A $17.3 Million Ski Retreat
In Whistler, British Columbia

What: Five bedrooms, six bathrooms in more than 5,000 square feet on about an acre.

Where: Whistler, British Columbia

Amenities: Three guest suites, private ski-in/ski-out entrance to Whistler Mountain, heated two-tiered pool and deck, radiant in-floor heating throughout the home, wine cellar with 2,000-bottle capacity.

Asking Price: 20 million Canadian dollars (US$17.3 million)

Opening Bid*: US$16.9 million

Listing Agents: Ann Chiasson, Sea to Sky Premier Properties, an affiliate of Christie's Great Estates, (604) 932-7651

Due Diligence: This contemporary home sits about 3,000 feet up 7,160-foot-high Whistler Mountain, site of a popular Canadian ski resort. It is expected to be near the finishing line for downhill skiing events in the 2010 Olympic Games, which will be held at Whistler Mountain. Larry Houghton, a Canadian commercial and residential real-estate developer, bought the property in 2000. He spent the next several years constructing a three-story home using indigenous materials such as arbutus wood for walls and floors, and western hemlock wood for ceilings. The home's great room has vaulted ceilings and a floor-to-ceiling fireplace. All of the home's exterior decks and stairs, equipped with sensors and heaters, melt snow automatically. A half-acre lot adjacent to the property is included in the sales price. Mr. Houghton, 55 years old, says he plans to spend more time at his primary residence in Vancouver when the home sells.

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