Muret and Noé, so close to Toulouse

By Cécile Olivéro - 14 June 2013

The historic county of Le Comminges covers four départements, Ariège, Gers, Hautes-Pyrénées and Haute-Garonne. The latter hosts two communes whose country atmosphere is appreciated by people working in Toulouse.

Muret, with 23,864 inhabitants in the last census taken in 2010, is about 20 kilometres from Toulouse, reached by train or the A64 motorway. The town’s well-known personalities include inventor Clément Ader and Vincent Auriol, who was Mayor in 1925 before becoming the first President of France’s Fourth Republic. Primary, intermediate and secondary schools, both public and professional, a branch of the National Civil Aviation School, a polyvalent clinic, day hospital and a variety of shops (including supermarkets) provide residents with all essential amenities. “Muret is in the second ring around Toulouse,” points out Roland Pince of the Agence Pince. “Potential buyers dispose of average budgets ranging from 170,000 to 230,000 €, but most of the time properties up for sale are pegged at much higher prices.” Only 2- or 3-bedroomed houses of 80 to 90 m2 dating back to the ’sixties with gardens of 500 m2 are likely to meet the majority of demands. In the town centre, houses on 2 or 3 floors, many in need of renovation, are on offer at around 220,000 €. Renting often poses the same problem, as the wages of the working population have generally dropped. For 320 to 340 €, a student or employee living here during the week will opt for a studio. An apartment with one bedroom costs 420 to 500 €, two bedrooms from 580 to 630 €, three bedrooms from 750 to 850 €. Those who are prepared to live a few more kilometres from their workplaces move to Carbonne, a charming village with 5,300 residents, equi-distant from the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, Venerque, 15 km south-east of Muret, or Lavernose-Lacasse, 10 km south-west of Muret.

A village accommodating 2,627 people, about 10 kilomeres south of Muret and 37 km from Toulouse, Noé is the homebase of Jean-Baptiste Doumeng, nicknamed “the red billionaire”. In addition to long-established families, the commune mainly plays host to workers who share village houses or houses on estates. While the first rarely appear on the market (and would cost 120,000 € if in need of restoration, and up to 400,000 € for the most desirable ones, with a courtyard or small garden), like the second in fact, Noé does pretty well with regard to building plots. “They are selling well, haven’t seen any deflation and cost around 100 € per sq. metre,” explains Jean-Luc Escalin of the Agence TSI. Buyers then invest in the construction of a house which will cost less than the land itself, the only solution if they want to become home-owners. “The further one goes from Toulouse,” adds Jean-Luc Escalin, “the more prices fall, by about 10% in Carbonne, 20% in Saint-Julien”. In both Muret and Noé, the property market is waiting for government measures to boost economic growth, as promised.