Upper Savoy, portrait of two winter resorts

Between Megève, a blue-chip address whose renown goes well beyond the borders of France, and Les Gets, a resort undergoing extensive development, Upper Savoy is the most highly-prized département for resort villages combining charm, sport and a warm atmosphere.

The mountainous part of the Rhône-Alpes region, La Haute-Savoie plays host to France’s most well-known skiing resorts : Avoriaz, Chamonix, La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand, Megève, Morzine, Les Gets… Today, they no longer pursue a policy of extending their skiing domains, but instead aim to diversify their winter sports facilities : snowparks, freeride areas etc…

Megève lies at the heart of the Alps, in the canton of Sallanches. Its tourist boom and glossy reputation date back to the 1920’s, when the Rothschild family decided to make it one of its leisure addresses. Today, 76.6 % of the 9,138 dwellings on the commune are holiday homes, of which 21.2 % consist of houses. Rocco Grippo handles sales for the BDI Immobilier agency, one of the oldest on the commune. “Since 2010, prices have stabilized. And we are no longer confronted by a market characterized by a hierarchy of neighbourhoods. There is no longer any great price difference between Le Mont D’Arbois, Rochebrune and Le Jaillet. All three skiing domains are now attractive, and buyers are more interested in a property’s amenities than its location.” And what tops the bill ? An apartment providing direct access to the slopes. On average, prices range from 5,000 to 6,000 € per sqm. for a studio, 6,000 to 7,000 € for a 1-bedroomed apartment, and around 8,000 € for 2 bedrooms, depending on the property’s condition. Buyers consist of investors who see Megève as a sound value over the long term, or for their own enjoyment. “Megève is not a 100 % skiing resort. The village is lively all year round thanks to its shops, sport and leisure facilities.” Highly demanding, clients with budgets exceeding 1 million euros set their sights on luxury chalets : the most tastefully renovated and luxuriously equipped properties sell the most easily and quickly.

55 km from Megève, in the Massif du Chablais, the resort of Les Gets forms part of the domain Les Portes du Soleil. Surrounded by ski-runs, this village in typical Savoyard style is undergoing constant evolution. Since 2009, numerous new developments have been put on the market. It is here that Angèle and Patrick Pernollet opened the Immo Select agency in 2012. “A wide choice of activities, very appealing to families, are scheduled throughout the season. There is a friendly atmosphere and a very up-market ambiance. Some clients have sold their homes in other resorts to buy properties here. 2013 has been a very good year in terms of sales for all types of homes. In the centre of the village, prices are rising as we begin to see a lack of offerings. Demand is now clearly higher than supply.” From now on, one should expect to pay 5,000-5,500 € per sqm. for an old property, 7,500 to 8,500 € per sqm. for a new or freshly renovated one. As the clientele mainly consists of families, the most sought-after homes are those with at least two bedrooms. “Buyers mostly live in Lyon or Geneva ; they appreciate having a drive of only one or two hours in order to spend the weekend here. At international level, the resort is attracting more and more English and Dutch clients who like its quality lifestyle.” As for chalets, offerings are quite varied : a cosy terraced chalet costs around 350,000 €, while a property with luxury appointments will fetch more than 1 million euros. Chic or casual, the resorts in Upper Savoy are ideal as either investments or for personal pleasure : their value seems to be as­sured for many years to come.