The most highly-prized addresses in Chamonix

Offering luxury boutiques and a good array of restaurants, Chamonix draws a sporty, up-market clientele fond of skiing, mountain climbing, hiking, and quality relaxation at lofty altitudes.

Reached by train and the motorway, Chamonix is 1 hour from Geneva Airport. Benefiting from easy access, the commune lies in a valley together with Les Houches, Servoz and Vallorcine, blending Alpine pastures, forests, rushing streams, and an urban centre. Facing Mont-Blanc, the heart of the resort lies at an altitide of 1035 metres. About 9,500 people live here year-round, though the population grows to 60,000 in winter thanks to three skiing domains : Les Grands Montets, Brévent/Flégère and Balme. While buyers looking for chalets set their sights on the hamlets of Argentière or, with more modest budgets, those of Les Houches or Les Bossons, demand for apartments in the town centre is constantly rising despite their high prices.

The famous “Golden Triangle” lies within a perimeter around the post-office, casino and town-hall. About 1 km long, this area whose streets and squares mostly bear the names of famous Alpinists is still highly prized. “If it isn’t affected by any nuisances, an apartment with 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms on Rue Paccard, Rue Vallot, Rue Michel Croze or Place Jacques Balmat, may well sell within about ten days, and is often the subject of a private transaction,” says Philippe Chevallier, manager of Century 21 Chevallier Immobilier. As a result of this enthusiasm, prices in this neighbourhood hover around 7,000 € per sq. metre and are tending to rise, which does not reflect the overall trend in the market in the valley. “We are clearly in short supply faced by this demand, mainly from a French clientele. The English, who once accounted for up to 50% of the buyers, have deserted estate agencies since the Brexit announcement,” explains this expert, also specializing in the sale of commercial premises. Looked upon as a central area, the hillsides to the south are also posting rising prices. “Renowned residences such as the Majestic are comprised of apartments which can attain 8,500 € per sqm. if they are on upper floors and face due south.”

“Demand is indeed steady for apartments in the town centre, especially in sought-after residences such as Beau Site, Le Concordia, Les Alpes... Addresses popular for their location and high-quality apppointments,” adds Brigitte Comte of the long-established AIM (Agence Immobilière Moderne), based in Chamonix for over 50 years. The last two sales handled by this agency in the centre consist of a 1-bedroomed apartment of 34 m2, sold with a covered parking place for 220,000 €, and a spacious 1-bedroomed apartment of 55 m2 in a 1970’s residence, priced at 350,000 €. “Most of our clients are French, Swiss or Swiss residents,” says Brigitte Comte. In the surrounding area, the diversity of available properties meets a wide range of budgets. As witnessed by an Alpine chalet in grounds of 1,100 m2 in Les Houches, on offer at 380,000 €, and a high-end chalet in Les Bossons, up for sale at 1,790,000 €.

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