Real estate
District Attorney: Enjoy Tahoe, but don't be conned
Submitted by paula on Thu, 03/24/2016 - 12:06pmIn January, 2016, South Tahoe Now carried stories concerning the rise of vacation rental scams in Lake Tahoe. The first story described the epidemic of scams through Craigslist that targeted those looking for vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe.
Sacramento King's co-owner selling Tahoe home for $35 million
Submitted by paula on Sat, 03/19/2016 - 8:14am
Mark Mastrov, a Sacramento Kings co-owner and founder of 24-Hour Fitness, is selling his waterfront Lake Tahoe home in Glenbrook, Nev., for $35 million.
Locals competing for mirror ball trophy in Dancing With the Tahoe Stars
Submitted by paula on Fri, 03/04/2016 - 9:45pm
Event Date:
March 5, 2016 - 6:30pm
For the past few weeks, "celebrities" from South Lake Tahoe have been practicing with their professional partners, all in a quest to win the coveted mirror ball trophy in the Tahoe Arts Project's 4th annual Dancing with the Tahoe Stars
All of the rehearsing, and nursing aches and pains, have come down to this, the final event which will be held at MontBleu Resort on Saturday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m.
South Tahoe Now caught up with a few of the couples in their secret rehearsals as they polished up their dance moves in preparation for the big night.
Owens Financial seeks buyer for Chateau at the Village project in South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Sun, 02/21/2016 - 11:06pm
Owens Financial, the owner of the mixed-use development project known as Chateau at the Village, is looking for a buyer, or buyers, for the 11.5 acre area in South Lake Tahoe once known as "The Hole."
DA's office in South Lake Tahoe to film story on vacation home fraud
Submitted by paula on Fri, 01/29/2016 - 4:30pm
While vacation rental scams are nothing new in South Lake Tahoe, law enforcement has seen an increase in their numbers.
Vacation home rental scams on the rise in South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Tue, 01/12/2016 - 12:37am
Imagine getting a group of 19 of your closest friends together to rent a large and high end vacation home in South Lake Tahoe for a ski week over the holidays, just steps from Heavenly Mountain Resort. You've found the right place, and for $8,000 for the week, it's yours. The inside elevator will take you and all of your buddies up into three floors of bedrooms, a pool table, hot tub, chef's dream of a kitchen and several living rooms and fire places. You leave San Diego for the ten hour ride to Tahoe.
Brooke Hernandez named South Lake Tahoe Realtor of the Year
Submitted by paula on Tue, 12/15/2015 - 5:33pm
Brooke Hernandez of Chase International’s Zephyr Cove office was recently honored as Realtor of the Year by the South Tahoe Association of Realtors. The award is based on a member’s community and industry involvement.
Hernandez, a South Shore native, has more than ten years experience in real estate and has been with Chase International for six years. She currently serves as the president of the association, in which she has been actively involved for several years.
New broker to join team at Coldwell Banker McKinney & Associates
Submitted by paula on Thu, 10/22/2015 - 12:53pm
Long time Los Angeles real estate broker Steve Davis has relocated to Lake Tahoe and joined the team at Coldwell Banker McKinney & Associates, as Broker Associate.
Plan unveiled for old Factory Stores at the Y location
Submitted by paula on Fri, 09/25/2015 - 8:35am
"The Factory Stores at the Y" will soon be transformed into "The Crossing at Tahoe Valley" if the plan is approved by the City of South Lake Tahoe. In January, 2015, The Sutter Capital Group of Sacramento announced they had purchased the property after it fell into bankruptcy.
Community greets students at Mt. Tallac High School
Submitted by paula on Mon, 08/31/2015 - 11:06pm
"This makes us feel really good," said Mt. Tallac High School teacher Mr. Romer. He was talking about the community members who attended the school's Open House on Monday, the first day of classes for the 75 students who attend Mt. Tallac.
First phase of condo project at Stateline set to begin
Submitted by paula on Fri, 08/28/2015 - 3:52pm
Now that the last remaining building along the north side of Highway 50 between Friday Avenue and the Chateau at Heavenly Village is gone, crews have been preparing the space for what is going to be known as Zalanta Resort at the Village.
The first phase of this condominium project will begin as soon as building permits are issued by the City of South Lake Tahoe.
What is allowed in the South Lake Tahoe sign ordinance?
Submitted by paula on Tue, 08/18/2015 - 9:02pm
When South Lake Tahoe became a city in 1965 there will freeway sized billboards in the community along Pioneer Trail and Highway 50. Since then, code has been written, and re-written over the years, all meant to improve the visual quality of South Lake Tahoe.
