Mountain

Secluded mountain cabins, campgrounds, and hunting, fishing and skiing lodges are the preferred vacation accommodations of many who love the outdoors. Fortunately, the topography of the western United States is replete with mountains and mountain real estate investment opportunities. The strength of the tourism industry ensures that investments in mountain property will continue to be an attractive option.The Cascades mountain ranges span Washington and Oregon. California boasts the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains march from Montana through Wyoming into Colorado. Some of the nation's most diverse and beautiful national parks are to be found in the mountain regions. Glaciers, canyons, forests, rivers, wildlife and fauna combine to create the most incredible mountain destinations on the planet.Private-Sector Investment in Federal Real EstateMuch of the real estate in the mountain regions is located in national parks and is not usually available for sale or development by the private sector. Managed by the IRS and the National Park Service, the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program was developed to allow private-sector rehabilitation of historic buildings. In the mountain areas close to the parks there are many ways to invest in tourist-related real estate, such as motels, campgrounds, mountain lodges, ski resorts, vacation ranches, condominiums and mountain cabins. Vacant land, forested plantations and acreages can be lucrative long-term investments in the mountain states. In some mountain areas there are mining activities, but generally there are few opportunities for industrial real estate in these regions. Commercial real estate investments can be made in the tourist towns of the mountain regions. The availability of residential property in the mountain regions is limited, but a strong market exists thanks to retirees and locals working in the tourism industry.