Tahoe Donner – Look What’s Happening at The Lodge !
June 2, 2010
Deck Opening Party
Don’t miss the annual deck opening party at The Lodge on Friday, June 11. Enjoy a complementary drink with live music from 6 to 9 p.m. and Happy Hour from 4 to 9 p.m. throughout the entire restaurant.
Happy Hour
4 – 6 p.m., Sunday – Friday
25% off entire Pub Menu,
Plus drink specials.
(In Pub Only. Not valid during holiday periods.)
Wild Wednesdays
Enjoy Happy Hour in the Pub all night long, Wednesday nights from 5 p.m. ’till close.
(Last Wild Wednesday of the season is on June 9.)
Music in The Grotto
Free live music in The Grotto, every Wednesday night through August. Begins June 16.
No Corkage Tuesdays
Every Tuesday night The Lodge will waive the corkage fee when you bring in a bottle of wine.
(Not valid during holiday periods.)
Truckee Day
June 2, 2010
Truckee Day is a town-wide street clean up and civic-pride day, taking place on Saturday, June 5 2010. The Tahoe Donner check-in station will be at Snowtech (17356 Northwoods Blvd.) and will open at 8 a.m. Arrive early to pick up your materials and your volunteer tee shirt, and then you will be assigned a section of roadway to clean.
Following the cleanup, there will be a town-wide barbeque and block party starting at noon at the Truckee River Regional Park. This is a great way to spend time with your friends and neighbors while helping the community. For more information, visit www.truckeeday.org.
Buyers – Home Design Considerations !
June 2, 2010
Design Considerations…
It is a big decision for anyone to buy a new home and there are many things to take into consideration, especially when purchasing a home in the mountains. While location and price are major determinants 
in the home buying process, many buyers often overlook other important elements. For example, a house that is great in the summer may not be so great when it’s buried with snow come winter. Following are some of the elements you should know about:
- Basic Home Design
- Lot Topography
- Location
- Materials and Design
In this article we will try to point out some of the features you should seriously consider when buying your mountain home. We want you to thoroughly enjoy your new place and we also want you to make a good investment.
Home Styles
Truckee has a wide range of home styles. We see homes ranging from ranch style homes to A-frames (and variations) to reverse floor plans to luxurious mountain lodges! Following are a few things to think about:
- Ranch Style: While ranch style homes (all one level) can be nice in most locales, in snow country they are not always the best choice. Depending on the snow load, a single level home can easily get
buried in the winter turning your bright and sunny summer chalet into an ice cave in the winter. If you do require a single level home, you should consider the snow load in the neighborhood and the roof angles and materials (see picture). - Reverse Floor Plan: A typical Truckee home or cabin is designed with what we call a reverse floor plan which describes a home with the main living area upstairs and the garage and bedrooms on the ground level. This gets the main living area of the house up out of
the snow and it is also more economical to build. This style home is a good way to accomplish a better view on a flat lot and also is quite common on an up slope lot. - Garages are another consideration for mountain homes. A garage serves many purposes. In the winter, especially, it is nice to park inside a garage and this also makes it easier when your snow removal service comes to remove snow. A garage protects your car from snow shedding from the roof and a garage also gives you a place to store skis, boats, lawn furniture, etc.
Lot Characteristics
Lots come in all shapes and sizes. You should consider all of the following
- Lot Topography
- Location
- Soil, rock, vegetation characteristics (trees and bushes)
- Orientation to the sun
- An up slope lot, which slopes upward from the street, will generally mean the house will have an up slope, sometimes steep, driveway and the view from the house will look out over the street. The entrance to the home will usually require stairs to get to the front door and main living area as the garage is often positioned below the living area. Depending on the steepness of the lot, the usable area to the rear of the house can be confined by the slope. A turn around area in an up slope or down slope driveway can be very helpful in icy conditions. Snow and ice on south facing driveways melts faster than the north facing driveway across the street! It makes a huge difference! Common sense will tell you if the driveway is too steep. Is it a driveway you will want to navigate in the winter when there is snow and ice?
- A down slope lot, which slopes downward from the street, usually allows
entry to the house through the main living area. The driveway can either be down sloping or if it is elevated or bridged, the driveway may actually be flat (see picture). If power lines are a concern for you, they generally have less impact with a down slope lot as most windows will look out to the rear, away from the street. - An advantage of a flat lot, if you build the right house, is that you have easy access to your yard. At our house, where the main living area is on the ground floor, in the summertime we use our deck as an extension of our house and in the winter we snowshoe just as easily. A flat driveway is always easiest for snow removal, and traction when icy.
