The chalet, a typical yet atypical home

Built of wood or stone with a gabled roof, the chalet was once a rudimentary mountain home. Its architectural style has undergone modernization and even assumed a chic allure. In Les Gets and Chamonix, it draws fans of second residences in need of fresh air...

If there were a place where chalets reign supreme, it would certainly be Upper Savoy. An hour from Geneva, with its winter sports resort linked to the extensive domain of Les Portes du Soleil, the commune of Les Gets stands out as a choice tourist destination, appealing above all to families. At the foot of Mont-Blanc, Chamonix offers a very cosmopolitan atmosphere, though it draws a more affluent clientele. Its surrounding villages and hamlets, such as Les Bois, Les Praz, Les Tines, Les Bossons and Argentières, are equally popular. In these addresses, the chalet, either modern or to renovate, is widely appreciated by its fans.

Very fond of Les Gets, where they were born, Angèle and Patrick Pernollet launched their agency in 2012. Concentrating on sales and seasonal rentals, Immo Sélect presents chalets from 44 to 400 m². Rarely located at the heart of the resort, they are terraced or detached, most often serving as holiday homes or rental investments. Their average price is 6,200 € per sq.m. “The most highly-prized areas are those of Les Chavannes or Le Lac, near the ski-runs and very well served by the resort’s shuttles.” The agency’s French, British, Dutch and Belgian clients are often aged over 40 and belong to the upper socio-professional category. As a result of the pandemic, there are more French citizens looking for a pied-à-terre in the mountains and in wide open spaces. This general trend is being felt in Les Gets, with demand for large chalets on the rise. Availabilities exist, making Les Gets both a lively and well-balanced market. Through its services and local expertise, Immo Sélect assists future buyers and tenants with their plans, taking care to remain pro-active in its approach towards the resort’s development and modernization of properties. It recently sold a 4-bedroomed chalet of 155 m² with a garden in the Lanchettes area, priced at 1,450,000 €. On the Route de Gibannaz, it found a taker for a 3-storey residence with two double garages, priced at 1,927,400 € in its future state of completion.

In Chamonix, Brigitte Comte, Manageress of the AIM agency, proclaims : “All the neighbourhoods are very desirable !” Though the centre still offers a specific advantage, that of doing everything on foot. With its timeless charm, even if it is not entirely clad in timber, the chalet has strong appeal for buyers. The budget required ranges from 600,000 to 800,000 €, then over 1 M €, and up to 3 M € for the most prestigious examples. Among the latest sales orchestrated by the agency, two chalets in need of renovation, even a rebuild, right in the centre. In both cases, it was a case of love at first sight, above all for their locations. While Chamonix is definitely a tourist destination, it is also a very lively town in an equally delightful valley. French and foreign clients compete on the market for chalets as second homes. Some of them consider living there year-round, at a later date. “Offerings here come in a wide variety,” says Brigitte Comte. “Luxury properties, others more affordable, something to suit everyone’s taste and budget, in all the various sectors.”