Diverse offerings on the east side of Lyon

Although unofficial, the term “east side of Lyon” is used to designate a group of 25 communes, home to about 450,000 inhabitants in all. Composed of suburban areas, historic villages and more built-up communes, the market here offers a wide diversity of properties at attractive prices.

Close to several infrastructures for air and road travel, including two airports, a TGV station and the motorway network from the eastern ring-road head­ing to Grenoble and Chambéry, the east side of Lyon is extremely well-connected. Certain communes such as Meyzieu, Décines-Charpieu, Saint-Priest and Bron are linked to the centre of Lyon by the tramway or metro - a persuasive argument for people working in Lyon in search of a less urban lifestyle. There are many industrial zones and activity parks offering a lively job pool, and therefore potential buyers. The east side of Lyon is also well-endowed with sports facilities, public parks, hospitals, shopping centres and universities. Over the past few years, numerous new developments have sprung up, witnesses to the active prop­erty market in this area with a flourishing economy.

With three agencies based in Bron, Saint-Priest and Genas, Christian Luminet, manager of Laforêt Luminet Immobilier Conseil, is well-acquainted with the markets of Bron, Chassieu, Genas, Saint-Bonnet-de-Mure, Saint-Laurent-de-Mure, Saint-Priest, Mions, Toussieu and Saint-Pierre-de-Chandieu. “The east side of Lyon is predominantly suburban,” he explains. “Our clients are mostly looking for family homes with gardens. More urban in style, Bron and Saint-Priest offer more apartments. As for high-end properties, they are to be found in Genas, a small, smart Eldorado 15 km east of Lyon.” And what about prices ? “The market trend is currently slightly lower. Today, you can find lots of properties at appealing prices.” As exemplified by a 2-bedroom apartment on the ground floor of the Cité Verte residence in Bron, up for sale at 129,500 €, or a 3-bedroom apartment of 76 m2 on the Route de Genas, priced at 125,000 €. “This type of property is clearly an attractive investment offering good rental income.” In Saint-Bonnet-de-Mure and Saint-Laurent-de-Mure, houses with gardens can be found from 250,000 €. A few properties of character are also on offer, such as a 1930’s villa with 4 bedrooms and a garden of 133 m2, priced at 450,000 €, at the heart of the commune of Bron.

With its industrial area providing a large employment pool, its tramline linking it to the centre of Lyon in 20 minutes, the Grand Large lake - a big tourist and leisure attraction -, its recent amenities and infrastructures ideal for family life (a new municipal pool, sports complexes, shopping centres…), Meyzieu also proposes lots of advantages. Jérôme Javazzo opened the Jab Immo agency here a little over a year ago. “The most sought-after property is a suburban-type house with a garden.” In Meyzieu, Décines-Charpieu or Jonage, this kind of home offering living space of 100 m2 and a garden of 400-500 m2 is currently available at around 300,000 €. “A property which has been correctly estimated sells within less than a month in this area,” says our specialist. “Many retirees sell their houses to move into apartments in the city centre, near amenities and with a “walk everywhere” lifestyle. So families with children wanting to acquire their main home in this commune can easily find a property meeting their requirements.” In the case of apartments, price brackets vary depending on the neighbourhood and type of home : based on the sales completed by Jab Immo in 2013, they range from 2,500 to 3,700 € per sq. metre. The type of property chalking up the most sales this year is the 2-bedroomed apartment.