Famously, Switzerland is a safe place to invest in times of economic and political uncertainty. This reputation for pragmatism and excellent wealth management is one that has been carefully cultivated for well over a century and provides buoyancy to the market that other countries lack. It will come as no real surprise then, in a post-Brexit world that the Swiss ski property market is thriving once again.
The Resurging Swiss Ski Property Market:
Over the past 2 or 3 years France has been the major growth market for ski properties in the Alps with numerous new developments in Val d’Isere, the Portes du Soleil and the Trois Vallees. While these developments in France are attractive and very high quality it seems that the political and economic climate in Europe is driving a resurgence in the Swiss ski property market.
Investors in Property, a leading ski property agency selling chalets and apartments in Austria, France and Switzerland, report that the number of ski property enquiries that they have received for Swiss properties has increased by 24.5% in the 7 weeks since Brexit versus the previous 7 week period.
Meanwhile, enquiries relating to ski property in Austria are down 15.1% in the last 7 weeks since the Brexit result was confirmed and interest in French properties remained constant in both the build-up to Brexit and the aftermath.
Why Switzerland?
While complicated property laws and high prices might seem off-putting, political and economic stability in Switzerland and the enduring glamour of the Swiss Alps are enticing prospects for investors.
From the earliest years of skiing, Swiss ski resorts have been the centre of European Alpine charm. St Moritz style is iconic, peaking during the Hollywood Golden Age when Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe both spent time in the resort. More recently, Verbier has seen modern A-Listers and the British Royal Family strolling along its winding streets, proving the Swiss Alps remain the ultimate destination when it comes to Alpine style.
Switzerland has a huge variety of resorts and ski areas ranging from small, chocolate box villages with access to huge powder caches, like Grimentz, to the historically glamourous winter destinations of Gstaad, Verbier and Zermatt. Not only is the Swiss ski property market stronger than it has been in years, but the lion’s share of buyers over the last few months have been looking for high-end luxury ski properties across a number of different resorts.
Property Investment Hot-Spots:
Buyers are looking increasingly at Wengen in the Jungfrau Region, where the famous mountaineering peaks of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains provide some of the most spectacular scenery in the Alps. Wengen offers unique Swiss charm in a traffic-free location.
From classic Swiss style in Wengen to modern Alpine chic in Zermatt, the 7 Heavens development is among a select number of exclusive luxury developments in one of the best ski resorts in the world. The enduringly popular 4 Valleys ski area stretches from the peaceful villages with ski-in ski-out chalets to the glitz and glamour of Verbier, and for many buyers the mixture of charming village and great skiing is perfect.
Of course, it isn’t just Swiss ski property enjoying the upturn; lakeside property is proving popular with clients across Europe and further afield. With luxury properties in resorts like Interlaken, at the foot of the Jungfrau Region, gaining popularity for the stunning surroundings and easy dual-season appeal, it’s easy to see how the Swiss property market is going from strength to strength.
