitions of year-round homes b...

 

Le Pays de Gex, a market in its own right

Lying in the midst of luxuriant landscapes between the Massif du Jura and Lake Geneva, Le Pays de Gex offers immediate proximity to the border with Switzerland as its N°1 feature. This strategic location endows its with a unique and persuasive argume...

 

The Franco-Swiss region known as “Le Pays de Gex”

Between the Jura mountains and Lake Geneva, the main assets of Le Pays de Gex are its magnificent green scenery and, above all, its immediate proximity to the cantons of Geneva and Vaud. A strategic position, boosted by very efficient transport netwo...

 

La Chautagne, an authentic region

At the north-western tip of the département of Savoy, La Chautagne consists of 8 communes on the banks of Lake Bourget, the largest natural lake in France.