- The location of your lot/home is also important. It is different for everyone, but the majority of our clients prefer homes on the more interior neighborhood streets vs. the main streets in a subdivision. Locations that get good sunshine are also preferable. Check out the orientation to the sun.
- Take a look at the soil, rocks and vegetation on your lot. Some people like lots of trees and other prefer more openness.
Materials / Design
The snow in Truckee should definitely be a consideration for the design of a home. Roof lines and type of roofing materials are a big factor in the effect the snow has around the house. Roofs that are angled
towards decks, garage and entry doors and even windows will shed snow in unwanted places. The roofing material is a factor in how much snow will actually slide off the roof. Metal roofs will not hold snow while a composition roof will. For example, a metal roof that angles towards your driveway will shed unwanted snow in front of your garage doors. Windows and doors are susceptible to the same thing (see picture).
Sophisticated roof designs add attractiveness to the home, however, complex roof designs that have valleys and areas where snow can accumulate can be problematic. We find with newer homes, that apply more modern architecture and building techniques, these problems are greatly minimized.
These are just a few things to keep in mind when considering a home in the Tahoe Donner and Truckee area. Remember, not every property will have everything just perfect, so be prepared to be flexible. That upslope or downslope driveway may just get you the view you have been looking for. As your Realtors, we try to point out issues about properties that you are interested in purchasing because, first and foremost, your satisfaction is our priority.
written by: Robbie and Karen Huntoon
Defensible Space – An Ounce of Prevention…
May 13, 2010
Things We Can Do To Protect Our Truckee Real Estate
2010 Tahoe Donner defensible space inspections will take place in units 6, 7 and 10. Property owners in these units will be notified by mail of the results of their inspection. If any, deficiencies are reported, owners will be given 45 days to correct them.
Practicing good defensible space is an important part of being a property owner in Tahoe Donner. US Forest Service records show that over the last 35 years over 150 fires burned in or within a two-mile radius of Tahoe Donner. One of the goals of the forestry department is to help property owners bring their properties into compliance with state, local and association fire safety standards. Work completed by individual property owners is key to keeping Tahoe Donner safe from wildfire. In 2007, the Tahoe Donner Board of Directors adopted a four-year program to inspect all properties, both developed and undeveloped, in the association. The first two years of the fire inspection program have been a great success.
Check list of fire safety items around your home -
Residence:
- Pine needles must be removed from the roof of all structures
- Pine needles on the ground must be removed within 10 feet of all structures
- Limbs must be removed from within 10 feet of the chimney
- Chimney must have an approved spark arrestor
- Ten feet of clearance required around the propane tank
- Firewood and lumber must be stacked away from the residence
- The address of the residence must be clearly visible
100-feet or to Property Line:
- All dry, flammable vegetation and woody debris less than 12 inches in diameter must be removed
- Dead and/or beetle infested trees must be removed
- The areas of contiguous brush must be broken up
- Excessively dense tree cover must be thinned
- Remove the lower branches, six feet from the ground, on trees over 12 feet tall. On shorter trees remove the lower branches to 1/2 the height of the tree
- All dead plants or grasses must be cut to a height of six inches or less
Protecting the Forest
In addition to protecting your home, defensible space is also about improving the health of the forest to reduce the threat of fire. The forestry department works to create a healthy forest on the common areas of Tahoe Donner. This is done by:
- Creating and maintaining fuel breaks in strategic areas
- Removing brush and planting trees to establish a forest on the landscape
- Masticating (mowing) brush from around trees to increase the growth of the forest, change the arrangement of fuels and remove ladder fuels (fuels which provide vertical continuity allowing fire to spread up into tree crowns)
- Creating a mosaic of practices to lessen the impacts to the human eye and encourage different wildlife species
- Thinning dense forest stands through commercial logging operations or by hand crews
- Maintaining the seasonal road system in the western portion of Tahoe Donner to lessen erosion and allow access by firefighting crews
If you wish to schedule an appointment for a Forestry Department staff member to check for defensible space on your property and make improvement recommendations, contact the Forestry Department at (530) 587-9432.
If you don’t have time to do the work yourselves, there are many resources that you can hire to get the job done.
