Real Estate : Enjoy the descent

This season, recreational homes in the mountains will be more affordable. Without foreign customers, prices lost altitude.

Magnificent scenery, ski areas across Europe that we want, resorts renowned ... the Alps are a paradise for skiers and snowboarders. A few weeks before the big rush in December, why not consider to purchase a pied-à-terre? Especially as the financial and economic crisis that has drawbacks. A close look, it even creates investment opportunities. The credit rate is again historically low prices and frankly on the downside. If notaries in France showed a decline of around 5% in Savoie and Haute-Savoie at the end of last season, the decline appears much more pronounced in some stations. An opportunity for gliding enthusiasts. Especially attractive crown a tax certain types of purchases. The question is where to buy and at what price. Focus on the peaks.

Decline on all fronts in the Three Valleys

Here, activity has slowed considerably. Even in the most exclusive resorts. "Courchevel has not escaped the fall of transactions, launches Setiey Lawrence, head of Vallat Immobilier. Statements of intention to alienate (DIA) dropped 60% in recent months. This figure speaks for itself. "The headlong rush of money is definitely over. "Before, we had a range of prices that ranged from 14,000 to 40,000 or 50000euros m2, but it's over," says real estate agent. It is true that the British, which represented almost two thirds of transactions, have largely deserted the market. Today, the values start at around 10 000 for the more traditional goods and leveled off around 30 000 m2 for the most prestigious, including cabins. To attract buyers nervous, anxious sellers have had to revise their claims to fall 15 to 30% depending on the case. Except on properties with a beautiful area and a stunning location, which continue to exchange high prices. One of them, 86 m2, facing due south and up the slopes, has recently negotiated 1.5 million euros, or nearly 17 500 euros per m2. In Meribel, the values drop another notch: between 5 000 and 20 000. The luxury apartments Belvedere take the top end. "Transactions are carried out at 90% with French customers, moreover, less silver, which explains the price level lower," says Lawrence Setiey yet.

Also in the Three Valleys, La Tania, more family meets the same clientele as Courchevel 1550 or 1650. A market report for buyers who can not afford Courchevel. "The y values were significantly increased in recent years, but with the crisis and fall of transactions, prices are feeling the pinch." Relying still between 5 000 and 9 000 m2 for an apartment, and 10 000 12 000 for a cottage of 150 to 200 m2. The shock wave also hits the Val Thorens and Les Menuires. A glimmer of hope still: "During the winter, the market Menuires remained very calm, then woke up in the spring," says Nicolas Mainaz, Agency Alps. The price decline is less pronounced than elsewhere. The heart of the bid is between 3 000 and 4 000 euros, but can climb to 6 000 and 7 000 for the upper class well placed.

Change of scenery in Saint-Martin de Belleville. Nothing in common, in fact, with urban stations such as Les Menuires or Val Thorens. Here, only the charm of small residences and cottages gathered around their church. And an atmosphere of lively village resort in summer and winter. Only drawback, the lack of snow some winters. Price later values have dropped 5 to 10% and settle between 5 000 and 7 000.

The Tarentaise also adjusts its prices

In Val d'Isere (Espace Killy), "activity is idling," says Jerome Degouey, Val d'Isere Agency, buyers are a wait, but it still performs transactions. Vendors are camping on their positions on the pretext that they are in Val d'Isere, while buyers try to negotiate. Hence the blocking of the market. Depending on the industry, prices fluctuate in a very wide range: between 4 500 and 20 000 m2. "In Val d'Isere, supply is very diverse," says Jerome Degouey, we have studios at 60000 euros as apartments for 7 or 8 million euros! "Unlike Courchevel chalets are legion and not pay a high price: 1.5 million euros for the smallest and most poorly placed, 5, 10 or 15 million euros for the most outstanding. Restricted land, the station produced few new programs. Especially since the new local development plan (PLU) reinforced areas unconstructable.

Tignes is better off, even dreaming of creating tourism infrastructure upscale, likely to compete Val d'Isere. Why a 4 star hotel (Nevada) and a residence of tourism, all signed MGM Manufacturer, have been built recently. Other projects are in the pipeline which should soon see the day. Including another tourist residence MGM (4 stars) currently on sale at the entrance to Tignes-le-Lac. A program all the more interesting it is eligible for the new device Scellier Leaseback (furnished by owner). The investor benefits not only for the refund of VAT associated with this type of program, but also a tax reduction of 25% (purchase in 2009 or 2010). It can also reserve a few weeks of living for its own use. A two-piece it sells from 192 000 euros and a three-bedroom apartments from 375 000 euros. "Our achievements are well adapted to the device owner Scellier furnished in respect of property less than EUR 300000, Yanick says Davière, CEO of the group. Our new programs will adapt to the overall investment and propose three-room apartments with areas of 52/53 m2. "Nestled in the Paradiski, La Plagne and Les Arcs also blame a sharp drop in transactions with reflux of the foreign clients. "But if sales are struggling to materialize, buyers will begin to learn and visit," says Peter Maurouard of Fosters Property Alpestates. The price decline is also severe: up to 30%, bringing the values between 3 000 and 5 000 m2.

