Perfect retreats for skiers

Ski holidays are costly, so buying property in a resort could make life easier

Traditionally, autumn is the time when many people start planning winter ski breaks, but some ski lovers are going a little bit further and are buying their own properties in ski resorts. And it's not just the traditional destinations such as the French Alps which are hotspots for buyers; other European countries as well as Canada and the US are increasingly in demand.

EU integration has opened up whole other countries for British buyers who have only recently been allowed to buy in destinations such as Austria and Switzerland.

Skiing holidays are always costly, and buyers are often concluding that, in the long run, buying a ski apartment works out cheaper than paying for family skiing holiday. Young family from the Isle of Man recently bought an apartment in the ski resort of Bansko in Bulgaria.
With two children aged four and seven, the couple plan on using the property themselves and believe it also offers great investment potential: "We are a young family with a love of winter sports and we first started to look for a property in a ski resort due to the expense of ski holidays for a family of four."

And it's not only skiing which drew the family to this resort. Set in a National Park, activities such as golf, tennis and fishing give them plenty of holiday options throughout the year and the development also has its own health spa and restaurant. What's driving many buyers to this particular area is the hope that Bansko will receive a major investment, as it is a candidate for the 2014 winter Olympics. Several UK tour operators already promote Bansko and there are now eight-seater fast gondolas from the resort to the main area, as well as snow-making equipment. The Pirin Mountains are an adequate resort for most skiers but experts may prefer the challenges of some of the country's best downhill skiing at the nearby resort of Shiligarnika.

Bansko has to be the best value compared to any other European ski resort, with prices at less than half the cost per square metre than most Alpine regions.

Low-cost skiing holidays are proving to be a big draw but many buyers also hope to let their properties. Some investors are torn between buying in a beach resort or a skiing location but investment specialist.

But as with any purchase, buyers must choose their resorts carefully. Buying properties which have "ski in ski out access" and buying in a high-altitude resort where a good season is guaranteed will bring both greater personal enjoyment as well as help to let the properties.

Property prices here are much lower than those in the Alpine regions, so apartments have excellent letting potential and the resorts in Bulgaria have wonderful snow record and long ski season.

Buy your ski holiday home in or near Bansko resort