Skiing has gone from being a luxury for the few to a sport for the masses over the past decade or so. Countries have opened their mountain ranges and ski property has become very affordable. But as the credit crunch bites and the second-homes market falters, buyers looking for affordable ski properties should look beyond the price.

Gemma Knowles, from italianskiproperty.com, suggests finding somewhere with a proven track record. “Go for an excellent ski area, with lots of runs, fairly high up and close to good transport,” she suggests. “That way there will be a strong rental market with people coming back year after year.”

If, however, you are looking for something to serve you throughout the year, many ski resorts have a full range of activities for the summer months, too. Here are three options for those looking for a ski property that ticks all the boxes:

Spain

Iznalloz, Sierra Nevada

Skiing: The most southerly ski area in Spain is just above Granada. It has the best snow in the country and one of the longest ski seasons in Europe, at more than five months, 61km of

ski slopes with 45 pistes and six off-piste routes. However, a note of caution: the road to the resort is narrow and winding and often has long queues of traffic, especially at peak times.

Summer attractions: Plenty of hill walking and there are four 18-hole golf courses near by. It is half an hour by car from Granada, the cultural capital of the Sierra Nevada and site of the Alhambra, the finest example of a Moorish citadel-palace in Europe, and the Moorish El Albaicin quarter, a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1994.

Airport: Granada is a 20-minute drive and Málaga is 1 hours by road.

Property: A two-bedroom apartment in Iznalloz. Part of a larger complex with swimming pool, gym and spa. About a 20-minute drive to the ski area. Price: €99,491 (£87,000).

Contact: Key Ready Investments, 020-7851 2796, keyreadyinvestments.com

France

The Résidence de Temple in Briançon, French Alps

Skiing: The Serre Chevalier ski region has more than 250km of pistes suitable for skiers of all abilities and including challenging off-piste skiing with highly rated snowboarding and cross-country skiing.

Summer attractions: Horse riding, mountain-biking, cycling, mountaineering, white-water sports, natural thermal spring and an 18-hole golf course. The Tour de France also passes through the town.

Travel: Briançon railway station is a few minutes' walk away and has daily arrivals from Paris. Turin airport is 1 hours away by road and Lyon three hours.

Property: Seven apartments that sleep four, six or eight, with all the benefits of a boutique-style hotel. Prices start at €182,000.

Contact: Erna Low, 020-7590 1624, ernalowproperty.co.uk

Italy

Valtournenche in the Aosta Valley

Skiing: Valtournenche is a pretty mountain village at an altitude of 1,500m that has 380km of pistes, which include Valtournenche, Breuil-Cervinia and Zermatt.

Summer attractions: A glacier offering summer skiing, an 18-hole golf course at Breuil-Cervinia and an outdoor sports centre at Buisson.

Airport: An hour by road from Turin airport.

Property: One and two-bedroom flats in a renovated council building, pictured below, in the centre of Valtournenche. Prices from €198,000.

Four apartments in a renovated mountain house just outside the centre of Valtournenche in the hamlet of Maen. Prices from €185,000.

Contact: italianskiproperty.com , 020-7993 2967.

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