Americas most affordable ski towns revealed these slope-ready homes cost as little as $140K

Procuring a property in one of America’s many ski towns in a bid to live out your alpine dream comes—more often than not—with a hefty price tag.Big-name resorts like Vail, CO, Park City, UT, or Big Sky, MT, boast an array of beautiful and incredibly expensive homes, with prices in these areas typically ascending into the millions, if not more.However, it is possible to find a budget-friendly snowy oasis mere minutes from the slopes if you are willing to look at one of the lesser-known locations across the U.S.By examining listing prices and slope quality at dozens of ski towns in the country, the Realtor.com data team has compiled a list of the 12 most affordable areas where buying a ski home doesn’t have to break the bank.“Winter sports are truly a national pastime, and all across the country there are opportunities to live near the slopes,” Realtor.com senior economist Joel Berner says.

“Skiing is a notoriously expensive hobby, and homes near ski resorts often tend toward the luxury segment of the market.“But there are pockets of affordable living with access to the mountain in all regions of the United States.All 12 of these markets had a median listing price under $500,000, and half of them were even below $250,000.”Berner notes that finding a home in one of these less popular locales doesn’t mean sacrificing snow quality or amenities.“These towns offer children, beginners, and those hoping to shred on a budget the opportunity to live in a home within minutes of the lifts,” he adds.To compile the list, Realtor.com looked at more than 300 towns with ski resorts from On the Snow, an online tool that tracks snow and ski conditions across the U.S.

Ski towns had to have at least 50 active listings to make the cut—and the quality of its slopes was also verified to ensure that it was worthy of a real estate investment.Median list price: $137,200Only 10 miles from the Canadian border, Malone provides family-friendly skiing ...