All this illustrates the perils and profits of owning Alpine real estate and the necessity of choosing the right property and the right resort, depending on the length of ownership intended, whether investment is for capital growth, income, a mixture of both – or just for pleasure.

Added to these decisions are the questions of what is happening to demand for Alpine property generally and how this interacts with supply. It seems inevitable that new markets need to be found and/or resorts need to adapt and broaden their appeal to wider markets than wintertime downhill skiers, if their value is to be maintained.

This publication attempts to guide Alpine home buyers through the buying landscape and traverse the slopes of ski property investing. It highlights some of the global factors at work in determining ski demand and then highlights some of the property and resort characteristics which will help to weather the snowstorms and ensure maximum enjoyment on the piste.