10 of the best alpine properties

I'm often asked by our customers: if you had the money to invest, which property would you buy?

Well, here is a list of my current Top Ten alpine properties, with prices ranging from 85,000 euros up to 2.95 million.

Best balcony view:
Studio apartment, St Gervais, 85,000 euros
This attractive apartment has a large and sunny balcony with breathtaking views of St Gervais village, the Mont Blanc range and the Rochers de Fiz.

Best for rental potential:
2-bed apartment, Samoens, 189,000 euros
A real bargain! Benefiting from reduced notaires fees, this two bedroom apartment is in excellent condition. With a good lettings history in place, you can expect to make over 15,000 euros per annum in rental income.

Best for ski-in, ski-out:
2-bed apartment, Morzine, 190,000 euros
Right next to the Nyon cable car, offering direct access to the Morzine / Les Gets ski domain, this great value duplex apartment sleeps up to 6 people.

Best small business opportunity:
8-bed house, Samoens, 540,000 euros
Located close to Samoens, and on the ski-bus route, this property is split into 3 self-contained apartments. There is also potential to renovate another building on site.

Best large family home:
7-bed chalet, St Jean d'Aulps, 750,000 euros
Warm, welcoming and wonderful views! A great family home in the Portes du Soleil that could also be run as a small catered chalet operation.

Best investment opportunity:
12-bed house, Samoens 825,000 euros
This beautiful property (pictured) is only 400m from the Vercland ski lift in Samoens. Divided into 6 two-bed apartments, and with a separate small chalet on the grounds, there are numerous investment opportunities to be explored: seasonal rentals, development and re-sale, conversion back into a family home. Huge potential for the price tag.

Best penthouse apartment:
4-bed apartment, Morzine, 880,000 euros
200m from the Super Morzine lift and a similar distance from the Pleney pistes, this apartment will occupy the entire top floor of a new apartment residence. Completion scheduled for spring / summer 2011; it is still possible to add your own personal touch at this early stage.

Best luxury apartment:
4-bed apartment, St Martin de Belleville, 1.044m euros
This new build apartment offers approximately 120m2 of living space. The design is authentically alpine and there are high quality fixtures and fittings throughout. Only 300m from the ski lifts of the 3 Valleys ski domain.

Best for an extended family:
9-bed house, Annecy, 1.354m euros
A beautiful stone-built alpine farmhouse, renovated to a high standard and offering three separate living spaces: ideal for an extended family, or for running a chambre d'hote business close to Annecy. There is around 600m2 of living space and a swimming pool in the attractive gardens surrounding the property.

Best luxury chalet:
6-bed chalet, Megeve, 2.95m euros
The ultimate in luxury in that most upmarket of alpine ski resorts, Megeve. Recently renovated to an extremely high standard, this property is walking distance from the village centre.

5 top tips to rent your ski property

Some of the most common questions we are asked during property viewings surround the question of how much rental income a buyer can expect to receive from their ski property.

Obviously this all depends on the size and location of your apartment or chalet but other factors also come into play, such as how many weeks a year you want to use the property for yourself and whether you decide to do your own marketing or use a local estate agency or rental agency to help you. I've tried to tackle them one by one, below but if there are any points that you would like to have clarified please don't hesitate to get in touch:

1. Seasons

The official ski season starts mid-December and runs until the middle/end of April (sometimes slightly longer in high-altitude resorts like Argentiere) but in general you won't find people coming out for their holidays until the weekend before Christmas. So your average winter season for rentals is 16 weeks.

The summer season is shorter and the French Alps are busiest in July and August, giving you 8 weeks of rentals. Other weeks during the year, such as October half-term or the Bank Holiday weekends, may generate rental income (particularly the smaller apartments which are suited to couples and younger families) but they are less reliable.

Beware resorts in high-altitude locations if you want to rent your property in the summer. Purpose-built ski stations of this nature are usually ghost towns outside of the winter season and you won't find tenants for the summer easily.

