Sweet Summer Living in Tahoe Donner

Summer is possibly the best time in Truckee, and there is no better place to enjoy it than this Tahoe Donner cabin with three decks for the best of indoor/outdoor living.

This beautiful 3-bedroom home easily sleeps 10 with a layout that offers comfortable entertaining in the Great Room with double decks, and a floor plan that allows guests to retreat to private spaces, like the downstairs den that opens to the extended outdoor deck pictured above.

Contact us today for a tour of the gorgeous home, conveniently located near all of Tahoe Donner's great amenities. (Text 775-391-9443) If you would like to learn more about what Tahoe Donner has to offer, we would be happy to offer you a guest pass to enjoy the fitness center, swimming pools…

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Tesla at Northstar Ski Resort

Ever dreamed of having a Tesla charging station out your backdoor?  Better yet ... how about a Tesla charging station outside your Tahoe ski condo?  behind the movie theater in the Village at Northstar you can charge your car with these Tesla and EV charging stations.

The Village townhomes offer easy access to the slopes, shops, and restaurants. People watch from your deck or stroll across the courtyard to enjoy year-round swimming and hot tubs (pictured below is the covered hot tub at the Northstar Property Owners Recreation Facility.

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Booming Reno Housing Market Driven by Jobs

Reno, which has long been the affordable housing option for homebuyers who can’t pay Tahoe prices, is seeing a growth in population that’s driving up the cost of homes and condos, and pushing rental prices to new highs.

By the end of the third quarter in 2017, the price of a single-family home had risen to $349,500. That’s more than a 5 percent increase from the previous quarter, and up 9 percent from 2016. During this same quarter five years ago, by contrast, the median sales price in Reno/Sparks was just under $175,000.

The rental market, which is close to saturated, is seeing modest suburban homes in good school districts like McQueen High School fetching close to $1/square foot. In areas that are trending, like Midtown, some rentals are…

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Grocery Outlet coming to Truckee?

Developers proposing the construction of a Grocery Outlet across from Safeway are hosting a community meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan 11 to hear what residents think of the project. The meeting will be held at the Hampton Inn on Highway 267, and all are welcome to attend. 

 The 17,568 SF Grocery Outlet would include 44 parking spaces and two residential apartments on the 1.5 acre Donner Pass Road site. The announcement comes on the heels of the Planning Commission approving a 35,000 SF Nugget Market in downtown Truckee as part of the Railyard development.

Click here for details on the Nugget grocery store.

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Turnkey Opportunity in the Village at Northstar

Looking for a vacation property that Cash Flows?  

Consider this turnkey opportunity in the Village at Northstar ... Big Horn, Unit 301 

Park your car in the underground heated garage, grab your skis from the locker, and you're just steps from the Gondola. Watch the skaters from your private balcony, walk to dinner or the movie theatre, or just kick back at home.  With year-round heated swimming pools, hot tubs, and two fitness facilities, Northstar's Village is hub of activity throughout the year. 

This unit has an excellent rental history, and rents for more than $900/night during the peak season. If you have been thinking about a property that offers the ultimate in convenience and fun, plus the opportunity for rental income when you…

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Where will you buy groceries next time you're in Tahoe? How about Downtown Truckee ...

Downtown Truckee came one step closer to getting its own grocery store this week, when the Town Planning Commission signed off on a proposal to build a 35,000 SF market in what used to be a part of the train yard. The project is being proposed by Nugget Markets, a boutique grocery store chain with 12 locations in Northern California. Described by some as a cross between Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, Nugget is known for offering gourmet selections, including craft beers, fine wines, and locally sourced beef and produce. With addresses in Tiburon, Corte Madera, and Sonoma, Nugget is catering to some well-heeled customers, and while their prices tend to be higher than larger chains, some online reviewers describe it as "the nicest grocery store" they have…

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Ski Lease ~ When You Love Lake Tahoe (but not the snow)

What's a Ski Lease? 

That's a question I was asked last week, reminding me that as realtors we sometimes assume our everyday jargon is commonplace. A ski lease is a short-term rental of your home for the ski season, usually at a higher monthly rate than what it would fetch as a full-time rental.

Ski leases typically run from November or December through March or April (in an epic Tahoe winter your tenants might ask to extend). For those who love Lake Tahoe, but not the winters, a ski lease can be a great way to defray the cost of owning a vacation home. A nice 4-bedroom home or condo that sleeps eight or more could rent for anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 per month, depending on location (luxury properties fetch luxury rates). Multiply that by 5 or…

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Nevada Retirement ~ Top 5 Reasons to Retire in Reno

1. Save Money on Taxes .      With no state income tax, no tax on social security or pensions, and relatively low property taxes, retirees domiciling themselves in Nevada stand to save thousands per year. Smartasset.com has a convenient calculator to determine your savings. For a better understanding of what it means to "domicile" one's self in Nevada, visit Ashley Quinn CPA's website.

2. The Golf Season Lasts Longer .      With more than 300 days of sunshine per year, and a temperate climate, you can golf almost the whole year.  It does snow in Reno (less than 2 feet per year on average), but it doesn't stick around for long. 

Click here to browse homes in Reno's top Golf & Country Clubs

3. Reno Tahoe International Airport .      Many of my…

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Financing the Fixer-Upper

It's a great old house in the perfect location - walking distance to the lake, good schools and an oversized grassy yard. The price is right, but from plumbing to the roof, it needs a total overhaul. What do you do? Most buyers walk at that stage. Some see opportunity. Location is everything in real estate, and a fixer-upper in a good neighborhood is usually well worth the investment in upgrades. But buyers on a budget often don't have a pile of cash on hand for a costly remodel. One solution is the FHA 203(k) loan that rolls the cost of a remodel and the purchase of a home into one loan with as little as 3.5% down.

Owners and non-profits with decent income and good credit can qualify, but not investors. The remodel must cost at least $5,000 (and up to…

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The Pros and Cons of Condos at Lake Tahoe

Condo or Single-Family Home?

So you want a condo in Tahoe? Or maybe a cabin of your own with a little yard, and elbow room, and no homeowner's fees. Condo or single-family home?  Close to half of my buyers flipped-flopped on this question last year, and buyers who are on the fence ask the same question: which one is better for me?  The answer depends on your goals.

Convenience vs. Constraints    

Most condos and townhomes are maintained by a homeowner's association, eliminating the need for costly exterior repairs, landscape maintenance and snow removal. The convenience of a turn-key vacation property in your favorite destination is a price worth paying for some.  If you work long hours at a stressful city job all week, the last thing you…

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