This is a long shot, but there is a job advertised in St Prex that I am contemplating applying for, and for which my qualifications are superb.
I'm contemplating the matter enough to ask for some local advice. I didn't see a dedicated relocation section of the forum, but saw a couple similar posts in the housing section, so here I am. First some details, then a few questions. I am an American citizen married to a Dane; we have two young children.
1. What is the price of housing like in the St. Prex area? I'd really like to be within 15 km of work, at the most, to enable me to cycle to work most of the time. Any website recommendations with real estate listings are welcome. We would be very interested in a single family home. Also, how about cars? In my wife's native Denmark, cars are taxed at a punishing rate, making a car that would cost $20K in the US cost something like $75K. Is the situation better in Switzerland?
2. How is the access to mountain recreation from St. Prex? How far to good hiking, mountain biking, downhill skiing and cross country skiing? I can read the maps and see the Jura Mountains are closest, but is snow cover reliable there? What Alpine resorts would be reasonable for a daytrip? How about good road bike rides with lengthy sustained climbs?
3. My wife is a nurse. Is there a realistic prospect of her finding a job near St. Prex? She doesn't speak French, but is fluent in English and thinks she could manage in German. I guess I'm thinking that there could be a hospital or two in Geneva that might be big enough, or catering enough to foreigners, to not be a problem for a non-French speaker? From the maps, it doesn't look like commuting from the St. Prex area to the German speaking part of Switzerland would be practical, would it?
Thanks a lot in advance to anyway who takes the time to reply!
St.Prex lies on the side of Lac Leman in one of the most exclusive, expensive areas of Switzerland. Demand is high. Prices reflect that. There is nowhere within 15kms that would be significantly cheaper.
Single family homes are in short supply in the area you're looking at. Check out these websites:
Honestly, you will be spoilt for choice. The Alps Vaudois (eg Villars) and the Portes du Soleil are an hour away. And higher resorts like Verbier, Crans Montana and Zermatt can be done in a day. Ditto places like Gstaad in the alps bernois.
If she doesn't speak the languages really well, forget it. Browse the forum. A lot's been posted on this.
Nev--Thanks a LOT for your extremely valuable post. I'm still waiting to hear back from the firm in St. Prex, but the links you posted provided a wealth of information.