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.

Property price report

Recent figures in the September edition of l'Express magazine show that property prices in the French Alps have held up well in the face of the global crisis. Aided by a wealthy international client base, low interest rates and tax breaks for French buyers, the property market in Haute-Savoie remains relatively stable despite a decrease of 20-30% in the overall volume of sales.

In the region's capital, Annecy, prices of resale apartments have fallen by an average of 4%. Compared to the French national average of -10%, this represents an encouraging performance for the "Venice of the Alps". The outstanding quality of life the town has to offer combined with continued investment by local and international businesses has contributed to Annecy's popularity with buyers. Lakeside villages and apartments in the central "Golden Triangle" of Annecy centre are still sought after locations and properties in popular residential suburbs such as Annecy-le-Vieux continue to successfully outperform the national average.

Globally property prices of resale apartments in Haute-Savoie have decreased by an average of 4%, however ski resorts have fared more favourably and prices have slipped by an average of less than 3%. Some resorts have reported price increases, such as Chamonix, Les Houches, Samoens and Manigod, whilst others have seen a slight decline. Morzine and Saint Gervais property prices are almost at a standstill at -1%, whilst Le Grand Bornand, La Clusaz and Les Contamines are showing minimal declines of 2-3%.

Whilst many agents will certainly be grumbling about a decrease in the volume of overall sales, most agree that the months since the end of April 2009 have shown increased activity in both the number of buyers entering the market to start their property search and the number of monthly sales agreed. In recent weeks we have seen a flurry of activity as confidence returns to both the banks and buyers and a number of great-value, high quality properties have recently sold.

The ski resorts of the French Alps have always had a shortage of property for sale and despite the global crisis there was not a sudden influx of distressed stock into the marketplace - the Alps is a second home market with affluent owners, unless a major change in personal circumstances forces a sale, many would-be vendors are biding their time and holding off marketing their property.

The current market position is good news for buyers - there is still a greater selection of property on the market than in previous years and there is a hugely varying degree of negotiation possible dependant on the personal circumstances of the vendors. Interest rates with the French banks we work with are at a record low, French buyers have re-entered the market and the general consensus is that the alpine property market is starting to pick up again. With the busy buying months before the ski season ahead of us, now is a great time to invest in your dream alpine property.

Bargain ski apartments for sale

With the new ski season around the corner, we wanted to highlight some of the great value ski apartments for sale through Ascendant Property.

For those looking for a low maintenance, easy access bolthole in the Alps, we have a number of studio apartments for sale in the Evasion Mont Blanc domain. Prices start at 69,000 euros for a 20m2 apartment near the lifts in Combloux. There is another bargain studio to be had in nearby St Gervais, for sale at 75,000 euros.

If you prefer the convenience of a separate bedroom, we are currently marketing a superb apartment in Les Contamines for 108,000 euros. The property, which has a lovely balcony, is walking distance from the shops, bars and restaurants of this sought-after resort and on the ski bus route to the lifts of Les Contamines and St Gervais / Megeve.

Prices for 2 bedroom apartments tend to start at 200,000 euros in the French Alps but we have a number of options below this level. For example, we are pleased to be able to offer for sale a beautiful apartment in the centre of Samoens for only 199,950 euros. It is close to the Grand Massif Express ski lift and is sold fully furnished with underground parking. Best of all, as it is less than 5 years old, you pay reduced notaires fees on the purchase.

Our best priced 3-bed apartment is found back in St Gervais. Sleeping up to 8 people, this great value duplex property is in the centre of resort and can be snapped up for 200,000 euros.

All these properties are available and if purchased during September (or early October) can be handed over in time for Christmas 2009 and the new ski season. This is just a small selection of the apartments we currently have for sale in the most popular ski resorts in the French Alps. Please contact the Ascendant team to find out more.

Special offer in Les Contamines!

Work is now well underway on an exciting new apartment residence in the village centre of Les Contamines-Montjoie, a resort which is surely one of the best kept secrets in the northern French Alps. With just 4 apartments remaining, now is a great time to view and take advantage of a special offer of 299,000 euros for a spacious 2-bed apartment of 50m2. With reduced notaires fees of approximately 2.5% and a 10-years builder's guarantee, this high-quality residence is a real gem in the local ski property market.

Les Contamines is located in the Evasion Mont Blanc ski domain, set against the stunning backdrop of Mont Blanc, and is renowned for its high quality snow cover, quiet slopes and suitability for winter sports enthusiasts of all levels. The resort is also busy in summer, with an array of activities on offer and some beautiful Alpine scenery to be enjoyed.

The village started out as a pretty Savoyard farming community and despite expansion in recent years Les Contamines has successfully retained its charm and character. Les Contamines is nestled in a valley surrounded by stunning mountain peaks and alpine scenery. Lying on the famous "Tour de Mont Blanc" walking route, it is the last community between the French-Italian borders and is also on a pilgrimage route due to the old church of Notre Dame and an ancient monastery clinging to the mountain side high above the valley. This is an area of the Alps where you can still see working Savoyard farms operating using traditional techniques (the other day I saw a farmer loading up a wooden hay cart drawn by a huge cart horse).

Whilst retaining its sense of history, the centre of Les Contamines has a good selection of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops and is an ideal holiday destination for couples and families. Just outside the village there is a large activity park, with a sailing and swimming lake, archery, horse-riding and an acro-branching centre amongst other activities. It is a popular resort in both summer and winter; with a good mix of French and international tourists visiting the area and property in Les Contamines has excellent dual-season rental potential.

The new apartment residence has a traditional alpine design, perfectly in-keeping with the beautiful surroundings. It is made up of 16 high quality apartments, of which just 4 remain, and is scheduled for completion in autumn 2009. Prices include fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms; private garages are also available at extra cost. All the village amenities are within an easy 5 minute walk of the development and the main lifts are only 2-3 minutes away by shuttle bus (or about 15 minutes on foot).

To view details of the 4 remaining apartments, click on the links below:

1-bed apartment

2-bed apartment

3-bed apartment

3-bed penthouse apartment

To view other ski and summer property for sale in Les Contamines and Evasion Mont Blanc visit our Buy Property pages.