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|  | - Where does Alpine Property sell property? Where does Alpine Property sell property? Alpine Property specialises in the sale of property in the Haute Savoie region of the French Alps. This region includes many mountain resorts within easy reach of Geneva airport, including the Portes du Soleil, the Megeve Valley, the Chamonix Valley, the Grand Massif and Annecy. < back to top How can Alpine Property help me find a property? Alpine Property has a wide selection of property for sale in the French Alps. Our dedicated team will listen to your individual property requirements and use their expert local knowledge to find the best range of properties for you to look at. They will also arrange visits and show you around the properties, being on hand throughout the process to answer any questions you may have. < back to top How do Alpine Property help me in the buying process? Alpine Property is centered around the principle that the complex and often daunting process of buying property abroad is best served by professional, local advice in your own language. We are skilled and qualified in all the necessary elements of buying property in the Alps and throughout the buying process we will be on hand to offer advice, support and legal guidance. < back to top Are Alpine Property based in the UK or France? Alpine Property is a French company. We have a team who live and work throughout the Alps and are dedicated and focussed on property in the area. We are not a franchise or tied to other estate agents, but always act alone to secure and sell the best properties in the Alps. < back to top Does Alpine Property offer a leaseback service? Although Alpine Property doesn`t actively promote a leaseback service, our clients frequently arrange to lease properties independently. We can offer advice on how this can be done to those interested in securing a rental income from their property. < back to top Does Alpine Property charge for its service? Buyers are not charged by Alpine Property for any of its service. The seller of each property pays the commission of 5% of the value of the property which we receive upon completion of the sale. < back to top Can Alpine Property help me find maintenance for my property? Alpine Property can put clients in contact with companies who offer maintenance services for properties. < back to top Who will show me around the properties I`m interested in? One of the Alpine Property team located in the relevant area will show you around the properties you are interested in. All our team our highly experienced in the property buying process and speak English and French (with many speaking a further language as well) so are able to deal with any questions you have during the viewing process. < back to top Why should I sell my property with Alpine Property? We believe that excellent presentation, maximum exposure and speed of delivery are key to providing the best property selling service to our clients. We are dedicated to presenting every single property at its very best, regardless of price. All our properties are displayed with a series of high-resolution digital photographs, accurate and detailed floorplans, location maps, a comprehensive and insightful description and a printable colour output. We continually strive to present our properties in ever more depth - for example, all new properties now feature 360 degree virtual tours. What`s more, we invest heavily each year to ensure that our website receives maximum exposure. Through targeted advertising both on-line and in British and Dutch property magazines, our website is able to attract hundreds of visitors a day who are looking to buy property in the Alps. < back to top How do the costs vary between old and new property? Although newly built properties or fine examples of older properties may sometimes command a premium, it very much depends on the property in question. There are few properties available for sale that are over 150 years old. < back to top Can I build my own chalet? Depending on the location, there is normally the opportunity to buy land to build with planning permission, and Alpine Property can recommend architects that can handle the building process. However, there is little constructible land in the center of towns with ski access - it is much more readily available outside the main resorts. < back to top Can I build a kit chalet`? Yes, Alpine Property can put you in contact with companies that offer this service. < back to top Can I get a French mortgage or do I need to arrange one in the UK? It is normally the case that mortgages are arranged in France. The local banks know the properties and the market and are used to dealing with foreign buyers. The interest rates are lower and borrowing in Euros against assets in Euros reduces a lot of the exchange rate risk. < back to top How much am I likely to be able to borrow? Banks in France are more cautious than those in the UK and will only lend up to 70% of the property`s value. For business loans, it is unlikely that a bank will lend more than 50% of the value. < back to top What income multiplier is used? In France, banks lend on the basis of affordability - they compare net income after all loan repayments and living expenses with the proposed repayment level. See our 'FINANCES' section for more information. < back to top What other buying costs are involved? Stamp duty and legal costs on the transaction are paid by the buyer. These generally fall in the region of 5-10% of the value of the property. See our 'FINANCES' section for more information. < back to top If I sell my property, will I need to pay Capital Gains Tax? If your property is your primary residence then no Capital Gains Tax has to be paid. However, if your property is used as a holiday home then you are taxed at a rate of 26% (16% tax and 10% National Insurance contributions). Buying and selling expenses and any property improvements may be deducted from this gain. For every year that the property is held after an intial period of five years, the Capital Gains Tax is reduced by 10% each year. There is thus no Capital Gains Tax to pay if you have held the property for 15 years. See our 'FINANCES' section for more information. < back to top What running costs of owning my property do I need to know about? In addition to utilities bills, there are two local taxes which you may have to pay. Furthermore, non-resident property owners in France may be liable for various forms of personal taxation depending on their individual circumstances. See our 'FINANCES' section for more information. < back to top | |||||||||
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