Mountain real estate: these ski resorts where prices are still rising… and those where they are falling

Ski resorts continue to display property prices well above the national average, according to Fnaim. But, with global warming, a growing dichotomy is observed between high altitude stations and low altitude ones.

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The month of February is upon us and, with it, the ski holidays. A 2025 winter season which looks good, recently confided to Capital Cimalpesspecialist in the sale and rental ofmountain real estate. You who are looking for a rental investment in order to build up additional income, why not buy a studio or two-room apartment in a ski resort? You still have to have the means… “Ski resorts continue to see real estate prices well above the national average, with values ​​of 3,781 euros per square meter on November 1, 2024, compared to 2,931 euros per square meter in France”underlines the National Real Estate Federation (Fnaim), in a note published this Monday, January 27.

However, after a surge of 28% between July 2020 and April 2023, due to the post-Covid period which had reinforced the attraction for second homesa correction has been observed over the last 18 months, with prices having fallen by 3% in ski resorts. A correction “light”nuance Fnaim, and which does not apply to all massifs. Prices increased by another 0.2% in 2024 in the Northern Alps, whose resorts remain the most popular from France, with an average price of 4,957 euros per square meter. In contrast, prices fell by 3.2% in the Vosges, to 1,903 euros per square meter, and by 2.4% in Corsica, to 1,495 euros per square meter.

Val d’Isère remains the most expensive ski resort

“High altitude resorts are consolidating their dominant position, attracting buyers looking for snow guarantees. Over the past 10 years, prices have risen twice as fast as at low altitudes.with a jump of 40% for the former compared to an increase of 20% for the latter, explains Fnaim. The top three most expensive ski resorts remain unchanged, with Val d’Isère (13,997 euros/m²), Courchevel (12,629 euros/m²) and Méribel (10,982 euros/m²).

It must be said that global warming threatens a large part of ski resorts. And this shortage of snow cannot be compensated for by artificial snow. In fact, in recent months, several ski resorts have closed permanently, victims of global warming: the Grand Puy resort, located in the commune of Seyne, in the Southern Alps), Alpe du Grand Serre (La Morte, Northern Alps) or Notre-Dame-du-Pré in the Northern Alps. Other resorts are also threatened, such as Le Val d’Allos in the Southern Alps, the Val d’Arly area, with the resorts of Crest-Voland/Cohennoz, Flumet/Saint Nicolas la Chapelle, La Giettaz in Aravis and Notre Dame de Bellecombe in the Northern Alps, Le Grand Revard in the Northern Alps, Guzet in the Pyrenees or even Gérardmer in the Vosgessays Fnaim.

Towards quotas for high altitude skiers?

For the federation, “with global warming, we should see a dichotomy between high and low altitude stations”. The latter should gradually replace skiing with other activities, or close, and their skiers will move to high altitude resorts. To the point that some of the latter, like Alpe d’Huez, are starting to think about setting up skier quotas in order to avoid too many crowds, especially on weekends.