Buyers looking for a destination with plenty of powder may understandably be confused. This is because, acutely aware that billions of euros and dollars are at stake, the resorts looking to sell holiday properties are engaged in the kind of spin more usually seen in politics.

The Americans predict dire things for the Alps, while the Europeans in turn point out the decimation which will be wrought across the Atlantic. One seemingly independent opinion comes from the UK's Halifax Travel Insurance. A report it published earlier this year concludes that the total amount of snowfall to the Alps would drop by 30% by 2030, while Whistler in Canada, which has a base station at just 675 metres above sea level could be wiped out.

Winter sports enthusiasts who have flocked to new Eastern European resorts in search of new challenges could fair even worse. Many resorts in Eastern Europe are low lying and likely to become unviable in for traditional winter sports in the next 20 years.

So the big question is where to buy if you want to guarantee snow over the long term?

Anyone who still harbours ambitions to ski in Australia, the Southern Alps, Vermont or North West California had better get on with it, before the opportunity is gone forever.

Let's put it this way, anyone who still harbours ambitions to ski in Australia, the Southern Alps, Vermont or North West California had better get on with it, before the opportunity is gone forever. Both the United Nations Environment Programme and Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development have come out with devastating forecasts for the future ski resorts. The latter estimates that 166 of Europe's 666 resorts could be gone by 2020.

Those intent on buying a ski property on a resort that will still be viable for skiing by the time grandkids are grown-up will need to think altitude. Betany Garner, environmental spokesperson for the Ski Club of Great Britain says die hard skiers should not even think of buying in a resort below 1,800 metres.

High altitude resorts in Europe include St. Anton, Soldeu in Andorra; Tignes, Chamonix and Val d'Isere, to name a few. In North America Banff and Lake Louise are at reasonable altitude so too are most of the resorts in the Rocky Mountains.

Buyers are also likely to find that climate change will also spur on the development of new destinations. Mont Elbrus in the Caucasus Mountains can offer skiing at 4,100 metres. Krasnaya Polyana, also in the Caucasus, and notable as the favourite ski destination of President Putin, is also being developed. However for the time being such resorts still represent a gamble for serious buyers, according to Garner.

"These resorts are not very well developed. Die-hard skiers who are attracted to higher resorts also tend to like their resorts to be well developed. The lack of lifts and pistes in these places could therefore be an issue."

"Clients are already thinking in terms of two seasons when it comes to properties in the Alps. They want the benefit of their property all year round, and that means that if they get good snowfall in the winter then that is a bonus." Jeremy Rollison, Savills International

However, it is not all bad news. Climate change of course is not an exact science. Whistler, which will host the 2010 Winter Olympics, had a good season last year, after two dire ones. Some scientists also suspect that global warming could actually lead to more snowfalls in higher altitude resorts. Dr David Stephenson, head of climate change at the UK's Reading University, explains: "There will be greater snowfall at higher resorts. So although fewer resorts will have snow, those that do could well have more if it."

Research from estate agents, Savills International, recently found that climate change was the number one concern for wealthy buyers. However, concern over the long term effects of global warning on ski resorts does not necessarily translate to buyers shunning lower altitude areas, according to Jeremy Rollison.

He explains: "It is very easy to say that global warming means you have to buy at a high altitude but in terms of buyers, snowfall does not matter one iota. Clients are already thinking in terms of two seasons when it comes to properties in the Alps. They want the benefit of their property all year round, and that means that if they get good snowfall in the winter then that is a bonus."

Many resorts, including Villars, Aviemore, Chamonix and Mount Tremblant in Quebec, have already begun repackaging themselves as year round destinations, as snowfall has proved increasingly unreliable. While those in the US and Aviemore in Scotland, are now marketing themselves as destinations for trekking, mountain biking and climbing, Mount Tremblant, plays up its fishing and golf courses.

Resorts in the Alps are taking a double-pronged approach to keeping visitor numbers up. Alongside increasing diversification Compagnie des Alpes, which controls La Plagne, Les Arcs, Tignes, Chamonix and Flame have been putting in snow cannons in an effort to maintain the number of skiing days per season.

So for serious skiers, for whom a trip to the slopes is all about the snow, and who expect fresh powder every time they click on their skies, buyers will have to think above 1,800 feet for a long term property. But for those who simply love the fresh air, and are open to other, less snow dependent, sports might find there are bargains to be found in the years to come, when ski-bunnies in lower altitude resorts, sell up and move on to higher resorts.

By Lindsey Rogerson