Austria's Tyrol opens up

By Liz Rowlinson
Posted: 2010/03/24

ONE OF Europe's most treasured summer and winter mountain playgrounds is at last available to non-Austrian buyers. Here, LIZ ROWLINSON reveals some of the best apartments available in this

With its world-class ski resorts, chocolate-box pretty Alpine towns and legendary apr¨s-ski the Austrians are fiercely proud of the tyrol, which attracts more tourists in summer than in winter and up to now has prevented foreigners from buying second homes there.

Now a handful of small-scale projects aimed at boosting tourism are available to non-Austrians. those seeking affordable mountain homes in a stable market where mortgages above 70 per cent have never existed and prices climb a steady few per cent a year should look no further.

With great year-round tourism and some of the most family-friendly amenities in Europe, Austria is hard to fault. it has not boom-and busted like hot spots in France's haute-savoie and at 50 to 60 per cent the cost of switzerland, it's much better value.

GERlOS/GERlOSPlATTE
Best for: families, apres-ski
Worst for: designer label junkies
Famous visitors: Take That
How to get there: One hour from Innsbruck, two hours from Munich and Salzburg While Gerlos is an attractive riverside town at 1,600m with good restaurants and cafes, Gerlosplatte is the higher ski station, just an eight-minute drive away.

Dutch developer Romex has procured second-home permissions for foreigners here.

In Gerlos, the high-spec hunters Lodge has 13, two- to four-bedroomed apartments selling from 1227,000 (£202,000). With chunky wooden furniture and a glass-heavy modern design feel they are handsome properties, although you are obliged to rent them out for 130 days a year.

To avoid a rental obligation, buy in Gerlos, a province that is less restrictive and where apartments start at 1175,000 (£156,000). Even better value are detached four-bedroomed Krimml chalets for 1523,000 (£467,000). "You would pay 50 per cent more for the same in switzerland," says Romex's Paul de Romphe.

Contact investors in Property (020 8905 5511/investorsinproperty.com).

KITZBUHEl
Best for: bon viveurs and intermediate skiers
Worst for: young people on a budget Famous visitors: Boris Becker, Bernie Ecclestone, Prince Albert of Monaco
How to get there: One hour from Salzburg, 1hr 20mins from Munich and Innsbruck Kitzbuhel has a medieval feel with cosmopolitan chic. top-brand shopping is complemented with cake shops and elegant cafes.

"Only about five properties come up a year that foreigners can own as a second home," says Amir suljic of Private Residences Kitzbuhel (0043 5356 635 900/private-residences.net). "Chalets start at 13.9million [£3.4million] and apartments are rare so also expensive."

Knight Frank is selling 21 apartments in Panorama next to the lift into the Kitzbuler Alpen ski area and a 15-minute drive from town. Prices start at 1183,000 (£163,000) for a one-bed with access to communal facilities (020 7861 1737/knightfrank.co.uk).

KUHTAI
Best for: weekend skiers
Worst for: fair-weather skiers
Famous visitors: rarely
How to get there: 35mins from Innsbruck (BA & Easyjet during winter) At 2,020m, Kuhtai is an old ski town with a schloss (castle) and an upmarket feel. situated in a wide basin, it has skiing 360 degrees around you and almost feels like a cosy private resort. For something livelier, st Anton is within easy striking distance.

Investors in Property is selling 53 ski in/ski out apartments from 1360,000 (£322,000), some with a rental obligation, some not but all ready for occupation, at the Alpin Resort in the centre but you will find little else for sale.

ISCHGl
Best for: wealthy party people, fashionistas
Worst for: shrinking violets and novice skiers
Famous visitors: Elton John, Naomi Campbell, Paris Hilton, Victoria Beckham
How to get there: 1hr 20mins from Innsbruck; 2hrs 50mins from Munich and Zurich Conspicuously rich, the compact resort at 1,377m is best suited for intermediate skiers.

High-profile celebs open and close each season with a massive on-the-mountain concert, while the raucous apres-ski kicks off at 4pm daily and embraces the clubbing culture.

Hangovers can be eased with a little high-end shopping or the spa in Madlein, a designer hotel with some stunning glass apartments nicknamed the "ice cube".

Eleven ultra-modern apartments with one to eight bedrooms will cost from 1780,000 (£698,000) and have access to a huge wellness spa. the schooren des Alpes project is being sold in the UK by Cluttons Resorts (cluttonsresorts.com/020 7584 3050).