Featured Travel Articles
Dreaming of chalets (Part II): could it be more than a dream?
Interested in buying a chalet:
Despite that having 16% less skiers in France in 2008-2009, France is still the number one market in the world with a market share of 37%. Most people come in the winter to the moutains for skiing (61%) and only 34% in the summer. Austria holds 24% and Switzerland 6% of the market.
There are some places with a shortage of chalets available to buy like in the village of St. Anton in Austria.
Other resorts have chalets which are for sale for less than previously purchased so according to Savills International, there are good opportunities to be made now.
Snowy village of Val Thorens in February (France)
In an interview for Homes Overseas, in April 2009, Jeremy Rollason at Alpine Homes said “when there is economic instability, it is traditional markets, like the French Alps, which prove solid than emerging markets.” As the French Alps are popular, renting your chalet will probably not be a problem.
The market in Austria is coming back up since 2009. There is a good investment potentia in the country. One can only buy there as a foreigner since 1999. Less people own second homes there as in France and Switzerland so the prices are more competitive. An article title in the Herald Tribune in February 2009 stated “Foreign investors see gold in Austrian resorts.”
In Switzerland it is hard to buy due to foreign restrictions and each canton has its own laws and rules. Most people buying in Grindelwald are Swiss. It is more possible in the canton of Valais for foreigners.
It is easier if you just don’t want just a winter resort, but are looking for a home for all year round.
If you want to make a good investment, you need to buy in a resort, close to the chair lift.
Expensive resorts:
- Verbier, Zermatt, St Moritz in Switzerland
- Val d Isère in France : 6069 feet (1850 m) in altitude, best lift system (90)
- Courchevel in France : chalets are sold for 30,000 sqm euros
A chalet in the summer in the French Alps
Are there any bargains?
Look for place undiscored not far from airport and gondolas
- Cheaper outside of Val d’Isère than in the town itself
- St. Anton in Austria
- Lower price in Austria than in France
Which country?
Countrylife Magazine did some research in 2007 and compared Swiss and Austrian chalets and found out Austrian chalets have 30 % better value.
- France is good for après-skis, shopping, high altitude, snow
- Austria: best value for money, lively towns all year round, smaller towns with good snow and cheaper, good airport near Salzburg.
- Switzerland is children frienldy and it is said to have competitive prices
Which resorts for your chalet?
- In Austria:
- Rauris (with Schonblick glacier), Obertauern, Zell am See, Saalbach in Salzburgerland
- Bregenz, Lech and St. Anton in Vorarlberg. Lech and St. Anton offer very attractive villages.
- Kitzbuehel in Tyrol
Chalet at the open air museum in Ballenberg (Switzerland)
- In France:
- Les 3 Vallées with Courchevel, Méribel and Val Thorens
- Haute Savoie is the third most popular in France for second homes
- In Switzerland:
- Grindelwald is very pretty
For what seasons?
France is a good place because the resorts are in high altitudes with some ski in and out. Resorts in Austria are in lower altitude mainly under 5249 feet (1600 m).
What questions should you ask yourself?
- Do you plan to rent it?
- Are you planning to buy and resale later for a capital?
- Do you just want to use it as a vacation-second home?
- Do you plan to come only in the winter?
- Do you want a place with activities to do in the summer as well?
- Do you want snow all winter, at all time nearby with glaciers?
- Is the closeness to the lift important to you?
- Are you looking for glamour?
- Is a traditionnal charming village important to you?
Who to contact to buy chalets?
- Savills International, Lansdowne House, 57 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6ERCall: 044 (0)20 7016 3740 3740 abroad@savills.com
- Alpine Specialists (help you with foreign laws, taxes, mediator if you don’t know the language, point out the best value for your money
- Engel & Voelkers USA, 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, NY 10170. Call: 1 646 839 0200. Check out their website
- Austrian Chalets Ltd,
Shires House, Shires Road, Guiseley, Leeds, LS20 8EU
Call 0044 (0)1943 882 302 - Alpine Homes International
Espace des Remparts 10
1950 Sion, Switzerland
Call: 00 41 (0)27 323 7777 website - French Mountain properties Call: 0044 (0) 845 324 3521 website
Chalet near Mt Etzel (Switzerland)
Want to build your own chalet:
Some professionals can answer your question if you are thinking of building your own chalet.
- Grosset Janin in France and Belgium. Site is in French and English.
- Austrian Chalets, Marktstrasse 43
5661 Rauris, Austria Call 0043 6544 20304 or 044 (0)1943 882 302 from the UK. Website
Buying a chalet to rent it:
You don’t have to find renters. There are companies which find the renters, maintain and manage it for you.
An example is Montsoleil in Flaine (Haute Savoie in the French Alps). Check out their webpage here:
Renting a chalet for your vacation:
For the time being, while you make your decision and find the property of your dreams, why not renting?
I wish you all the best in finding the chalet of your dream!