The City Code details all requirements about the type, placement, and scale of signs within different land use categories.
Family business in same South Lake Tahoe location for 43 years
Submitted by paula on Sat, 08/15/2015 - 9:18pm
What would you do if you had a family miniature golf business you wanted to pass onto your four children? Build three more, of course!
In 1972, Bill and Mary Koplin built Magic Carpet Golf on land they purchased from Marjorie Springmeyer adjacent to what was once the South Lake Tahoe amusement park. Marjorie had overheard Bill and his real estate agent talking in a local restaurant about Bill's plans for building the course. "I have a piece of property I can sell you," Marjorie told them.
New South Lake Tahoe VHR ordinance goes into effect October 1
Submitted by paula on Tue, 08/04/2015 - 10:05pm
A new vacation home rental (VHR) ordinance will take effect in South Lake Tahoe on October 1, 2015.
The new ordinance will require all homeowners who want to rent out their homes to get it inspected by the Zoning Administrator prior to being issued a license. Since the real estate community told City Council that not having a permit prior to escrow may cause homeowners to lose sales, the current homeowner may now get it inspected prior to the sale in order to take as much uncertainty away from sales as possible. This inspection will be valid for one year.
Shari Chase and Jennie Fairchild named as nation’s top realtors
Submitted by paula on Mon, 08/03/2015 - 10:26pm
Shari Chase and Jennie Fairchild of Chase International were recently ranked among The Thousand – a comprehensive list of the nation’s top agents and sales teams. The Thousand is compiled and released by REAL Trends and The Wall Street Journal. With more than one million real estate professionals considered, Chase and Fairchild were the only two agents from the Lake Tahoe area to make the list.
Number of homes for sale rising in South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Sun, 08/02/2015 - 9:13pm
Now that July has drawn to a close, the South Lake Tahoe real estate figures are in.
The number of people deciding to sell their Tahoe homes rose slightly in July, with an increase of 4.6% in new listings, while the total number of homes on the market has risen 8.9% in the past 12 months. Also on the rise is the median sales price. In July, the median price for closed sales was $346,000. In July of 2014, it was $339,000.
Pending sales were also on the rise while closed sales stayed even from last year, though up from May and June.
So, what does this mean?
Leila Major joins Coldwell Banker & Associates in Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/29/2015 - 2:02pm
Coldwell Banker McKinney & Assoc., Inc. Realtors is pleased to announce that Leila Major has joined their established team of experienced real estate professionals.
New Vacation Home Rental ordinance passes City Council
Submitted by paula on Tue, 07/21/2015 - 4:10pm
It was another packed house at the South Lake Tahoe City Council's meeting Tuesday, which has been commonplace for all of the meetings and workshops on the contentious subject of vacation home rentals.
In a unanimous vote of 4-0 (Councilman Tom Davis had to recuse himself), the City Council voted to implement an ordinance that addresses three key issues:
Regulation of vacation homes a hot topic in South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Mon, 06/15/2015 - 8:06pm
The impact of vacation rentals, a popular option for tourist lodging, is a big, and controversial topic in South Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe local holds Millionaire Maker Summit
Submitted by paula on Sat, 05/23/2015 - 9:33pm
Event Date:
July 29, 2015 (All day)
Do you know your neighbor? The millionaire and millionaire maker that you don’t know who shops at your stores, eats at your restaurants and refers thousands of people to your hotels and businesses?
If you live in or visit the South Lake Tahoe area, you’ve probably driven by her Live Out Loud building in front of the Safeway on Route 50 and said to yourself, “I wonder what’s going on in there.”
Lake Tahoe homes featured on May 27 episode of HGTV's House Hunters
Submitted by paula on Tue, 05/12/2015 - 3:46pm
Event Date:
May 27, 2015 - 7:00pm
Fans of HGTV’s House Hunters may see some familiar scenery on the May 27 episode, which features a Bay Area couple’s search for the perfect Lake Tahoe mountain home.
Travis and Morgan Fields of Oakland were working with Chase International’s Angie Clark last spring when they decided to invite the show to follow them on their quest. HGTV producers and a film crew visited Lake Tahoe to film the couple on their South Lake Tahoe search. The episode, “Looking for a Log Cabin Vacation Home in Lake Tahoe,” will air Wednesday, May 27 at 7 p.m. It will air again through the weekend.
Disclosure of BMP status required when homes sell in Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Wed, 05/06/2015 - 4:03pm
In July of 2014, a packed house was at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Board Meeting (TRPA). The crowd, made up mostly of those in the Lake Tahoe real estate profession, were there to voice their concern about a proposal before the board to require completion of Best Management Practices (BMPs) by the time a home sold or the title would not be cleared until completed.
