The real estate market in the French Alps is one of the most stable in the country, Julianna Barnaby discovers that there's more to the area than winter pastimes

Unless you have a significant amount of disposable income and are passionate about winter sports, the idea of buying property in the French Alps might not have crossed your mind. Stereotypical images of the area generally include images of plush resorts and chalets boosted by exclusive apres-ski options.

This is no longer the case. The French Alps are much more than resorts such as Courcheval and Val D’Isere and the playground of the moneyed during the winter season. Instead, we are witnessing the growth of a new all-year destination.

Changing seasons
While the ski season is undeniably important in the annual revenue of the area, and an ever-growing industry, an increasing number of outdoors activities and year-round infrastructure are helping to position the Alps as a desirable summer destination. Global warming concerns have played their part, with forecasts of lessening amounts of snow and a shorter ski season urging developers and resort owners to explore options outside the realm of winter sports.

The French Alps are divided into two areas: Provence-Alpes Cùte D’Azur and Rhùne Alpes each of which is split into three regions. The Hautes Alpes, Alpes de Haute Provence and Alpes Maritimes in Provence-Alpes and the Haute Savoie, Savoie and Isere in the Rhùne Alpes. Each of these offers a wide variety of properties and locations to the potential property buyer. The Rhùne Alpes in particular has a pleasant year-round climate that’s tempting more and more buyers looking to invest in a second home abroad.

But why buy in the area if you aren’t looking for a winter holiday home, especially as prices are higher than in most other regions in France? According to Rose O’Sullivan of Vue Finders, an estate agent specialising in selling French properties, the popularity of the area means that it is a secure place to invest and generally yields good returns.

“For the last 10 years the French Alps real estate market has been one of the best performers in France. During this period the area has seen capital growth of 130 to 180 percent, currently property prices rank third in France after Paris and the Côte d’Azur,” O’Sullivan comments.

As the winter season begins to lose its domination of the property market in the area, buyers have been moving their attention to previously unexplored villages lower down in the mountains. Locations such as Bisanne and Crest Voland have caught the eyes of both buyers and developers.

“Summer is certainly the big secret of the Alps - it’s even better than winter with spectacular scenery, blue sky and warm days with clear air. Consequently, there are plenty of visitors,” says Alison Hunter of French Entrée, an independent advice service about buying property in France. The growing importance of the summer also means that there’s good year-round rental potential.

Matthieu Canu of Sextant properties agrees, “The French Alps and the Provence Cote d’Azur are very popular tourist destinations. This means that it is easier to rent a property during summer and winter holidays than in many other areas in the country.”

Activity central
Sporting enthusiasts and holidaying families in the know, travel to the area to enjoy the activities available. These range from relatively staid activities such as hiking and canoeing to those for more adventurous people such as white-water rafting and parasailing.

The peaks and valleys take on a different aspect once the snow has melted, revealing an area that’s perfect for hikers. Hundreds of routes criss-cross the area, winding their way between the peaks. Although many tour companies offer all-inclusive hiking holidays, tourism boards in the area usually provide a wealth of information about routes and places of particular interest. This is the case with most activities – if you are looking for a property in close proximity to certain facilities, it’s always highly advisable to talk to the local tourist boards as well as your estate agent as they’re a source of expert knowledge.

It doesn’t end there – mountain biking is another popular summer pastime with tracks suitable for all levels of cyclists. Those looking for a challenge might want to try the Etape Du Tour, a race that chooses a part of the route taken by the Tour de France for amateur cyclists to compete on and is normally held in the Alps or the Pyrenees. 

Adrenalin junkies can try their hand at parasailing off the mountains and, with all the melting snow, it’s no surprise that the area becomes a haven for water sports during the summer. Kayaking, canoeing and white-water rafting are popular options, with plenty of locations across the area.

If you like your activity a little more on the sedate side, the area is one of Europe’s best kept secrets for golf. Prestigious courses such as Evian and Crans rival spectacular courses such as Golf des Gets for players attention and the area near to Geneva in particular is perfect if you are sold on the idea of working on your swing.

The benefit of golfing in the summer months is that you can play on courses that are covered by snow from December to April such as the Robert Trent Jones senior-designed Golf Club de Chamonix. The 18-hole course is surrounded by snow-topped peaks and makes for a challenging round at an altitude of 1,050m. And, for the ultimate in relaxation – the Alps is one of the traditional spa and wellness destinations. The Rhone Alpes alone is home to 15 thermal spas which host up to 15,000 visitors annually. Seasoned spa-goers will be familiar with the names of Evian and Thonon-les-Bains, both of which are renowned for their thermal spa treatments.

Perfect pickings
One of the other appealing aspects of buying property in the French Alps is the range of housing available. Locales range from small villages at lower altitudes to chalet and apartment developments. Villas, duplexes, apartments and chalets can all be found for competitive prices suited to your requirements.

“The higher up and the closer to the centre of the resort, the more you will pay,” says Dom Flint of French Mountain Properties. “Many buyers are now seeking property in villages outside resorts were you can get an awful lot more chalet for your cash and can still be a short drive from a ski lift.” This is also the perfect option for those looking to take advantage of the summer rather than the winter season.

Alpine villages such as Samoîns and Talloires in the Haute Savoie region of the Rhùne Alpes are popular summer destinations. Samoîns is the more laid-back of the two, while Talloires is a thrill-junkies paradise with paragliding and canyoning two of the main attractions. It is fittingly hosting the Paragliding World Cup from the 13th to the 20th of June.
It’s an indication of the popularity of the area that despite the global crisis, the house prices in the area have not suffered adversely. “The area is quite a niche market because there are not that many locations where you can build properties. This is one of the reasons why prices are very stable even now,” Canu comments.

Stability
Further encouragement comes in the form of stability. Buying property in France is a well-regulated process, making it easy for oversees buyers to purchase their slice of the pie. “ It has never been so easy to buy a property in France. Foreigners follow the same process as French citizens,” he continues. All this affords protection for purchasers, mortgagees and vendors and laws are strictly enforced – just one more reason for potential buyers to pay attention to this rapidly developing all-round destination.