Communay and Saint-Symphorien d’Ozon

These localities east of Lyon are appealing alternatives, a compromise between town and country at the very gateway to the economic hub of the “département” of the Rhône. The “community of communes” of Le Pays de l’Ozon is far from lacking in assets. Our estate-agents fill in the details…

Occupying an area of 2,603 acres with 1,461 homes and 4,000 residents, Communay is less than 20 km from Lyon, 11 km from Vienne and 3 km from Givors. It clearly offers a rural setting, harmoniously alternating hills and plains. Its advantages include well-managed urban development and activities laid on by clubs and associations. Also east of Lyon, Saint-Symphorien, home to 5,250 people, lies 7 km south-west of Vénissieux and 10 km from the prefecture of “département” 69, which it only joined in 1967.

“The fact of being close to Lyon and enjoying easy access to motorways draws clients to the quiet town of Communay,” comments Béatrice Roman of Neyret Immobilier. Laid out around a centre with a good number of shops, the village is not lacking in charm. The presence of an intermediate school is an asset for families. The property market is mainly comprised of houses, in the town or more outlying areas. Amongst her most recent transactions, our estate-agent mentions a property of 130 m2, fully restored, in non-divisible grounds of 2,200 m2, sold after a week of modest bargaining for 395,000 €. First-time buyers then paid 136,000 € for a 3-storey town house of 150 m2 in need of total renovation. After being on offer for only seven days, this property brought in a considerable number of calls from young couples prepared to carry out the work themselves, and also investors, fully aware of the building’s rarity. 80 % of the agency’s transactions are in the 400,000-450,000 € bracket. In parallel, a suburban estate with about 40 semi-detached houses over 30 years old offers further solutions for house-hunters at prices between 260,000 and 300,000 €. Building land is also in steady demand. Unfortunately, potential buyers ready to pay 200-300 €/m2 for a plot are confronted by real scarcity. All types of properties combined, stocks remain relatively limited. Yet agencies are witnessing lower prices, a trend that sellers still find it hard to admit.

Real-estate expert Henry Maras of Immozon covers the entire Val d’Ozon, in the first ring around Lyon. Over the years, its residents have undergone a real transformation with the upper socio-professional category replacing yesterday’s working class. Saint-Symphorien is more like a small town, benefitting from amenities required for its residents’ everyday lives. Furthermore, more apartment buildings are beginning to see the light of day. One can expect to pay 3,400-4,000 €/m2 in a high-class residence with the low-energy BBC label, benefitting from terraces, cellars, parking facilities and, above all, garden-level apartments. 90 % of sales nevertheless still concern houses, most ranging from 250,000 to 450,000 €. At the moment, first-time buyers represent no more than 5 % of the clientele, due to the high prices. Awaiting new tax measures, investors are also thin on the ground. In fact, there is nothing on offer under 150,000 €, with a recent 2-bedroom apartment costing 180,000 €. In today’s economic context, the volume of sales is declining while completions require some patience. Currently, it takes 100 days for a detached house to change hands. Le Val d’Ozon is a homogeneous area : only Chaponnay and Solaize, slighly more expensive, stand out from the rest.