Wide open spaces and spectacular mountain views. Fresh air, skiing, off-piste activities and sports galore year-round. Great gastronomy, wine and a whole lot more. The French Alps offer a fabulous place to live. Buying property in the French Alps has long held great appeal, both domestically and internationally and it looks like a continuing trend as the allure of mountain living is stronger than ever. We asked the chalet rental experts at OVO Network to share their insights…
Location, Location, location
The French Alps have year-round appeal with summer visitor numbers increasing hugely over the past five years. Buyers who want to rent out their properties are seeing great benefits with increased occupancy rates and strong demand not just in the ski season, but throughout the year as holiday makers discover the attractions of the Alps.
But let’s talk about skiing first. France has more than 250 ski resorts including some of the most extensive and well-known ski domains in the world including the 3 Valleys, Portes du Soleil and Paradiski. There are also less well-known, more authentic valley villages such as Manigod, Les Gets and La Clusaz.
But it’s not just the snow that makes people fall in love with the French Alps. Outside of the ski season there’s heaps to do from hiking and cycling, to white water rafting, and hang gliding to get a bird’s eye view of the fantastic scenery. There’s also plenty of history and culture with museums, castles and more.
The gastronomy is superb – from rustic raclette and local cheeses like Reblochon, plus world class fine dining and even some excellent local wines, beers and spirits.
And it’s an accessible part of France – autoroutes, fast trains and airports serve the area.
Where to buy in the French Alps
At OVO Network we always recommend you spend some time in the area you’re thinking of buying in. Get to know the locals, the attractions and facilities.
Costs for properties varies substantially from area to area. And there are many options for property types – from alpine chalets to ski in/ski out apartments, town flats and contemporary-designed houses. While new builds remain ever popular, renovation projects are increasingly sought after because they can offer such great benefits and often a lower purchase price.
Rental income in the French Alps
If you’re looking for an investment property, rental income in the French Alps can be an excellent proposition. We help our clients maximise their rental potential and we get excellent results. We have many years of experience, we know what guests love and we help our property owner clients to achieve their rental income goals and make their guests happy.
OVO Network France’s Director Louis Andrews grew up in Manigod and says “Covid’s impact was obviously huge and from 2020 we saw our bookings shift predominantly to a domestic clientele. Now international travellers are definitely back and homegrown demand remains high, generating strong demand for our owners’ properties.
Despite current challenges, we see few negative impacts on either rental demand or pricing. Where consumers are conscious of budgets, they are targeting quality properties in less well-known locations.
A great deal of our success comes down to our proactive approach to the challenges we’ve faced over the past couple of years, and our bilingual marketing – meaning we’re able to target both domestic French tourism and the UK and international markets. Our team moved quickly, offering great advice to our property owners throughout the pandemic, while ensuring bookings remained strong.”
OVO Network have put together a French Alpine property report with lots of helpful tips, recommendations, case studies and more. If you’re thinking of buying a property in the French Alps, or have a property to rent out, download the report here or get in touch with OVO Network
