Méribel, best known for being a top winter ski destination, transforms into a totally different kind of playground in the summer months, providing intense scenery covered in brightly coloured flowers and rich green trees all lit up by the sparkling sunshine. Yet remarkably, this Alpine hotspot remains a relatively undiscovered summertime land with many being unaware of the vast and varied outdoor activities that Méribel has to offer.

Situated in the middle of the Les Trois Vallées, a popular ski region in the Tarentaise Valley, near the town of Moutiers, Méribel’s stunning landscape provides the perfect environment for a whole host of summertime activities including hiking, mountain-biking, golf, climbing, parapenting, white-water rafting, canyoning, horse riding, tennis, glacier walking and hot air ballooning to name but a few.

Sitting on the edge of the 140,000 acre Vanoise National Park, founded to protect the rich eco system of the area and close to The Tuéda Nature Reserve, Méribel serves as a hikers paradise where levels reach up to 3,855m and include 500km of maintained and marked trails, suitable for the entire family to discover Méribel’s natural unspoiled beauty and 100 species of flora and fauna.

There are also opportunities to discover Méribel’s hidden wonders via an extensive network of cycling tracks snaking through the valley while professionals and amateurs alike can partake in the yearly Three Valleys Mountain Bike competition, completing circuits around the Three Valleys at various levels of difficulty with the help of the ski lifts. And for cycling fanatics, there is also a chance to catch a possible glimpse of the famous Tour de France cycling tournament.

If it’s golf you’re after, Méribel’s 18 hole course is perhaps one of the most handsome courses in the Alps. Developed by some of the world’s most famous golf course designers, Méribel hosts a three day Drive des Groumets Golf Competition each yearcombining golfing on the resort’s mountain course with gourmet wining and dining.

In addition to the outdoor activities, Méribel plays host to more relaxed goings-on such as concerts like Music’ Air, a one week event in July playing jazz, folk and rock music as well as street performances including the Magic Méribel event offering a week of illusions and workshops where you can learn circus skills and magic tricks.

By offering a myriad of activities and events to occupy even the most demanding of visitors it is clear that the picture-perfect destination of Méribel is destined to lure in visitors throughout the year, however the beautiful ski resort will be reverting back to its famous winter roots seeing Méribel host one of the highlights of the Alpine ski calendar – the World Cup finals in 2014/15, attracting vast numbers of winter sports fans from across the globe.
Charlie Williams, Business Development Manager of France’s leading eco-friendly leaseback property developer, Terresens, comments, “Certainly, internationally renowned events will help boost Méribel’s profile, coupled with the fact that France remained the world’s most popular travel destination in terms of international arrivals last year according to The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) seeing 76.8 million tourists arrive in 2010, indicating that France remains a tourism force to be reckoned with.

“It is no surprise that France remains the most sought after European holiday destination for all seasons, even seeing high profile celebs such as Harry Potter star Emma Watson recently investing in a Méribel ski chalet. Buyers are spending more, particularly when it comes to the top end of the marketand in my opinion, those looking to buy a beautiful French property to enjoy both in the sun and on the snow can do no better than Méribel.”

According to Holiday Lettings, which represents around 5,700 properties in France, bookings up until May this year for France were up by 11% with a growing number of enquiries coming from across Europe while sales of French properties to international buyers increased by 21% in 2010 from 42,300 in 2009 to 51,200 last year according to the latest Living Abroad survey by French bank BNP Paribas.

As the only new build development in Méribel, Terresens are providinga boutique luxury development in Chemin de la Chapelle in the centre of Méribel, Les Trois Vallées, costing from approximately €700,000.

Consisting of 8 units – 2 chalets and 6 freehold apartments where the layout and finishings can be custom designed to suite any taste, the Méribel development will be situated close to a wide range of facilities including a wellness and fitness centre, Olympic ice rink and swimming pool and a number of restaurants and bars to choose from including self-service mountain eateries and traditional restaurants offering local dishes.

For more information on purchasing a freehold home for all seasons in Méribel, France, please contact Terresens today on +44(0) 2030 101 110

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French property company, Pierre & Vacances (P&V), saw a major surge in leaseback enquiries during May from British investors following news that the French government plans to impose a 20% property tax from January next year on non-resident second homeowners.

Following the announcement of the proposals in early May, the number of enquiries for leaseback properties last month was more than double that of April as Britons interested in buying a property in France looked at options that are immune to this new tax.

Buying properties under a leaseback arrangement offers British investors looking to buy in France a way of avoiding the new tax because properties that are rented out or available for rent are likely to be exempt.

