Schaffer's Mill Homes & Town Homes
This year-round resort in the Martis Valley features custom homes and town homes surrounding a premier John Harbottle-designed 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 (Click here to read more ... )
Schaffer's Mill Real Estate
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!
A Home with a View
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.
Laid Back Luxury
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.
Northstar Perks
Beyond golf, the club also offers members a free shuttle to Northstar, where owners can start their day at Base Camp, the Village clubhouse that offers refreshments and ski lockers. Great way to skip the traffic and catch fresh powder - or hang out with a beverage and internet while the rest of the family hits the slopes.
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).