Real estate

Home sales around Lake Tahoe increased substantially in 2012, with a 34 percent rise in units sold and a 40 percent jump in sales volume, according to a year-end report released by Lake Tahoe-based real estate company Chase International.

KLS Capital Partners, the owners of ski resorts Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, has entered into a purchase agreement with Intrawest to acquire 24 percent of shares in Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc.
The deal is for $115,929,375, according to UnofficialNetworks.com. As a result of the sale Whistler Blackcomb Holdings CEO, Bill Jensen, has tendered his resignation as well as directors Wes Edens and Jonathan Ashley.

Kirkwood Mountain Resort opened its 40th anniversary season when the lifts began turning at 9 a.m. Friday, five days earlier than its originally-scheduled opening day. Kirkwood opened with one chairlift and five trails, accessing 40 total acres.
“The last two storms that have rolled through the Sierra have dropped a combined four feet of snow at Kirkwood, allowing us to open early for all our passionate skiers and riders,” said Casey Blann, general manager of Kirkwood. “This will be a great start to the 40th anniversary season at Kirkwood, and the first with Vail Resorts.”

After attending the State of the South Shore Economy Public Forum held on October 23rd, 2012 I was inspired to draft a response to the questions about economic revitalization that were asked at the meeting. I feel like our group had many salient ideas that were not properly represented. Also, I have noticed that people are quick to offer ideas like “reduce unemployment”, “beautify the city”, and “improve recreation”, but they are typically unable to offer suggestions on how to make those ideas a reality.

A popular, new program offered by the Nevada Rural Housing Authority (NRHA) is making home ownership even more affordable. Through the Home at Last™ Access program, qualified home buyers receive a generous 4 percent down payment grant, which does not have to be paid back. Now, the program is offering even lower mortgage interest rates on a conventional, 30-year fixed rate loan. Through participating lenders, the interest rates on FHA, VA or USDA-RD home mortgages have dropped from 3.75 percent to the current rate of 3.5 percent, which is an historic low.

Costume contests, games, local business booths and a Tahoe-style chili cook-off are on tap Saturday, Oct. 27 with the South Lake Tahoe Harvest Festival.
Who makes the best chili in town? Taste, pick and vote for your favorite at the festival, a great way for locals to come together before winter begins. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Complex, 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe.

The South Lake Tahoe real estate market continues to see a lot of action. During the week of October 1-8, 13 homes entered the market while 6 left the market since they closed escrow.

In Lake Tahoe real estate, each month brings better news than the month before. When comparing September to the month and year before there were more closed sales, fewer homes on the market, fewer new listings, and a new category - increasing median sales price!

The median home prices of California homes sold reached a 4-year high in August according to the California Association of Realtors. In their August sales report released this week, CAR reports that home sales fell off slightly for the month but are maintaining a strong pace with 5 straight months of year over year sales gains. They also reported that inventory of homes for sale continues to be an issue with inventory at a 6 year low. You will notice similar trends in Lake Tahoe as I explain in more detail below.

Golf courses in Greater Reno-Tahoe are becoming as well known for their red ink as their green grass.Equity on privately owned golf courses has evaporated as real estate values plummeted. In some c...

The August real estate figures are in for South Lake Tahoe and there are no surprises. We continue to see increased sales, decreased new listings and decreased number of homes on the market. The only thing that really isn't following the expected pattern is the median home price of homes sold in the area.

Increased Sales of Tahoe Homes

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their monthly report, and the national news is much as it is in Lake Tahoe: "Sales of existing homes rose in July even with constraints of affordable inventory." Their report stated that monthly sales rose in every region but the West, where inventory is very tight.

Low Inventory of Homes in Lake Tahoe

Nicole Larrimore has been named as the new Mortgage and Marketing Coordinator for the Nevada Rural Housing Authority. The position was recently created to provide information about the NRHA’s housing assistance programs to mortgage lenders, banks, realtors, brokers, title and hazard insurance companies and prospective homebuyers. She will serve as the NRHA liaison to lenders and build relationships with the home buying and real estate community to better serve their needs.

Just a few years ago home buyers were choosing the Nevada side over the California side when looking for a Lake Tahoe home to purchase. Taxes were lower and schools were better so Nevada was more attractive. But is that still the feeling? There's good news, and bad news, depending on which neighborhood/state you're set on owning a home in.

Shining Example of Schools in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

The Best Western Timber Cove Lodge & Marina Resort was sold to Urbana Holdings LLC in June.Urbana Holdings, an Atlanta-based commercial real estate investment firm, plans to refurbish the property,...

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The new Lakeview Commons has become prime real estate for some great live music, from jam rock to dub step, and a laid-back atmosphere right there on the beach.Last Sa...

Vacation property sales have picked up around Lake Tahoe as plunging home prices bring buyers back, according to the Sacramento Business Journal.
Home sales have picked up significantly this year as investors, vacation home buyers and even first-time buyers respond to declining prices and historically low interest rates. The trend is evident on both sides of the California and Nevada state line.

CRYSTAL BAY, Nev. - A key loan financing the multi-million dollar renovation of the Tahoe Biltmore property showed up on regional real estate listings last week, spurring questions about the Bou...

Edgewood Companies is inviting community members to learn more about the proposed Edgewood Tahoe Lodge Project at an Open House event on March 29 from 5:30pm to 7pm at the Edgewood Tahoe Clubhouse.
“We welcome community members to get involved by coming to our open house,” stated Patrick Rhamey, Vice President of Real Estate for Edgewood Companies. “Our team will be on hand to answer questions about the approval process plus share information about our vision, innovative design, amenities and golf course improvements.”  

It's been a weird ski and riding season, for sure. One indication is that Heavenly Mountain Resort is only operating the Boulder base lodge and the Boulder and North Bowl lifts on weekends. In all the years I taught at Boulder never has had a shutdown like this. Too bad because lots of locals liked Boulder as out-of-towners didn't go there very often. Thus, parking was close and runs not crowded.