Reignier-Esery, a frontier market

Between La Roche-sur-Foron and Annemasse, Reignier-Esery is only a 20-minute drive from Geneva. An ideal location for people crossing the border to work in Switzerland. An authentic Savoyard village nestling at the heart of lovely green countryside, between mountains and lakes, it is a very pleasant place to live all year round.

A charming commune in Upper Savoy, Reignier-Esery stretches over 25 km and has slightly over 7,000 residents. At an altitude of 480 m, it is next to the regional nature park of Le Massif des Bauges. Close to the A40 motorway and linked to Paris by the Paris-Saint-Gervais-Le Fayet TGV, Reignier-Esery also benefits from its proximity to the Geneva, Annecy and Chambéry airports. Appreciated by families and sports enthusiasts, a prestigious 18-hole golf-course further enhances its reputation.

“90 % of our clients are French “frontaliers”. Usually, at least one member of a couple works in Switzerland,” explains Carole Sanchez, co-manageress of the Immobilier des Rocailles agency, based in Reignier-Esery for the past three years. Inevitably, this area so close to Switzerland has been affected by the new tax measures which do not encourage investors. “Termination of the Scellier scheme has also made buyers more hesitant,” she adds. Nevertheless, the market is holding up, despite a slowdown observed by all the agencies in the area. This year, a good number of new developments have appeared on the market. “High-quality apartments with pretty terraces. They offer a good alternative for families who cannot afford to acquire houses, whose prices are still quite high.” For an apartment in a new residence, one can expect to pay from 3,600 to 4,000 € per sq. metre, whereas a small house with a garden will cost from 450,000 € on average.

Martine Majet has covered this area for over 20 years. In her agency, Jardins de L’Immobilier, her team has also noticed the slower pace of sales this year. This agency proposes many properties of character : renovated farmhouses, family homes built of stone, lovely old residences such as a late 18th-C. house of 200 m2 in flat wooded grounds, on offer at 555,000 €. “The highly-prized area consisting of the lower part of Pers-Jussy on the canton of Reignier-Esery also has some lovely residences currently up for sale. A little further on, in La Roche-sur-Foron and Eteaux, authentic 18th-C. farmhouses which have been modernized offer magnificent views of Mont-Blanc. Properties with lots of charm.” Despite the tense economic climate leading to a wait-and-see attitude and tightness on the part of the banks, sometimes deplored by members of the real-estate sector, Reignier-Esery remains a sound investment thanks to its closeness to Geneva, its properties of character and its many natural assets.