In the property market, the mountains are gaining height!

In the often referred to “charming resorts”, in low-lying villages, the average price is now 4,400 euros per m², compared with 5,100 euros per m² in alpine resorts within the main ski areas of the Savoie and Haute-Savoie regions of France, "explains Jean-Jacques Botta, president of ‘FNAIM des Savoies’. Overall, the range in fact can start from € 2,300 per m² to € 10,000 per m²; representing properties from small studios requiring complete renovation up to high-end family apartments in a perfect location.

Scarcity of new-build opportunities

"Buying in the mountains is first and foremost an investment for pleasure," says David Giraud, President of MGM Construction. Many buyers are looking for properties with 2 or 3 bedrooms with which to use with family and friends. In the new-build sector, the restrictions imposed via the PLU’s (local urbanisation development plans) in some ski resorts for the past four years have led to a scarcity of new supply, "which of course maintains higher prices," said Olivier Roche, director of Megève, Méribel & Courchevel Sotheby's International Realty. As a result, buyers are exploring new destinations. In Les Gets, for example, "prices are rising because of consumer pressure and ‘on the piste’ property prices are between € 10,000 and € 13,000 (inclusive) per square meter for the new-build," says Charles-Antoine Sialelli, Alpes section director at Athena Advisers. The same thing has been experienced in Châtel over the last five years, where new-build properties that were displayed at 5,000 euros per m² are now offered between 6,000 and 8,000 euros per m2. "

International demand

Now also very popular for summer holidays, the mountains have become a full-blown secondary residence destination. "Urban executives also see it as an investment with a certain lifestyle," says Benjamin Berger, CEO of Cimalpes. New-build programs with about fifteen properties quickly find takers, if buyers have the patience to wait for their delivery up to two years later. Their benefits? Well, they respond to buyers' desires in terms of surface area, fixtures and fittings, proximity to ski slopes, restaurants and shops. At the high end, the market remains supported by international demand. "The British are a little less present, in some part because of the fall in the price of sterling and uncertainties related to Brexit, says Jerome Roche, commercial director of Edenarc. But Belgians are more numerous, as are expatriates on overseas placements to places such as Dubai or Singapore etc, and there are also many Swiss and Middle Eastern buyers.

In the sector of existing properties, buyers are looking for 1 or more bedrooms in properties of around forty square meters. Smaller properties built between 1980 to 2000 (often requiring renovation), are on the other hand immediately available and supply remains abundant. In the older resorts, like La Plagne, it is a little easier to find larger apartments, for example 70 m2 with two bedrooms, within properties built in the 1970s. In many cases, a significant number of owners put their property on the rental market in order to pay for general upkeep and expenses.

Updated date : 17/07/24
Creation date : 08/02/19

Request more info

Days

Time slot

I accept to receive information on the property market, new regulations and new offers and personalized products from Agence du Lay
Yes No

If you tick no, you indicate that you do not wish to receive a newsletter on real estate news, offers and products from Agence du Lay

By clicking Send you agree to receive information about your project * Required fields

Collection of your personal information in order to be able to manage the customer relationship and provide advice and additional information at the level of the Agence du Lay brand and, where applicable, at the level of partners and service providers. The data transmitted via this form is intended only for the staff of Agence du Lay and is kept for a period not exceeding that necessary to achieve the aforementioned purposes.
In accordance with European Regulation n° 2016/679 / EU of April 27, 2016 on the protection of personal data and the law "Informatique et Libertés" of January 6, 1978 as amended, you have the right to query access, rectification, erasure, portability and limitation of the processing of data concerning you as well as the right to communicate instructions on the fate of your data after your death. You also have the possibility to object to the processing of data concerning you for legitimate reasons. You can exercise this right by mail to Agence du Lay - 232 Chemin des Hameaux du Lay - 74170 - LES CONTAMINES MONTJOIE, accompanied by a copy of an identity document. For more information see our Privacy Policy.