Le Grand Massif, for fans of authenticity

Comprised of the resorts of Flaine, Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoëns and Sixt, all connected by ski, the 4th largest skiing domain in France with 265 km of slopes rises to an altitude of 2,500 metres facing Mont-Blanc.

A trip to the snow-capped peaks in Upper Savoy… The beauty and diversity of the scenic views offered by Le Grand Massif, a few kilometres from the motorway and 1 hour from Geneva’s international airport, are some of its major assets. This season, Flaine is inaugur­ating a cable-car, while new ski-runs have appeared in Flaine, Morillon and Samoëns. Surfers appreciate the snowpark in Flaine, whereas Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoëns and Sixt place their bets on authenticity, the warmth and peacefulness of traditional villages. The 14  m of ski slopes in Les Cascades offer unspoilt scenery, without any ski-lifts to spoil the view. Laid out around a lime-tree planted in 1438, Samoëns, whose name refers to the seven reliefs which surround it, lies on the banks of Le Giffre, at the edge of a vast glacial valley. The village still has traces of the presence of ancient stone-cutters, and the botanical gardens contain 4,500 species of mountain flora. This village with 2,300 year-round residents plays host to one of the largest markets in Upper Savoy. It is very popular for its typical architecture, well-controlled urban planning, “Famille Plus” label, 76 km dedicated to Nordic skiing and 15 itineraries for fans of cross-country skiing.

Samoëns is lively all year round and deeply devoted to its traditions,” says Luc Chenaud of Majestic Immobilier. This resort on a human scale sees a radical change during the holiday periods. 80 % of property acquisitions concern second homes. French, Swiss, Belgian, Dutch and English buyers pay around 5,500 €/m2 for apartments in new developments. The market for year-round homes is fuelled by French retirees and local buyers. Exceptions aside, chalets of 90 m2 with gardens of 600 m2 range from 350,000 to 550,000 €. Holiday accommodation in the mountains does not seem to be suffering from the tense economic context, though buyers looking for a complete change of life are apparently more hesitant in the face of changes in tax regulations. High taxation on real estate is making this segment of the maket flow along less smoothly. Most transactions are in the 250,000-350,000 € bracket. Taninges, more concerned by year-round residences, is having a tougher time in terms of sales. Apartments here range from 2,500 to 3,000 €/m2, despite its strategic pos­ition between Le Grand Massif and Les Portes du Soleil.

“In the holiday home segment, the percentage of French buyers is on the rise”, says Véronique Laurainne of Laurainne Immobilier. Well-maintained apartments in high-quality residences in, or close to, the centre, and not far from the slopes, are priced around 4,200 €/m2 in Samoëns and less than 4,000 €/m2 in Morillon, the favourite address among skiers, and Sixt, popular among fans of authenticity. Compared to the valley, only targetted by buyers of main homes, the mountain area is doing well. The resorts comprising Le Grand Massif propose relatively competitive value for money. The excellent rate of occupancy during the holidays bears witness to their success and their potential for further development. The summer season has nothing to envy of the winter. A cocktail composed of nature, sport, heritage and culture hits the spot among an inter-generational clientele. From October to December last, Laurainne Immobilier marketed two developments totalling 15 lots, at 5,500 €/m2. The buyers, often already waiting in the agency’s files, appreciate the typical architecture and high-quality appointments. They are all in favour of sustainable development and respect for the environment, high energy performance and reasonable running costs. A property in line with the current market price easily finds a taker.

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