2. Location

Not only the location of the property within resort but the resort itself can impact on how much rent you can charge. As a general rule of thumb, the ideal location to maximise revenue is within walking distance of both a ski lift and the resort centre, so visitors don't need a car to get about. However, a central location can also be noisy in the evenings, so you need to pick carefully. It goes without saying that anywhere central and within walking distance of the ski lifts and ski pistes is also the most expensive to buy, so often this is not a realistic option for buyers. The majority of holiday makers are happy to jump on a ski bus to get to the lifts and if you want to appeal to family groups, a quieter position set back from the resort centre is often preferred, so don't let a property in the outer lying areas of a village put you off.

3. Costs and marketing your property

Estate agencies in the region will charge you anything from 25-35% to market your ski property for rent. At the lower end this will cover the marketing but you may need to pay for extras such as cleaning. At the higher end it will cover pretty much the whole service. French agencies tend not to provide bed linens and welcome packs for guests, so if you want to provide this service you may consider contacting one of the British-managed agencies in the area, for examples of a selection in Saint Gervais, Samoens, Morzine and Chamonix:

Saint Gervais: http://www.holidayinalps.com/
Samoens: http://www.alpsaccommodation.com/
Morzine: http://www.morzinelets.com/
Chamonix: http://www.demipiste.com/

You could also choose to rent out your property yourself and employ someone local to manage changeover days for you. If you decide to do it this way you have a few options:

a. Build your own website and promote it yourself
b. Add your property to one of many websites already out there that specialise in holiday rentals, for example http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/ or http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/.

Typically you can budget 200GBP per annum per website, plus the costs of your local contact to handle the guests.

Finally for larger properties you could contact a tour operator to take the property off your hands for the entire season. If you go down this route then you won't get any personal use from the property but the rental income is guaranteed by the tour operator regardless of whether they fill the property or not.

Other running costs to consider include; annual service charges, local taxes, insurance, utilities (some of which may be included in your annual service charges).

4. Rental returns

As mentioned above, prices can vary massively according to the size, location within resort and the resort that the property is located in. A 5-bed chalet or apartment in Morzine centre could make as much as 35,000 to 40,000 euros gross in the winter season, whereas a studio apartment in a comparable location could make roughly 7,000 to 8,000 euros gross in the same period.

As a general rule of thumb you can work to a 5% annual return from your property, although in the case of smaller apartments the yield can be a lot higher.

Occupancy rates can also vary due to a number of factors, such as how and where you are marketing the property, whether you get lots of repeat custom and even the weather but to make a rough calculation you could expect to let out your property for a minimum of 85% of the full season.

5. What makes a successful rental property?

Well we're not a rental agency but I do know which properties I struggle to get into to view because they are always let out! The best properties are:

a. Spacious (whether it's a studio or a chalet, the room proportions are important)
b. Multiple bathrooms / WCs and in the case of chalets ensuite facilities are a major plus
c. On a ski bus route / walking distance to the lifts
d. Easy access to amenities (bakery, restaurants etc)
e. Contemporary / modernised interior or renovated old alpine charm
f. Additional touches, such as washing machine, dishwasher, DVD player, satellite TV, games consoles, welcome packs, facilities for babies and young children
g. Private parking

To get your project off the ground and buy a ski property in the Alps, visit our Buy Property page.

New builds ready for next winter

If you've been enjoying the snow in the mountains this winter, your thoughts may be turning to buying your own alpine property for next season. In addition to our wide selection of resale ski chalets and apartments, we are currently also selling new build developments where you will get the keys in time for Christmas 2010. Here are a few of our favourites:

Hameau des Fes, Morzine

This high quality development is a short distance from the historic centre of Morzine and well placed for reaching a large number of the ski lifts in and around town. There are three 2-bed apartments and two 3-bed apartments still available with prices from 600,000 euros; the construction work is nearing completion and delivery can be arranged for summer 2010.

Passa Franc, Les Gets

Constuction of the Passa Franc development, next to the ski slopes in Les Gets, has now been completed. Two large apartments are still for sale: one is priced at 695,000 euros, the other at 750,000 euros and both have large terraces and balconies with views of the ski pistes and mountains.

