Could these be the Best Real Estate investments in Park City?   A discussion to think about when investing in Park City and Deer Valley

If you’re shopping Park City as an investment you can also love using, think less about spreadsheets and more about enduring demand: lift access, walkability, branding, trail/lake access, and simple operations. Here are the four plays I trust right now—and why they hold up over time.

1) Walk-to-lifts, hotel-amenity condos in Canyons Village

Why it works: year-round programming, easy guest experience, and on-site services. Families (and conference traffic) love the park-once, walk-everywhere setup.
Explore the base area: Park City Mountain—Canyons Village and Park City Lodging Options.
Bonus quality-of-life link: the free transit that ties it all together — Park City Transit and Free Bus System overview.

2) Blue-chip ski address in Deer Valley (with the East side expanding)

Why it works: global brand recognition + massive terrain and lift upgrades coming online. You’re buying into scarcity and a resort that keeps leveling up.
See what’s changing: Deer Valley’s new trail map and expansion news — 25/26 Trail Map release and Expanded Excellence overview.
East portal update (formerly “Mayflower”): news from Extell and a resort intro via Ski Utah: Mayflower/Extell overview.

3) Old Town homes/duplexes with legal nightly rental status

Why it works: irreplaceable dirt + Main Street energy + the simple joy of walking to dinner and the Town Lift. If you like character and lifestyle, this box checks itself.
Know the rules (and keep them current):
• Park City’s licensing page: Nightly Rental License
• City guidance PDF: Nightly Rentals—inspection & zoning tips
• County context (for areas outside city limits): Summit County Business/Nightly Rental Licensing and local reporting on updates: KPCW coverage.

Pro tip: even if a home “has always been rented,” re-verify zoning and licensing timelines before you write an offer. Compliance is part of the value.

4) Jordanelle/Mayflower townhomes for four-season living

Why it works: garage parking, modern layouts, and two lifestyle anchors—Deer Valley’s east side for winter and Jordanelle Reservoir for summer. It’s the flexible, family-friendly play.
Lake life snapshot: Jordanelle State Park and Hailstone Recreation Area.

How to choose your play (without talking cap rates)

Ask three questions:

1. Access: Will your guests (or family) park once and walk/ride to the fun?

2. Brand pull: Does the neighborhood name instantly make sense to an out-of-towner?

3. Friction: Can you keep operations simple (cleaning, maintenance, licensing, transit, parking)?

If you can answer “yes” to all three, you’ve likely found staying power—no spreadsheet required.

A local’s game plan

• Pre-screen licensing for any address you like (City vs. County can differ).

• Audit the guest journey: airport → drive → parking → keys → lift/lake → dinner. Fewer steps = better experience.

• Think four seasons: Sundance in January, biking and concerts in July—use the event calendar to sanity-check your own plans.