The real estate brokers and agents said they didn't find it appropriate that they should be the enforcing arm of TRPA.
Op/Ed: The Path to Happiness: Sidewalks
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 04/20/2015 - 4:06pm
I, like many of the other citizens of this beautiful city, enjoy the recent tourist-friendly developments created in the last decade. However, the city should place greater emphasis in revitalizing the run-down residential roads because the lack of sidewalks in these areas is unacceptable. As a solution, the city should begin projects to build sidewalks in residential areas because our residents would enjoy living a healthier lifestyle as well as experience an increase in their property values.
Tesla effect: 10 notable newcomers to Nevada commerce
Submitted by paula on Sun, 04/12/2015 - 12:30amNorthern Nevada is on the radar of businesses seeking to relocate to the state, due in part to the much-publicized Tesla Motors' mammoth battery gigafactory under construction east of Sparks.
Over the past year and into 2015, the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada has assisted in bringing nearly three dozen businesses to the region and helped in at least seven expansions of existing businesses.
New rules for South Lake Tahoe vacation home rentals
Submitted by paula on Tue, 04/07/2015 - 10:21pm
There was standing room only at Tuesday's City Council meeting as changes to the current Vacation Home Rental (VHR) ordinance were on the agenda.
Most of the audience was from the real estate and home rental management companies, both of whom felt there would be a lot of loss should a stricter policy be enforced.
BMP workshops being held for Lake Tahoe area Realtors
Submitted by paula on Sat, 03/28/2015 - 10:46pm
In July of 2014, dozens of Lake Tahoe real estate professionals filled the TRPA board room when a proposal was discussed that would make BMPs mandatory at the Point of Sale for homes.
At that time, the room full of agents, brokers and mortgage companies, all voiced their opinion against the proposal.
Passions run high at City's vacation home rental meeting
Submitted by paula on Tue, 03/24/2015 - 10:29pm
An overflowing audience of South Lake Tahoe residents, home owners, vacation home owners, real estate agents, property managers, vacation rental companies, locals and city officials were on hand Tuesday night at the Vacation Home Rental (VHR) community workshop held in City Council chambers at the airport.
City Manager Nancy Kerry ran the meeting, giving everyone a chance to speak their opinion after a short presentation.
Friday's Business Expo to feature 100 local businesses
Submitted by paula on Mon, 03/23/2015 - 9:09pm
The most innovative South Shore businesses will exhibit at the 2015 Business EXPO: Innovation in the Basin on Friday, March 27. The largest business and networking event of the year, Tahoe Chamber’s Business EXPO includes 100 local businesses ranging from restaurants and resorts to recreation providers to retailers. The event includes food and drink tastings, giveaways and a new networking lounge sponsored by the City of South Lake Tahoe, Winters Construction Group and Red Carpet Events and Design.
Angela Roberts joins Coldwell Banker McKinney & Associates
Submitted by paula on Mon, 03/23/2015 - 8:46pm
Angela Roberts has joined the team at Coldwell Banker McKinney & Associates in South Lake Tahoe according to a company press release.
Angela’s first memories of Lake Tahoe were formed in her childhood as she took yearly summer vacations with her family. She immediately fell in love with the majestic and abundant beauty the area offered and these memories stayed with her into adulthood.
Boulder Bay development on North Shore gets cash infusion
Submitted by paula on Mon, 03/23/2015 - 7:29pm
The project to transform the look and feel of North Lake Tahoe’s California/Nevada state line by redeveloping the Tahoe Biltmore will move forward after the company overseeing it secured financing in a deal cemented with an undisclosed private equity firm on Thursday, March 12.
Boulder Bay LLC had been struggling to garner the necessary dollars to fund construction of the development ever since it received approval nearly four years ago after a 12-hour Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board meeting that witnessed more than 80 members of the community offer opinions on the project.
Parent company of Sierra-at-Tahoe and 15 other resorts considering selling
Submitted by paula on Sun, 03/15/2015 - 5:43pm
A real estate investment trust that’s considering getting out of the snow business could sell more than dozen ski resorts from Maine to California that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
CNL Lifestyle Properties owns 16 resorts including Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe in California, Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Maine, Bretton Woods, Loon Mountain and Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire, Okemo Mountain in Vermont, Crested Butte in Colorado and Brighton in Utah.
Vails Resorts reports 95% increase in second quarter income
Submitted by paula on Thu, 03/12/2015 - 9:44pm
Good news for shareholders of Vail Resorts Thursday after the results for the second quarter of the fiscal year were released. Vail operates real estate, ski resort and lodging segments including Heavenly, Kirkwood and Northstar Mountain Resorts in Lake Tahoe.
