Ski and property hunt this spring

It's not too late to combine a property hunting trip with some late season winter sports. All the major ski domains covered by Ascendant are open until the last week of April - and in the case of the Chamonix Valley, the second week of May.

Closing dates by domain are as follows:

Aravis (La Clusaz): 26 April
Chamonix Valley (Argentiere): 10 May
Evasion Mont Blanc (Les Contamines): 24 April

Grand Massif (Flaine): 26 April

Portes du Soleil (Avoriaz): 26 April

Three Valleys (St Martin de Belleville): 26 April

Conditions are excellent throughout the Northern Alps with many resorts still enjoying several metres of snow at altitude. The slopes are also noticeably quieter at this time of year and flights into Geneva are competitively priced.

Naturally we can set up property viewings to ensure that you make the most of your time on the piste. Check out our buy property page for a selection of ski chalets and apartments for sale then give us a call to arrange that combined skiing and property hunting trip.

Property search in the Alps

Did you know that Ascendant offers a free property search service in the French Alps? Our personalised service is designed to take the stress out of property hunting and maximise your chances of finding the ideal alpine apartment or chalet to purchase.

To start using our free service, simply give us a call. By phone we will discuss your property requirements, budget and timescales in detail. We will give you expert guidance about the pros and cons of various locations and offer a realistic assessment of what your budget will buy you.

The next step is to agree the specific type of property you are looking for, the area and maximum budget. We will go out and identify a shortlist of suitable properties and accompany you to the viewings. Some of the properties may already be on our website; others might not even be on the market yet and some might be listed through other estate agents.

We make no charge for carrying out the property search. Agency commission is only payable on successful completion of a purchase and is always included in the advertised price.

There has never been a better time to buy property in the French Alps. Call the Ascendant team now on 0844 555 3274 (UK) or +33 (0)4 50 10 44 23 to discuss how we can get your search started.

Annecy 2018

Congratulations to Annecy on being selected as French candidate city for the Winter Olympics 2018, beating off competition from Nice, Grenoble and Pelvoux. See our earlier article for more information about this exciting bid. Next step: the International Olympic Committee makes its final venue decision in July 2011. Watch this space for more news!

Now is the time to buy in the French Alps

Here we look at some of the reasons why now is the ideal time to start your alpine property search with Ascendant.

The best selection of properties
There has never been a better selection of chalets and apartments for sale in the French Alps. In previous years it was almost impossible to find affordable properties on the market near the pistes or ski lifts; nowadays there are many more possibilities although the best examples still sell quickly when priced correctly.

Price negotiation
In recent years, a large number of British residents have purchased permanent or second homes in Alpine resorts such as Chamonix, Morzine, Les Gets and Samoens. Depending on the date of purchase, many of these people will have seen huge growth in the sterling value of their property, simply because of the change in exchange rates. For example, in 2007, a British buyer purchasing a 600,000 EUR chalet would have spent around GBP 400,000. Today, converting that 600,000 EUR back generates over GBP 540,000. Some of our British vendors will benefit from this phenomenon and are therefore more open to negotiation on price.

Cheaper mortgages
Mortgage rates have dropped dramatically and there are some very attractive rates currently available with our French finance partners. Some British purchasers are reducing their exposure to the current exchange rate by taking out a French mortgage to fund their purchase; by doing so they are not required to convert the full amount from pounds to euros straight away.

Rentals potential
Low mortgage rates and high rental occupancy in alpine resorts means it is once again possible to purchase a holiday home which covers its own costs. Resorts like Chamonix, Morzine and St Gervais have excellent rental potential in both winter and summer seasons. It is increasingly possible to purchase resale apartments and chalets with existing rental agreements in place, which means it is possible to start making money almost from Day 1. For instance, we are currently selling a three-bed, two bathroom apartment in St Gervais for 290,000 euros; the apartment has an excellent rentals history with bookings in place for the coming year. New-build leaseback schemes are also worth considering: for the investment purchaser they provide a guaranteed rental income of up to 4.2%, full property management and a VAT rebate on purchase (currently 19.6%).

