Are ski houses a good investment?

Ski homes are usually luxury properties with amenities like hot tubs, spacious decks, and beautiful, well-appointed furnishings. Even if you invest in a property that needs some cosmetic updates or upgrades, the location alone generally means that the potential ROI is higher than with standard rental homes .

What time of year is best to buy ski property?

Off-Season: Summer months, from June to August , mark the off-season for resorts. During this time, skiing takes a backseat, and real estate cools off. Sellers who want a fast sale may offer potential price reductions and attractive financing options.

Can you invest in ski resorts?

A tailored market - Ski properties have a built-in market meaning that real estate investors are a niche itself. Therefore, investing in a vacation rental property can expect higher returns .

Where is the best ski town to live in the US?

#1: Aspen, CO Aspen, Colorado is home to some of North America's best skiing — and perhaps the most desirable town on the continent as well. Aspen is not a sleeper choice, with housing in the area costing much more than could be found elsewhere, but you get what you pay for.

Can you make money on a ski season?

For anyone thinking about winter work for their Gap Year, the ski season jobs on this page are well worth a look. You won't earn large amounts of cash, but you will get a fair wage, plus ski or snowboard kit hire, lift passes, and usually one full day off per week, all included in your salary package .

How often should I buy new skis?

The lifespan of skis depends on how often they're used rather than how old they are. Generally, skis should last 100 - 150 days of use. The average skier skis around 12 - 15 times a year . So if you're skiing more than that, your skis will likely need to be replaced more regularly than 8 years.

Is Colorado real estate a good investment?

The Colorado real estate market has been experiencing steady growth over the past few years, and 2024 is no exception . One notable trend is the continued influx of out-of-state buyers, drawn to Colorado's scenic beauty, outdoor lifestyle, and strong job market.

How do ski resorts make money in the summer?

Summer events and festivals are one of the most popular ways to use current resort infrastructure to drive revenue. By attracting large groups to their site, resort operators make money on lodging and on-site spending such as food and beverage sales and parking revenue.

What are stocks in skiing?

Ski poles, also referred to as poles (in North America), sticks (UK), or stocks (Australia), are used by skiers for balance and propulsion . Modern ski poles are most commonly made from aluminum and carbon fiber, though materials such as bamboo are still used.

What state is home to the most ski resorts?

Which State Has The Most Ski Resorts. New York has the most ski resorts, with 52.

10 bargain ski towns to invest in (2024)

Money

By Ilyce Glink

February 14, 2015 / 7:00 AM EST / MoneyWatch

Not all ski towns are Aspen.

The median price of homes in that Colorado winter-sports hot (cold?) spot is well over a half-million dollars. Places like Huntsville, Utah, and Georgetown, Colorado, on the other hand, have plenty of properties available for less than $200,000 -- and plenty of good slopes to go around.

The job of real estate investors is to look for best location to buy based on their own set of criteria. Call it finding the "profit pocket." These location-based criteria could include proximity to good schools, public transportation or large groups of renters.

Huntsville, Utah

Median home price: $169,950*
Annual home price appreciation: 3 percent
Gross rental yield: 7.7 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.7 percent**
Foreclosure rate: 0.22 percent***

The quaint town of Huntsville, Utah, located in the state's Odgen Valley region, may only have about 600 people, but it has three ski resorts. Tourists and would-be residents flock to the Wasatch Mountains to hit the slopes at the Snowbasin, Powder Mountain and Nordic Valley resorts, and to take advantage of the 9,250-foot summit elevation. It has the lowest median home price on this list at about $170,000, and it was named the best ski town for real estate investors by RealtyTrac, all things considered.

* RealtyTrac data from November 2014 reports
** By county
*** By ZIP code

Bellingham, Washington

Median home price: $245,000
Annual home price appreciation: 4 percent
Gross rental yield: 6.81 percent
Unemployment rate: 6.3 percent
Foreclosure rate: 0.44 percent

Bellingham, Washington, is about 90 miles north of Seattle on Bellingham Bay and gives skiers easy access to Mount Baker. It has a population of about 83,000 and is divided into 25 neighborhoods with many different housing styles, including Victorians, farmhouses, urban condos and new developments. The Mount Baker Ski Area, located in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, is a huge draw, offering 10 ski lifts and a 1,500-foot vertical drop. The city is also the home of Western Washington University, which provides a potential student rental market for investors.

