Top Ski Property Destination for 2008: Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

The Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort in British Columbia, Canada was recently voted the top ski destination for 2008, which is great news for property investors.

Whistler Blackcomb came top of the poll, produced by the UK Association of Independent Tour Operators, for the second year running. It’s the largest ski resort in North America and has numerous ski runs, off-piste areas for snowboarding, high speed gondolas and ski lifts. Whistler is very popular with skiers from all over the world and has a lively nightlife scene, yet less than 50 years ago it was merely a quaint summer getaway in the British Columbia Coast Mountains.

It was not just creative development and marketing that transformed this tiny mountain village into an internationally recognised ski resort. Whistler is renowned for having some the best snowfalls in the world. Last year, for example, there was 46ft of snow! What’s more, it is an all year round ski destination, albeit supplemented at times with artificial snow to boost the skiing conditions.

Already a popular area because of its fantastic snow, property in the resort is likely to become even more sought-after in the next few years as Vancouver and Whistler will be playing host to the Winter 2010 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games. There are already many properties in the area offering holiday lets for visitors, but demand will likely increase and this event will put the area onto the map for still more people.

As can be expected wherever any major event is occurring, infrastructural developments are already in action. One notable improvement is that work is underway on all major roads - $775 million is being invested just on upgrading the road that links Vancouver and Whistler. Another $2 billion is being spent on a brand new fast transit train line linking Vancouver Airport with Richmond, the city centre and False Creek, which will be the base for the athlete’s village. The transit line has already had a good effect on the commercial property market in the area.

So, if you’re debating whether to invest in ski property, Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia looks like it could be a very promising choice. There will be a demand for accommodation at the time of the Olympics, so if you want to take advantage of this in 2010, consider buying in areas close to the key Olympic locations. On a more long-term basis, with Whistler’s great snow record and good reputation, ski properties are likely to rent well for many years to come.

Property prices in Whistler Blackcomb currently vary, depending on the type of property you’re looking for and exactly where it is located. Whether you’re after a basic studio apartment or a large luxury chalet, there’s plenty to choose from, including many off plan properties. At the bottom end of the budget, some studio apartments can be found for as little as £123,000 ($240,000), but four bedroom chalets will set you back at least £800,000 ($1,560,000).