February 15, 2013 8:41 pm

Hot property: commuter belts

From an old rectory in the UK to a renovated farmhouse in France, five residences near train stations or airports
The Old Rectory, Cheam Village, Surrey

The Old Rectory, Cheam Village, Surrey, UK, £1.6m

Where Around 16 miles southwest of London, 7.5 miles from the M25, with good access to both international airports at Gatwick and Heathrow.

What A former Grade II-listed rectory dating from the 16th century, with six bedrooms and three bathrooms, coach house, self-contained office and stabling.

Why The Old Rectory is within walking distance of the mainline rail station, from where commuter trains take 29-34 minutes to London Victoria or London Bridge stations. A 24-hour bus from outside the gates also takes passengers to Heathrow international airport.

Who Jackson-Stops & Staff, www.jackson-stops.co.uk, tel: +44 20 7664 6646


New Canaan, Connecticut home

362 South Avenue, New Canaan, Connecticut, US, $4.35m

Where Around eight miles from Stamford and 50 miles (one hour’s drive) from JFK international airport.

What A 6,400 sq ft, five-bedroom house on just over half an acre. The grounds feature in the garden tour of New Canaan, which is one of the 10 wealthiest communities in the US.

Why The area is popular with commuters because the express train starts from New Canaan (so everyone gets a seat) and takes 62 minutes into Grand Central station.

Who Barbara Cleary’s Realty Guild, www.realty-guild.com, tel: +1 203 966 7772


Geneva home

Presinge, Geneva, Switzerland, SFr6.75m (£4.68m)

Where Around 10km (15 minutes’ drive) from Geneva city centre and 40 minutes’ drive from Geneva international airport.

What A recently refurbished house dating from around 1740. Set in a private park of 2.7 acres, the five-bedroom, four-bathroom property comes with 4,305 sq ft of living space, including a library and formal reception room. There is also a tennis court and parking for eight cars.

Why The house is situated opposite a bus station, where public buses run every 20 minutes into Geneva centre. Swiss buses are given priority express lanes in peak times.

Who Knight Frank, www.knightfrank.com, tel: +44 20 7629 8171


Saint-Lubin-de-la-haye, France home

Rue du Milieu, Saint-Lubin-de-la-haye, France, €1.339m

Where To the west of Paris, around 34 miles from the city centre and one hour’s drive from Paris-Orly international airport.

What A renovated 18th-century farmhouse, with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a gym and a guest house. The guest house has 2,152 sq ft of living space, which includes two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen and living room with fireplace. The whole property is set in half an acre of enclosed land, with fruit trees and a herb garden.

Why The house is a nine-minute drive to Houdan station, where trains connect to Paris Montparnasse in approximately 48 minutes.

Who Chesterton Humberts International, www.chestertonhumberts.com tel: +44 20 3040 8210


Cascais, Portugal home

Bairro da Martinha, Cascais, Portugal, €3.95m

Where On the Silver Coast, around five minutes’ drive to Cascais train station, 20 minutes via train to Lisbon, and 30 minutes’ drive to Lisbon international airport.

What An eight-bedroom, seven-bathroom house, built in 1995 and in need of modernisation, with 5,909 sq ft of living space and 50,000 sq ft of garden, including a pool.

Why The property is just two minutes’ drive from the A5 Cascais-Lisbon motorway, and around 10 minutes from Tires/Cascais private airport.

Who Christies Real Estate, www.christiesrealestate.com, tel: +35 121 4866560



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