The Yukon's emerging force in real estate is looking to buy the High Country Inn.

Piers McDonald, president of Northern Vision Development, confirmed this morning the company has entered into an agreement to investigate the purchase of the Fourth Avenue hotel and convention centre.

'Basically, this is where you kick the tires, but you kick the tires seriously,' McDonald told the Star.

'It will be in the summer that it closes, if it closes.'

McDonald, who served as the NDP government leader of the Yukon from 1996 to 2000, said his company of Yukon and Alberta-based investors entered into the agreement last week.

High Country Inn owner Barry Bellchambers could not be reached for comment late this morning.

Northern Vision recently announced its purchase of the Yukon Centre Mall at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Ogilvie Street, directly across from two other properties it owns; the Domino Pizza building and the EasyHome furniture building.

The company also purchased the Gold Rush Inn last summer, and is near completion of a new office complex, the Spook Creek Station, across from Wal-Mart.

Northern Vision is also in the midst of developing 47 industrial properties in the Marwell area, and has several other properties throughout Whitehorse.