For the purchaser the difference is still of 90

Offer more for less. It's squaring the circle facing residences of tourism promoters, affected, even more than their generalist counterparts, by the crisis. These operators sell holiday, the dream sometimes, tax incentives often, but not absolutely essential. Unlike the housing market, this sector is no shortage of offers. It is more or less, always supported by the tax laws of the time. "In 2006 and 2007, we had a fairly stable production of 20,000 new beds per year." In 2007 and 2008, it has doubled, says Pascale Jallet, General delegate of the national Union of the residences of tourism (SNRT). I think that we will find a cruising rate which corresponds to the application. About 2 of the Park of 137.447 apartments disappears each year "naturally" when the leases with the operators are not renewed.

Too high production would lead to an economic alternative: unsold residences or falling occupancy rates. This happened in the summer 2008, where too many apartments have been delivered. A reality that the SNRT preferred attributed to bad weather and increases in the price of gasoline. Attendance has dropped 2 at the national level and 4 on the coast. Rural revitalization zones (ZRR), new eldorados born in 1995 an additional tax advantage, have experienced the same breakdown. The status of these residences located in the countryside or in some tourist areas has been extended until 2012, but the best locations are taken for years and more than a dozen of these complexes have gone bankrupt or tenants. Better informed, purchasers will leave less mistake by the only bait of taxation.

Concern for profitability

The status of rental by non-professional rental (LMNP) granted to investors purchasers of an apartment in residence of tourism allows them to recover VAT on housing nine, while enjoying a few weeks per year, a holiday in the mountains or the sea. The SNRT estimated the average investment in the French residences at 200,000 euros, for gross returns that rarely exceed 5. In recent years, however, the euphoria of the real estate market had led some operators to significantly increase their prices by choosing exceptional locations, at the foot of the ski slopes, for example, equipping more in more luxuriously apartments and especially by offering large surfaces to finish with the studio booths in the period 1960-1980. Per square metre over 20,000 euros in Courchevel and up to 6,000 euros even paid less rated stations. The apartments were inconsistent Awards with profitability expected rental investment, even reduced VAT and rent returned to the owner. At the same time, the environment of the residences was in range: not a building without swimming pool or spa, more and more expensive services for the tenants.

"The crisis we led them to rethink these concepts a little, says Gabriel Mingeon, marketing director of CGH, managing hotel company, operator of the constructor MGM, operator of mountain which has suffered during the last winter. The average budget of our buyers is 390,000 euros, which is very high. Should no longer expect to go above. Even though profitability is not the first motivation for our customers, it becomes important in times of crisis. "In this context, the ratio of income of the rental cost of investment is the number one choice of acquisition test. "Apartment of 65 m2 not more expensive than a 50 m2 housing lease is if both offer the same number of beds". ", For the purchaser, the difference is still of 90.000 euros on average," he continued. This sponsor teams look again on the plans of the cancelled programmes or deferred for reworking them winning the place without air.

A more targeted offer

The crisis, it is well known, some ideas. Over the past year, Pascale Jallet sees emerge of new "packages": Odalys concluded an agreement with the tour-operator Fram, group Lagrange with Look Voyages, to sell with the stay, travel, animations, restoration if any. Independent structures limited to a single residence are offering spaces particularly well suited for seminars. "When the place is nice and the service at the height, it works, even if the site is not located near a large city or a pool of important employment", note the General delegate of the SNRT. Pierre and holidays more niches of customer target: the leisure real estate group has launched last April, the three sites of Center Parcs, VIP cottages for 12 persons luxuriously equipped with six bedrooms, hammam and home cinema. These bungalows looking more contemporary traditional cottages are a family customers or groups of friends ready to disburse 1.400 euros for the weekend. In partnership with the mark of childcare Vertbaudet, the actor of tourism also offers apartments fully equipped for toddlers. Parents can travel lighter, without stroller, bed folding, mixer, sterilizer for baby bottles...

A more recent operator, Garrigae, does not fall its benefits, to the contrary. Both sponsor and hotel operator, its President, Miguel Espada, chose exceptional locations often comprising a former building an Abbey, old cellars, a cloister... to restore and built around homes or sets of apartments. The choice is the French terroir, near known cultural scene, destined for predominantly British and Belgian buyers. "They were the first, because we had a good network of distribution on the market," explains Marc Achard, Director of sales and marketing for the company.

A piece of France dream

Prices of these houses and apartments start at 200,000 euros but are on average much higher, up to more than 800,000 euros. The concept is aimed at affluent customers dreaming of a piece of France during their absence, with a parcel of vines or olive groves for the folklore, and comfort. Among the proposed investment forms, these buyers prefer a little less than financial profitability and a little more opportunities to stay. As owners, they receive privileged conditions to take advantage of other homes managed by the company. Garrigae currently offers four destinations and several projects, including a residence in the Swiss Alps, to offer its customers the range complete: sea, cultural campaign and mountains.

Last March, the members assigned to intense lobbying by giving operators of residences with services amendment Bouvard-Censi (read here). Sales networks were reactivated in overnight, as the tax benefit is limited to transactions signed before the end of the year 2010. It probably sounds the end of the ZRR, already failed. As new ideas inspired by the crisis, they are likely to be swept away by this new device.