To find an estate agent, I'd just go to Google France and type in "agence immobilière where-I-want-to-live". You have first to make a rough choice where: Pays de Gex is close, but expensive and one big housing estate IMHO (we left after 2 years renting). At the other extreme, Annecy is far (50km) & whilst not cheap, has lots of choice & a much better quality of life. You also have south of Lake Geneva, which is somewhere in between. And other choices too. Someone on the forum was thinking of commuting from Chamonix.

There ain't no ideal. Like everything in life, you have to find the compromise that suits you.