Located 100 miles west of Denver, the Colorado ski town of Vail is set in a bowl-like valley beneath the surrounding mountains, with cobblestone streets and overflowing flower boxes that wouldn't look out of place in an Alpine village.

“Ski properties in Vail typically withstand challenging markets as savvy buyers and sellers are always looking for opportunity,” says Donna Caynoski, Branch Broker at Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate in Vail Valley.

Today, the town's slopes attract hundreds of thousands of skiers every year to what many consider to be the US' most quintessential ski resort. 

“High-end buyers are not necessarily impacted by interest rates, but many took advantage of the low levels we saw in 2022 when they purchased. Stock market fluctuations can have an impact; however, this creates opportunity for buyers who often decide to put their money into a more reliable investment like real estate, which they can use or rent,” notes Caynoski.

Lindsay Graham from Whistler Real Estate Company believes location and proximity to good amenities are a strong considerations for purchasers in Whistler, one of Canada’s top alpine resort towns. “Every buyer is different – some are looking toward the newer, modern look for a property, whilst some still prefer the classic chalet look,” she concludes.

Utah, Park City, USA is synonymous with winter (even though it most certainly a year-round destination) and is a tourism hot bed. In fact, the city only has 8,396 permanent residents (as of the 2020 census), but that number explodes in winter, thanks to its proximity to resorts and Salt Lake City.

Daimon Bushi from Windermere Real Estate believes demand in Park City remains strong due to the fact the city draws in visitors from around the world to ski, board and après at Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain Resort and Woodward Park City. however, he notes consumer confidence with higher interest rates has lowered significantly “our inventory supply remains about 60-65% of the inventory levels pre-covid. Ski-in ski-out properties have remained in much lower supply, with steady demand, and pricing remains strongest in our market.” He adds.

The largest ski resort in the U.S. with 7,300 acres of terrain, Park City was a major venue for the 2002 Winter Olympics. It’s home to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association and the U.S. Ski Team, and it hosts a litany of events and festivals year-round, including the Sundance Film Festival, the largest independent film festival in the U.S.

“Historically, modern homes have been most popular. However, during the pandemic there was a significant uptick with buyers looking for more traditional mountain-style inventory. Often this may be a factor of if the buyer already living in a contemporary home and wanting to have a mountain home that looks authentic,” says Bushi.

Many of Vail Valley’s high-end hotels, like the Four Seasons, will provide a shuttle ride directly to the slopes. They also offer a high-end slope-side ski concierge, lockers, and lounge area – but what do homebuyers look for when purchasing a property? “Views and sunlight are always top of the list,” says Caynoski. “In Vail, creekside or riverside properties have become almost as sought-after as ski-in ski-out homes due to the fact many owners will spend a good portion of the summer enjoying the good weather and activities like golfing, hiking, biking, farmer's markets and festivals.”

Daimon Bushi believes buyers are drawn to homes that require the least amount of work so they can relax and enjoy their vacations – “these properties command the biggest premiums” he concludes.

Younger buyers are looking for sustainability and connectivity, both physically and virtually. The top resorts have fast internet connections and are well connected to international airports. Canada's Whistler Blackcomb performs well in all categories. It offers 8,000 acres of terrain for winter sports enthusiasts, plenty of snow, a year-round vibrant village, attractive prime property prices and proximity to Vancouver

“Greener energy options like geothermal heating have recently surfaced in several homes. European style homes with an alpine flair will never go out of trend here because they complement our European village so nicely. Clean, chic and cozy – homes that enhance our active mountain lifestyle would be the most appealing to today's buyers,” says Caynoski.

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Click here to view Vail Ski Properties listed for sale on LeadingRE.com 

Click here to view Park City Ski Properties listed for sale on LeadingRE.com 

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