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Buying a chalet.

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
It's a long way off yet, but does anyone know any websites where I might find mountain accomodation for sale? Thinking Eastern Europe will be a bit cheaper but I want to have a good look all over. Any ideas? Very Happy
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Richie, if its a long way off don't start looking yet. Its gonna be difficult when you see something you like but can't have.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Richie, I think you will find many websites but most seem country specific
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We're buying ours through David Potters website www.euroburolimited.co.uk , I've got to say David, who is based in Austria, is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. He can send you a CD with information on moving to Austria and buying there. His website also contains property for sale in Slovenia and Croatia. We are buying a business, but there also homes suitable just for yourselves as holiday homes, or if you want to live there full time. I can dig out a number of other web sites if you are interested in Austria, but David does seem to have the market cornered. I'm not sure if thats good or bad!!!! We're going to Wagrain on Friday for a weeks skiing holiday at the business we're buying. We've only ever seen it in the summer so we're really excited about skiing the area now and learning how the business works and the facilites offered in the village. A sort of fact finding holiday Razz If you decide to buy in Austria, we have a wealth of knowledge and have already made friends with other people who've bought out there, although most of them have bought as second homes, so we're able to offer advice if you need it. Very Happy
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Richie, I'm in the same boat, we want a small place in the three valleys, but we're struggling to find a good web site or 'agant' who can help, we're going out to meribel in a few weeks to look around. but if anyone know an agent for the three valleys please let me know.
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coach,
We looked in the 3 valleys last summer. The agents in Meribel and Courchevel were most helpful but have to say there was not a lot on the market. In this region I can recommend Immobiliere Diamant agency in both Meribel and Courchevel who showed us round a few places. Matthew Smith from the Courchevel 1650 agency was particularly helpful (Tel: +33 (0)4 79 08 38 07).
Although we were wedded to the 3 valleys to buy we have actually ended up buying elsewhere for all sorts of reasons - mainly size of apartment, ski domain and value for money.
Try www.maison-individuelle.co.uk and www.alpineapartmentsagency.com for starters.
Happy for you to PM me if you want more info
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
where did you end up buying mouth - or is it a secret (shhhhh)?
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
jayne durham,
No secret! Montalbert in Paradiski area.
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Are there any sites that are focussed on Canada, specifically Lake Louise/Banff? I've all but decided to give up the rat race and start a chalet business over there but all the Realty sites seem to just look at homes.
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Ideally we are looking for something in Serbia (Kopaonik) as my missus is from there and things a "reasonably" cheap.....apparently. I reckon that the resort will become more popular over the next few years. Anyone know of any sites?
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solarfish. try www.canadianmountainproperties.com The site does not have hundreds to choose from but appears to be pretty up to date. I browse occsionally and often make dream purchases Toofy Grin
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
I bought in Val Thorens 18 months ago. A (very) small apartment in the centre of town. Finding anything for sale is the main challenge in my experience. If you have limited time ensure the agents actually have the keys for the propertys they want to show you. On a weekend trip to see about 10 apartments the agents only had keys for 1/2 of them. 'But you can come back in 2days etc', useful when you've flown out from the UK, not. Got a mortgage through Abbey National France which meant it could all be done in English, probably worth any slight premium they may have on the best deals, overall a good service, not amazingly quick, but to be expected I guess.
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Without wishing to ask deeply personal questions Little Angel How much does it actually cost to buy and own a place in a ski resort? Whilst bored and surfing over Christmas I got confused as to how much a chalet appartment buy leaseback etc costs. For instance for the price of a no bedroom appt in Val Thorens I could buy a 3 bedroom terrace house ripe for modernisation in Villarenger (sp). I ask becuase I have a lump sum to spend/invest and obviously buying a place in the Alps is an option.


Last edited by So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much on Mon 28-02-05 8:47; edited 1 time in total
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
boredsurfin, it will depend on where you want to buy, the popularity and size of resort, how many properties are currently on the market there, is it a popular location for brits to buy (always pushes up the prices) and so on. Or to put it another way market forces !
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Banff has become very expensive due to "holiday home" owners and you cannot buy in Lake Louise as it's only for hotels/staff - you are not allowed to "reside" there. How about Golden?
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Do anyone have an overview of places to find prices on austrian or italian ski properties. What cost should you expect to pay to get a small 2 room appartment in a good skiresort?
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
www.alpineangels.net for portes du soleil grand massif some in nendaz
Www.swissgetaway.com for switzerland
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Jens

Austrian Tyrol there are restrictions on purchase of holiday homes. My understanding is you can't and its enforced. EU citizens can buy in tyrol only if they intend to move to Austria permanently. There are some ski chalets in an area of Austria that seem pretty reasonableon www.investorsinproperty.com . This may be a reflectionon teh standard of skiing in resort. I've never been I don't know

Italy-I saw some places advertised in out Times property section in a resort linked to Madonna di campliaggno (probably not spelt right). didn't see what they cost but noted they were being sold with a guaranteed rental. Has anyone seen websites for Italian ski property.

Good luck
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When we were buying our chalet we found that the English language websites (and ads in French Property News or similar) over-priced their properties by a fair margin.

If you can get any local assistance use it - a member of our family is French so she was able to tell the agent that the price was ridiculous and we'd only buy if they reduced it by 10% etc. If we'd have said it I suspect the agent would have told us to swivel.
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Quote:

the English language websites (and ads in French Property News or similar) over-priced their properties by a fair margin

the same thing happens with holiday rentals. If you book an apartment direct with the owner (plenty of websites) it probably costs half as much as renting through a UK tour operator. Generally, English people seem to pay more all round than locals.

