_International Property Digest: Where to find the best alpine property
Darker evenings and an autumnal chill mean only one thing for thousands of avid snow sports fans: the imminent arrival of another winter season in the Alps. So, dig out the goggles and sharpen those edges because it is time to start thinking about blue-sky days in the mountains.
Owning an alpine property is one way to maximise your time on the slopes but where are the good value options? For buyers whose budgets might not stretch to gold-plated Courchevel or Verbier the dream is a thriving village in a well-linked ski area, preferably a dual-season resort with strong rental potential. With expert advice and key trends highlighted in Alpine View 2019, there is value to be found in Europe’s mountains.
The French Alps
Above: Chamonix, French Alps.
Starting in France, Roddy Aris, Associate Partner at Knight Frank tips the value in St Martin de Belleville and Chamonix. “St Martin has direct, quick access to the Three Valleys slopes, one of the largest ski areas in the world linked by a superb lift system. St Martin is probably the most affordable resort in the Three Valleys, built on a human scale with charm and without over-the-top bling.”
St Martin is an authentic Savoyard village based around a handsome sixteenth century church with intimate family-run bistros up to three-Michelin star La Bouitte. Choose from homes in the village centre or on the gentle wooded slopes of 24 neighbouring hamlets.
Popular Chamonix meanwhile is the stand-out dual season superstar of the Alps with a summer season every bit as busy as peak winter months. “Plenty of resorts claim to be year-round,” says Mr Aris, “but for affordability and year-round life, nowhere comes close to Chamonix.”
Chamonix’s other attributes include a swift one hour transfer from Geneva airport, a thriving town centre and varied ski areas including good off-piste slopes. And it provides access to some of the highest skiing in Europe at Aiguille du Midi.
The Swiss Alps
Above: Crans-Montana, the Swiss Alps.
In Switzerland, the first resort to bookmark is Crans-Montana says Alex Koch de Gooreynd, Partner and Head of Knight Frank’s Swiss Team. The town was one of several that suffered when the Swiss national bank removed the currency peg against the Euro in 2015 but long-term investment by the commune, the creation of an International School and the arrival of well-funded developers promise a brighter future.
“Crans-Montana has over 400 homes for sale priced over CHF 1,000,000 compared with only 250 in Verbier and while demand for the best properties is rising, buyers can, at present, take advantage of nearly 15 per cent reduction in property prices,” says Mr Koch de Gooreynd. “However this value will not last long as the best quality homes are selling well.”
Crans-Montana’s vibrant year-round mountain lifestyle includes a nine-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course and 140 kilometres of piste. The resort hosts The Alpine World Cup as well as summer music festivals.
The Sports Club Residences, for sale from CHF 2,090,000 are well positioned for both summer and winter in the resort in the centre of the resort close to the ski lifts. The two to five-bedroom apartments and penthouse, fifteen in total with nine sold or reserved, have a spacious spa and gym and communal gardens.
For a quieter Alpine experience head to snow-sure Grimentz in the Val d’Anniviers complete with a glacier and an old village lined with crooked wooden chalets dating back hundreds of years. In 2014 a new cable car linking Grimentz with Zinal doubled the ski area and was a game changer, bringing new development and further infrastructure improvements. Yet Grimentz retains its authentic village atmosphere.
“Recently we have seen more investors considering this little piece of Switzerland,” says Mr Koch de Gooreynd. “Projects such as Les Rahâs offer full services and a hassle-free investment with a realistic yield projection of 2.5 per cent net. This does not compare with city centre investments of course, but many international clients as well as Swiss-based buyers with savings held in Swiss banks offering negative interest rates are looking closely at this option.”
Les Rahâs on the western edge of Grimentz is now selling its second phase, due for completion at the end of 2020. The thirteen apartments with two to five bedrooms are priced from CHF 849,000.
For details on these resorts and homes throughout the Alps contact Roddy Aris, Partner in Knight Frank’s French Alpine team and Alex Koch de Gooreynd, Partner and Head of Knight Frank’s Swiss Network.
Download Knight Frank's Ski Property Report 2020.