The past 18 months have been surreal but with all we have experienced, it has put things into perspective. Spending more time with loved ones, changing careers, or perhaps moving to that dream home/location. Do you love skiing? Would you like to discover more about the property market in pristine alpine destinations? Read on to discover more.
Year-Round Ski Market Property Opportunites
As tourists saw the mountains as a ‘safe haven’ over the summer – lots of open space, far less crowded than beach resorts, they also experienced the kind of holiday that mountain destinations have increasingly been able to offer as their facilities grow. Mountain biking and road cycling, in particular, have grown and resorts see huge opportunities for tourism in the future during the summer months.
Existing property owners in the French and Swiss Alps managed to either utilise their chalets and apartments during the last two summers or rent them out to local nationals that could travel during the winter
With travel restrictions easing, pent-up demand is now driving buyers to take action and look at Alpine property as an all-year-round investment opportunity
This is happening due to increased mountain resort summer infrastructure and a desire to own private accommodation post-Covid, especially during the busier winter season
Specialist ski property website, skiingproperty.com, is noticing a trend in the market
British buyers are now returning to the Alpine property ski market as travel restrictions ease and countries such as France and Switzerland look to re-open ski resorts for this winter season. Whilst Switzerland operated its ski resorts last winter, they were open mostly for Swiss nationals, whilst in France, resort ski lifts remained closed for the whole season. This didn’t deter many French holidaymakers and particularly property owners, from spending time in the snow over the peak season weeks - and existing British owners managed to take advantage of high demand, especially over the summer months, where some resorts experienced their busiest summer ever in 2020 and 2021. Resorts are helping to drive property prices as they offer dual-season holidays for owners and those looking to rent during summer and winter. They offer world-class skiing but are also well placed to serve the summer tourist trade. Julian Walker, founder of skiingproperty.com and judge on the Property4Media awards panel, said: “A ski chalet is not just for Christmas. But of course, it’s nice to have one as demand over peak season weeks for ski holidays gets tighter. We’re definitely seeing a trend for people looking to purchase ski properties during the autumn and winter, but want to ensure the resort has great summer facilities too. Last winter, despite the challenges with travel due to Covid, a lot of stock sold through, mostly to buyers outside the UK market. This continues to put pressure on price and general inflation is part of that too, although buyers recognise the safe investment property offers, especially in times of inflation. The combination of all these factors, post-Brexit as the dust settles, is seeing the largest increase in our UK customer enquiries for the past two years” - skiingproperty.com
Can you imagine living in a beautiful wooden chalet, with incredible views across the green pastured landscape, the faint ringing of cowbells in the distance and filling your lungs with clean alpine air? How bliss would that be?
According to specialist eco-travel organisation Ski Flight Free, a survey for YouGov for travel website Omio, 45% of Brits would like to choose train travel over flying from 2021, for environmental reasons.
Yes, you can travel by train too! Although travelling by train from the UK to the Alps can take a little longer than flying, there are routes available from London that connect through Paris or Lille and it can cut a journey’s carbon emissions, compared to flying, by over 80%.
Here’s the pick of railway stations and some of the resorts that are easily reached from each one, chosen by Skiingproperty.com
Skiingproperty.com lists properties for sale in 25 French ski resorts and 3 in Switzerland – some of those getting particular attention due to the all-year-round offering include: Chatel, France – Linked to the huge Portes du Soleil ski area in winter and one of the world’s largest bike parks during summer. Good for families, easy access into Switzerland 2 bedroom apartments start from £330,300, 6 bedroom ski-in-ski-out chalet for sale at £1,940,312 skiingproperty.com/ski-properties/france/chatel Les Gets, France – One hour’s drive from Geneva and linked to the Portes du Soleil ski area. Mountain bike and road cycling mecca in summer. Good for families, easy access to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.
Station, Cluses
Resorts: Megeve, Les Gets, Combloux, Samoens, Flaine, Morzine.
Cluses is just a 20 to 25-minute taxi journey away from the resorts of the Portes du Soleil, including Les Gets and Morzine, as well as the Grand Massif ski area destinations of Flaine and Samoens, with Megeve a 30-minute drive in the opposite direction.
Property pick: new build 2 bedroom apartment in Les Gets, £391,000 (skiingproperty.com/ski-property-details/two-bedroom-apartments-for-sale-in-les-perrieres-ski357)
1 bedroom apartments start from £362,000, 3 bedroom chalet for sale at £1,461,500 skiingproperty.com/ski-properties/france/les-gets
Meribel, France – Popular ski resort in the 3 Valley’s ski area linked with Courchevel and Val Thorens. Arguably offers the best location in the 3 Valleys during summer. Close to other resorts including La Plagne, Les Arcs and La Rosiere (close to Italy during the summer).
Station, Moutiers
Resorts: Meribel, Courchevel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Saint Martin de Belleville
For the resorts that make up the ‘world’s largest ski area’, the 3 Valley’s, the station of Moutiers (on the same line as Bourg St Maurice) is the gateway point and around 30 to 40 minutes taxi ride depending on the final destination. Connect through Paris via Eurostar and the TGV service.
Property pick: new build 3 bedroom chalet in Saint Martin, £1,361,000 (skiingproperty.com/ski-property-details/ski-chalets-for-sale-in-saint-martin-de-belleville-ski333)
1 bedroom apartments start at £435,750, 5 bedroom chalet for sale at £5,810, 990 skiingproperty.com/ski-properties/france/meribel
Verbier, Switzerland – well known for its off-piste skiing and party après scene, the upmarket Swiss resort has an increasingly good mountain biking park during the summer, plus a world-class classical music festival.
1 bedroom apartments start from £633,827, 8 bedroom chalet for sale at £21,173,699 skiingproperty.com/ski-properties/switzerland/verbier Crans-Montana, Switzerland – former home of Roger Moore, this stylish resort hosts the Women’s World Cup ski races during winter and in summer, offers world-class golf, water sports and cycling. It recently hosted the World Cup Enduro mountain bike competition. New Sixth Senses development opening in 2022 offers apartments starting at £6,131,972 skiingproperty.com/ski-properties/switzerland/crans-montana
Station, Martigny/Sierre
Resorts: Crans-Montana, Verbier, Grimentz (and Zermatt)
Changing trains in either Geneva or Lausanne accesses some of Switzerland’s finest ski resorts in the Valais region. For Verbier, change again at Martigny for La Chable and then a final cable car journey to the resort. Crans-Montana requires a change in Sierre for the 12-minute funicular ride straight up into the town. Further along the valley with a change in Visp, the journey of just over one hour takes you into the heart of the car-free town of Zermatt.
Property pick: new build Six Senses 2 bedroom apartment, £6,196,000 - 5 bedroom from £10,500,000. (skiingproperty.com/ski-property-details/ski-apartments-for-sale-in-crans-montana-switzerland-ski282)
I hope you have enjoyed reading, feel inspired to look at the possibility of overseas property options and investments. How incredible would it be!
"Dream your dreams with open eyes and make them come true" - T. E. Lawrence