Long term potential
Investment remains an important factor for many property buyers, especially with share prices deflated and savings rates reduced. Property prices in the French Alps have increased consistently over the last 10 to 20 years, driven by demand from discerning international buyers for alpine chalets and apartments. Prices this year are not expected to grow due to the economic downturn however prospects for continued long term capital growth remain excellent: strict building regulations in this part of the world ensure that supply remains restricted.

Chamonix chalet for sale

Looking for a detached chalet, within walking distance of resort centre, priced at under 500,000 euros?

Then take a look at the following chalet for sale in Chamonix which has just been added to the Ascendant website.

The chalet has two good-sized bedrooms and a lovely enclosed south-facing garden with great views of the Aiguille de Midi and Mont Blanc. Located in the leafy, residential area of Les Mouilles, the property is a flat 15 minute walk into the centre of Chamonix. The popular MBC bar, restaurant and music venue is 5-10 minutes walk away, as is the sports centre with tennis, ice-skating rink and swimming pool.

To arrange a viewing, or for more information, please contact us. For regular updates on other chalets and apartments for sale in Chamonix and other alpine resorts, please register.

STOP PRESS! This chalet is now "under offer", within 2 weeks of the property being listed on our website. Another good reason for registering with us, to stay updated on properties for sale as soon as they hit the market.

Alpine property rentals

This winter the northern French Alps have been enjoying some of the best ski conditions of the past decade and with low temperatures and yet more heavy snowfall it seems that spring is still a long way off. Ski property owners have been able capitalise on the unprecedented number of tourists that have been drawn to the Haute-Savoie region and rental property occupancy levels have soared.

Christmas week and New Year were almost 100% booked in rental and hotel accommodation in the ski resorts of the area and February half-term also brought record numbers of visitors to the region. Rumours that British tourists were seeking holiday destinations outside of the euro zone appeared unfounded as many UK families decided they couldn't forgo their treasured ski holiday and resort numbers swelled to maximum capacity. The next major holiday weekend is Easter on April 12th and there should be plentiful snow for skiers planning a late-season break this year.

The ski resorts will start to wind up the winter season towards the end of April (although resorts such as Argentiere in the Chamonix Valley operate into May) and after a short break of a few weeks and some serious increases in temperature the Haute-Savoie opens up again for the busy summer season. With many dual-season resorts in the region the summer represents another excellent opportunity for alpine property rentals and property owners really can make the most of their investment. Ski resorts such as Chamonix, Morzine, Samoens, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, Megeve and La Clusaz all operate highly successful summer seasons, with a multitude of outdoor pursuits to enjoy, such as hiking, climbing, rafting, canyoning, paragliding, golf, horse-riding, mountain-biking and hot air ballooning to name just a few. Annecy and Lake Annecy attract vast numbers of both international and French visitors in the summer and there is wide range of water sports available on the lake as well as numerous swimming beaches.

The French Alps is one of the few destinations in Europe which does offer property owners the opportunity for a year-round rental income, enabling you to capitalise on your investment whilst enjoying some fabulous holidays yourself. Depending on the size of your mortgage and the type of ski property you have bought it may just be possible to cover your running costs for the year by letting your property out to holidaymakers. An alpine property could be let for as many as 24 weeks a year - 14 weeks in the winter season and 10 weeks across the summer season and the rest of the year. Of course the success of your property rentals will depend on how you choose to market it to potential clients. As a general rule of thumb, a property in the French Alps will make an average of 5% return in rental income - more in the case of smaller apartments and slightly less in the case of the larger chalets.

The French Alps continue to be one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in Europe and it seems that the appeal of the mountains has not waned despite recent economic woes. To become a property owner in this beautiful part of the world why not speak to one of the Ascendant team today? You can reach us on 0844 555 32 74 or +33 (0)4 50 10 44 23.