La Dombes, an alternative to the market in Lyon

Situated north-east of Lyon, the plateau known as La Dombes surveys the plains of the Rhône. The area partly owes its renown to its many lakes, which are very popular, but also offers a very pleasant country setting within easy reach of Lyon thanks to a good public transport network.

The Saône valley opens out to the west, La Côtière to the south, while the River Ain flows by to the east, marking a natural boundary with Le Bugey. For many long years, the local economy benefitted from the hammering of gold and silver. In the 19th century, Trévoux became one of the capitals of the diamond industry. Today, the area is home to nearly 18 % of France’s share of fish-breeding ponds and provides 21 % of its national production. Crossed by the railway and the main road from Lyon to Bourg-en-Bresse, the site is famous for its dishes based on frogs.

“Montluel stands at the gateway to La Dombes, a 20-minute drive from the Prefecture of the Rhône and 18 minutes by train from La Part-Dieu. Its very luxuriant scenery offers many hiking and riding paths,” says Corinne Chabreiron of Guy Hoquet L’Immobilier. Property prices are relatively attractive. For a so-called standard house - 110 m2 with a garden of 600 m2 costing on average 250,000 to 260,000 € over towards Montluel -, one notes a disparity of 30,000 € compared to Miribel, on the first outer ring. An old 1-bedroom apartment in a good location is worth about 125,000 €, an apartment with 3/4 main rooms 150,000-160,000 €. Since November 2010, prices have remained stable, except in the case of building land, a segment hit by a shortage, pegged at about 130 €/m2. Up to 280,000 €, the market is active. Beyond that level, the locality enters into fierce competition with Miribel, where the agency has just handled the sale of a garden-level duplex apartment comprised of four main rooms for 240,000 €, and a 4-bedroom villa with a garden of 850 m2 and swimming pool for 450,000 €.

“Meximieux offers a rural setting, 30 to 35 minutes from Lyon and not far from Bourg-en-Bresse, dotted with ponds and nature parks. Like Montluel, it benefits from a bus network and a train station, two advantages in the eyes of people working in Lyon,” comments Amandine Soria of Guy Hoquet L’Immobilier. Standard detached houses range here from 230,000 to 250,000 €. The site can also propose typical Bresse farmhouses with their traditional exposed rafters. Examples of 200 m2, fully renovated, with 5,000 m2 to 2.5 acres of land, range from 500,000 to 600,000 €, with similar properties in need of restoration which can be had for around 200,000 €. Some have been split into apartments of 100-150 m2 with outdoor areas of 200 m2 ; in good condition, they fetch 200,000 to 250,000 €. Charm is their most important selling-point. Over the past few years, Meximieux has made a significant effort in terms of transport facilities, especially as it benefits from proximity to two military bases and an industrial centre in the plain of the River Ain.

Based in Saint-André-de-Corcy, Christophe Pernet of the agency of the same name covers the plateau of La Dombes. It takes just 20 minutes to each La Part-Dieu on the TER railway line. “The land of a thousand lakes offers a wealth of leisure facilities, golf-courses and good restaurants,” he says enthusiastically. A small house on an estate costs around 270,000 to 280,000 € in Saint-André or Mionnais, less as soon one gets closer to Villars, about 10 kilometres north. Buyers pay on average 300,000 € for detached homes. Recently, apartment buildings have risen from the ground in response to strong demand. They post prices of 3,000 €/m2. This address, valued somewhere between Miribel and Montluel, meets two requirements : easy access to workplaces and a taste for rural surroundings. It certainly has appeal. The real problem for the estate-agent is the initial estimate and getting the owner to accept his evaluation.