As for buying in Italy, elsewhere on Snowheads there are threads about buying Italian property - there seem to be loads of pitfalls, even for people with fluent Italian. France is probably more user friendly; the law there is slow but steady. Some French resorts are very close to Italy; buy in France and pop over for lunch!
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www.alps-property-finder.com/ are very good. Good knowledge, good advice, they live out in the french alps and have been doing it for years. French alps specialists really, rather than austria etc. Highly recommended.
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
www.alps-property-finder.com/ are very good. Good knowledge, good advice, they live out in the french alps and have been doing it for years. French alps specialists really, rather than austria etc. Highly recommended.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Another good resource is http://www.imoinvest.com Their HQ is in Paris and were the agent we used to purchase our property in Valimeinier but they also have offices and deal in other countries, including Bugaria for those interested in Eastern Europe.


Last edited by After all it is free Go on u know u want to! on Fri 30-06-06 13:29; edited 1 time in total
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Does Anyone know anything about buying aplace in Utah?
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Wear the Fox Hat would have been your best bet for Utah. You might get hold of him by PM
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Hi, I bought a place in Zell am See last year. You cant buy in the Tyrol but you can in salzburg.
here are some estate agents in Zell.

www.remax-austria.com
www.euroburolimited.co.uk
www.hadlich.at
www.muzak.at
www.realmoser.at

and the one I used ..... www.leitgoeb-wohnbau.at

p.s. It's a great summer resort as well.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Byron Gates, welcome to snowheads.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
davidb wrote:
Does Anyone know anything about buying aplace in Utah?


Throughout the US you have the so called MLS listings, that lists all properties listed with real estate agents.

If you Google MLS AND ex. "Park City" you should be set. The US real estate system works in a manner where you hane your own real estate agent helping you in the buying and a listing agent. They split commissions, but the system is transparent as long as the buying agent and the listing agents are not the same.

Watch out for the HOA annual dues as they might be more expensive than renting for 2 weeks annually.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Jens, Thanks for the info about buying in the US. As i've just started a job in Salt Lake City and I am considering buying a place in a local ski resort, but know little about buying in the US.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
mine is advertised on dreamchalet.com
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
davidb, where in SLC are you working?

Places to buy:
Park City
Canyons
Sundance
Snowbasin

There's no point in buying in Alta/Bird, or Solitude/Brighton, as they are practically in SLC! (Unless you are planning to buy in resort, and commute to work, in which case, Solitude)

If you're buying in the city, but want to be near the slopes, consider Midvale, or if you have the cash, the mouth of LCC.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Wear The Fox Hat, I am working at the university, so can choose to ski in park city or both little cottonwood canyon and big cottonwood canyon, as they are roughly the same drive time. I am looking for a 2 bedroom flat in the mountains.

The reason I want to live up in the mountains is the heat in summer, which is way to hot for me. The bright sunshine, little or no clouds and it has only rained once in the last 3 weeks, it is a big change from Manchester. I guess Park City is a good location as it is a little cooler than SLC, but I believe the prices around that area are a bit steep. I don't know much about The Canyons (I'll ask my colleagues) I may be able to afford something around there.

Thanks for the info.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Richie, If you are looking in anywhere popular and if market conditions are as they are now, be prepared to have to

* decide well in advance where you want to look
* cultivate local estate agents
* fly out at 5 minutes notice and
* decide there and then if you want to buy.

The French system allows you to block somewhere off for 7 days while you put any finance, surveys etc. into place in principle.

We saw our house in Chamonix at 10h00 on the day it went on the market, signed the initial agreement at 11h00 and by 14h00 when the agency re-opened after lunch they had another offer €100k higher than ours. Luckily we had formally "blocked" the property.

Of course, if you are buying somewhere 7 hours from an airport with one dodgy horse drawn rope tow and a bar that only opens on alternate wednesdays with "pig's ear stew a la Gaston" as the menu du semaine, you might find the whole process a little more relaxing.
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David Murdoch, interesting, so even with a 100k better offer there is no gazumping in France???
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
gregh, it is known to happen but is rare (as long as all proper procedures are followed) and can end up with expensive lawsuits. Similar to Scotland except there a verbal agreement is binding.

One other point is that (as far as I understand) if you offer the asking price the vendor is obliged to accept.
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gregh, once you've signed the compromis de vente, it's a firm contract if you pull out, you lose your deposit, if the vendor pulls out you're entitled to compensation.
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Todays 26/7/2006 Independent carries a section on Buying and Switzerland.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Hi there I note you have bought in Austria. We are going out hopefully to buy in Zell am See in October do you have any hints/ tips etc.

i would appreciate any feedback

Thanks

Tony
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DM,

100k eu's ....!!!!!! Nice one!
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It's worth saying that in France estate agents charge much higher commissions than in the UK (around 10%) - so there's a very strong informal market where people try to sell a property through their extended network of contacts before placing it with an agent.

So, if you're interested in an area then it's worth speaking to the locals - because they may well know of properties for sale that otherwise don't make it to the market. This is particularly important in places like Morzine where the Brits have not only pushed up prices, but also caused a dearth of studio and one bed apartments.

It's also worth saying that in France a property can be on the market through multiple agencies at once - so there can appear to be more choice on the market than there actually is.

boredsurfin, in answer to your running cost question - we reckon our place (around 30 sq m) costs us about £1,200 a year to run. That covers local taxes (600 euros), water (150 euros), electricity (400 euros) , insurance (230 euros) and shared costs for the block we're in (200 euros) - although the latter doesn't include a "sinking fund", so eventually we'll be hit by some maintenance bills.

It's not all bad news though - in exchange for paying local taxes, we get around 230 euros off each of our season passes, which saves us 460 euros. I've not netted this out of the amount above.

Hope that helps.
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