Vail Resort's net income was $115.8 million for the second fiscal quarter of 2015, representing a 95.3% increase compared to the same period last year.
South Lake Tahoe Realtors earn international awards
Submitted by paula on Mon, 03/09/2015 - 9:20pm
Six real estate agents at Coldwell Banker McKinney & Associates have achieved international award designations.
Peggy Eichhorn has been honored as a member of the prestigious Coldwell Banker International President’s Circle. This membership is awarded to the top 4 percent of all Coldwell Banker sales associates worldwide.
Monique McIntyre was also honored as a member of the Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society. This membership is awarded to the top 8 percent of all Coldwell Banker sales associates worldwide.
Chase International names Agents of the Year
Submitted by paula on Wed, 02/25/2015 - 11:40pm
Chase International recently recognized its top 2014 agents, with Alison Elder being named agent of the year for the Lake Tahoe area and Tina and Terri Ross honored as agents of the year in Reno.
Lake Tahoe’s top rookie was Mary Kleingartner with $4.2 million in volume sold. Brent Johnson was named top sales agent, with 42.75 units sold. Elder also claimed top listing agent in units, volume, and units and volume sold, as well as top sales agent. She helped broker more than $65 million in sales.
Caesars denies another request from second-level bond holder
Submitted by paula on Tue, 02/24/2015 - 10:17am
Caesars Entertainment Corp. is getting used to saying no.
For the second time in two weeks, the casino operator rejected a demand from an unsecured second level bondholder for payment of the obligations.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission Monday, Caesars said BOKF N.A. asked for payment on $750 million in debt plus interest. Caesars said it turned down the payment demand.
Celebrities practicing moves for Dancing With the Tahoe Stars
Submitted by paula on Sun, 02/22/2015 - 3:32pm
Event Date:
March 7, 2015 - 6:30pm
Five, six, seven, eight. Dancers will always have numbers in their head as they count out the beat, and those participating in the annual Dancing With the Tahoe Stars are no doubt experiencing just that as they wrap up their final two weeks of rehearsals.
There's an old saying: "Writing about art is like dancing about architecture." After watching rehearsals this week I starting searching for the words to start as I found that translating the movement of the human body into something written down to be a frustrating process.
So instead, I'll focus on those who are participating.
Kirkwood Mountain Realty debuts Timber Creek Townhomes
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 02/03/2015 - 3:31pm
Kirkwood Mountain Realty, the premier real estate company for Kirkwood, CA, announces the development of Timber Creek Townhomes, showcasing sustainable design with smart home technology and modern home features.
Construction is underway on 21 new, ski-in, ski-out townhomes in the heart of Timber Creek Village. Owners will enjoy easy access to the high-speed lifts of Vail Resorts’ Kirkwood Mountain Resort, and the renowned Ski & Ride School.
Historic Lake Tahoe ranch listed for $98 million
Submitted by paula on Sun, 02/01/2015 - 8:38pm
Update: This property has sold.
If you've been hankering for a getaway at Lake Tahoe and have $98 million to spare, you're in luck.
Check out Shakespeare Ranch, which takes up 133 acres along 423 feet of shoreline. It's named for Shakespeare Rock, which overlooks the property and is said to resemble the playwright.
RE/MAX donates $5,750 to Douglas County Community and Senior Center
Submitted by paula on Thu, 01/29/2015 - 12:55am
RE/MAX Reality Affiliates, a Minden real estate network, donated $5,750 to the Douglas County Community and Senior Center for one year naming rights of the Dining Room and eight electronic score boards in the gymnasium.
“We saw this as a great opportunity for us to support an amazing cause,” said John Fisher, broker and owner of the network.
The network generously stepped forward at the opening ceremony of the Community Center on December 6th, 2014 to provide the donation.
Pot Smoke And Mirrors: Vaporizer Pens Hide Marijuana Use
Submitted by paula on Tue, 01/27/2015 - 10:04pm
It's a sunny afternoon at Kelly's Collective, a medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles, and Nikki Esquibel is getting stoned. But you wouldn't know it.
The 19-year-old, who has a medical prescription for marijuana, is "smoking" pot with a handheld vaporizer, or a vape pen. It's sleek, black, and virtually indistinguishable from a high-end e-cigarette.
That's the point, says Esquibel. "I use it mostly around my neighborhood. It's easy to hide." The vapor coming from the device doesn't even have much of an odor.
