Accessibility: a comparative advantage
The French Alps benefit from an ideal location close to several major population centres. The Lyon conurbation (1.5 million inhabitants) and the Greater Geneva and Lausanne conurbations (more than 1.5 million inhabitants between them) are all close by. The Paris region is connected by both regular flights and the TGV, as are the major Northern European regions. The resorts closest to motorway exits or Bourg-Saint-Maurice TGV station (Courchevel, Méribel, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and Val d Isère), or Sallanches-Combloux-Megève are often the most sought-after by investors.
A demand for timelessness and space
In the wake of the rustic and ultra-contemporary trends, the market now favours a more "timeless" style of property, inspired by traditional mountain chalets built using stone, wood and other natural mate- rials accented with steel, leather and other modern touches. A desire for space is paramount, born in part from anxiety linked to the health crisis, with large living spaces, open fireplaces and a minimum of three bedrooms now a prerequisite.
Courchevel Situated in the heart of the world's largest ski area, Courchevel is one of the most sought-after resorts by French and foreign buyers. In all price categories, sales are increasing year on year from mid-range apartments (starting from 800,000) up to luxury chalets (starting from 5m). The outlook is favourable with a rental market offering high occupancy rates and an investment dynamic which will allow Courchevel to maintain its leading position, as evidenced by its hosting of the 2023 Alpine Ski World Championships which will further rein- force the sporting image of the resort.
Megève A new generation has upgraded what this village resort has to offer in terms of culture, shopping and nightlife. In addition, Megève's mid altitude loca- tion, at the intersection of three alpine ranges, makes it a destination that can be enjoyed year-round, especially as it is relatively close to Lyon and Geneva. In terms of real estate, whilst the value of older properties is holding steady, several new projects have been launched in the last few years, rekindling interest in Megève, which is today viewed as a safe haven investment.
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Market for new and old property: distribution of sales (2020)
Resort benchmarks
Enquiries
Sales
Old 30%
Old 80%
New 60%
New 20%
Either 10%
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PANORAMA 2020-2021