Under P&V leaseback arrangements, investors purchase a property and then lease it back to Pierre & Vacances, which then rents the property out through its tourist client base and network of tourism agents. Because the property is not freely available to the property owner, it is likely to be exempt from the new tax.

Although the proposed changes to the taxation of non-resident French property owners could be challenged in the European court, if the plans are passed then around 200,000 British people with second homes in France could be facing additional annual tax bills.

With non-resident French property owners already paying two taxes — the taxe foncière and the taxe d’habitation (though again not with leaseback properties) — the worry is that this extra tax could force many owners to sell up because they can no longer afford to maintain their properties.

Nick Leach, Head of Pierre & Vacances Property Investments, UK & Ireland, comments, “The news of this new tax has been a bit of a surprise, and for the thousands of Britons with second homes in France it will be a nervous five weeks to see if the proposals are passed in July. If they are, and the European Court doesn’t intervene, then we could start to see some of the British homeowners in France reconsidering keeping their properties.

“However, France is still a popular country for British buyers and despite understandable concerns surrounding this new tax by the French government, there are options available to anyone keen on buying a property in France that are likely to be exempt from the 20% property tax – and buying a property through a leaseback arrangement is one of them.

“Leaseback purchases offer property ownership, guaranteed rental income as well as the option of personal use if buyers want a second home. In the case of Pierre & Vacances, investors can choose to buy a leaseback property with personal usage included, ranging from anything from two to 20 weeks. With investors also benefitting from a VAT rebate of 19.6%, we are expecting to see significant interest for French leaseback properties over the coming months if the planned tax proposals are formalised.”

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France is hoping to bring in a new tax equal to 20 percent of the property’s rental value, applicable to absent overseas property investors. The new tax is designed to help reduce France’s 176 million Euro annual budget deficit.

Although EU member states are free to set their own taxes, there are laws which cover the free movement of capital within the EU. Some experts believe that the draft law may limit this free movement of capital and thus may not be allowed to go ahead.

The draft law has been approved by President Nicolas Sarkozy’s cabinet and will go before France’s parliament in July. If passed, it will come into law sometime in 2012.

With increasing numbers of overseas investors buying French property – Paris in particular has seen a massive increase in property prices in recent times – it is no surprise that the government are looking at property ownership as a way of earning more tax. However some believe that the new law, if passed, could backfire by negatively affecting the enthusiasm of French property investors from abroad.

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Eurostar already runs trains into Paris from London, however the addition of new French destinations could be good news for overseas property investors who have already purchased in France. The extra routes would likely see an increase in tourism in the local areas and therefore help stabilise and improve local rental and sale prices due to extra demand.

Eurostar are working hard to improve and extend the services that they offer. They are currently attempting to forge partnerships with a range of organisations and services in their current destination cities to ensure that passengers can make the most out of their trips.

One of the latest Eurostar offerings is the Eurostar Plus. This allows their passengers to enter top London, Brussles and Paris galleries and museums on a two-for-one deal.

These deals and offers are again good news for French property investors in the local areas as they encourage tourism in the area, driving up demand and therefore ensuring that the proeprties are rented most of the year ruond and ensures both the rental and property sale markets are buoyant.

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According to the latest Knight Frank Global House Price Index, France has ssen a 9.5 pc annual increase in property prices in the last quarter of 2010 compared to the previous year. The French national estate agent body, the Federation National de l’immobilier (FNAIM), backs these figures up stating that in 2010, there was a 15 pc rise in the number of property purchases compared to the previous year.

These figures show that the property market in France looks set to be strong in 2011 and although France hasn’t seen the biggest property price increases, the real estate market is buoyant and healthy.

Naturally the normal caveats apply – do you research thoroughly to ensure that the propery you are buying has good rental potential and is situated in a good location.

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With over a fifth of France covered in mountains, it’s no surprise that many of the world’s finest ski resorts are located in the French Alps. From the mega resorts of Chamonix, Val d’Isere and Meribel to the hidden gems of Avoriaz, La Rosiere and Sainte-Foy Tarentaise, skiing is big business generating over $10 billion each year.

For over half of Britons, France is the number one choice for a skiing holiday capitalising on the reliable snowfall, hundreds of kilometres of runs for all abilities and ease of accessibility from the UK. But for many snow bunnies just visiting for a few days each year is not enough and owning a ski chalet is high on Santa’s wish list.

But with hundreds of resorts dotted across the Alps and thousands of properties to suit every taste and budget, the choice can seem daunting. How do you find the perfect ski chalet?

