Price Reductions

April 29, 2010

The affordability of property in the Alps continues to improve for British buyers.  Since Sterling reached an historic low against the Euro (£1 = 1.06 €) in Oct 2009 the rates have been improving until we reached a recent high (£1=1.16€)  this week.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/news/business/market_data/currency/11/13/twelve_month.stm

Combine this with price reductions over the same period and some properties are looking 20% cheaper to a British buyer when compared to the Autumn of last year.

A couple of  chalets that have come down in price this week.

1. Chalet La Toile, 680 000 €uros ST GERVAIS

4 bedrooms; quiet, sunny and with great views

Chalet in St Gervais

Floor area     175 m²
Land area     1094 m²
Nearest skiing     1500 metres

2. Chalet Les Chouettes, 675 000 €uros, CHATEL

A 6 bedroom, ‘ski-in’ chalet at Petit Chatel.

Chalet in Chatel

Floor area     223 m²
Land area     1500 m²
Ski access     ski bus within walking distance
Nearest skiing     1300 metres


Chalet La Toile Contact us about this property
Price 680 000 €uros
Status FOR SALE
Last updated 07/04/2010
Area MONT BLANC
Location ST GERVAIS
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 4
Floor area 175 m²
Land area 1094 m²
Detached yes
Heating oil fired central heating
Chimney open fire
Nearest skiing 1500 metres
Garden yes
Drainage mains drains


New Risk Prevention Plan approved in Chamonix

April 10, 2010

Chamonix chalets and snow

After a two-year long public enquiry, a new set of rules for risk prevention in the Chamonix valley has finally been passed, though local planning authorities had been using the “unofficial” version of the document in anticipation for the last two years. So-called “natural risks” are a very sensitive issue in Chamonix, especially since the 1999 Montroc avalanche in which 12 people died and a large part of the hamlet was flattened by a giant snow slide. There are in total 110 avalanches couloirs all around Chamonix.

The novelty is the creation of “yellow” areas in addition to the traditional white/blue/red zones. Presently there are 900 buildings in blue or red areas where special dispositions apply, either in terms of building  regulations (e.g. new constructions of reconstruction of existing houses is not allowed in red zones) or for the possible evacuation of inhabitants in the event of a threat of natural disaster. The white/blue/red system was based on the likelyhood of natural catastrophes which had historically occured at least once in a hundred years, known as “risque centenaire”, for events such as avalanches, landslides or flash floods.

Yellow zones cover areas where there is a suspicion of very ancient avalanches, up to 300 years ago. No special building regulations have been designed for these areas of Chamonix but authorities are required to put in place evacuation plans, should the risk materialise. In all, 1,700 constructions (chalets, farms etc.)  are located in such areas.


Bank Holiday Skiing

April 6, 2010

April is always a quiet time in the ski resorts of the Alps, this must make it a great time to visit! The chalet hunters that are here ski in the morning and look at property in the afternoon. Perfect!

Some of the Alpine Property team managed a bank holiday day out too. We started out at 7.45 am and hiked up for 3hrs to one of the less accessible summits in our part of the Alps.

The pictures follow.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.


Snow and skiing

April 1, 2010

We’ve had a bit of a snow drought in the Haute Savoie for the last 3 week’s, it had felt like winter was over and we had began to prepare the garden for Spring!

All change since the weekend though. We’ve had about 50cm of new snow above 1500m and this morning I was woken by the sound of the snow plough passing our house.

We managed to get out for a quick ski before lunch, we didn’t manage to take any photos (it was snowing too hard!), but did grab this picture from the Avoriaz Webcam this afternoon.

There is more snow due this weekend and next week.

http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Morzine/6day/top

On the subject of skiing I’ve been meaning to get some lessons (for about 10 years now), Sarah Watts has just started out with us, helping JC Skiera around the Mont Blanc region (Chamonix, St Gervias, Megeve, Combloux etc). Some friends of hers have started a new ski school in Megeve. These guys are part of the BASS franchise, BASS already have outfits in Chatel -Courchevel – Les Gets – Meribel – Morzine – St Moritz – Tignes - Val D’Isere, over the years I have recommended them to many people and the response is very much “worth every penny”.

In their own words

This winter season Megève has seen the introduction of BASS (British Alpine Ski Schools) to its ski area. The brand new ski school operates throughout the Evasion ski domain, which includes; Megève, Le Jaillet, Combloux, St Gervais, and Les Contamines and offers an enormous 450km of groomed pistes.

The innovative and involved teaching sessions are delivered in English by British instructors holding the highest qualifications with full French Equivalence. Skiers now have an alternative to the French ski schools that traditionally were the only ones operating in the region. This is further evidence of the increasing appeal of the area to foreign, and in particular British, clientele.

Will Roberts director of BASS Megeve, says “We are dedicated to making the whole winter sports experience in the mountains the “best it can be” providing a friendly and expert approach for first-timers and experts alike”.

Whether it’s your first time or you are looking for something new, learn to ski with BASS Megève, who have a range of lessons and courses to suit, including:

· Private Lessons (Caters for everyone and anything

· Family Groups

· Guided Tours

· Off-piste tasters

· Performance Courses

· All Mountain Performance 4

· 6 Day Back Country Courses

For further information about BASS Megeve see www.bassmegeve.com or, to see the other areas that BASS operate in across the Alps, visit www.britishskischool.com/


Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 406 other followers