| ooking to invest in property in France may have to | | | | increasingly causing, Mr Malster suggested that the |
| be pretty savvy about it, experts have warned. In | | | | area is, paradoxically, enjoying the benefits of climate |
| such a popular market, especially for British buyers, | | | | change. |
| there are bound to be regional variations in price, | | | | He said: "With global warming we've had some very |
| making it important for those hunting bargains to do | | | | hot temperatures in Greece and other parts of |
| their research before looking to make a purchase. | | | | Europe this summer and I think that there is |
| Yet the bargains are still there. Liz Oliver of property | | | | definitely a growing market for Alpine holidays |
| specialists Francophiles told the Guardian at the | | | | generally." |
| weekend that "France is still very good value," adding | | | | The key thing, he noted, was that the Alps were |
| that "if you are prepared to go inland a little bit, | | | | adjusting to change by becoming more attuned to |
| prices drop significantly". | | | | summer holidays, providing outdoor activities such as |
| Investors may indeed choose to head inland, away | | | | mountain biking and attractions such as spa hotels. In |
| from the Cote D'Azur with its sunshine or the | | | | addition to this, he noted, those who can afford to |
| Brittany coast with its proximity to Britain, but to | | | | have two summer holidays enjoyed the variation |
| where? One option is to head to areas famous for | | | | between the mountains of central Europe and the |
| their wineries, but another is to go to the mountains. | | | | Meditteranean beaches, noting: "They'll go and have |
| The Guardian article lists the Pyrenees as an area to | | | | two weeks on the beach and then have a long |
| find bargains, along with Champagne-Ardennes, | | | | weekend or a week in the mountains." |
| Poitou-Charente, and Limousin. | | | | But of course the Alps itself has plenty of areas that |
| The Pyrenees, of course, has many attractions. It | | | | are filled with development and tourism, with highly |
| enjoys proximity to Spain, ski resorts, fine walking | | | | commercialised resorts becoming expensive. Instead, |
| country and the town of Lourdes for those | | | | he suggested, the popular places to invest now were |
| interested in a spiritual pilgrimage. But of course | | | | locations like Grenobe and "some of the more |
| France also has part of the Alps, where again there | | | | outlying areas". |
| are good deals to be had for those prepared to look | | | | There is certainly a market here, he explained, for |
| in the right places. | | | | buy-to-let property, partly because there was a |
| Simon Malster, managing director of Investors in | | | | requirement in many places that any new build was |
| French Property stated that the market for Alpine | | | | made available on a "sale and leaseback type basis." |
| tourism is growing, which in itself should be of | | | | Thus, in the Alps as elsewhere in France, the key is |
| interest to buy-to-let investors. While some have | | | | to find the areas a little bit off the beaten track, for |
| questioned the future of skiing in the light of the mild | | | | there investors will still find bargains. |
| winters that global warming appears to be | | | | |