£150k - £350k
Fully equipped ski pad in Serre Chevalier
Only 200m from the ski lift in Chantemerle, this modern 1-bedroom apartment is in a recently built complex and comes with everything included - even kitchenware and soft furnishings. There's covered parking and the property is set back from the road, opposite the recently finished Parc de Colombiers, with its bio swimming lake, tennis courts, crèche and restaurant. What's more, your investment is assured as the village itself will soon see the completion of a new 2,500 pax per hour telecabine running into the centre of the ski resort.
Cost: £145,554
Cosy 1-bedroom apartment, Ovronnaz
Just half an hour from Sion airport, and a stone's throw from the thermal bathing waters of Ovronnaz in Switzerland's Valais canton, this ground floor one bedroom apartment has a south facing balcony, its own car parking space, and views towards the distant Rhone valley 1,250m below. The 13 ski lifts of the resort are just a short bus ride away, and as it's sold fully furnished, you can move straight in and set a cosy fire in the functioning stone fireplace.
Cost: £153,468
Modern 1-bed apartment in Schüttdorf, a part of southern Zell am See
This stylish apartment may not have a massive footprint, but with the open plan interior and spacious balcony, the last thing this property feels is cramped. Underfloor heating, underground carpark, spa and bike storage are just a few of the modern amenities on offer with this property to make you feel at home. It is also has stunning views of the main town of Zell am See across the lake and distant views of the Kitzsteinhorn and Schmittenhöhe peaks. It's surrounded by shops, bars, restaurants and even a nearby golf course if you want to get sporty in the summer months as well as take advantage of the skiing in winter. You will be within a stone's throw of the bottom of the Schmittenhöhebahn ski lift, so no need to load all your gear onto a ski bus to get to the slopes. You can also easily rent this property out when you aren't in residence to bring in some extra cash.
Cost: £199,273
£350k - £650k
Renovated four-bedroom apartment overlooking Les Arc2000
With a seventh-floor view over Arc2000 from its end-to-end glazing, this large open plan apartment has been converted from five small apartments to form one. The full-length glazing lets the light flood in and gives access to a long balcony with space for sun loungers and a BBQ. Inside there's a huge open plan living area with kitchen and dining room area and even space for the all-important table football. The master bedroom has views of Mont Blanc and there are three further bedrooms with four sets of built-in bunks. Outside there is the Paradiski ski area, with its 425km of pistes!
Cost: £ 484,589
Central 2-bed apartment in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
New build 3rd floor apartment in the busy resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The building has a lift for easy access to the apartment, communal laundry room, covered carpark and storage space for bicycles. There's even a video intercom for added security. The town has a lot to offer in terms of winter sports and sits at the foot of the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany. The town is also very popular with hikers in the summer season, so it's a great place to be all year around. It's only a 10-15 minute walk to the train station from the property, so it's easy to explore the region and go a little further afield.
Cost: £363,121
New two-bedroom apartment in Veysonnaz village with stunning views
This 90 metres square, new-built apartment in the Valais ski village of Veysonnaz is less than 20 minutes' drive from Sion airport and five minutes' walk to Veysonnaz ski station with its links to Verbier. In the beautifully finished apartment you'll find two bathrooms, two WC and a fully equipped open plan kitchen, living room and dining area. Your own private balcony has breath-taking views over the town of Sion and the 4 Valleys. You also get shared use of the building's wine cellar, party room, laundry room, ski room and wellness spa, with large Jacuzzi and sauna, shower and fitness area.
Cost: £503,374
Brand new, traditionally finished two-bedroom apartment in the Dolomites
Perched just outside and above the pretty Italian mountain ski village of San Candido, right opposite the slopes, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment occupies the whole ground floor of the stand-alone property. Inside you'll find a large open-plan living room and kitchen/dining room, with stunning views across your own private patio, over the village to San Candido's picturesque ski slopes with the craggy Dolomites above.