Let’s all do what we can to keep our neighborhoods safe. Thank you!
12590 Stockholm, SOLD
May 13, 2010
This is a fantastic home at an UNBELIEVABLE price!
This is a must see. Don’t wait!
Located on Stockholm, this casual mountain home basks in the sunshine and has peek mountain top views of the Carson Range and Northstar. This home is light & bright, charming and inviting. Features include a free standing wood burning stove on a rock hearth, tile counter tops, pine accents and trim and is tastefully appointed with neutral color carpets and a pleasing interior paint color. Consisting of 1640 square feet, this 3 bedroom home has an “easy-living” open floor plan and a front deck that is drenched in sunshine!
- Offered at $479,000 , NOW – $424,500 - SOLD $424,500
- 3 bedrooms; spacious master suite with walk-in closet
- 2 baths
- 2 car garage
- 1640 square feet
- Lot dimensions 90’ x 210’
- Greenbelt setting
- Peek mountain top views of Northstar and the Carson Range
- Open floor plan
- Rock hearth with free standing wood stove
- Newer paint throughout
- Easy access; flat driveway
- Light, bright and cozy
- Landscaping includes watering system
- 50 Gallon Water Heater – new in 2010
- Enjoy a full spectrum of Tahoe Donner amenities
- Virtual Tour of 12590 Stockholm
- Printable Flyer
12530 Pinnacle Loop, $979,900
May 11, 2010
If you like amazing sunsets and breathtaking views this is the place for you. The perfectly positioned windows frame the likes of Hawk’s Peak, Frog Lake Cliffs, Tinker’s Knob and more. Easy access to the Nordic Center in the winter and miles and miles of trails in the summer. This exquisite mountain home is custom built with fine craftsmanship and attention to every detail. Extensive use of cherry wood, travertine & fossil slate flooring, granite & stone. 2 Decks and Paver patio. Quality, views, size, floorplan and excellent price – this one can’t be beat! Call Karen and Robbie to see this amazing property. 530-412-0583.
- Offered at $979,900
- Panoramic Views
- 4 Bedrooms
- 3.5 Baths
- 2 Car Garage
- Large Bonus Room
- Professionally Engineered Theater
- 2 Decks
- 3028 Square Feet
- Built in 2007
Click on any photo to start slideshow!
Tahoe Donner® Real Estate: April 2010
May 7, 2010
Tahoe Donner® Real Estate
Single Family Homes Sold - April 2010
Single Family Homes SOLD = 22 (17 standard sales, 3 short sales, 2 REO)
Median List Price = $530,250
Median Sale Price = $530,000
Average Days on Market = 128
YTD TD SF Homes Sold = 60 (as of 4/30)
Active Listings = 91 (as of 5/7)
| Address | Original Price | Sales Price | Square Feet |
| 11962 Bernese | $305,000 | $278,000 | 940 |
| 14644 Christie (REO) | $299,900 | $307,000 | 1178 |
| 15359 Northwoods | $399,000 | $360,000 | 1352 |
| 13493 Skiview Loop | $459,000 | $365,000 | 1516 |
| 14360 Northwoods(short) | $329,900 | $370,000 | 1286 |
| 11792 Chateau | $450,000 | $419,000 | 1389 |
| 11940 Sitzmark | $455,000 | $450,000 | 2056 |
| 14062 Herringbone | $510,000 | $465,000 | 1500 |
| 12058 Brookstone | $495,000 | $474,000 | 1530 |
| 12109 Bennett Flat (short ) | $575,000 | $485,000 | 2110 |
| 12205 Brookstone | $525,000 | $525,000 | 1765 |
| 10975 Skislope (REO) | $535,500 | $535,000 | 2998 |
| 14328 Copenhagen | $549,900 | $543,500 | 2525 |
| 11924 Kitzbuhel | $599,000 | $580,000 | 2000 |
| 16987 Skislope | $629,000 | $605,000 | 2207 |
| 13362 Northwoods | $859,000 | $690,000 | 2503 |
| 13871 Alder Creek | $759,000 | $730,000 | 2669 |
| 13642 Pathway | $759,000 | $745,000 | 2472 |
| 16475 Skislope | $865,000 | $795,000 | 2750 |
| 12276 Stockholm | $1,000,000 | $890,000 | 3832 |
| 12332 Skislope (short) | $1,950,000 | $1,120,000 | 3606 |
| 12809 Pinnacle | $2,195,000 | $1,725,000 | 4976 |
Tahoe Donner® Condos Sold - April 2010
Condos SOLD = 5 (2 standard sales, 2 short sales, 1 REO)
Median List Price = $329,000
Median Sale Price = $325,000
Average Days on Market = 156
YTD TD Condos Sold = 16 (as of 4/30)
Active Listings = 43 (as of 5/7)
Tahoe Donner® Lots Sold - April 2010
Lots SOLD = 2 (2 standard sales)
Median List Price = $294,000
Median Sale Price = $265,000
Average Days on Market = 23
YTD TD Lots Sold = 8 (as of 4/30)
Active Listings = 43 (as of 5/7)
(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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Tahoe Donner Summer Program Registration
April 30, 2010
Registration Information
Registration for 2010 day camps and swim lesson programs will take place online at http://onestore.tahoedonner.com. We recommend that you create a login and check that all members that you have registered at the Member Services office appear in your profile prior to the registration date. Information regarding swim lessons and day camps is available in the Summer Fun Guide or online at www.tahoedonner.com. For more information, contact Trout Creek Recreation Center at (530) 587-9437.