French property expert and ski enthusiast, Ed Scott shares his top 5 tips for buying a ski chalet:

1. Choose the right resort -Think about what you want from a resort: the reliability of the snow (check the altitude), variety of runs, access to off-piste, number of ski lifts, cost of ski passes, availability of lessons and the all-important après ski facilities. If possible take time to visit your favourite resorts, speak with local residents and other property owners to get a feel for what life is really like in the area – both in winter and summer.

2. How are you going to get there? The volcanic ash cloud earlier this year affected many skiers travel plans with flights from the UK to popular Alpine access airports such as Geneva and Grenoble suspended. Reaching your ski property by air is often the cheapest, easiest and quickest way however owning a home near train stations such as Moutiers, Aime-La-Plagne or Bourg St Maurice which are served in only 7 hours by the Eurostar ski train direct from St Pancras International offers you and potential renters greater flexibility.

3. What to buy? The Alps offers a wide range of property types from purpose built apartments to grand chalets of traditional design. Of course what you choose to purchase will be influenced by your budget but most buyers opt for affordable apartments located in purpose-built developments close to the resort. A typical studio apartment will sleep 2 people and a one bedroom, 4 people with kitchen, bathroom and a ski locker for storage. Consider the location of the desired development; is it truly ski-in ski-out? How far is it to the lifts and essential amenities?

4. Maximise your investment – Unless you are relocating to the Alps, your ski property will most likely stand empty for some periods of time. Why not maximise your investment by renting the property out either directly or via a management agency? Purchasing a leaseback ski property is a very popular option as it allows you to enjoy personal usage as well as a guaranteed income as the property is rented out by experienced management companies to holiday makers year round.

5. Consider finance options – Contrary to popular belief, owning a ski property in the Alps can be affordable. Mortgages are widely available through brokers such as Athena Mortgages who arrange 1 in 5 mortgages for property in the Alps. Leaseback properties also offer finance packages, in some cases up to 100%, this combined with the rental guarantee makes them even more attractive to buyers.

Ed Scott can be contacted at Experience International on +44 (0) 207 321 5858 or www.experience-international.com.

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Statistics compiled by INSEE (National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies in France) from the country’s most recent census show that 20,500 of the 135,000 Britons living in France have their permanent home in or close to the Capital.

Paris has also been voted the 2nd ‘favourite holiday destination’ for 2011 in the Frommer’s travel guidebook series global poll.

Over 30 million visitors arrived in Paris in 2009 and the British love affair with the city of romance has been further accelerated by the speedy and frequent Eurostar services direct from London.

Not only a tourist destination however, Paris is one of Europe’s premier business centres with 900,000 business meetings held in Ile de France each year generating massive demand for quality accommodation in the city.

Real estate is a highly sought after gem in Paris and the French property specialists at Experience International have an exceptional opportunity for investors to purchase in the first new build development in central Paris since 2006 close to the Gare de Lyon and Bastille.

Rue de Reuilly has just been launched offering buyers studio and 1 bed apartments with 18 years guaranteed returns and 99% LTV finance on a secure government scheme.

Priced at just €214,000, for more information, please contact Experience International on 0207 321 5858 or visit www.experience-international.com.

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Covering some 930km, where the river Rhône meets the Mediterranean Sea, La Camargue occupies a coastal area between the Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence. Established as a national park and nature reserve in 1972, La Camargue contains exceptional bio-diversity with over 400 species of birds including the ubiquitous pink flamingos, the famous Camargue horses, unique breeds of bulls and now a new eco-friendly leaseback development.

Steven Worboys, MD of Experience International, the leaseback property experts, comments, “La Camargue remains one of the most unspoiled natural areas in the south of France. Already an established tourist destination with the French, the area is fast becoming popular with British holidaymakers and second property buyers not least due to the diverse fauna and flora, stunning vistas over the Rhône delta and ease of access from the UK and by air, rail and road.”

Due to its national park status, property development is limited in La Camargue with only a handful of truly eco-friendly properties available to purchase. One such development is the new Domaine des Flamants Roses leaseback residences. The 1, 2 and 3 bedroom cottage style properties are situated in the small charming village of Salin-de-Giraud, a stone’s throw from the chic coastal resort of Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer and only 25 miles from historic Arles city centre.

Complimenting the natural landscape, Domaine des Flamants Roses is highly eco-friendly boasting an ecological rating of 145 out of 150 due to the use of recycled materials, natural building products, renewable energy and waste water recycling.

As Steve Worboys goes on to remark, “It’s not often that a property can truly be both eco-friendly and a good investment however Domaine des Flamants Roses ticks both boxes. As a leaseback property, owners can enjoy 4.08% guaranteed rental income for 18+ years as well as personal usage options.”