Le Champe, Les Gets

In a peaceful location yet only a short walk from the Mont Chery ski lift, this charming small development has been started and will be ready in time for Christmas. In addition to a 1-bed apartment on the first floor, there are two 3-bed apartments with large terraces still for sale on the ground floor.

Le Petit Paradis, Les Contamines

A renovation project rather than a true new build development, Le Petit Paradis will comprise 17 high quality apartments. Prices start at 256,100 euros for a 1-bed apartment with additional bunk bedroom; there are also 2-bed and 3-bed apartments available.

Haute-Tour, St Gervais les Bains

Offering superb value for money and ready now, Haute-Tour is a new build development right in the centre of this beautiful resort town. A limited number of 3-bed, 2-bath apartments remain for sale, priced from 335,000 euros.

Les Chalets du Nant Giraud, St Martin de Belleville

St Martin de Belleville is an authentic alpine village, linked in to the massive 3 Valleys ski area. The apartments in this development have been built to the highest possible specification by a well-respected local builder. Two apartments remain: a 2-bed and 4-bed. Delivery of apartments can be arranged 4 months after reservation. Private chalets also available, please call the Ascendant Property team for further information.

Properties for sale in Les Houches

Over the coming weeks, we will be adding an exciting new range of apartments and chalets for sale in and around the resort of Les Houches, in the Chamonix Valley.

Les Houches is an ever popular destination, thanks to its family friendly ski domain, its pretty village centre, the stunning backdrop of Mont Blanc and its proximity to Chamonix, only 5 minutes away. Access throughout the year is easy: the resort is less than 1 hour's drive from Geneva airport and the road is dual-carriageway the whole way making for a stress-free arrival in all seasons. There is an excellent public transport network, with regular buses to Chamonix and trains to the TGV station at St Gervais - Le Fayet and other resorts including Argentiere and Vallorcine.

The ski domain is 55km in size and there are two main lifts in the resort centre: the Bellevue cable car and the Prarion gondola.

Here is a taste of the properties that will be added to our website very shortly.

Apartments:

(1) A three-level apartment just a short walk from the Prarion ski lift and the pretty Lac des Chavants. The property sleeps 6-8 people comfortably and has two bathrooms. It is on the market at 175,000 euros.

(2) A new apartment, 43m2 and only 2 minutes walk from the Prarion lift. Sold with seasonal rentals in place. Great value at 250,000 euros.

(3) A gorgeous 2-bed apartment in a sought-after residence built by well-respected developer MGM in 2006 (pictured). In excellent condition throughout and sold with a private garage, the apartment is on the market at 320,000 euros and benefits from reduced notaires fees.

Chalets:

(4) In a quiet residential street, in the centre of the village, a chalet dating back to the 1930's. In need of some renovation, the property has heaps of character and potential and is available for 498,000 euros.

(5) A luxurious 250m2 chalet which has been renovated to a very high standard by its current owners. There are stunning views of the Mont Blanc massif. Sale price is 1.1m euros.

Contact Ascendant now to find out more about the attractions of buying property in Les Houches - or why not register now to ensure you receive details of the new properties as soon as they go live?

Les Gets - new ski property!

The village of Les Gets in the Portes du Soleil has been participating in a major development called "Project Village 2003-2013" for the past 6 years, with a view to protect the natural environment and develop an eco-tourism programme which will benefit the local area for many years to come.

The village experienced a boom in tourism in the early 2000s and this put pressure on the local infrastructure, in particular water supply, drainage and road traffic. As a result the Les Gets town hall took the decision to put in place an action plan to rigorously address the situation.

The first and most critical steps from a buyers perspective was the immediate revision of the town planning rules (Plan Local d'Urbanisme), to restrict future development within the village and surrounding area. Despite growing demand from buyers and developers, the town hall imposed a strict limit on the number of planning permissions granted over the past 5 years, which effectively froze all new building. The mairie then used this time to invest in the water supply and sewage systems in Les Gets, which had come under immense pressure due to the quantity of new properties and tourist numbers in the winter and summer seasons.

