There’s no doubting that the town holds plenty of attraction for new arrivals, starting with the village feel of its historic centre, also home to the best market in the Île-de-France region according to TF1, as well as its 500 hectares (1,235 acres) of public forests, its many many parks and gardens and its water sports centre, to name a few. Much of Rueil’s appeal comes from the fact that the Town Council has placed the emphasis on green spaces in recent years, a choice that attracts large number of buyers and families in particular looking to make the most of this verdant environment and the town's excellent schools. Rueil as a whole is desirable, so choosing a neighbourhood is not a decision to be taken lightly: if you want to be near the RER train line with fast connections to Paris, the downtown area and the banks of the Seine are where to look. But families tend to gravitate towards the many public and private schools in the upper part of town, although they will almost certainly need a car to get around...
A town with a country feel
Located on the Left Bank of the Seine, Rueil-Malmaison is very suburban, so a large portion of the transactions here logically concern houses, with supply buoyed by small surface areas around 50 sq.m (538 sq ft) with 1 or 2 bedrooms for townhouses listed between €350,000 and €400,000. Prices can reach over €500,000 however for houses with 3 bedrooms. For some buyers, the rare gem is a detached house to renovate and modernise to suit the tastes of the new occupants. Bear in mind though that most properties with the potential for extension were snatched up long ago by developers and large families!
In this town with its country air, the market for apartments remains highly active but is directly dependent on, you guessed it, location! For an apartment with 3 main rooms spanning approximately 60 sq.m (645 sq ft) for example, prices vary greatly according to the neighbourhood and the level of quality of the building. Between €250,000 and €320,000 for ’60s buildings on the lower end of the quality scale, between €350,000 and €450,000 for ’70s and ’80s buildings with a lift and/or parking, and between €500,000 and €550,000 for the most recent, upmarket buildings. For most apartments, with 3 or 4 main rooms, the most sought-after areas are the town centre and near the RER A line. Although the residential charm around the Château de Malmaison, which was purchased in 1799 by Joséphine de Beauharnais before she became Empress and which has nowadays been transformed into one of the most charming museums in the Paris area, holds its own appeal.
Nestled in greenery yet close to the city, Rueil-Malmaison is ideal for buying a family home near Paris. Discover high-end listings in Boulogne-Billancourt and Neuilly-sur-Seine, or consider historic homes in Versailles. For elegant apartments and lofts, visit Levallois-Perret, Saint-Cloud or Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
