Location, Location, Location

In terms of ski property, when it comes to location there are three things that most buyers are looking for; ski-in ski-out, close to the centre of the resort, and with superb views. It’s perfectly possible to find the trifecta, but there are some important things you’ll need to consider if you have your heart set on immediately retiring the car when you get out to the Alps.

When you’re renting a ski chalet, it’s relatively easy to find a well-positioned place that’ll give you great access to the slopes and the bars, restaurants and shops in the centre of the village. The popularity of ski-in ski-out property in the Alps means it isn’t nearly as common to find somewhere with a similarly great location when it comes to buying a property.

Central, ski-in ski-out property comes at a premium, and if you’re looking for somewhere slope-side in Verbier or Meribel it will come at a price. For those who don’t have at least 2,000,000 euros hanging around, the only option is to compromise either your chosen resort or your central location.

If you were looking at either Courchevel or Meribel, compromising on the resort is easy; there are a number of more affordable ski-in ski-out options available in the middle of St Martin de Belleville and La Tania alike. St Martin in particular is a fantastic option for those looking for a traditional French resort, with plenty of chalet-style charm.

Elsewhere, there are some more reasonably priced ski-in ski-out properties in resorts like Saas Fee and Wengen, which remain cult resorts amongst the bulk of skiers, despite offering buckets of traditional Swiss character.

In larger resorts, like Chamonix or Kitzbuhel, it’s often necessary to choose between a piste-side location and a chalet or apartment in the centre of the resort. In these cases, the bars, restaurants and shops are not necessarily close to the slopes, and you’ll have to decide between a ski-in ski-out location and a position right in the heart of the action.

For most buyers, when it comes to location the dilemma is whether to buy a chalet in a popular resort and sacrifice the position, or turn your attention to a lesser known resort where central, ski-in ski-out properties are more affordable.