Recently the work was finished and the town hall has been able to grant new permits for builders and developers. The Les Gets property market is now seeing the benefits of their efforts with a limited number of superb new build apartment residences planned for the village centre. The residences are all low-rise, high-quality constructions built in a traditional alpine style to blend naturally with this charming, historical village. For details of a selection of the new projects planned, please click on the links below:

Le Schuss

Le Champe

Eden Roc

Le Cristal

Chalune

Le Passafranc

The town hall has also invested heavily in public transport, creating a number of car parks on the outskirts of the village which are serviced by free buses. The aim is to encourage locals and tourists to use public transport wherever possible and to protect the peace and charm of the village centre.

Les Gets has implemented plans to protect its forests which cover over a third of the territory. Wood is a vital asset to the village, whether it is for building chalets, supplying other parts of the region, or firewood and it is seen as an important renewable energy.

The ski lifts at Les Gets are also signing up to the effort. SAGETS is investing heavily in durable tourism and the Les Gets ski lifts are now certified ISO 9001 with ISO 14001 in the pipeline. Consequently the ski lifts are signed up to an ongoing programme of eco-tourism set to last for many years to come.

For details on property for sale in Les Gets, please contact the Ascendant team.

250 euro reward for buyers!

To celebrate the excellent snow conditions in the French Alps, Ascendant is offering a 250 Euro reward to those customers that make a property viewing appointment with us this winter and subsequently go on to purchase one of the properties viewed.

To benefit from this special offer, simply book an appointment between January 21st and April 30th 2010. Appointments can be made by calling the Ascendant team on 0844 555 3274 (UK) or +33 (0)4 50 10 44 23 (International).

With an extensive range of apartments and chalets for sale across the major ski and lakeside resorts of the French Alps, and an expanding network of partner agents, you can be confident that Ascendant will help you to locate your ideal property, whether it is a permanent, holiday or investment home.

We pride ourselves on spending time getting to know your requirements before your trip - we don't want to waste your time showing you unsuitable properties when there is all that snow to enjoy!

If you do purchase a property through Ascendant following your appointment, we will give you a 250 Euro reward. The reward, payable on successful completion of the purchase, will be in the form of vouchers of your choice from a list of well known retailers such as Amazon, Ikea, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer and lastminute.com: the ideal way to start kitting out your new alpine home, or perhaps to pay for your next trip to the area.

What's more, as a valued Ascendant buyer, you will not only benefit from comprehensive post-sales assistance from our experienced team in the Alps but also be able to add to your rewards by taking part in our Ascendant Ambassador programme. This new programme enables you to earn up to 500 Euros for every new buyer (friends, family, work colleagues etc.) that you recommend to us.

For more details about these exciting offers and to book your appointment, contact the Ascendant team now.

St Gervais: ski and spa properties

It may be less well known than its prestigious neighbours, Chamonix and Megeve, but we think that St Gervais is an excellent choice for international property purchasers looking to buy a home in the French Alps. Part of the extensive Evasion Mont Blanc ski domain, St Gervais is also linked to Les Houches and the resorts of the Chamonix Valley by train. The town has its very own thermal baths, open to visitors throughout the year, which offer a range of treatments. The town centre is packed with attractive turn of the century buildings, like the one shown, and there are some great shops, bars and restaurants to explore. Importantly, property prices here are a fraction of those in Chamonix and Megeve and rental potential is excellent in both winter and summer.


Ascendant offers a wide range of apartments and chalets for sale in the St Gervais area. With our network of local contacts we can generally find you the property you are looking for, so why not contact us to find out more about the benefits of buying in St Gervais and to discuss your requirements.


To whet your appetite, here are just a few examples of properties currently for sale through Ascendant:

• A lovely 2-bed apartment in a period building near the centre. The property is full of character with high ceilings and parquet floors.
• A new 2-bed apartment with 3 balconies and stunning mountain views.
• New-build 3-bed apartments in the centre of resort - only two remaining!
• A stylish penthouse apartment in the centre of resort, with over 170m2 of living space.
• A converted mill-house, just outside town, with further renovation potential.
• An adorable alpine chalet, overlooking St Gervais and close to the pistes at St Nicolas, with 6 bedrooms and over 3000m2 of land.