French property watch - March 2019 : Rhône-Alpes

The Rhône-Alpes is a playground for lovers of the outdoors. It boasts the world’s largest skiing area – and even after the snow melts, it is a favourite year-round destination, with climbing and biking, riding and sailing all popular.

Fans of more traditional sports are well catered-for, too. Lyon and Grenoble boast sides in French rugby’s top flight, while Lyon and Saint-Etienne represent the region in football’s Ligue 1, as well as in Europe.

And, with international airports in the core triangle of Lyon, Grenoble and Saint-Etienne, giving skiers especially an easy gateway to the Alps, it is easy to travel to and from this part of France. The area is the link between northern France and Europe to the Mediterranean, and millions travel along its motorways in the summer holiday period.

Average temperatures range from 5C in December to a balmy 27C in the height of summer.

Unsurprisingly, Lyon is ahead of the average for property prices, which can reach as much as €4,490 per m² in desirable central areas of the city – with older apartment prices rising 10% year on year, Notaires de France state.

The property market has performed solidly across the region. Typical properties in Saint-Etienne saw prices jump 8.2% to €185,000 in the 12 months to July 2018, according to the latest available notaires’ report.

Meanwhile, typical prices for older properties in Lyon (€324,300) rose by a more stable 4.2%, while Grenoble (€287,600) saw a 0.3% dip in prices.