After a grim ending to last season with the gondola incident cutting things short and confidence dipping you wouldn’t be alone if you expected Kicking Horse to feel uncertain heading into winter 2025/26.

But here we are:
❄️ A province-wide delayed start to ski season
🏔️ A mountain that is quiet even by “Horse standards”
🏡 And the lowest real estate inventory the hill has seen in years

So what’s actually happening at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort? And why is this moment quietly becoming one of the most interesting buying opportunities in B.C.’s resort market?

Let’s break it down.

Inventory Has Tightened Dramatically

Across apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes, the story is the same: almost nothing available.

• Apartments: Only 3 active listings for November, with YTD sales down -45% compared to last year. Months of inventory has jumped to 6 months simply because there were no sales recorded in November 
• Townhomes: Just 1 active listing with YTD sales actually up from 3 to 4, but with extremely limited supply 
• Single-Family Homes: Inventory is sitting at 3 active listings, with only 1 sale recorded YTD and a steep increase in average list price — now sitting around $2.4M. These higher price points are contributing to the slowdown, and buyers are watching carefully before engaging.
• In addition to the resale homes, there is only one single-family building lot remaining at the resort — the last available opportunity to build on the mountain.

These high list prices are part of the slowdown, and buyers are watching carefully before engaging.

Bottom line:
Sellers aren’t listing, buyers are hesitant, and the result is a market that looks “quiet,” but is really just starved for inventory.

The Cedars Is the Bright Spot Everyone’s Watching

Even with a soft year, new construction tells the real story of confidence.

The Cedars by Innovation Building development has:

✔️ 5 new sales already
✔️ 3 units still available (1 now ready – 2 under construction)
✔️ Strong interest from resort buyers looking for new builds with modern layouts and low-maintenance mountain living

In a year where resale activity was almost nonexistent, the Cedars success shows that people still want to own at Kicking Horse especially when the product aligns with what today’s buyers value.

Why the Quiet Market Is Actually an Opportunity

This is the counter-intuitive truth: A quiet resort market during a quiet ski start is often the best time to buy.

Here’s why:

✔️ Less competition

Buyers aren’t fighting over listings right now. When the snow arrives — and it always does — interest historically picks back up.

✔️ Motivated sellers (the few who are listing)

With almost no sales activity this fall, the sellers who are on the market are often open to conversation.

✔️ Pricing gaps between product types

Single-family homes may be listed high, but townhomes and condos remain relatively accessible.

✔️ Kicking Horse is still early-stage compared to other BC and Rockies resorts

This is a long-term growth play — one of the few major lift-accessed resorts in B.C. that still offers:

• large ski terrain
• low crowds
• modern infrastructure
• and pricing far below Canmore, Fernie, Revelstoke, Invermere, or Whistler.

✔️ And… no Foreign Buyer Ban

Kicking Horse is not included in the Federal foreign buyer restrictions an advantage not shared by many resort towns. This opens the door to additional capital coming back into rural resort markets. 

Why Invest in Kicking Horse Real Estate?

A local’s quick list:

• No lift lines — even on powder days.
• Serious terrain — 4,100 ft of vertical, huge alpine bowls, and endless slackcountry.
• Lower density resort feel — you actually know your neighbours.
• Strong short-term rental demand — winter and summer!
• A resort lifestyle without the Whistler / Fernie / Revelstoke pricing.

And most importantly:

The “Horse” attracts a very specific kind of buyer — the ones who actually ski.

This isn’t a resort built around nightlife, luxury boutiques, or glitz. It’s built for adventure-first skiers who want big terrain, deep snow, and room to roam.

Kicking Horse has 4,314 feet of vertical — the fourth-highest in North America — and over 3,400 acres of skiable terrain. That alone draws a loyal, repeat-driven buyer pool that’s looking for real mountain experience rather than status.

Because of that, the long-term fundamentals of Kicking Horse real estate remain strong, even in a quieter year like this one. Serious skiers keep coming back. Families who buy here tend to hold long-term. And when inventory drops (like it has this season), it creates demand that doesn’t disappear — it just builds.

This is why the foundation of the market stays healthy, even when the energy on the hill feels subdued.

The Calm Before the Kicking Horse Real Estate Market Picks Up

The 2025/26 market is starting slowly — but that’s exactly why it feels promising.

Low supply + returning confidence + new construction + a world-class mountain =
a rare moment where buyers have leverage in a market that historically swings fast when conditions change.

If you’re considering whether to purchase at Kicking Horse, I’m more than happy to walk you through current opportunities, upcoming developments, STR rules, and the hidden gems that don’t always make the MLS.