Risoul Property Insight

Overview

Risoul is a town of the Hautes Alpes accounting for 643 inhabitants. Part of the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region of France, the village is made up of the village itself and the ski resort created in the 1970s. The very asset of Risoul is the very good integration of buildings and chalets in the landscape around.

Very close to Briançon, it benefits from the same sunny weather 300 days a year. The landscape around is stunning. The French village of Risoul is not only a ski resort though it has really few inhabitants. Festivals are organized, as well as sporting events. Indeed, the area is foremost a heaven for nature lovers.

Risoul Immobilier & Property Market Trends

In 2009, the average value of property in France is €3,197 /square metre and property for rent costs €12.22 /square metre /month. Property in Risoul costs €3,060 /square metre on average. The price is explained by the high level of demand for houses and apartments in the area. Indeed, this part of the Alpes is acknowledged as being excellent for skiing holidays in France. However, the good news is that the rental potential of the area is great and guest house businesses are quite rare. Definitely an area with a great potential.

To get updated info about property prices in Hautes Alpes, please browse our French Property Market Reports published in the News Section every month.

5 Reasons to Buy a Property in Risoul

• Great for sport lovers: more than just a ski resort, the village offers plenty of activities such as hiking, swimming (in a local lake), rock climbing and cycling amongst others. Paragliding or ice skating are also on offer.

• Good food: the area has lots of great food on offer. Honey is one of the most renowned. In the area it is made from lavender and rosemary. Benefitting from the purity of the air its taste is exceptional. A local dish called "oreilles d’ ânes", made from spinach, pancakes and ham is a delight. Local cheese is breathtaking too.

• Tranquillity and scenery: Risoul offers outstanding scenery and a complete change of scenery. Buying property in the area is an ideal way to spend holidays in France and rest. These assets also mean that property will be rent easily.

• People: in the area, people are quite welcoming, being typically montagnards. The atmosphere in pubs and restaurants is warm and thus you will quickly get integrated. An ideal place for expats.

• Rental opportunities: property in the area can be rented quite easily as Risoul is a great ski resort. With the may sport and nature activities available in the area, return on investment in Risoul is quite fast and you will quickly understand why the area is so sought-after.

Property Styles and Architecture in Risoul

• Chalets: in this part of PACA, chalets often undergo influences from Rhone Alps styles. They often are buildings more than detached houses but make use of the traditional layout. A wooden or partially wooden stucture is built over classic walls. Roofs are steeply pitched to protect the building and some of these buildings have painted walls, recalling that we are in Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur. On the roof, materials used are slates, flat tiles, flat schist tiles or gneiss.

• Apartments: many apartments are available and make ideal holiday properties. Many of these buildings unfortunately do not respect the local style. You should choose above all properties with a view over the valley as their value is often much more stable. Studio flats but also apartments with up to 3 bedrooms are available. Try to avoid buying properties located next to the building’s lift as they can be more noisy and reduce the value.

Click here for more info about the Architecture of Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur.