La Clusaz, Le Grand-Bornand and Manigod, at the heart of Les Aravis.

Playing host to well-known ski resorts with 210 km of slopes in all, this pre-Alpine mountain chain in Savoy is a fabulous playground for fans of winter sports.

Since 2007, Luxalpes Immobilier has handled sales and year-round rentals over the entire area of Les Aravis. The lower part of the valley offers properties mainly intended as permanent homes, while the upper part with its three resorts (La Clusaz, Le Grand-Bornand and Manigod) are of interest to a clientele looking for holiday homes and rental investments. “Half of our clients aiming for the resorts are French, including a few ex-pats, the rest are mainly Swiss or Belgian,” explains Nicolas Kachelhoffer, manager of this agency based in Thônes, getting ready to inaugurate a third address in Le Grand-Bornand during the Christmas holidays. “Over the entire area, the market is characterized by slim offerings and steady demand, leading to price rises of 2-3 % a year. The most sought-after properties are 1-, 2- and 3-bedroomed apartments, as well as chalets. Due to its reputation, La Clusaz is the most highly-prized address. A 2-bedroomed apartment here costs from 350,000 € and may fetch around 500,000 € depending on its location and appointments. Chalets are very rare in La Clusaz. At the moment, there must only be 15 or so on the market.” As an example of properties currently in his portfolio, Nicolas Kachelhoffer mentions an authentic farmhouse rehabilitated as a charming chalet in Thônes. Built of old timber, this noble chalet offering 4 bedrooms, several terraces, a heated pool, a summer kitchen and a “mazot” of 20 m2 is up for sale at 652,500 €. In Manigod, a chalet of 240 m2 enjoying a panoramic view and an ideal location, in grounds of 1,537 m2, is on offer at 950,000 €.

Based for the past 9 years in Le Grand-Bornand and covering the entire Bassin des Aravis as far as Lake Annecy, the bilingual family-run agency Aravis Holidays originally specializing in high-end property management, developed a sales department in the same sector four years ago. “Thanks to our Anglo-Saxon roots, we work easily with English-speaking clients who still comprise an important share of our clientele for both management and sales,” says agency manager Samuel Gidet. “Many other nationalities call on our services, Swiss, Qatari, Belgian, Spanish, Canadian buyers…, though most of our sales involve French buyers. Families like the atmosphere of Le Grand-Bornand, a real village resort with a casual lifestyle. As elsewhere, demand outstrips supply, and the few new developments marketed this year met with instant success. We have just completed the sale of new chalets with high-spec appointments in good locations, priced at 7,000 € per sq.m. Within the same development, new apartments are pegged around 7,500 € per sq.m.” In Le Grand-Bornand, the market is lively and properties of quality sell fast. As witnessed by a 4-bedroomed apartment of 92 m2 in immediate proximity to the ski-runs, that Aravis Holidays Immobilier sold within just a few days at around 500,000 €. The classier La Clusaz is still in high demand. Quality properties here sell at substantial prices, like an 1800’s farmhouse in need of renovation. Offering potential for 300 m2 of living space, it sold in 24 hours for about 1 million euros. “Once renovated, it could well be worth around 2.5 million euros.”

Based in Le Grand-Bornand since 1972, Century 21 Aravis Immobilier serves as a reference in the area. Specializing in sales of all kinds of properties all over Les Aravis, it currently proposes a generous choice of apartments (from studios to 3 bedrooms) and chalets in Le Grand-Bornand and in the surrounding villages. “For the past few quarters, the market has been very buoyant and prices are stable,” says Catherine Rey. “Mostly French, but also Swiss, Belgian and Dutch, our buyers are looking for holiday homes in the resort, mainly chalets or 2-bedroomed apartments in the village or at the foot of the slopes.” For a 2-bedroomed apartment offering appointments in today’s taste and a sought-after location, one can expect to pay from 5,600 to 6,000 € per sq.m. Prices of chalets vary enormously depending on their condition, surface area, appointments and, of course, their location. “We currently offer a wide choice of chalets from 490,000 to 1,400,000 €,” says Catherine Rey, mentioning as an example of her most desirable properties, a chalet of 140 m2 ideally located in Le Chinaillon, with direct acces to the slopes. Offering 4 bedrooms and very lovely mountain views from its balconies and terraces, this property, tastefully fitted and furnished in chic chalet style, is up

for sale at 997,500 €.