7 Best Places in the U.S. to Buy a Ski Vacation Home

Everyone is heading to the mountains. And I mean it literally.

Ski resorts reported a total of 61 million visitors in the 2021-22 season, according to the National Ski Association, “This record number of visits is a sign of a healthy U.S. ski industry and strong demand for outdoor recreation. It shows that it is still strong.”

But what if you go to the mountains and don’t want to leave? Or at least, call your place when you visit your favorite snowy spot? Here are seven of the best US towns to visit.

Newry, Maine

In 2021, Vacasa named Newry the #1 place to buy a winter vacation home thanks to its cap rate or return on investment. The website notes, “The northeastern part of the country may not come to mind as the best place to hit the slopes, but Sunday’s powder at his river his resort boosts her 12.3% cap rate in town.” It will help you,” he explains. Ignore the Northeast ski bargains, but we can all agree that the Sunday River is certainly worth exploring. Home to nearly 900 acres of skiable terrain and a mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced runs, it’s a favorite spot for skiers and riders of all levels.

Lake Tahoe, California

Looking for variety? With more than 10 ski resorts, Lake Tahoe is hard to beat, including 4,800 acres of skiable Heavenly and Palisades Tahoe, with six peaks to explore. The area is divided into North Lake and South Lake, but it doesn’t matter which. (But keep in mind that North Lake Tahoe has the largest concentration of ski resorts in North America. As North Lake Tahoe explained, there are 11 downhill resorts, all within a short drive. .)

Londonderry, Vermont

New England’s mountains may be smaller than those of the West, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t spectacular. This is especially true for those who want to skip a flight and drive to a snowy destination instead. That’s why towns like Londonderry are great for those looking to put down more permanent ski roots.

Londonderry is a small town with less than 2,000 full-time residents. It’s a place where everyone knows each other and that’s a good thing.It’s also a spot where you can find more affordable ski houses than popular mountain destinations. Yahoo!finance The median home price in 2022 was reportedly $368,505. Plus, by car, you’re less than an hour from Killington, less than 2.5 hours from Stowe, and just 10 minutes from quaint Mount Bromley.

Poconos, Pennsylvania

The Poconos is the quintessential mountain vacation. Like Tahoe, there are numerous ski resorts here, but on a slightly smaller scale. The mountains here are perfect for beginners and those looking to progress to intermediate levels. Also, places like Big Boulder Ski Area offer great park options for riders looking to learn a few new tricks. The most central location to buy a winter home is Tannersville, within an hour’s drive of places like Blue Mountain Resort, Big Boulder Ski Area, and just out of town on Camelback Mountain.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Yes, there are great ski areas near Santa Fe. Take, for example, Ski Santa Fe, which holds the title of he being one of the tallest ski mountains in the country. It’s also just a 30 minute drive from downtown. want more? From town he drives to Taos, a world-class destination with over 300 inches of annual snowfall, a 90-minute drive. Another thing that makes Santa Fe a unique choice on this list is its big city vibe. With a permanent population of about 88,000, it’s not a huge metropolis, but it’s big enough to attract great restaurants, great museums and an unrivaled shopping scene.

North Conway, New Hampshire

North Conway is another town seen as a small blip on the radar. However, he is close to mountains like Attitash, which is a 15 minute drive away. Loon he is less than an hour. Bretton Woods in 40 minutes. Just 4 minutes to Cranmore makes it a true gem of a mountain home destination. The only caveat is that home prices in North Conway are trending upwards, with the median reaching $425,000 in 2022. What’s more, you may have to wait patiently to find your dream mountain home, as there is very little in stock. That said, it’s worth the wait to have great options for skiing and horseback riding nearby.

Alma, Colorado

Colorado has some of the best skiing and horseback riding not just in America, but in the world. However, it can be a pretty expensive proposition in towns known to appeal to the A-list crowd, such as Aspen and Vail. If so, consider Alma. The town is smaller and offers more privacy than the previous areas, but it’s still far away from great terrain, as Breckenridge is less than a 30-minute drive, Arapahoe Basin is an hour away, and Copper Mountain is less than 50 minutes away. It is not. .