Member Registration
Day Camps: Tuesday, May 4, 8 a.m.
Swim Lessons: Tuesday, May 11, 8 a.m.
1. To register as a member, each participant must be identified on your Tahoe Donner profile, even if they are six or under. You may add members to your profile at the Member Services office. The Member Services office, located in Northwoods Clubhouse, is open from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Saturday. A birth certificate will be required to add a child to your profile. Please note: If your child turns seven prior to registration this year, you may be required to pay the applicable member fees for them to be considered a member.
2. Go to http://onestore.tahoedonner.com and create your login. To do so, you will need to enter your name and member ID number exactly as they appear on your member ID card. If you went through the registration process last summer, your login should be the same. Both previous and new users should log in and make sure that all members you may have added appear on your profile.
3. After you complete your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with links to waiver forms that will need to be completed and submitted to Tahoe Donner.
Guest Registration
Day Camps: Tuesday, May 18, 8 a.m.
Swim Lessons: Tuesday, May 25, 8 a.m.
1. To register as a guest, you must obtain either a transferable guest card ID number or a member card ID number.
2. Go to http://onestore.tahoedonner.com and create your login.
3. After you complete your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with links to waiver forms that will need to be completed and submitted to Tahoe Donner.
4. For all programs that are restricted by age, guests will be required to provide a copy of the participant’s birth certificate. Your registration will not be complete until a birth certificate is received. Birth certificates can be emailed or faxed to the address or number provided in your confirmation email.
Important
Please take careful note of the age level requirements for each program and make sure that your child is eligible to attend that program. The age requirements are established for the safety and well-being of your child. Age requirements are enforced as of the first day of the session in which your child is registered. If a child is found to be registered for a program that he/she is not eligible, for his/her registration will be cancelled and no refund will be given. There will be no exceptions with children’s ages for day camps. All children must be potty-trained to attend any camp. Children in pull-ups will not be allowed to attend camp.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations and/or changes must be made 14 days prior to the first day of the session for which you are registered, and a processing fee of $10 per program will be charged. No refunds will be given for cancellations and/or changes made less than 14 days prior to the first day of the session for which you are registered.
Martis Camp – 20 Sales in First Quarter 2010
April 22, 2010
Tahoe’s Luxury Second Home Market Stays Hot Into 2010 With $18 Million Sold in the First Quarter at Martis Camp, a Four-Season Family Retreat
.
TRUCKEE, Calif., April 1 /PRNewswire/ – Developers of Martis Camp, a very successful private real estate community located in North Lake Tahoe, announced 20 sales in the first quarter of 2010 equaling $18 million, giving signs that the luxury second home market is alive and well in Lake Tahoe.
“We are very excited to see continued sales momentum into the 2010 winter season,” said Brian Hull, director of sales for Martis Camp. “This is the best we’ve ever done in previous first quarters since we began sales in 2006. We have never had a winter like this – even in the best of real estate markets. Prior to 2010, our pinnacle winter was 2006/2007 when we had eight sales.”
Even in these uncertain times, families are still making the commitment to enhance their lifestyle. Buyers are mostly from the western U.S. with heavy concentrations in the San Francisco Bay area as well as Los Angeles. Approximately 75 percent of buyers are paying cash and the other 25 percent have used Martis Camp’s preferred lenders for financing. According to Hull, there are some attractive loan programs currently being offered, and with some cases, buyers are only being required to put 30 percent down. Rates are in the 5% range.