Former Lake Tahoe resident Terrie Q. Sayre
Submitted by paula on Fri, 01/23/2015 - 6:10pm
Former South Lake Tahoe resident Terrie Q. Sayre passed away Friday in her home in Albuquerque, NM at the age of 54 following a short illness. Sayre, a former Miss Nevada, was the News Director for KTHO and KOWL while in South Lake Tahoe. She made her mark while on the South Shore and in Reno where she was a news anchor on KOH and host of a real estate TV show.
News reports out of New Mexico say that Sayre, who was an on air personality on KKOB 770 in Albuquerque, died after an illness. A close friend of Sayre's told KOB Thursday evening she had been battling the flu for a month.
City Council News: Lot sells for $1.1M; Raises given; Connolly and Regan Beach updates
Submitted by paula on Wed, 01/21/2015 - 12:04am
The City Council Tuesday formalized the offer on the SW corner lot on Ski Run Blvd and Highway 50. The lot, along with 12,000 square feet of commercial floor area (CFA), was sold for $1.1 million to Halferty Development Company.
Coldwell Banker McKinney & Associates celebrates its 30th anniversary
Submitted by paula on Tue, 01/20/2015 - 10:50pm
Coldwell Banker McKinney’s team of over 30 professionals has been providing services for clients since 1978 in South Lake Tahoe. Their award winning office in the heart of the community and they call themselves the most established and experienced real estate company in the City.
City selling lot on corner of Ski Run Blvd and Highway 50 to developer
Submitted by paula on Mon, 01/19/2015 - 11:27pm
The City of South Lake Tahoe is set to sell the vacant lot they own on the southwest corner of Ski Run Blvd and Highway 50 during Tuesday's City Council meeting.
A purchase and sale agreement between the Halferty Development Company, LLC of Pasadena, CA and the City of South Lake Tahoe was created on January 5, 2015 and will be voted on January 20, 2015. The agreement shows that Halferty has offered $1,100,000 for the lot and will get 12,000 square feet of commercial floor space with the sale.
Caesars rolls the dice in bankruptcy court
Submitted by paula on Thu, 01/15/2015 - 10:26am
Casino company Caesars Entertainment (CZR), the owner of Harrah's and Harvey's in Lake Tahoe, announced early Thursday that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in federal court in Chicago for its main operating unit in an attempt to beat back an effort by some creditors who filed their own bankruptcy plan in Delaware on Monday. They claim the company has cheated them.
Dancing With the Tahoe Stars returns to the MontBleu stage in March
Submitted by paula on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 10:24pm
Event Date:
March 7, 2015 - 6:30pm
In case you haven't made it to any of the previous Tahoe Arts Project Dancing With the Tahoe Stars you'll want to put March 7 on your calendars.
Ten local celebrities will be paired with talented and experienced dancers from the area. In the group of ten is a real estate agent, business owner, comedian, Barton executive, lawyer, doctor, teacher, fireman, casino executive and public relations expert.
In resort towns, working class squeezed out as rich move in
Submitted by paula on Mon, 01/12/2015 - 4:09pm
ASPEN, Colo. (AP) -- At first, Loly Garcia didn't have to travel far to her jobs in the chic hotels of this fabled tourist town. She shared a tiny studio apartment with her father, brother and a cousin after arriving from El Salvador more than 20 years ago.
But after she married and wanted a home of her own, she had to drive 23 miles west, past tracts of empty land and vacant mansions whose owners visit only a couple of weeks a year, to the mobile home park where she now lives.
Weidinger Public Relations of Lake Tahoe wins top honors
Submitted by paula on Tue, 12/02/2014 - 11:30pm
Weidinger Public Relations was presented with four awards by the Public Relations Society of America, Sierra Nevada Chapter at the organization’s 28th annual Silver Spike Awards recently held in Reno. They won the prestigious “Judge’s Choice Award,” denoting Northern Nevada’s best overall campaign.
South Lake Tahoe new home hunting experience filmed for HGTV's House Hunters
Submitted by paula on Mon, 12/01/2014 - 11:12pm
A home search in South Lake Tahoe will be the subject of an upcoming episode of HGTV's House Hunters.
Travis and Morgan Fields of Oakland, CA were working with Chase International Realtor Angie Clark when the couple contacted the television show about their home search being part of the popular show.
All three of them had to fill out questionnaires and send in audition tapes.
“The audition tape was a little daunting,” Angie said. “My husband filmed it for me and it took a few tries. We submitted the video and just thought that would be the end of that.”
Edward Joseph McCarthy 1921 - 2014
Submitted by paula on Sun, 10/12/2014 - 10:36am
We just wanted to let those that knew our father, Edward Joseph McCarthy, that our father passed away at 10:25pm Thursday night, October 2, 2014, in his Lake Tahoe home at the age of 93. He was surrounded by family members as he slipped away from us.
