Ski resort properties in the French Alps

MGM unveils plans for more new ski resort properties in the French Alps

Visitors to The France Show 2012 at London’s Earls Court this month were among the first to see plans for several new developments to be built in the French Alps by the region’s leading developer, MGM French Properties. Among developments featured on MGM’s stand were new ones in: St-Martin-de-Belleville Plans have been announced for Le Chalet Adele, a small development of just 19 ski apartments for outright sale in St-Martin-de-Belleville. When they are completed in December, 2012, the ski-in/ski-out apartments will occupy what Richard Deans in the firm’s London sales office describes as “a perfect location for skiers in winter and walkers in summer.” Located at an altitude of 1,400m, St-Martin-de-Belleville is a typical Alpine village. Centred around its village square and 16th-century church, it has retained the charm of an earlier age. Situated in the Belleville Valley below Les Menuires, the village is a good centre for access to all of the 600km of pistes in the Three Valleys area. A gondola and fast quad (chairlift for four people) link the village with the slopes at Meribel and Les Menuires. Chinaillon Just released for sale are 55 apartments in the initial phase of Le Roc des Tours, a new four-star leaseback development in Le Grand Bornard’s ski resort at Chinaillon. The r�sidence will be located opposite the ski slopes, below MGM’s earlier development, Le Village de Lessy. Said to be one of the most family-friendly ski resorts in the region, Chinaillon has year-round popularity, with skiing and snowboarding giving way to walking and golf in the summer months, as well as sailing and water sports on Lake Annecy. Crest Voland Cohennoz A new chalet containing 20 new apartments has been released for sale in MGM’s development Le Chalet des Oursons in Crest Voland Cohennoz, a peaceful corner of the French Alps ideally suited to new skiers and snowboarders taking to the slopes for the first time. The small family-friendly ski resort is said to be ideal for beginners and intermediates. “But more advanced skiers will like it too because there is easy access to the 226 pistes that comprise the Espace Diamant ski area,” say Richard Deans. Combloux A change of plan at MGM’s r�sidence de tourisme development Les Diamants Blancs in Combloux means that the 20 apartments in Chalet F are being offered for outright purchase so that buyers can choose between leasehold or freehold ownership. Those who choose the leasehold option will be able to make use of four-star facilities within the r�sidence, which include a fitness suite, gym, sauna, jacuzzi and steam rooms, plus a Wellness centre with a variety of massages and treatments on offer. Located at an altitude of 1,100m, 28km from Chamonix, Combloux offers skiers access to 445km of slopes at altitudes up to 2,535m. Tignes 1800 MGM’s Kalinda Village in Tignes 1800 is a major new ski property development within the first and biggest eco-village of its type in the French Alps. Already half of the properties in the first phase have been sold and Chalet D, containing 30 apartments, has just been released for sale. Kalinda Village – comprising a brand new r�sidence de tourisme of 250 ski-in, ski-out apartments for sale on a leaseback basis and an adjacent 28-bedroom hotel – is described as a “state-of-the-art example of sustainable development.” It forms part of the €150 million transformation of the old village of Tignes les Boisses into a modern ski centre re-named Tignes 1800. When it opens for business at the end of 2014, Tignes 1800 will, in effect, be a new gateway’ to all the established areas of the wider Tignes ski resort. Val d’Is�re will be just five minutes away by road. Flaine A fully-furnished show apartment opened this month at Le Centaure, a r�sidence de tourisme which will help Flaine become a showcase for eco-friendly development while setting the pace for future schemes by MGM. Later this year the company will complete work on 66 brand new ski-in, ski-out apartments at the heart of the resort in a development MGM describes as “state-of-the-art in terms of sustainability and fuel economy.” Flaine, a purpose-built ski resort, was hailed as an “architectural jewel” when it opened in 1968 and its buildings now are listed as historical monuments. Already Flaine has gained a reputation as one of the most environmentally aware resorts in the French Alps. It is fully-pedestrianised, with vehicles banished to car parks on its perimeter, and all hot water supplies are heated naturally with the aid of pumps extracting the heat which exists below ground. Flaine’s cable car lifts skiers to Les Grandes-Plati�res which, at an altitude of 2,200m, boasts panoramic views of Mont Blanc at the start of the Cascades blue run down to Sixt-Fer � Cheval. The 14km ski run is one of the longest in the world, forming part of the 265 km network of pistes within the Grand Massif ski area. In summer, tennis, archery and fitness classes take place, white-water rafting and canyoning is available nearby, and mountain bike rides and walks start on the doorstep. At an altitude of 1,900m, the nearby Pierre Carr�e 18-hole golf course is one of the highest in Europe with panoramic mountain views from every tee. The outlook for 2012 Commenting on the outlook for 2012, Richard Deans of MGM’s UK sales office in London’s Regent Street says: “Property prices in the French Alps are stable in response to steady demand from families and young professionals. “In recent years two distinct buyer profiles have emerged: keen skiers who want altitude resorts with fast access to a good skiing area and lifestyle’ buyers more interested in living in authentic Alpine villages with access to both winter skiing and a wide range of other activities in spring, summer and autumn. “This year MGM is meeting the expectations of both types of investor with properties available to buy in more than 25 mountain locations.” Current strength of demand for MGM’s properties means that its property prices now are back at the pre-credit crunch levels of 2007, typically ranging from €174,000 to more than €1.5 million, depending on property size and location. Richard says skiers are not the only ones taking a keen interest in its developments; increasingly investors are realising that properties in good locations, like some of Europe’s top ski resorts, can offer better returns than the uncertainties of the stock market. MGM UK office, Kingsland House, 122 – 124 Regent Street, London W1B 5SA Tel: 0207 4940706

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