Les Gets, still on the up and up !

A family-oriented commune affiliated to the Domaine des Portes du Soleil in the Massif du Chablais, Les Gets is a village resort offering a style typical of Savoy. At the heart of a tourist area encompasssing Geneva, Chamonix and the great lakes, all the conditions are here united to draw a demanding clientele in search of investments combining profitability and personal enjoyment.

Surrounded by the slopes, this authentic village proposes a wide array of assets : lots of sunshine, quality snow coverage thanks to its privileged location on a mountain pass, numerous activities for all ages and all seasons (mountain biking, golf, hiking, cinema…), all in a casual, friendly atmosphere… Furthermore, several projects initiated by the municipality, such as the up-coming construction of an aquatic centre, contribute towards the dynamism and appeal of this resort still undergoing expansion. Even with constant growth, its living accommodation still posts a deficit of available properties in the face of ever-increasing demand. Developers from outside the region have shown just as much enthusiasm ; since 2013, many new apartments have been built. “Activity here is flourishing and clients must now be patient as demand still outstrips supply,” comments Sylvain Aniquet, sales manager for this area with Century 21, who in fact took first place in the national Century 21 rankings last June. “The budget we see most frequently is around 300,000 € for a 2-bedroomed apartment in a convenient location near the centre,” says our specialist. “Prices range from 4,500 € per sq. metre for properties in the least desirable locations to 8,500 € for lovely new apartments. A few outstanding properties at the very heart of the village attain 9,000 € per sqm., due to their rarity.”

Specializing in the area for the past 35 years, Chantal Mudry, who opened the ACM Immobilier agency almost 20 years ago, has watched the resort develop over the years. “Les Gets has managed to preserve its soul as a family village-resort while endowing itself with modern fac­ilities and diversifying its offerings so as to be lively in both winter and summer, and extending its choice of properties. Here, 5-storey residences are rare ; most of the buildings are small with 10 apartments at most, or chalets.” Which are of just as much interest to French as international clients, including many buyers from Geneva, ready to pay from 600,000 to 900,000 € for a chalet of quality. Some do not hesitate to spend well beyond the 1 million euro mark when they fall for prestigious properties. One French client, for example, with a top job in Geneva, has just treated himself to a chalet priced at 1,500,000 €, taking just 24 hours to make up his mind. “Generally speaking, our clients do not re-sell, so there are very few properties available,” says Chantal Mudry. “Some buyers send me a list of their requirements and add their names to the waiting list.”

Angèle and Patrick Pernollet, who opened the Immo’Select agency in Les Gets in 2012, benefit from over 10 years’ experience on the local property market. “With our targets already surpassed, activity for 2014 confirms the resort’s dynamism. Many new high-quality developments attract a high-end clientele,” says Angèle Pernollet, who is currently completing commercialisation of the “Clé des Champs” development. A small high-class residence 100 metres from the centre of the village and the ski-runs. Comprised of eight apartments whose interior layout and appointments are designed on a customized basis to meet the wishes of each buyer, this type of property is ideal for a demanding clientele. “In just a few months, we sold several apartments : there now remain three large split-level apartments with six main rooms, real terraced chalets, priced from 1,320,700 €.” The clientele ? French families wanting to take frequent advantage of their second residence while renting it out from time to time, and a few British buyers won over by the charm of this resort only an hour’s drive from Geneva’s international airport. 3-bedroomed apartments are increasingly popular among a demanding clientele, always in a hurry ! “Location is the N° 1 criterion. Ideally, the property should be at the heart of the village, or as close to it as possible. If it is an old property, it must be in impeccable condition, and if new, it must be scheduled for delivery very quickly,” explains Angèle Pernollet, who also handles the sale of exclusive properties. Light and airy, offering tasteful appointments and finishing touches, lofty volumes and all the amenities needed for living in the resort (covered parking facilities, cellars, ski-lockers…), some attain 10,000 € per sqm.