Reconciling real estate and pleasure
In Tarentaise, Bourg-Saint-Maurice and the internationally renowned Les Arcs ski resort are one. The real estate offer in the sector has long been very popular, with prices which vary greatly depending on the altitude and the proximity of the slopes.
If its town center is 750 m above sea level, Bourg-Saint-Maurice extends over an area which culminates up to 3,800 m and on which is the ski resort of Les Arcs with its 200 km of slopes . The area is also linked to that of Peisey-Vallandry and La Plagne, thus forming Paradiski, one of the largest areas in the world, with 425 km of slopes. This explains why Les Arcs has risen to 6th place among the most popular resorts in the world, with more than 2 million skier-days for the 2019-2020 season.
Bourg-Saint-Maurice: a budget of around €300,000
Thanks to its TGV station, Bourg-Saint-Maurice is a strategic place in the Tarentaise valley. The city has barely more than 7,000 permanent inhabitants according to INSEE, but is connected directly to Paris, Lyon, Brussels and even London, via Thalys and Eurostar, during the winter season: thus, from December to April, tourists flock to enjoy the winter sports. A funicular transports them to Les Arcs from Bourg-Saint-Maurice in just 7 minutes.
In Bourg-Saint-Maurice, it costs between €3,900 and €4,200 per m². “The city is less prestigious than the high altitude villages. But it attracts as many for its main residences as for secondary residences, and as many French people as foreigners”, analyzes Esther Ribot, real estate negotiator at Foncia Bourg-Saint-Maurice. The housing stock consists of 85% apartments and 15% chalets/houses. “In old buildings, you have to count around €4,200 per m² for an apartment and €3,000 per m² for a house. In new buildings, prices rise to more than €5,000 per m², all types of property combined, but programs are rare,” she notes.
Buyers of main residences are mainly looking for T3 and T4 with budgets around €300,000. Those who choose Bourg-Saint-Maurice rather than Les Arcs can also go skiing in Tignes, Val d'Isère or La Plagne, while taking advantage of the city's amenities. "These are often people in their forties who have good purchasing power and who want to make a 'pleasure purchase' in order to enjoy the winter holidays with their family", she underlines.
Les Arcs: prices close to the peaks
At altitude, prices soar in the resort of Les Arcs, which is divided into four sectors: Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000.
“Each zone has its clientele of buyers and its characteristics,” explains Amandine Collet, negotiator at Foncia Les Arcs. Most of the real estate offer is located in Arcs 1600 and 1800. The more limited real estate in Arc 1950 is mainly made up of hotel residences intended for tax-exempt investment. Arc 2000 mainly attracts sports enthusiasts. “Buyers looking for a pied-à-terre are mainly looking at Arcs 1600 and 1800. “The first resort is quieter, more family-friendly. While the second is more festive and lively thanks to its many shops, bars and restaurants,” she observes.
Arc 1600 attracts the vast majority of French people, especially Parisians, who appreciate the funicular connection from Bourg-Saint-Maurice station. “We mainly find old apartments here, from studios to 4-bedroom apartments at prices around €5,000 to €5,500 per m²,” she explains.
The slightly more international clientele, especially the British, is more attracted to Arc 1800, even if the French remain the majority. “The housing stock is a little more diversified, from studios to chalets and hotel residences. It takes an average of €7,000 per m². The price of some chalets sometimes reaches €11,000 per m², explains Amandine Collet. Demand being very strong, sales are concluded almost exclusively through our customer file in which buyers are on the waiting list. » (translation made with Google Transalate)
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