Greater Geneva and Lake Geneva

Radia Amar - 26 March 2018

Of the most highly-prized views from Greater Geneva, that of the Lake continues to work like a magnet…

Based in the Lake Geneva area for the past three years, the Agence Barnes, recently installed on the Place du Port in Évian-les-Bains, offers a portfolio of high-end, charming and prestige properties, including many houses and villas enjoying views of Lake Geneva, as well as properties at the water’s edge, especially in Sciez. “Thanks to its international renown, its jetty, golf-course, and proximity to Switzerland, Evian-les-Bains has long been a highly-prized address among our foreign clientele, mainly from the Gulf states and United Arab Emirates,” explains Thomas Vantorre. “It is thus the commune posting the highest prices sper sq. metre in the area. Qataris prefer communes closer to Geneva, such as Exvenevex, Veigy-Foncenex, Messery...” Comprising another part of the Barnes clientele, “frontaliers”, or cross-border employees, look here for year-round homes. They are especially keen on Thonon-les-Bains, practical, peaceful and residential. Here, the Barnes agency is currently offering some outstanding properties, such as one of 470 m2 right at the water’s edge, near the centre of Thonon-les-Bains, priced at 7.9 million euros. Benefiting from a landing-stage and private access to Lake Geneva, it stands in a park of 5,790 m2 with rare shrubs and plants, and a separate cottage for house staff.

Covering Le Genevois and Le Pays de Gex, Immo Confiance was founded about a decade ago by two enthusiasts in real state. Its agencies in Ornex and Saint-Julien-en Genevois offer a wide array of carefully selected properties all over the Greater Geneva area. “From practical apartments in convenient locations to family villas with contemporary decor, prestige properties and penthouses, we meet the requirements of a demanding clientele comprised of numerous “frontaliers” : entrepreneurs, senior executives, self-employed professionals, UN employees, civil servants working in Geneva...,” says manager Christian Michaud. “Today’s most widely sought-after property is a 4-bedroomed villa offering contemporary appointments, built and decorated with quality materials, enjoying views of Geneva or Mont-Blanc, and priced from 600,000 to 900,000 €.” Buyers are nevertheless confronted by a relatively tight market, if one disregards properties of unsatisfactory quality. “We can currently come up with three to five properties meeting their requirements, in each sector concerned.” Views of the lake or Mont-Blanc are also among the search criteria of clients with substantial financial means, setting their sights on rare properties. “Among the numerous transactions we orchestrated recently, we can mention a magnificent farmhouse of 270 m2, renovated in contemporary style, in the Mont-Sion area, priced at 950,000 €, an ultra-contemporary 4-bedroomed apartment of 150 m2 on the commune of Saint-Genis-Pouilly, priced at 597,000 €, and an architect-designed villa of 170 m2 in grounds of 2,400 m2 in Gex, offering a stunning view of the lake and Mont Blanc mountain chain. This contemporary property in a highly sought-after neighbourhood fetched over 900,000 €,” explains Christian Michaud who, with his entire team now comprised of five persons, does not hesitate to develop cutting-edge technologies and services to present his sellers’ properties at their best. “All our exclusive mandates benefit from prominent showcasing in high-quality media, as well as virtual tours on our website. Furthermore, we offer all clients, whether buyers or sellers, a video recorded by drone of the property they are going to live in or sell. These services and little attentions are some of the differentiating factors offered by our agency.”