Schaffer's Mill Homes & Town Homes
Written by Jackie Ginley, Your Expert Realtor for Shaffer's Mill
This year-round resort in the Martis Valley features custom homes and town homes surrounding a premier John Harbottle-designed golf course. It's located off Highway 267, mid-way between Downtown Truckee and Lake Tahoe.
Is Schaffer's Mill a good place to buy a second home?
Yes. Schaffer's Mill appeals to buyers from throughout California and the West. It is just a short drive from Reno and the San Francisco Bay Area, making it an easy commute for buyers seeking a vacation home that offers both outstanding golf, with easy access to skiing and all Lake Tahoe offers.
Prices range from $1.6 million for shared-wall townhomes (some of which back to the golf course) to $7 million for custom homes on larger lots. The community has seen strong appreciation, with median sales prices doubling over the past decade, thanks largely to the development of larger custom homes on prime golf course frontage.
Schaffer's Mill also allows limited short-term rentals, which is appealing to those buyers looking to cash flow their homes as vacation rentals when they are not in residence. (Read more about skiing, golf, lifestyle, and the Schaffer's Mill real estate market)
Schaffer's Mill Real Estate
Skiing: Base Camp at Northstar Ski Area
Owners at Schaffer's Mill enjoy a free, private ski shuttle to Northstar, where they can drop their skis and snowboards in the Village at Northstar at Schaffer's Mill Base Camp and grab coffee or a snack before hitting the slopes. Those who LOVE Northstar can also consider joining the Tahoe Mountain Club, which has an expanded ski locker in the Village as well as member access to the private "Schaffer's Camp" restaurant and lounge just above mid-mountain. Other area ski resorts within a 30-minute drive include Palisades at Tahoe, Diamond Peak, Sugar Bowl, Boreal, and Tahoe Donner, which offers a beginner/intermediate downhill as well as the region's best Cross Country Ski Area.
Golf: The Club at Schaffer's Mill
Schaffer's Mill was mapped out as a golf course community, with homes encircling a par 71 course that's been ranked as one of the best private courses in California. From the forested views of the first nine holes to the outstanding views offered on the back nine, Schaffer's Mill is both a scenic and moderately challenging course with a wide range of fun member championship events. From the Four-Member scramble to the Couple's Championship, you are sure to meet your neighbors and make new friends at Schaffer's Mill. As an affiliate member of Troon Privé, Schaffer's Mill also offers its full Golf Club members access to more than 100 private golf course worldwide at preferred rates.
Lifestyle at Schaffer's Mill:
The lifestyle at Schaffer's Mill is more laid back and casual than you will find at either of the neighboring gated communities in the Martis Valley, Lahontan or Martis Camp. Schaffer's Club membership at the social level (technically an "Associate Golf" membership) is less than $12,000/year, and open to those who live outside Schaffer's Mill. So the poolside experience in summer offers nice opportunities to meet families who live in other areas of Truckee or Tahoe. Similarly, the primary restaurant at Schaffer's Mill, The Sawyer, is open to the public. Schaffer's Mill also hosts a number of seasonal events like wine tastings and summer concerts, offering owners a nice opportunity to socialize.
Brand New Home on the 10th Fairway of the Schaffer's Mill Golf Course offers 6 bedrooms, including 2 en-suite Masters with a very cool Bunk Room, home office that sleeps extra guests with a Murphy bed, and wiring for Smart home technologies like Josh A.I. & kelvin adjustable lighting ... you have to see this one to appreciate it!
Is Schaffer's Mill a Good Investment?
The median sales price for homes and townhomes in Schaffer's Mill has doubled over the past decade ... Record setting sales for brand new custom homes overlooking to golf course.
Schaffer's Mill opened its gates in 2008 amid the recession spurred by the sub-prime mortgage crisis. Not the best timing, for sure. But despite the Recession that had real estate in the trenches that year, a dozen of the new town homes at Schaffer's Mill sold in those first two years with a median sales price of more than $1 million. Townhomes on smaller lots surrounding the 4th, 5th, and 7th Fairways were the first to be developed.
Lots at the upper elevations of the golf course (some with terrific year-round views of Northstar and the Carson Range) continue to sell to owners looking to build a custom home as well as spec builders who have seen strong appreciation at Schaffer's Mill since its inception. Near-new custom homes at Schaffer's were fetching $5 million (almost $1,100/SF) by 2022 -- pricing on par with neighboring Lahontan Golf & Country Club. And by 2025, the median sales price for New Construction in Schaffer's Mill rose to $6.55 Million -- more than $1,200/SF.
Q&A:
Q: Schaffer's Mill vs Lahontan: Which is better?
This is a question I get from many of my clients. The short answer is: it depends on what you're seeking in a vacation property.
Schaffer's Mill is in many ways more laid back than Lahontan, and many of today's buyers compare and contrast the differences between the two communities. While Schaffer's MIll has a staffed gate house (like Lahontan and Martis Camp), its Sawyer restaurant (excellent by the way) is open to the public. So you will see locals like myself and other golfers showing up at The Sawyer for lunch or dinner now and again. Whether you are dining al fresco at The Sawyer or enjoying a sandwich and a beer by the pool, the atmosphere is definitely casual.
- Public Access
- Luxury Amenities vs. Four-Season Resort Fun
- Golf & Social Club Costs
- Short-Term and Long-Term Rental Rules
- HOA Fees
- Architectural Rules
Short-Term Rental Rules
Thanks to its terrific amenity package, homes at Schaffer's Mill rent well as vacation homes (rentals of less than 30 days). Short-term rentals at Schaffer's Mill must be for a minimum of at least 7 days, and owners are only allowed to short-term rent (STR) their homes for 12 weeks in any 12 month period.
Owners are also required to have a current STR permit from Placer County. (Click here for a link to info on Placer County's application process & STR policies). As of mid-July 2025, Placer County (which stretches to the North and West Shore of Lake Tahoe, had 458 permits available.
What are the HOA Fees in Schaffer's Mill?
For single-family homes in Schaffer's Mill, many of them custom homes, the HOA fee is $10,932/year (paid quarterly). The HOA fee in Schaffer's Mill includes common area maintenance for the community, including snow removal on the streets, and security for both the community and the Gatehouse,
The HOA fees are Schaffer's Mill are separate from the Club at Schaffer's Mill, which includes the pool, fitness center, tennis, kids' camps in the summer, and the shuttle to Northstar. At Schaffer's Mill, the fee to access the pool and the other amenities is included in the "Social Membership," which was $10,932/year in 2025.
The fees for golf at Schaffer's Mill are separate; a Golf Membership requires a $35,000 one-time initiation fee (2025 rates), as well as annual dues of $6,525. While that might seem high for some, it's a bargain in the Martis Valley area of Truckee, where the annual dues for golf memberships range from $27,800 at Lahontan to $45,000 at Martis Camp (not including the initiation fees, which are substantially higher at both of those communities).