Live the dream in your French Alps property

Would you like to quit your job and move to the Alps? Meet two couples who dared to dream and are running successful businesses in the mountains.

A recent article in the Daily Telegraph, featuring Home Hunts, met several expats and ski enthusiasts who had moved from London to the mountains in France. With the ski season as popular as ever in the Alps – more than 80 million people visit the Swiss and French Alps each year – plus a rapidly-growing summer season, there is a good business case for year-round income.

Living the dream in Saint Gervais

Andrew and Rebecca Yates quit their jobs in London to start their business Chalet Roches, a luxury catered ski chalet in Saint Gervais, which is 55 minutes from Geneva Airport. Distance from an airport is an important factor to consider when deciding on which location to move to, as many holidaymakers coming for the weekend want the journey to be within an hour’s drive.

Previously a business consultant in London, Andrew told the Telegraph the decision was part of a wake-up call: “I realised that it was more important to have healthy, happy children that I would get to see every day rather than a fat salary.” Having successfully created a successful and stable business in Saint Gervais around their shared passions of skiing, cycling and hiking, the couple have never looked back.

For those looking for a similar opportunity in the area, this luxury housing complex with 12 bedrooms (HH-7724596) is an interesting option. Just ten minutes from Chamonix and 45 minutes from Geneva, this vast property offers three houses and is perfect for those who want to holiday in luxury as it includes a pool, Jacuzzi, spa, steam room and sauna. The price is available on application.

Create catered chalets in the Three Valleys

The Three Valleys is the largest ski area in the world and is made up from some of the world’s best-known resorts, such as Courchevel and Méribel. Back in 2009, Londoner Francesca Pangli started the business Powder N Shine, in the Three Valleys, with her husband Steve. Both ski enthusiasts, they provide a range of services, including chalet rental, of which two are catered and come with a chalet chef. They live in a five-bedroom chalet in Saint-Martin-de-Belleville with their two-year-old daughter.

“Eighty per cent of our clients are from the UK and we have to work hard to ensure a high number of returning guests,” explained Francesca to the Telegraph. “Finding the right people to work for us has been the hardest part of building the business, because chefs move around a lot and if you have a bad year guests won’t come back.”

Not far from Saint Martin in Méribel, a five-bedroom chalet is available to buy off-plan (HH-6237075I) in a highly coveted location. Situated just in front of la Chapelle Notre Dame des Neiges, the property has south-facing terraces with unobstructed views and is within walking distance of Meribel town centre. The sale price is €3,250,000.

Invest in the most popular Alpine resorts

When it comes to up-and-coming areas, Samoëns is offering buyers excellent value for money, but Home Hunts has found the most popular ski destinations with overseas buyers in the Alps tend to be Les Portes du Soleil, which includes Morzine, Les Gets and Espace Killy.

This beautiful seven-bedroom converted savoyard farmhouse (HH-9744135) was featured in the Telegraph’s article and is located in the village of Montriond on the outskirts of Morzine. Renovated in 2014, it is made up of two apartments and has a breath-taking view over the Morzine valley. It is on the market for €2,250,000.

To search for Alpine properties in Home Hunts’ portfolio, visit www.home-hunts.com, but to speak with a consultant directly about your criteria, call +33 (0)970 44 66 43.