If, as with all crises, COVID-19 has accelerated certain developments, it does not appear to have affected the fundamental trends associated with the luxury mountain real estate sector to the extent one might have

expected. Elements of analysis.

The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated several developments. This is true on an individual level with buyers who,

during the lockdown period, were able to give plenty of thought to making a real estate investment in the French Alps. It seems also to be true for the behaviour as a whole of the rental market, with an increase in last minute bookings and a demand for more flexibility, particularly with regard to cancellation conditions.

And it is also true for the sales market, which bene- fits from the safe haven status of real estate, advan- tageous conditions for buying new properties (VAT recovery and reduced legal fees) as well as an increas- ingly structural shift of hotel and tourist residence clienteles toward chalets and apartments.

Benjamin Berger, Cimalpes Managing Director

NEWS 2020-2021

Covid-19: what consequences

for the mountain market?

PANORAMA 2020-2021