The area west of Lyon, synonymous with a quality life-style

From Brignais, Saint-Genis-Laval and Mornant to Le Val de Saône - Albigny, Genay and Neuville -, this area at the gateway to Lyon offers a pleasant atmosphere and a diverse choice of housing. Executives and intermediary professions are gradually replacing farmworkers, as residential accommodation continues to eat further into vast agricultural estates.

Home to about 120,000 people, the area west of Lyon boasts the highest population growth in recent years in the Rhône-Alpes region. 40 % of new-comers are under 30 years old, 43 % between 30 and 60, 17 % over 60,” explains Vincent Ferrari of Arlim Prestige & Arlim Champagne - 10 agencies specializing in property sales and management. From Brignais to Le Val de Saône via Les Monts d’Or (Champagne, Dardilly, Ecully, La Tour-de-Salvagny, Limonest, Saint-Cyr and Saint-Didier), Le Val d’Yzeron (Charbonnières-les-Bains, Craponne, Francheville, Marcy-l’Etoile, Saint-Genis-les-Ollières and Tassin-la-Demi-Lune) and Le Pays de l’Arbresle (Dommartin Lentilly, Fleurieux, Savigny and Bully), the various communes extend their invitation to enjoy a very appealing life-style. The environment is pleasant, with a choice of suburban housing, excellent road and rail connections. The area plays host to a training and research centre, leading firms and a first-class natural and historic heritage, featuring Roman aqueducts, religious buildings and numerous hiking trails.

Set on the crests of the Monts d’Or, at the edge of the 9th “arrondissement”, Saint-Didier, with 6,350 residents, can claim to be one of the wealthiest communes on the outskirts of Lyon, ranking second in the provinces in 2007 in terms of annual income per capita, at around 30,500 €, which is double the national average. The forest of Rochecardon forms a natural border between the capital of the Rhône and this pretty little bourg. Collonges, which is an integral part of the urban community of Le Grand Lyon, lies in a loop of the Saône. Over the years, housing has taken precedence over market gardening, vineyards and large farms. In 1997, the locality inaugurated a brand new school, and development was launched on the hamlet of Trèves-Pâques. 13 km from the Place Bellecour, Limonest hosts a branch of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the 942 Lyon-Mont Verdun air base. Nearly two-thirds of the territory are still natural areas. “Within this pre-urban zone, the purchaser benefits from a wide choice,” says Vincent Ferrari. Gated communities with gardens and sometimes swimming pools and tennis courts post prices at around 4,000 €/m2. On private estates, recent detached houses of 150-200 m2 sell from 650,000 to 750,000 €, or from 850,000 to 950,000 € with living space of 200-250 m2, and from 1 to 1.5 million euros for homes of 300-350 m2. Properties of charm, from 500 m2, range from 1.5 to 2.5 million euros, depending on their appointments. Finally, châteaux attract a wealthy clientele : at present, an example of 1,000 m2 is on offer at 1,990,000 € with refurbishment required and some rooms to be restructured, only 15 minutes from Lyon. The market is buoyant and demand very strong. The people of Lyon are leaving the Prefecture of “département” 69 in order to enjoy generous grounds, while transferred workers are drawn by the area’s good reputation. Locals often move out to obtain more living space, while seniors look for high-class residences in convenient locations. Since 2008, the market has, however, evolved : prices are now stable and buyers much less impulsive.

Bordering Saint-Genis-les-Ollières Tassin-la-Demi-Lune, Francheville, Brindas and Grézieu-la-Varenne, Craponne with over 8,000 inhabitants offers 100 shops, 90 enterprises and no less than 70 industrial firms. In this town in the countryside, life is definitely for the living. “Within three years, about 800 new homes have been delivered, meeting a real need for apartments, a segment until now under-represented. Young couples and retirees are both willing to pay 3,000 €/m2 here,” comments Nathalie Clapeyron of Orpi Clapeyron Transactions. If the site is popular, it is, for an equivalent environment, more affordable than Ecully, Charbonnières and the Monts d’Or. In the case of houses, offerings fall into four different categories : the “pavillon” of 100 m2 on an estate, with a garden of 350 m2, costing 280,000-310,000 € ; the villa of 125 m2 and more in a garden of 800 m2, from 340,000 to 450,000 € ; the 500,000-700,000 € bracket providing more living space and larger grounds ; and properties priced over one million euros, which correspond to a totally different set of amenities. Recently, a residence of 320 m2 in a park of 6,500 m2 found a buyer at 1.1 million euros. The crisis has resulted in a drop of 10-15 % in overall prices. Fortunately, since January, sales figures have again started to climb. Just a few months ago, the large stock of properties offered for sale allowed potential buyers some time for reflection. Today, they are becoming scarce and the time it takes to sell is becoming significantly shorter, provided that the price-tags have been correctly estimated. The economy of the Pays d’Arbresle (18 communities 25 km from Lyon with a total 35,000 residents) was once based on weaving and mining. Now, this go-ahead area hosts 2,100 companies providing 11,700 jobs. In addition to a full agenda of activities organized by associations, it enjoys a protected and attractive setting with easy access. “The tram-train, which serves the entire western side of Lyon from the Saint-Paul station, is a real asset for local workers,” notes Didier Journoud of the Agence Immobilière du Grand Ouest, which has two agencies in the area. The area’s basic appeal lies in its reasonable prices : as soon as one leaves Le Grand Lyon, tax decreases and housing costs fall by 30-40 %. For example, a home of 150 m2 with a garden of 1,000 m2 at Charbonnières costs 700,000 €, but only 400,000 € if one is prepared to drive 10 minutes more. Thanks to low-er prices and interest rates, first-time buyers are again setting their sights on the anti-chamber of Le Beaujolais with its rolling countryside, charming villages, elevated positions, sweeping views and golden stones.