I see there is a thread below re a chalet business in Switzeland. I have a very similiar question - I'm considering buying a property in western canada for my own use and to rent out as a ski chalet busniess - using a website etc
does anyone have any experience of this advice or otherwise - either in terms of locations (I kinda have my own ideas) but also in terms of logistics ie employing soemone out there to clear the snow etc
We bought in Ski resorts in Western Canada we use a local agent for rentals as managing everything from UK is difficult. You will need a local bank I suggest you find a mortgage adviser in Canada and a lawyer close to where you want to buy. We went for condos not Chalets may try a town house style next or buy a plot and build a cabin. Condos every one pays for the outside upkeep and snow clearing not just you. Its often in the strata fees as part of the management of the building. This includes building insurance as well. The whole process was quite easy as we could speak to people after we got home in the evening. We had a summer visits to check out the areas and see what else was going on. Easier to set up the banking, mortgage,lawyer,accountant and agents. Check whats in the package you buy some of the properties come fully finished with furniture and pots and pans etc. some don't. That kind of thing takes a lot of time to get right and involves a lot of shopping, remember that US and Canadian skiers expect a lot more home comforts. A typical 2 bed condo has enough room to sleep 7 people it has 3 TV's video, DVD, hifi(at least one), full kitchen, 2 bathrooms, hot tub (which also needs maintaining) full laundry in the unit at least one car parking space ski locker and boot drier. All these are needed to get people to stay in your unit. Nearness to ski slopes or golf in summer is an asset. The unit can not get shabby or it will not rent. Canadian tax man can limit your stay. You can defer paying GST(7%).if you do that you will be charged a proportion of the GST depending on the number of nights that you stay in your unit against the number of nights that the unit is rented for. Worked out against the total purchase price of the fabric of the build not including furniture. Originally it was the number of nights that the unit was available for rent, then the tax man found that as ski resort are only open fully for a few weeks each year that more money could be obtained if they changed the rules. We have 2 condos Sun Peaks and Silver Star,we looked at Whistler, Panorama, Revelstoke, Kicking Horse, Blue river, Red Mountain and Big White.