Price: £487,903
Brand new 2-bed apartment in Lech/Warth
Warth is a small town right next to Lech in the Arlberg region of Austria. This brand-new development is still in development, but now's the time to snap up an apartment before they disappear. 2-bed, fully furnished and easy walking distance to ski lifts, this property certainly offers luxury. It will shortly be made even more desirable by a brand-new ski lift being built nearby that will make these apartments ski-in ski-out. The apartment will come with a private parking space and storage facilities and will have a stylish open plan interior with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains from a private balcony. If this isn't enough, the development also offers multiple hotel services such as a gourmet restaurant, wellness area and gym. With a reputation for Austria's snowiest town, Lech/Warth is a prime location for winter sports
Cost: £626,114
£1million+
Three-room apartment in Verbier with huge balcony and valley views
Only 300m from Verbier's sports centre this first-floor apartment is in a small building on the Rue de Patier built in 1988. Close to the Créta-Cô bus stops, the property has a private garage, a cellar and a common laundry and large working fireplace, as well as an open plan living room, dining area and kitchen. One of the most famous resorts in the 4 Valleys ski area, Verbier gives access to over 400kms of runs linked by almost 100 lifts.
Price: £968,283
Larch and stone chalet in Val Badia, Italian Dolomites
Spread over three floors and built in a traditional style, with larch wood and dolomite stone, this gorgeous chalet is set in the picturesque village of St Martin in Thurn, in Italy's Val Badia at 1,127m. The ground floor has two separate apartments, a wine cellar, laundry room and spa area, while the main open-plan communal living area is on the first floor around a large stone fireplace. The second floor houses three double bedrooms with Jacuzzi baths and showers. Surrounding the chalet is a 350 square metre garden and the ski resorts of Kronplatz and Piccolin are only five minutes away. The Sellaronda ski slopes in Alta Badia can be reached by shuttle which passes every 20 minutes in season.
Price: £1,019,967
4-bed chalet in the heart of Courchevel 1650
This property hasn't been completed yet and is part of an ongoing development expected to be completed in time for the 2018 winter season. This gives the buyer an opportunity to influence the build and tailor certain aspects to your personal tastes. The chalet will feature 4 large bedrooms each with an en suite, private lift, 2 wrap-around sun terraces and a sprawling open plan living/dining area which has direct access to a garden and hot tub. The chalet is situated just off the Belvedere piste, so ski access is as easy and stress-free as it comes. Let's be honest, property in Courchevel is never going to be cheap, but this property has got to be worth splashing out.
Cost: £2,953,204
Blow the budget
Luxury 5-bed house in Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado
This ski-in ski-out property is located in Snowmass Village, just up the mountain from the town of Aspen. The property screams luxury with 5 bedrooms, 6 and a half baths, French oak floors and floor to ceiling windows that will offer wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and aspen trees. The open plan interior is spacious but cosy thanks to the use of natural materials and roaring fireplaces. Aspen has a reputation as one of the best ski resorts in the world and the natural beauty of the surrounding area is simply stunning. This may be pricy, but if you have the cash, what better way to spend it than a luxury mountain retreat in the Colorado Rockies?
Cost: £6,737,098
Buyer beware!
5 tips for the savvy investor
Infrastructure investment
Look for new lifts, links, snow-making, shopping and leisure centres, bars and restaurants, beginner areas, ski schools... if a resort is investing in itself, your investment will grow with it. New links can often offer 'back door' access from more affordable outlying villages and minor resorts into big, well-established and more expensive prime resorts.
Year-round appeal
Dual seasonality is the buzz word for a ski resort which thrives in the summer months as well as the winter. Look for a healthy hiking, mountain biking and road cycling scene - catered for by the resort - as well as other adventure sports such as canyoning and whitewater rafting for the best resale and rental returns.
Altitude and snow record
Generally speaking, the higher the resort your property is in, the more snowsure it will be. Historically the Western Alps have received the best snowfall but altitude will also play a factor in how long the snow lasts, making for more ski days, for you or rental clients.
Transfer times and accessibility
Short distance and travel times to airports - especially major airports such as Geneva will hugely boost your property's appeal and bolster your investment. As will other transport links such as fast rail links and motorways. Same goes for how easy and quick it is to get from your property to the ski area and shops.
Finance matters
Do research and get advice. Beware of local tax liabilities, such as Switzerland's real estate permit and annual taxes, and France's wealth tax. Small moves in exchange rates at the time of purchase can make a huge difference on a house price - a good currency broker could save you thousands.