Scott Keith and his wife, Lori, of the Bay Area recently purchased a home site in Martis Camp. When they first pondered the purchase, Keith said, “I thought, ‘No one’s going to be doing this, are we crazy?’ But still it seemed to be the right time to us. We wanted to set up that kind of vacation property where we could enjoy family time.” The couple and their three children hope eventually to build a four-bedroom house on their site. And one added bonus: Prices for contractors are lower than a few years ago, Keith said. “It makes things much more doable.”
Martis Camp Club is a phenomenal offering and features an 18-hole Tom Fazio golf course, direct ski access from Martis Camp to Northstar-at-Tahoe™ via the Martis Camp Express Lift and a vast array of Club amenities, including a Family Barn complex with summer swimming venue, bowling alley, art loft, movie theater, indoor basketball court, soda fountain and outdoor concert park. Martis Camp home sites range from $450,000 to $2 million.
The Martis Camp community is bustling with construction activity with 12 completed homes, along with 30 single-family custom homes currently under construction and a $42 million clubhouse, called the Camp Lodge. Another 20 homes are expected to start construction this summer.
Martis Camp is growing rapidly thanks to a financially sound and responsible development team. DMB/Highlands Group, LLC, is comprised of two of the country’s premier recreational-residential community developers, DMB Associates and Highlands Management Group. This team is responsible for the creation of Lahontan, North Lake Tahoe’s premiere golf course community. The developer’s track record and financial strength provides security to owners/prospects.
Tahoe Donner 1st QTR 2010 Market Update
April 5, 2010
Tahoe Donner 1st QTR 2010 Sales Analysis
This chart illustrates:
1) Number of Homes Sold in the 1st QTR from 2004 through 2010.
2) Comparison of Median List Price to Median Sold Price for the 1st QTR from 2004 through 2010.
An analysis of the sales data concludes that Median List and Median Sold prices are lower in 2010 than they were in 2004 (the benchmark low) and the number of homes sold, when comparing QTR 1 2004 to 2010, shows a decrease of 24%. However, 1st QTR sales in 2010 are up almost 12% from the 1st QTR in 2009.
Tahoe Donner Consecutive Quarterly Comparisons
This chart illustrates:
1) Number of Homes Sold in Tahoe Donner QTR 1 2009 – QTR 1 2010 = 265
2) Comparison of Median List Price to Median Sold Price of Homes Sold in Tahoe Donner QTR 1 2009 – QTR 1 2010
The Quarterly data suggests that on average there is about a 4.5% difference between Median List Price and Median Sold Price. (Sold prices being less than list prices). Additionally, on a Quarterly basis, sales of single family homes in Tahoe Donner have increased 12% when comparing the 1st Qtr of 2009 (34 homes sold) with the 1st Qtr of 2010 (38 homes sold). However, the median sale price has decreased almost 10% from QTR 1 2009 ($557,580) compared to QTR 1 2010 ($502,000).
Price Category Comparison of Homes Sold
This chart illustrates:
1) Number of Homes Sold QTR 1 in Tahoe Donner = 38
2) Comparison of Price Categories of Homes Sold in Tahoe Donner
38 single family homes sold in Tahoe Donner during the 1st quarter of 2010. 50% (or 19) of these homes sold for under $499,999, 34% (or 13) of the homes sold for between $500K and $749,999, 13% (or 5) of these homes sold for between $750K and $999,999. There was only one home that sold for over $1 million dollars and it sold for $1,225,000. This home was originally listed at $2,190,000 and was on the market for 639 days. If you are a seller, regardless of which end of the market you are in, you have to price carefully. In the lower end of the market there is more competition so you must price competitively and if you are at the upper end of our market, where there are relatively fewer buyers, you also have to price right for our current market. Too high of a price will almost guarantee that you will sit on your house without looking at any offers. If your goal is to sell, price right. Buyers, now is the time to get off the fence and make a purchase. We will begin to see more and more houses come on the market and the competition will become greater.
We work with both buyers and sellers. If you want honest and expert advice, please give us a call and let us know how we can help you. The majority of our clients are previous clients or their referrals – our clients come back to us because they know we do a great job. Robbie 530-412-0583 and Karen 530-448-3624.
