Verbier for less: Four Valleys’ ski homes in Veysonnaz village are for sale at half the price
The Four Valleys south of the Rhône Valley in Switzerland is home to Verbier, one of the most prestigious and expensive ski resorts in the world.
Savvy skiers know there is a clever and budget way to share the same slopes with Verbier’s super rich, and that is to buy into one of the Four Valleys’ less stellar villages.
Villages such as Veysonnaz share the same slopes as Verbier on one ski pass but everything from a cappuccino to a chalet comes with substantial savings.
The virtue of Veysonnaz
The village of Veysonnaz is some distance from Verbier on the northern edge of the Four Valleys, a journey of 80 minutes by car or 45 minutes on skis. It’s north-facing so not the sunniest resort but is truly a family-friendly resort with a strong local community.
“Buyers choose Veysonnaz because it allows you to ski in Verbier at a fraction of the price,” says Larry Levine, owner of Alpine Homes, new associates of Chestertons International. “Verbier is a party town and Veysonnaz is quieter and smaller but has good slopes around the village and beautiful hiking and biking in the summer.”
Access is also easy with trains from Geneva to Sion taking 90 minutes. Sion is 20 minutes by car at present but approval has been given for a six-minute cable car link from Sion to Veysonnaz.
In addition, both Chamonix in France and Aosta in Italy are within 90 minutes to the west and south respectively.
Property in Veysonnaz
Veysonnaz is made up of predominantly older chalets and apartment buildings. Alpine Homes have a two-bedroom apartment of 905 square feet built in 2006 and five minutes-walk from the slopes for £527,000 and a slightly larger three-bedroom apartment with balcony for £498,000.
Newer homes have been built in the past few years including Les Mayens in the small hamlet of Magrappé, a 10-minute walk uphill from Veysonnaz centre and directly on the slopes. These are attractive, modern ski-in-and-out homes, 18 apartments with good balconies divided between two buildings and priced from £501,000 for two to five-bedrooms.
In the same area, one of the most expensive chalets, owned by a British family, is for sale at £1,776,000. This is a delightfully cosy yet spacious detached chalet with six bedrooms and beautiful views that would be closer to £8 million if it were in Verbier, comments Jonathan Epinay of Alpine Homes:
“Veysonnaz is 20 per cent cheaper on average than Nendaz and over half the price of Verbier,” he says. “Our typical buyer in Veysonnaz is married with children looking to spend £772,000 to £1.5 million on a chalet or apartment that they will use six weeks a year and otherwise rent out.”
Law changes in Switzerland mean the opportunity to buy a newly built second home with no rental obligation is very limited. One of the last chances in Veysonnaz, along with Les Mayens, is a new two-bedroom apartment in Ski Heaven in the village centre. The home has been expertly fitted out and furnished and is on the sunnier side of the building. It is one of 14 homes in the building, sharing a spa and small wellness centre and priced £502,000 with Investors in Property.
Verbier stays steadfastly high end
The Four Valleys is Switzerland’s largest ski area with 92 lifts, 256 miles of slopes and more than 20 mountain restaurants and Verbier is the high-end resort at its heart. Property prices fell slightly last year yet remain high.
“Verbier is the top Swiss resort for those who want the combination of cachet and the best skiing,” says Rob Green of Sphere Estates. “It has some of the best skiing conditions, the nightlife is superb and it’s truly year-round. It’s cosmopolitan, attracting young entrepreneurs, celebrities and royalty. Nearly all our Verbier buyers wouldn’t consider buying anywhere else.”
Expect to pay from £772,000 for two-bedroom resale flats and £3 million for chalets, says Green. Most in demand are homes between £4.5 to £9 million with the finest chalets in the best locations, Sonalon and Les Esserts for example, reaching £23 million.