An island of excitement, surrounded by the serenity of wilderness.

That's how visitors might be tempted to view Banff -- a thriving, bustling resort community offering the finest in dining and accommodation, outstanding boutiques and galleries and sizzling night spots, surrounded by the most breathtaking mountains and alpine lakes the Canadian Rockies has to offer.

About 7,500 residents call Banff home, but every year they open their arms to more than four million visitors from the four corners of the globe. They come to relax and play in this year-round resort that offers world class downhill skiing at Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Banff Mt. Norquay in winter and internationally renowned golfing at the Banff Springs Hotel Golf Course in summer. (Not to mention hiking, climbing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, cycling, birdwatching, cross-country skiing...)

You can choose to live like royalty and stay at the Banff Springs Hotel, the jewel in the crown of the Canadian Pacific chain of five-star hotels, or bunk in at one of the dozens of rustic motels and inns dotted throughout the townsite. For the more rugged of character, Banff National Park offers hundreds of campsites for everything from RVs to pup tents.

Banff is also home to The Banff Centre, nestled on a hillside overlooking the town, providing a soul-soothing retreat for artists and business people to immerse themselves in their chosen pursuits, as well as the Whyte Museum of the Rockies, a cool refuge from the hustle and bustle in which to immerse yourself in the natural and human history of the Canadian Rockies.

Banff National Park

Banff National Park, a national park located in western Alberta, Canada and was established in 1885. Located in the Rocky Mountains, the park is famous for its spectacular mountain scenery and contains glaciers, hot springs, and many beautiful lakes, including Lake Louise. It is Canada's oldest national park and is both a summer and a winter resort. The abundant wildlife includes elk, cougar, and bighorn sheep. Area, 6641 sq km (2564 sq mi).

Owning Real Estate in Banff - Special Considerations

The Town of Banff has the rare privilege of being located in a National Park, and therefore restrictions are strongly enforced to protect the Park from the people and the people from the Park.

One such restriction in place is the Need to Reside Clause, stating that one must own and operate a business that provides their major source of income or must work in such an establishment located in the Park, to have the right to reside in the Park. Any person has the right to purchase and own real estate in Banff, though not necessarily to live there.