Sandy, Utah

Median home price: $249,998
Annual home price appreciation: 2 percent
Gross rental yield: 9.26 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.2 percent
Foreclosure rate: 0.76 percent

Georgetown, Colorado

Median home price: $189,000
Annual home price appreciation: 11 percent
Gross rental yield: 9.33 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.4 percent
Foreclosure rate: 0.49 percent

Georgetown, Colorado, was founded during the Colorado silver boom in the late 1850s and is still known as the "Silver Queen of the Rockies." The Victorian Clear Creek Canyon town has several nearby attractions for Rocky Mountain ski aficionados, including the Loveland Ski Area, Vail Ski Resort, Beaver Creek Resort and Wolf Creek Resort. It has the highest gross rental yield on this list at just over 9 percent, making it an attractive choice for investors. One of the only drawbacks is that the nearest airport is Denver International, which is 55 miles away, making travel and tourism more difficult.

Whitefish, Montana

Median home price: $279,000
Annual home price appreciation: 26 percent
Gross rental yield: 5.24 percent
Unemployment rate: 5.8 percent
Foreclosure rate: 0.06 percent

Whitefish, Montana, located in the Flathead Valley near Glacier National Park in the Rocky Mountains, is relatively small, with a population of about 7,000 people. The Northern Railway hub is home to 14 ski lifts, an approximately 7,000-foot summit elevation and the Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort. Home prices in the area are rising faster than anywhere else on this list -- at an astounding 26 percent. Homeowners who snagged properties early seem to be doing well: The 0.06 percent foreclosure rate is the lowest of the 10 towns.

Enumclaw, Washington

Median home price: $245,000
Annual home price appreciation: 7 percent
Gross rental yield: 7.3 percent
Unemployment rate: 4.4 percent
Foreclosure rate: 0.91 percent

Emunclaw, Washington, with a population of around 11,000 people, is located 40 miles southeast of Seattle. "Emunclaw" means "thundering noise," which makes sense given its echo-y position 750 feet above sea level in the Cascade Mountains and near Mount Rainier. Skiers head to Emunclaw's Crystal Mountain Resort where they get access to 11 ski lifts in winter and gondola rides in the summer. The town has the highest foreclosure rate on this list at nearly 1 percent, which could mean some good opportunities for investors.

Crested Butte, Colorado

Median home price: $225,000
Annual home price appreciation: -12 percent
Gross rental yield: 5.87 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.8 percent
Foreclosure rate: 0.11 percent

The historic town of Crested Butte in southwestern Colorado is sometimes called the "Gateway to the Elk Mountains," "Colorado's Last Great Ski Town" and a few other epic monikers to match its big outdoor tourism allure. The former coal-mining town has a small population of about 1,500 and is the home of the Crested Butte Mountain Resort and 16 ski lifts.

Crested Butte's home prices are the only ones depreciating on this list, however. They're at negative 12 percent, according to RealtyTrac. That may make a few investors back away, but for the risk-takers, dropping prices mean Great Recession-level deals in a popular tourist town. That means investors should take particular advantage of rentals while the market recovers.

Bozeman, Montana

Median home price: $279,000
Annual home price appreciation: 0 percent
Gross rental yield: 4.89 percent
Unemployment rate: 3.7 percent
Foreclosure rate: 0.09 percent

Bozeman, Montana, has a population of about 40,000 people, due in large part to the students, faculty and staff of Montana State University. In addition to hitting the slopes at the Bridger Bowl Ski Area and the Big Sky Resort, visitors come to the area to see the scenic Yellowstone National Park (about 80 miles away) and to camp in Gallatin National Forest. Bozeman has the lowest gross rental yield on this list at about 5 percent, but it earns it's spot at No. 8 because it's not appreciably lower than places like Mammoth Lakes, California, and Whitefish, Montana.

Bend, Oregon

Median home price: $249,998
Annual home price appreciation: 5 percent
Gross rental yield: 5.47 percent
Unemployment rate: 7.79 percent
Foreclosure rate: 0.65 percent

People come to Bend to ski and snowboard in the Cascade Mountains, hike and bike in Deschutes National Forest and fish in the Deschutes River. The central Oregon city of around 80,000 people is home to the large Mount Bachelor Ski Resort, which has 71 ski runs and an over-3,000-foot vertical drop. However, Deschutes County also has the highest unemployment rate on this list at 7.79 percent.

Mammoth Lakes, California

Median home price: $340,000
Annual home price appreciation: 5 percent
Gross rental yield: 5.02 percent
Unemployment rate: 6.5 percent
Foreclosure rate: 0.49 percent

The former gold rush town of Mammoth Lakes, California is located in the Mammoth Lakes Basin within the Eastern Sierra mountains. It comprises just 4 square miles and has a population of about 8,000. Residents and visitors enjoy the extensive, 300-mile Mammoth Lakes Trail System, guided snowshoe walks, horseback riding and apparently a wide array of music and fishing festivals. Mammoth Lakes' popular Mammoth Mountain Resort has 28 ski lifts and 150 trails to choose from. The town is at the bottom of this list for investors, primarily because it has the highest medium home price at $340,000.