Living at high altitudes means driving down a steep driveway in winter. If one is prepared, however, it’s not so bad, said Colter Smith, real estate agent at Christie’s International in Aspen.

“A lot of high-end homes have a fully heated driveway, so you don’t even have to do anything,” he said.

In one of Mr. Smith’s inscriptions, for example, the driveway has a sensor that only turns on when it is snowing and turns off when the snow is cleared.

For Mr. Smith, any effort of living in a mountain house is worth it.

“The sky is much clearer. At night the stars are much brighter, ”Smith said.

People don’t notice it at first, he said, but over time they realize how foggy the city is. “It’s a lot quieter here.

Four high altitude houses for sale

Caldwell, West Virginia // $ 859,000

At 3,130 feet above sea level with 180-degree views of the Allegheny Mountains and the Greenbrier Valley, this home in a gated community features four bedrooms, four baths, a half-bath, and can 4,657 square feet.

The house has plank and slatted siding and a mansard roof, as well as a half-timbered living room with vaulted ceilings, a stone fireplace, a kitchen with granite countertops and a two-story patio. There is also access to a community pavilion and a swimming pool. The property is listed by Grist Real Estate Associates.

Boulder, Colorado // $ 4.45 million

Overlooking the Rocky Mountains at 6,838 feet above sea level, this 5,700 square foot home features four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a half bath. Throughout the house, which has a Decra tiled roof, there are three soapstone wood-burning stoves, marble floors with radiant heat and double-glazed windows.

The kitchen has two islands, an electric and gas cooker, a walk-in pantry and a Miele coffee machine. The master bedroom has a mezzanine and patio as well as a spiral staircase that leads to its own living room. The home has three levels of patios and the main level has a new hot tub. The property is listed by Coldwell Banker Realty.

North Wilkesboro, North Carolina // $ 4.25 million

Perched 1,800 feet above sea level, this gated estate spans 279 acres surrounded by recreational trails and overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The 4,788 square foot open concept home features three bedrooms and 2 ½ baths, as well as vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows in the great room. In addition, there is a terrace and a garage for five cars. The property is listed by Premier Sothebys International Realty.

Aspen, Colorado // $ 16.995 million

This ski-in / ski-out home measures 8,983 square feet, sprawls over 1.4 acres, and offers views of the Rocky Mountains from its 8,346-foot elevation location. There are five bedrooms, six full baths, and three half baths. The master bedroom on the main level has a fireplace and an en-suite bathroom with an oversized tub and shower; the rooms on the lower level have access to a lift.

Throughout the house there are wood floors as well as ceilings with wooden beams, stone archways and multiple fireplaces. The raised patio has a waterfall, stone fireplace and hot tub. The terrace is partially heated. The house also has a 1,000-bottle stone wine cellar and tasting table, bar, club room and office with a private entrance. It also has a garage for three cars and a driveway with a snowmelt system. The establishment is listed by Christie’s International.