La Roche-sur-Foron, the charm of a listed historic town

Conveniently located in Upper Savoy between Geneva, Annecy and Chamonix, La Roche-sur-Foron is appreciated by families for its medieval charm, its lively shops, the quality of its infrastructures and schools catering for children and teenagers from primary classes to the end of secondary school.

An historic town in Upper Savoy, La Roche-sur-Foron is very fond of its restored architectural heritage dating back to medieval times, while its centre is well-known for the quality of its little shops committed to sustainable development and local produce. Remarkably well-preserved, the Plain Château neighbourhood is subject to the approval of the “Bâtiments de France”, and its typical stone houses endow the commune with undeniable charm. At the crossroads of Le Genevois and Le Faucigny, about 20 km from the canton of Geneva, this town with 11,000 inhabitants benefits from the closeness of the Geneva, Annecy and Chambéry airports, as well as that of Lyon Saint-Exupéry, easily accessible on the motorway.

“Buyers are there, demand is steady for all parts of the town, especially in the case of “frontaliers” (people working in Switzerland) who account for 90 % of our clientele,” explains Christophe Dechamboux, manager of Montagne Immobilier, an agency opened in 1976. These clients are looking for year-round homes, either pleasant apartments or houses suitable for families. Depending on their amenities, apartments with 2 or 3 bedrooms cost around 2,900 € per sqm., houses around 3,200 € per sqm. “Prices are stable, though purchasers are still very careful. They’re afraid of losing money if they need to re-sell, so they search for properties of quality, reflecting today’s taste, in residences less than 10 years old.” For in fact, older properties built in the ’seventies have fallen sharply in value. “An old 1-bedroom apartment will sell for 130,000 €, whereas another of the same surface area in a recent residence will fetch 180,000 €.” The same goes for houses. Recent examples of 120 m2 are up for sale at 420,000-450,000 €, while those built some 40 years ago are proposed at 400,000 €.

“Overall, prices are still on a downward trend,” comments Pascal Carchon, manager of Accort Immobilier, based in the town centre for the past 12 years. “2014 is following on in much the same way as 2013, though the pace is still brisk thanks in particular to a good pick-up in interest since the month of September,” says this expert, who is looking for villas and 3-bedroomed apartments for his clients - “frontaliers” in their forties from Annecy, Annemasse or the Valley of the Arve. “Some buyers are also showing an interest in land on which to build contemporary villas. Ideally flat, sunny and in a quiet neighbourhood, they are very rare and cost from 200 to 250 € per sqm.” For a 3-bedroomed apartment, budgets range most frequently from 280,000 to 320,000 €, especially for those on the Avenue de la Bénite Fontaine. “From 300,000 € upwards, you can set your sights on a prized address, modern appointments and an open view.” The neighbourhood of Broÿs and the commune bordering on Etaux are popular for the quality of their houses. Neighbouring villages also appeal to families, as they offer a countrified lifestyle while being close to the motorway entrance and a few minutes from the urban centre and its amenities.

With a varied choice of accommodation proposing practical, standard properties, but also lofts, contemporary villas , renovated farmhouses and new apartments priced from 3,600 to 4,200 € per sqm., the area around La Roche-sur-Foron, backed by its diversity, natural and architectural heritage, offers an appealing environment within easy reach of Switzerland.

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