When we analyze the current active listings vs. the recent sales we can gain some knowledge about what people are buying and how a new listing should be priced.

Of the Tahoe Donner single family homes that sold during the month of February, 82% sold under $750,000. One half of those sales were under $500,000. It has been very evident in the last couple of years that buyers are looking for “the deal”. When it was a seller’s market, buyers would often be willing to step up their purchase price a bit to get the nicer house, location, etc. Now, given a choice between places, most buyers lean towards the lower price and are choosing based on price/value.

For sellers, the good thing right now is the inventory is low with only 71 single family homes on the market. This summer will most likely bring the number of listings to 150 or more. So, if selling is a consideration, we recommend getting your property on the market now (less competition). Pricing is important as always and if your home is value is teetering around $750,000 or so, we recommend trying to price it so it falls into the lower brackets. You want to have your house listed in the price groups where people are looking.

In the end, pricing too high historically leads to a lower selling price and increases your carrying cost of the property, i.e. the “cost of money”, taxes, and other expenses. Pricing well is the key, your property will sell faster and offers usually come in much closer to asking price.

We often hear people say they will hold onto their place until the market gets better. If you want to get the use out of your place then that is a fine strategy, but be prepared to wait 2 years or so. Even then don’t expect the value to skyrocket. So, holding the house to get a higher price is not a good plan if selling is what you ultimately want to do. Sell now and eliminate those carrying costs.

• Offered at $750,000
• Brand New Construction – Spring 2010
• 3 bedrooms
• 2 1/2 baths
• 2 car garage; Extra Deep
• Bonus Area
• 2100 Square Feet
• Open Floor Plan with Mountain Views
• All Rooms on One Level
• Sierra Pacific / Wood & Metal Clad Windows
• Gourmet Kitchen w/ GE Profile Stainless Steel Appliances
• Tumbled Limestone Bathrooms
• Kohler Bathroom Fixtures
• Wood, Stone & Carpet Flooring
• Mostly Covered Large Deck(22′ x 14′ ); Perfect for Hot Tub, Relaxing, BBQ’s
• Prime location near Hiking Trails and XC Ski Area
• Call Karen and Robbie Huntoon for more info: 530-448-3624
• Virtual Tour of Baden Property (example of previous work)
• Virtual Tour of  Cristallina Property (example of previous work)
• Printable Flyer

Click on picture to enlarge and start slideshow.

Click Here for More Tahoe Donner Information

Single Family Homes Sold - February 2010

Single Family Homes SOLD = 11
Median List Price = $549,000
Median Sale Price = $505,000
Average Days on Market = 127
YTD TD SF Homes Sold = 21
Active Listings = 71 (as of 3/10)

Tahoe Donner® Condos Sold - February 2010

Condos SOLD = 2 (both Standard Sales)
Median List Price = $459,000
Median Sale Price = $435,000
Average Days on Market = 90
YTD TD Condos Sold = 6
Active Listings = 22 (as of 3/10)

Tahoe Donner® Lots Sold - February 2010

Lots SOLD = 1 (REO)
Median List Price = $129,900
Median Sale Price = $117,500
Average Days on Market = 88
YTD TD Lots Sold = 2
Active Listings = 38 (as of 3/10)
(YTD = Year-To-Date) 

This is provided as a quick snapshot of the monthly market activity in Tahoe Donner®. Keep in mind, numbers only tell part of the story. We would be happy to share our day-to-day insight 

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What should you do? Be proactive. Act now before mortgage rates move up.

Click here …THIS MONTH IN REAL ESTATE : February 2010

Each month, This Month in Real Estate provides expert opinion and analysis on real estate trends across the nation. The aim of the consumer-oriented segments is to provide real information on real estate.

So, here are some things to keep in mind for the coming “real market” conditions:

1. Inflation leads to higher interest rates.
2. If you are a seller, it is time to cut your price and be decisive. If you’re serious about selling your property, adjust your price to where the market is moving, take your lumps and move on, or you’ll be waiting a long time.
3.  If you are a buyer, it is time to purchase or miss out on the current opportunities. Don’t make the mistake of waiting for everybody else to make a move before you feel comfortable enough to purchase. Many people have made a purchasing decision already, and we never know what the bottom of the market is until it has passed. Here’s one thing you can take to the bank—higher interest rates are the equivalent of a price increase. Don’t wait for prices to drop, the market is indicating we have reached the bottom. When rates go from 5% to 7%, it is the equivalent of a 20% increase in price to the borrower.

Look at the difference just 1 point makes in these loans:

Loan Amount               Type of Loan                Interest Rate                 Monthly Payment

 $250,000                                 30 Year Fixed              5%                               $1342.05

$250,000                                 30 Year Fixed              6%                               $1498.88

$250,000                                 30 Year Fixed              7%                               $1663.25

Single Family Homes Sold - January 2010

Single Family Homes SOLD = 9
Median List Price = $400,000
Median Sale Price = $382,000
Average Days on Market = 42
YTD TD SF Homes Sold = 9
Active Listings = 73

Tahoe Donner® Condos Sold - January 2010

Condos SOLD = 4
Median List Price = $381,975
Median Sale Price = $377,250
Average Days on Market = 200
YTD TD Condos Sold = 4
Active Listings = 27

Tahoe Donner® Lots Sold - January 2010

Lots SOLD = 1
Median List Price = $59,900
Median Sale Price = $56,500
Average Days on Market = 427
YTD TD Lots Sold = 1
Active Listings = 36
(YTD = Year-To-Date)

This is provided as a quick snapshot of the monthly market activity in Tahoe Donner®. Keep in mind, numbers only tell part of the story. We would be happy to share our day-to-day insight

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES – Tahoe Donner  

WHERE were the majority of homes sold?
56% of all single family home sales in Truckee were homes sold in Tahoe Donner. Tahoe Donner is unrivaled with the number of single family home sales in the year 2009! Tahoe Donner is a great place to invest. 

Median ”SALE  PRICES” for Single Family Homes in 2009…

*Short Sale:  A short sale is a sale of real estate in which the sale proceeds fall short of the balance owed on the property’s loan. It often occurs when a borrower cannot pay the mortgage loan on their property, but the lender decides that selling the property at a moderate loss is better than pressing the current debtor. 

*REO: Real estate owned or REO is a class of property owned by a lender, typically a bank, after an unsuccessful sale at a foreclosure auction. 

 For Buyers, we don’t expect to see home prices fall in 2010. The general trend shows that the downward spiral of prices has settled and the increase in the number of Tahoe Donner sales shows us that people are buying!  Take advantage of this opportunity to buy.    

For Sellers, it looks like home prices have settled. Prices probably aren’t going to fall much more in 2010 and on the flip side, prices won’t rise too quickly in the near future. If you have been thinking about or needing to sell, the most sound advice is to price correctly, get your house on the market and entice the buyers NOW while there are fewer houses on the market and less inventory for buyers to choose from.