The Mont-Blanc mourn the Foreign

Megeve has'm smart and worldly, she is no exception in terms of real estate activity. "The buyers are making offers that sellers disdain, but when pressed," says Laurent Allard, agency Allard & Associates. For now, "prices have dropped 15% on average since last year," says this professional. The bid is currently between 8 500 and 10 000 m2. The former property located at Mont d'Arbois, however, can negotiate 12 000 m2 and more. Including cottages. A Combloux, two-parts, which constitute the heart of the application, are traded between 4 000 and 7 000 m2 according to their standing and status. A Samoëns, "between the starting price and that of the transaction, the trend is downward frankly, the values being reduced between 3500 and 4000 Euros when they were mounted up to 6000 euros," said another real estate agent . A cottage set price EUR 460 000 has finally been sold to 415 000. There are also some new construction condominium or traditional residential tourism (including MGM). One two three-bedroom residence of tourism it acquires from 225 000 euros with tax benefits that go with it.

Side of Chamonix, the loss of British customers is severely felt and prices readjust. Counting now between 5 000 and 5 500 euros for conventional properties. "The share of foreigners was 15% instead of 50% usually identified with the mountain, said Yanick Davière, Chamonix suffers particularly." In some agencies, 60 to 70% of transactions were made with this customer. An element which Avoriaz suffers much less. "We never had a high percentage of foreign customers," said Gerard Bremond, CEO of Pierre & Vacances, the French are 95% of our sales. "Indeed, the market remains active, particularly since the extension Station attracts followers of Avoriaz. The Pierre & Vacances develops into effect three tourist homes (3 and 4 stars), MGM under its brands, Pierre & Vacances and Maeva (475 apartments in total). A project that fits on two areas: the Crozats and Falaise. Everything will be supplemented by an extensive pool area and playful 2 000 m2, like those developed by Center Parcs. Price later, between 267 000 euros for two rooms and 875 000 for a five-piece (MGM) between 190 and 500 euros for two rooms and 333 000 euros for a three-bedroom apartments. "The marketing of the three programs had already begun, but it is undeniable that the device Scellier-Bouvard, introduced last April, has a decisive impact on the purchasing decision," says Gerard Bremond. The developer also plans to build more homes under this scheme. "For forty years, our strategy is to make choices based on location and tourist potential. The mountain's first season and winter skiing. Why we prefer the stations above 1800 m altitude. "Not far from Avoriaz, Les Gets are also some new programs to expand, thanks to the willingness of newly elected officials. In nine, the offer is around 6 000 to 6 500 euros per m2. "They went up to 7000-8000 euros in previous years," says Chantal Mudry, ACM Estate. In the former, starting between 4 000 and 4 500 euros per m2 on average and up to 6 000 for certain property, as this three-bedroom apartments of 55 m2 sold 345 000.

Isere and Hautes-Alpes also adapt

"Earlier this year, buyers were on the defensive, but the activity starts again and our agencies are working well, says Romain Troivallets, of Alpe Agency. The owners are less greedy. "A small area, which appears in the window of 120 000 to 130 000 euros last year, is now offered at 100 000. It is true that small areas are no longer listing, buyers preferring more friendly apartments. In most neighborhoods, prices are around EUR 6 000 m2 in the former and 7 500 to 8 000 euros per m2 in the nine. Elsewhere, counting rather between 4 000 and 5 000 m2. Just under the Deux-Alpes, where "prices have slightly decreased with the withdrawal of the English," says Marie-Hélène Duclot, agency Lamy. At Chamrousse, the favorite station of Grenoble, demand has also dropped much, except for small areas. A studio of 20 m2 it commonly sells at least 50 000. Farther south, the entrance to the splendid park of Cases, "Serre-Che" is de-sole lack of foreign customers, but "the product well placed to actual market price share still early," shows that share Andre Martin, the owner of a dozen agencies Urbania. A 37 m2 at the foot of the slopes, posted EUR 230 000, was finally negotiated 215 000.

In the new, MGM continues marketing its tourism residence. A three-bedroom apartments of 49 m2 it sells 282 000 euros and can take advantage of the law Demessine dedicated to the revitalization of rural areas (ZRR), which is in Serre-Chevalier. Besides the recovery of VAT, the purchaser receives a tax reduction of 25% of the purchase amount within the limit of 25 000 for a couple and 12 500 euros for a single. Those interested in this device can also explore the side of Montgenevre, Les Orres, Isola, Orcières-Merlette, Risoul and Vars. In these last two stations, the price displayed decreased from 20 to 25%. From 2 400 to 3 200 euros/m2.