Prices start from €155,292 with a low deposit of only €1,000 required to secure a unit; in addition 100% finance is available, an attractive option which is becoming increasingly rare as French banks look to restrict lending.

For more information on buying property in La Camargue please contact Experience International on + 44 (0) 207 321 5858 or visit www.experience-international.com.

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The French Alps are renowned as a top winter tourism destination attracting millions each year to its pristine pistes, exclusive resorts and charming villages.

But the area is not only to be enjoyed for a few months each winter, the French Alps offer a wealth of attractions in summer also and with latest reports from French mortgage specialist, Athena Mortgages, stating that May was the busiest month of the past 12 in terms of enquiries, it would seem that buyers are seeking Alpine homes that they can use all year round.

So what are the top 5 activities to enjoy in the French Alps this summer?

1. Walking in the Vanoise National Park – located between the Tarentaise and the Maurienne, the Parc de la Vanoise is one of Europe’s oldest and largest protected areas. The park is rich in flora and home to herds of ibex; it also offers 500km of marked walking paths and trails for all abilities.

2. Mountain biking – From two skis to two wheels, mountain biking is one of the most popular summer activities in the Alps. The Sainte Foy en Tarentaise area, just 15 minutes from Val d’Isere and Les Arcs offer some of the finest natural trails with mountain descents and long cross-country roads running through alpine meadows and forests as well as unspoiled mountain villages with stunning views of the glaciers.

3. Mountaineering - Summer is the perfect time to explore the mountains of the Alps, from the Mont Blanc massif in the west to the imposing Dolomites in the east, this region offers some of the most challenging climbs available. Increasing popular is “via ferrata”, Italian for “iron road”. Originally built in the Dolomites as routes for WW1 soldiers to transverse, these footpaths follow the contours of the mountain face featuring ladders and rope swings to add extra excitement.

4. Rafting and Canyoning - as the glaciers undergo their natural summer melt, the rivers of the French Alps come alive with the sounds of canoeists and white-water rafting thrill seekers. The river d’Isere near Sainte Foy provides one of the longest and most exhilarating white water rafting experiences as well as the opportunity to try canyoning.

5. Get a taste of local culture – the Alps are home to some of the most traditional charming towns and villages in all of France. Wander through quaint streets, admire the Savoyard architecture, visit museums and historical centres and sample the local culinary delights. La Plagne, located in the heart of the Paradiski, is one of the most popular summer destinations hosting numerous music and cultural festivals.
Getting to the French Alps couldn’t be easier with daily direct flights to Lyon, Geneva or Chambery from the UK; high speed trains also connect the Alps to Paris and then on in turn to the UK or it is possible to drive in around 9 hours.

It is also straight-forward to purchase property in the French Alps with leaseback developments proving popular as they offer guaranteed rental income as well as personal usage. One development which is particularly sought-after is La Chapelle in Sainte Foy as investors can enjoy free usage of the property in June and September as well as guaranteed & index-linked returns for 18+ years. A limited number of 1 – 4 bedroom luxury properties remain with prices starting from £170,000 and up to 100% finance available.

Alternatively, the completed 4* apartments of Le Centaure, located in La Plagne comprise studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom modern and spacious properties with superb on-site amenities. Prices are from €148,000 and up to 95% finance is available.

For more information about purchasing in the French Alps pick up your FREE COPY of Focus on France magazine, your essential guide to French leasebacks, by calling + 44 (0) 207 321 5858 or visiting www.frenchleaseback.org.

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However many investors are now looking to buy again although many are looking to buy properties in established markets which appear to be relatively stable – and France, with it’s fairly stable property market and solid financial system appears to be heading up the list.

British buyers in particular appear to be quite keen on French property, however instead of mortgaging their own homes, they are looking for Euro mortgages. This is partly because many are hoping to stretch their cash further as, if expected, the pound starts to strengthen against the Euro in the long-term. At present, the Euro/sterling exchange rate is fluctuating however many financial experts believe that the sterling is undervalued and will rise again in the medium-term.

Overseas property investors are still able to take out Euro mortgages in France where banks are happy to lend to foreign investors – unlike their counterparts in Spain and Greece who have been hit hard by defaulting customers. It is still possible to borrow 100% of the property price, although a LTV ratio of 85% will generally see a much better rate of interest.

Despite having a relatively stable property market, prices have fallen across France by around 15% from their peak so there are plenty of excellent properties to choose from. Properties away from hotspots such as in the Riviera offer great value for money however they may take a lot more marketing and drive to rent out on a regular basis.Properties in hotspots are, of course, higher however they will be easier to rent out on a regular basis.

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