What buyers want from a ski resort
Knight Frank’s first Ski Sentiment Survey reveals alpine purchasers are increasingly targeting year-round resorts
1 minute to read
Asked what they consider to be most important when deciding where to buy, 27% of respondents said they were seeking a resort offering a broad mix of ski and non-ski activities that they could make use of all year round.
Accessibility was the top consideration for 18% of respondents with 30% saying they wanted to be within a 90-minute drive of an airport.
A long ski season was the priority for 17% of buyers with 15% considering the après ski offer in terms of restaurants and bars the most important.
Country preferences
France is the most popular destination amongst respondents with 75% of existing owners having a home there, as well as being the preferred destination for half of all future buyers. Switzerland sits in second place, followed by other European destinations such as Austria and Italy.
Reasons for buying
Considering buyer motivations, 30% of purchasers are seeking a property with a dual purpose, one that acts as a second home and a rental investment. However, a growing proportion (26%) are looking for a second home or co-primary home solely for their own personal use.
Purpose
Asked what the primary use of their new ski home would be, 55% of respondents answered it would be used as a base for skiing and enjoying mountain life. During the pandemic several purchases were made by European expats seeking an Alpine base for their globally-dispersed family to convene. Athletes are also targeting the Alps as a base from which to train, either as cyclists or trail runners. Some purchase others are emerging as a source of long-term rental demand.
To learn more about our buyer sentiment survey, download the report here.