Two Swiss ski resorts and a winter sports region in Austria are also among the most exclusive ski resorts in the world with the most expensive chalets.
The real estate company Engel & Völkers presents the five most exclusive ski resorts worldwide in its current ski ranking. The highest prices for ski properties and chalets are currently found in the Rocky Mountains in the US state of Colorado: Aspen tops the ranking as the most expensive resort, followed by neighbouring Vail. In prime locations, flats and chalets here sell for up to 76,000 euros and 72,000 euros per square metre respectively.
Third place among the most expensive ski resorts is shared by St. Moritz and Gstaad in Switzerland: the highest prices for real estate in Europe are achieved here. With prices per square metre of up to 60,000 euros, the Swiss ski resorts are the most expensive regions for ski real estate in the entire Alps.
Around 70 per cent of the demand in St. Moritz comes from domestic buyers. Properties in St. Moritz Village are particularly in demand, but also in the neighbouring villages of Celerina, Pontresina, Sils im Engadin and Silvaplana-Surlej. In Gstaad, on the other hand, around 60 percent of buyers come from abroad, especially from Germany, Great Britain and France. In addition to the centre of Gstaad, the best locations include Saanen, Rougemont and Lauenen.
“Large, detached chalets on a hillside plot or with a mountain panorama are particularly sought after. However, such premium houses very rarely come on the market,” said Marie Di Carlo, Managing Partner of Engel & Völkers Gstaad.
After St. Moritz and Gstaad comes Kitzbühel with prices per square metre of up to 26,000 euros. Around half of the property purchases are made by Austrians themselves. However, buyers from countries like Germany, the Netherlands or the UK are also interested in ski real estate. With square metre prices of up to 25,000 euros for houses in prime locations, Whistler in British Columbia, Canada, is the fifth most expensive ski resort in the world.
“Premium real estate in ski resorts is one of the most sought-after for second homes, but also one of the most sought-after investment properties. Particularly in times of volatile financial markets, they are ideal as a long-term investment, an effective inflation hedge - and as a retreat during the ski season and beyond,” says Florian Hofer, Managing Director of Engel & Völkers Kitzbühel.
