Holiday-home buyers investing in ski property would do well to look across the Atlantic to Canada, where new flight routes by chartered airlines have made Canadian ski resorts even more accessible.
The property investment specialist has launched its Assetz Ski division, selling and advising on properties in France, Canada, Switzerland and carefully selected opportunities in Bulgaria.
With chartered airlines such as Canadian Affair, Zoom and Air Transat now offering low-cost flights in the region of £70 one-way to major hubs such as Vancouver and Calgary, the Canadian ski resorts are fast opening up to British market.
The ski season normally lasts from November to June, making it longer than the European season, with skiers in Whistler even enjoying snow through the summer months. Snow is guaranteed in Eastern Canada and all resorts have snowmaking facilities.
Canadian properties are generally much larger then those in Europe, offering better value for money for investors, most of whom will primarily want a holiday home which they may let out for a few weeks per year.
Martin Sadler, manager of the Assetz Ski division, commented: “Ski property in Canada is ideal for those wanting to buy a holiday home with great investment potential. House price growth in Canada is expected to hit 11.2 per cent annually by the end of 2006, creating strong prospective capital gains as well as a burgeoning rental market, as the Canadian ski resorts become more accessible to European tourists.
“High quality destinations such as Canada and France are maintaining their popularity in the face of competition from young ski resorts in emerging markets, where property prices remain lower. Hard-core investors are tempted by high yields, but quality destinations that offer an established infrastructure, culture and lifestyle, where buyers can see themselves living on retirement, continue to hold firm against their new competitors.”
