Saint-Julien en Genevois

The capital of Le Genevois in Upper Savoy, situated between Le Vuache and Le Mont-Salève, this health resort covers an area of 3,705 acres rising to an altitude of 460 metres. Its main asset lies in its immediate proximity to the business hub of Switzerland.

Just 10 km from Geneva, Saint-Julien en Genevois is seen as the perfect residential commune by several thousand “frontaliers”, or people working across the Swiss border. For decades, its population (now 12,000) has been rising constantly. With four school groups, a hospital centre, cinema, casino and a good number of shops, the town is certainly lively.

“On the commune itself, the greatest demand is for rentals, though demand from potential buyers is constant all over Le Genevois,” says Pasqualina de Pompéi, one of the manageresses of the Cabinet Immobilier De Pompéi & Jeandet, opened in 2012 with Sylvie Jeandet. The agency specializes in the areas of Le Genevois, Annemasse and Le Pays de Gex. “Near the Perly customs, or in the Saint-Martin, Bellevue, Pré de la Fontaine or Thairy areas, new 3-bedroomed houses of 100 m2 will cost from 350,000 to 390,000 €. A low-energy BBC home with the same living space will be offered between 510,000 and 550,000 €.” Though stable overall, prices have fallen slightly in the case of standard properties, even though the stock of availabilities in the town centre is not as satisfactory as our estate-agents would like.

5 km from Saint-Julien, the commune of Feigères has managed to preserve a more rural character, despite its closeness to main roads. Residents appreciate its quietness, security, tranquillity, and a certain upper-crust life-style. “Mainly Swiss and “frontaliers”, buyers like the identity of Feigères and are ready to spend from 650,000 to 700,000 € to acquire a comfortable new family home here,” explains Christian Petament of the Affair Immobilier agency. Furthermore, this commune is treating itself to a block of apartments, which is rare in this area. “Investors and seniors who no longer want to deal with the maintenance involved in a house should be won over by L’Eclot Sud, a new development proposed by Edifim, that we are just starting to place on the market.” Scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2017, this residence comprised of two blocks will offer 15 apartments with 2 to 5 main rooms. Benefiting from terraces and gardens of about 80 m2 on the ground floor, each unit will be built of prime materials and offer premium appointments such as videophones. 1-bedroomed apartments are priced from 182,000 €, 4-bedroomed apartments of 113 m2 at 557,000 € with two double garages included. Always high-quality, offerings seem to be diversifying in this region which focuses all its attention on the business centre just over the border in Switzerland.