The “Avant-pays Savoyard”, close to Chambéry

A natural and historic region, the “Avant-pays Savoyard” enjoys some lovely scenery. Offering wide open spaces just before the mountains of Savoy, this outstanding region is only a quarter-of-an-hour from Chambéry, a bonus for the working population.

It consists of the part of the “département” of Savoy between the Chaîne de l’Epine, Le Guiers to the south and Le Rhône to the north. The term “Avant-pays Savoyard” was only coined in 1985. Before, the region answered to the names of “Petit Bugey”, “Bugey Savoyard” or “Quatre Cantons”. Listed in the inventory of classified sites since 1930, the Lac d’Aiguebelette (”Belles petites eaux”) is the third largest natural lake in France. The area does have some mountains, the last foothills of the Jura, the Pre-Alps and the legendary Dent du Chat at La Chartreuse. The rivers Rhône and Guiers irrigate the entire region, becoming lifesize playgrounds for fans of fishing, canoing and kayaking. Industry plays an active role, together with agriculture, commerce and crafts. The Avant-pays Savoyard is well-known for its Jongieux and Pays d’Allobrogie wines, its Tomme de Savoie, Emmenthal and Gruyère cheeses. Not so many years ago, many young people bought plots of land intending to build, though in 2012 building land has become a rare commodity and thus more expensive. And restrictions on areas for construction introduced by the “Schéma de Cohérence Territoriale” are not likely to improve matters ; quite the contrary. Today, the sq. metre costs from 80 to 120 €. One subdivision is currently proposing a plot of 800 m2 at 110,000 €. “Add the cost of construction and you’re looking at close on 300,000 €,” says Olivier Guettaz of Novalaise Immobilier. “Once the house is built, it will still need a fitted kitchen and bathroom.” Buyers therefore fall back on existing homes within a radius of 5 to 6 kilometres around the lake of Aiguebelette.

2 kilometres north-west, Novalaise has 1,781 residents and offers village houses, mostly well-restored. However, the intra-muros market is virtually non-existent. Once very popular, holiday homes are now few and far between, as the prices posted put off potential buyers. The address is highly appreciated by families. There are no less than 650 pupils in Novalaise whose nursery and primary schools take in children from four other communes : Aiguebelette, Gerbaix, Marcieux and Nances. The figure demonstrates a growing population. Novalaise is only 35 minutes from Annecy, 1 hour from Grenoble and Geneva. The Swiss invite themselves to the commune, happy to find properties decidedly more affordable than in their homeland. But their arrival on the market has caused prices to rise, a factor not necessarily appreciated by the locals. For a home of quality, one now has to pay around 2,500 €/m2. Old houses of 130 m2 are thus priced at 300,000 €. A fully transformed barn is worth 380,000 €. If it is awaiting renovation and is located in the area around the lake, it will cost from 58,000 to 145,000 € depending on its surface area and the extent of the refurbishment work involved.

Quiet since the beginning of this year, the property market has suffered from the presidential elections and the European crisis. Estate-agents have nevertheless noticed that, while there are fewer visits, they resulted more frequently in a sale. “95 % of my mandates have been fulfilled,” says Catherine Bernardy of Actions Services Immobiliers. “Today, the estate-agent has to offer the client real added value. In my case, I have reduced my agency fees and propose 80 % of my properties on an exclusive basis.” All our estate-agents agree that it is the right time to buy, as mortgage rates are at their lowest. Those who can’t afford to become home-owners fall back on rentals, also giving priority to a very precise radius of 5 to 6 kilometres around the exit from the A43 motorway. On average, they pay 550 €/month for a 1-bedroom apartment, 650 €/month for 2 bedrooms, 1,000 €/month for a 4-bedroom house. A region showing real promise, the Avant-pays Savoyard is not only superb picture-postcard scenery. From April to October, it becomes a lively tourist destination and in 2015, it will host the world rowing championships. A chance to get itself talked about in all four corners of the world.