Spotlight on the French Ski Property Market with Cimalpes Real Estate

A long-time favourite for skiers from all over the world, France has been attracting millions of visitors since the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix Mont-Blanc. Changing times, climates and customer demographics mean that whilst the ski resorts of France are still attracting skiers from all over, they are having to adapt and evolve to keep up with new demands. In their report, French real estate agent Cimalpes have outlined how even the largest and most popular resorts are changing their long-used ways and making a move into the future.

Skiing in France - Quick Facts

There are 6 mountain ranges in total which are home to over 250 resorts.
30% of the worlds ski areas are in France.
There are 17,000 ESF ski school instructors.
74% of skiers’ ski in the Savoie, Mont Blanc.
51.1 Million ski days were sold in the 2016/17 winter despite it being one of the driest winters on record.
Every 1 piste out of 3 is equipped with snow making technology.

Can a Ski Home be a Good Long-Term Investment?

Ski homes are primarily aspirational purchases, and the key to their success is that they are purchased at the correct market value, and that the property is highly rentable as around 80% of buyers look to rent out their property.

Which French Resorts Still Offer Good Value?

Within each top ski resort in France, there are opportunities to purchase homes in small resorts neighbouring the more famous ski areas enabling you to access the areas at a fraction of the price. For example, Le Praz and Moriond for Courchevel, St Gervais and Combloux for Megève, Vallorcine and Les Houches for Chamonix and Le Fornet and Tignes les Brevieres for Val d’Isère.

Outlook for the Ski Property Market

Despite erratic winters and the threat of Brexit, the draw of the mountains is stronger than ever. Recognising the need for change, ski resorts all over the Alps are evolving and adapting to meet the demands of today’s buyers. Huge investments are being made in snow-making to ensure skiing is always possible despite possible lack of snow-fall, and resorts are recognising the importance of investment in non-skiing activities as well as establishing a steady summer season so that peak visitor times are no longer limited to the winter months.

With a Focus on the 4 Resorts of Courchevel, Méribel, Megève and Val d’Isère, the Report Outlines 3 Main Trends in Each Resort in Addition to General Overall Improvements:

It is clear that these four resorts are significantly investing in the connections between the small neighbouring villages ensuring they have easy access to the main ski areas. This is likely due to the fact that the ski resorts, still popular as ever, are struggling to keep up with the demand for ski property for purchase. These smaller ‘backdoor’ resorts are a fantastic way to have the ski resorts of the Trois Vallees, Megève and Val d’Isère on your doorstep at a much friendlier price.
Investment in snowmaking technologies. Erratic past winters have had a major effect on tourism in ski resorts. To ensure the longest possible winters and therefore ski times, each resort is heavily investing in snow making technology to guarantee good snow cover through the season.
They are investing in non-skiing related activities. With 25% of resort visitors not skiing and a growing need to create bustling summer seasons, resorts must offer more than what they used to. Adventure parks, spa’s, shopping centres, mountain biking and winter walking trails have become a staple in most ski resorts as they look to widen their market reach.

Ski resorts in France visited by each nationality