Le Beaufortain, charm and authenticity

Radia Amar - 21 February 2019

Characterized by an authentic atmosphere, charming architecture, quality snow coverage, an increasingly attractive skiing domain and breathtaking mountain scenery, communes in Le Beaufortain are appreciated by buyers looking for holiday homes in well-preserved Alpine sites.

With the introduction of a new cable car and the appearance of hotel residences, it would seem that Le Beaufortain is becoming more and more popular. “After a relatively quiet end to 2018, we have seen a much more buoyant market since the end of the Christmas holidays,” says Etienne Mathoré of the Agence Immobilière du Beaufortain, based for 37 years in Arêches. “The sales we handle involve year-round homes for residents in the valley, for properties - both houses and apartments - ranging from 150,000 to 300,000 €. In the resort, clients from the Rhône-Alpes region, Belgium, the UK, and French regions further away such as the Var, are looking for pleasant holiday homes. Chalets on offer from 300,000 to 500,000 € are the most sought-after properties.” Buyers are faced by rather slim offerings as these prized properties rarely appear on the market, especially if they benefit from desirable locations. “As soon as a rare property comes up for sale at the right price, it sells very quickly,” says Etienne Mathoré, mentioning by way of example the recent sale of a ski-in/ski-out chalet of 110 m² in Les Saisies, which sold for 590,000 € in less than a week. What about apartments ? “In the resort, today’s buyers target surface areas of at least 35-50 m² with a minimum of two bedrooms. We can see that clients give priority to quality living conditions and want to benefit from nature as families, in real comfort. The result is a lack of interest in small properties which sold very well four or five years ago. So today, there are definitely opportunities offered by properties from 20 to 30 m², priced from 72,000 to 90,000 €.”

Since 1986, Arêches Immobilier, specializing in real estate in Le Beaufortain, has proposed its services for both quality rentals and sales of apartments, chalets and building plots. Well-known for the quality of his new offerings, Michel Blanc-Gonnet, a real estate developer, has just finished marketing a high-end chalet residence at the heart of the village of Arêches. To be delivered in March, this very charming address consists of eight apartments, ranging from 2 bedrooms to a 4-bedroomed duplex on the top floors. “The rarity and quality of such a development soon drew enthusiasm,” says Michel Blanc-Gonnet. “The eight lots were acquired by French buyers as holiday homes, main or semi-main residences. They were pegged at around 5,700 € per sq.m.” In addition to new properties, the agency offers a portfolio of quality homes in Arêches and all over Le Beaufortain. “We are currently offering chalets, recent or to be renovated, some benefiting from top-notch appointments, and vast apartments with three or more bedrooms, often on top floors.” The 2-bedroomed apartments are the most sought-after properties among clients who have fallen for the charm of Le Beaufortain, and want to enjoy comfortable stays shared with family or friends. “In fact, small properties are currently struggling to find takers,” says Michel Blanc-Gonnet. “Buyers do not come here just to ski, they are looking for a lifestyle in the fresh air and want to benefit from their holiday homes in all four seasons. So a big balcony is henceforth one of the recurrent criteria in the search for an apartment.”