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.

Great value ski chalets and apartments

With the ski season just around the corner, we wanted to highlight some of the great value ski chalets and apartments currently for sale through Ascendant.

If you are looking for a bargain bolthole in the Alps, you might want to consider a superb 1-bedroom apartment in St Gervais les Bains priced at just 85,000 euros. The apartment is located just around the corner from the TMB station: from here there is a train link to the ski slopes of nearby Les Houches and a regular shuttle bus service to the main Saint Gervais lift. The centre of this attractive resort, with its many shops, bars and restaurants, is a mere 5 minutes walk away.

Ski-in, ski-out properties often command a price premium, which makes our 2-bed apartment in La Grande Terche priced at 185,000 euros excellent value for money. There are a number of shops and restaurants in the immediate vicinity and for those that wish to explore the wider Portes du Soleil domain by car the apartment has the advantage of being sold with a covered parking space.

We have just added two new ski chalets to our Portes du Soleil portfolio. The first, a traditional alpine chalet located on the ski bus route into Morzine, is priced at a competitive 399,000 euros. The second chalet, close to the centre of Les Gets, one of the most sought-after Alpine resorts, is available for 490,000 euros.

Down the road in the Grand Massif domain, we are marketing a beautiful farmhouse, only 400m away from one of the main ski lifts in Samoens. The property is split into six apartments which are let out successfully in the winter and summer; each apartment has two bedrooms and its own kitchen. There are also some great mountain views from the sunny, south-facing garden. The price of this property has just dropped to 825,000 euros which we believe offers fantastic value for money. Early viewing recommended!

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.

The month to buy ski property

For those looking to purchase a property in time for the winter season 2009 / 2010, September is THE month to buy! The purchase process for a French property takes approximately 3 months from offer acceptance to completion - so if you want to be spending Christmas in your new alpine home (or perhaps just generating some peak season rental income from it), now is definitely the time to get your search started.

It's another day of perfect blue skies and hot sunshine here in the French Alps today. The temperature in Annecy has hit a scorching 36 degrees and the lakes and mountains of this beautiful area are packed with tourists enjoying the great scenery and outdoor activities on offer. It's hard to imagine that in less than four months time, the area will be filled with skiers and other winter sports enthusiasts enjoying Christmas and New Year in the snow - that's the beauty of this dual-season destination!

Get your property search started with Ascendant this September and soon you too could be enjoying the benefits of a second home that you can use (and rent out) in both winter and summer. In addition to some great resale opportunities, we are pleased to offer a number of top quality, new build properties for sale - ready now and with key handover in time for Christmas. All come with a 10 year buildings guarantee as standard. For example:

Three bedroom apartments in the centre of St Gervais les Bains (Evasion Mont Blanc), priced from 340,000 euros.

One, two and four bedroom apartments in the centre of Les Contamines (Evasion Mont Blanc), priced from 268,500 euros.

Two, three and four bedroom apartments in St Martin de Belleville (Three Valleys), priced from 545,510 euros.

Samoens bargains

Spring is in the air in the valleys of the French Alps, the sun is shining and the first of the springtime flowers are bursting out in a riot of colour. Up in the mountains it's a very different story and the deep snow is still providing excellent coverage over the ski pistes.

It's a fabulous time of year to hit the slopes; there's something so gratifyingly indulgent about enjoying a hearty alpine lunch on a chalet terrace in the blazing sunshine - drinking in those never-ending mountain views and whiling away the time relaxing in a deckchair or burning it all off on-piste - especially if the rest of the world is at work!

This week I was in the Grand Massif ski domain visiting property with some clients and they were totally bowled over by the area, the variety of activities available for holiday makers and the value for money that this part of the French Alps currently offers. There are some excellent springtime bargains out there and they certainly won't be around forever.

Already this month we have seen a huge increase in the number of contacts from prospective buyers and it's shaping up to be an excellent second quarter. Our contacts across the region are reporting a similar story, so it's a case of get in there quick, before the bargains are snapped up by other savvy buyers. As mortgage rates are at the lowest we've seen for a good while (our French mortgage contacts are offering rates from as little as 3.75% variable) you can even off-set your sterling-euro exposure for a few months - and perhaps clear the loan without penalty when the exchange rate strengthens. It's an excellent time to buy property in the French Alps, so why not strike whilst the raclette pan is hot?

To see a selection of the fantastic property we have for sale in Samoens in the Grand Massif, take a look at the following reference numbers on Ascendant's Buy Property page:

Reference 1327718 - 179,950 euros
In Samoens centre, two double bedrooms, large balcony, parking and ski locker.

Reference 1407041 - 220,000 euros
Samoens centre, newly built, 2 bedrooms, terrace, fully furnished and equipped, underground parking, cellar and ski locker, rental returns of minimum 5% p.a. and reduced notaires fees.

Reference 1254105 - 227,900 euros
Central location, two bedrooms, sunny terrace, ski locker, private garage, immaculate condition.

Reference 1414530 - 249,000 euros
Samoens centre, in a charming character building, 2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, sold fully furnished and equipped.

If you'd like to arrange a viewing of the above property, please contact the Ascendant team.

For more information on Samoens and the Grand Massif area, please visit our Area Guide.

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.

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.

Snow conditions

The ski resorts of Haute-Savoie have been enjoying some of the best snow conditions for many years and with heavy snow forecast over the next few days it looks set to continue well into the season.

In the run up to Christmas 2008 plenty of snow fell over the northern French Alps enabling the ski resorts to open as early as late November. For the team here at Ascendant, the January weeks that follow the holiday rush often offer some of the best skiing the area has to offer, with crystal clear blue skies, empty ski pistes and al fresco dining against a backdrop of snow clad peaks.

Last Monday we headed over to Les Gets for the day, the week before we were in La Clusaz and this coming Monday (weather permitting, we have become fair weather skiers now it's right on our doorstep) we’ll be going to Les Contamines Montjoie. We make it our mission to ski as much of the Haute-Savoie area during the winter, so we can tell you what each resort is like when you’re considering where to buy your ski property. It’s a hard life but someone has to do it.

If you’re coming out to the area and you want to check out the snow conditions before you travel, try the website www.ski-resort-france.co.uk. The snow bulletins added by the various ski resorts will tell you when it last snowed, the depth of the snow and the snow conditions. Checking it over today, Chamonix has 188cm at the top and 70cm at the bottom, Saint Gervais has 140cm at the top and 50cm at the bottom and Samoens has 120cm and 67cm at the bottom. With a good top-up due in the early part of next week it looks like February half term should offer some great ski conditions if you can’t make it out beforehand.

Don’t forget we’re on hand to help you locate your dream ski property - so tell us what you’re looking for and let us help you to spend more time on the ski slopes.