Property in the Alps is in demand from buyers like never before – but where should you buy and what size budget will you need?
Back in 2013, the French Alps enjoyed its best ski season for 50 years. Since then, interest in property in the Alps has rocketed and been in serious demand. Over the last couple of years Home Hunts has observed that buyers seeking chalets for sale in the Alps are favouring new-build properties, with modern interiors, in year-round destinations.
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Year-round holidays in the mountains
“Skiing in winter, hiking and cycling in summer and year-round clean air and limitless open views makes the idea of a home in the mountains appealing,” says Chris Leder, Manager for The Alps at Home Hunts. “Our purchasers have increasingly exacting standards and our average transaction is around the €1.6 million mark.”
Located in the Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions, the French Alps include the highest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc (on the French-Italian border), as well as the largest ski area in the world: Les Trois Vallées. With more than 600km of slopes it is a series of connected resorts that include Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens and St-Martin-de-Belleville.
Buyers looking for chalets for sale in the Alps are finding that favourable exchange rates and attractive mortgage deals mean properties can be snapped up at previously unachievable prices. According to Home Hunts’ latest insights report, INSIDE FRANCE, property in the Alps is most in demand in Chamonix, but the resorts of the Grand Massif (Samoëns, Les Carroz, Arraches and Morillon) are fast becoming popular, as are the three lakes of Annecy, Bourget and Leman (Lake Geneva), which offer buyers summer use with the option of skiing in winter.
Where to buy property in the Alps
While Chamonix will always be a safe haven location, it is Samoëns that has come out on top as the best up-and coming area for property in the Alps. Those looking for chalets for sale in the Alps should make searching in this location a priority, as the choice of properties and value for money sets it apart from other investment hotspots.
“Samoëns is a fraction of the price of its better-known sisters (between €4,000-€6,000 per metre squared for a decent chalet as opposed to €10,000-€20,000), simply because it is not a ski-in resort, and not an ‘in destination’ like the Three Valleys (Meribel and Courcheval) or Paradiski (Val d’Isere and Tignes),” says Chris. “It is one of the closest resorts to Geneva (50 minutes away), so perfect for a weekend retreat, and summer activity is the some of the best in the Alps. As such, year-round value for money is unbeatable.”
If you are considering searching for property in the Alps, here are several hand-picked options from Home Hunts’ online property portfolio for under €1,500,000. Many chalets for sale in the Alps are kept “off market”, so if you cannot find a property that meets your criteria, contact Home Hunts directly where the team will advise you of more properties that are not available through the website.
Three chalets for sale in the Alps
Swim privately in Taninges
Taninges is located around 45 minutes east of Geneva and 20 minutes from Samoëns, and this charming four-bedroom chalet (HH-8457634) can be found between the Portes du Soleil and Grand Massif ski areas. With three double bedrooms and a smaller child’s room, a vast balcony with beautiful mountain views and indoor swimming pool, this property offers excellent access to the slopes as well as the rare opportunity to swim privately. Priced at €895,000, a viewing is highly recommended.
Samoëns’ most original chalet
One of the most original chalets in the Alps – it has a tree growing through the roof – this five-bedroom renovated farmhouse chalet is an excellent investment opportunity if you are looking to buy property in the Alps. With south-facing views, not a neighbour in sight and space to install a swimming pool, this property must be viewed at €1,144,000.
Mountain views in Chamonix
Located in the Nants area of Chamonix, this pretty four-bedroom chalet (HH-8108008) is spread over three levels. With mountain views, a south-west-facing balcony and modern interiors, it could work well as a family holiday home or as a rental property. This chalet is on the market for €1,250,000.
To view property in the Alps, visit www.home-hunts.com, but to speak with a consultant directly about your particular needs, call +33 (0)970 44 66 43.
