For sale Studio 4 beds in St Nicolas la Chapelle (73590)
EUR €65,000
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For Sale Studio Flat In The Heart Of The Ski Of The Ski Resort Of Hirmentaz In Bellevaux
EUR €45,500
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A studio apartment for sale on the col du Corbier.
EUR €37,000
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Apartment Studio At The Bottom Of The Slopes
EUR €64,800
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For Sale Studio Apartment On The Ski Slopes
EUR €53,000
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Studios - the perfect solution for skiing getaways
Are you passionate about skiing? Want to spend more time on the slopes but can't justify the expense of staying in hotels or buying/renting pricey chalets? It might be time to consider investing in a studio apartment. Cheap, convenient and capable of bringing in a useful income too, studios are the perfect solution.
Estate agents' terminology can be confusing. Apartments, duplexes, chalets and studios are all terms you may see when seeking property in the ski resorts in France (The Best Ski Resorts in France for Buying a Property). If you're operating on a tight budget, as most of us are these days, you'll no doubt have also noticed that of all these options, studios seem to be the cheapest. But, what exactly is a studio, and how does it differ from an apartment?
To cut through the jargon and clear up the mystery once and for all, a studio is a one room property. The bathroom will normally be separate, but kitchen facilities, living and sleeping accommodation are all in the same room. Sizes of studios may vary, but all follow the basic idea of one room living.
A ski studio is a one room apartment (as described above) designed specifically for the needs of skiers. It will be located in a resort or within easy reach of lifts and transport to the pistes. Ski studios will also often have extra space, sometimes in a shared area with other studios, for storage of ski equipment. Ski studios may have adaptable accommodation, with sofa beds and even mezzanine areas for extra beds. Some have a "coin montagne" mentioned. This term can be open to interpretation, but usually refers to a partitioned off sleeping area, probably with bunk beds.
If you want to own property in the ski resorts of France, a ski studio is almost certainly going to be the most cost effective way of doing it. Compared with apartments and chalets, the initial purchase price of a studio will be lower and so more affordable. The space may be smaller, but all the other benefits of owning a ski property are there to be enjoyed. You have your own bolthole by the slopes and you can choose a resort that suits you. You may also find that studios, being less "space gobbling" in town, could even be found in more desirable and central locations than larger apartments.
Over time, not only will you see your investment grow in value (the ski resorts are consistent performers even in times of recession) but you will have saved money on hotels and rental accommodation for your holidays. A further advantage of owning a ski studio is the possibility of letting it out when you aren't using it yourself, thus bringing in a useful income (Letting property in France). Or, if you prefer to be more altruistic, you could simply allow family and friends to borrow it for their holidays!
It may be called a "ski studio", but don't forget that the French mountains are as glorious in summer (and spring, and autumn!) as they are in winter. Many resorts (especially the well known ones) are as popular in the non-skiing season as when the snow is falling. In summer they offer the chance to enjoy climbing, fishing, pony trekking, rafting, canyoning, swimming, walking, cycling and many more activities. The spa towns and mountain lake resorts are also delightful in the warmer months. (Best Alpine Villages in Summer.)
The past few years have seen many people cut back on holiday expenditure, but skiing remains ever popular. We may be forced to forgo some luxuries just now, but if skiing is in your blood it's good to know that there's a way forward. So, if you want to have your cake and eat it, or more accurately, have your holidays and not spend too much money, a ski studio seems to offer a real solution. Here are ten of the best ski studios on the market at the moment:
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