Lake Tahoe Experts

Your Definitive Neighborhood Resource: Nineteen more South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, NV Neighborhoods to follow.

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG) We’ve just updated all current real estate market information for Gardner Mountain, a quiet, hillside neighborhood with normally many entry level homes and remodel opportunities. Close to the lake, beach access and a short drive to Emerald Bay, Gardner Mountain homes range from small, older homes in the $300K’s to new remodels in the $500K’s and more. Starter homes in reasonable condition priced in the $300K’s can sell immediately here. (Number homes: 548+)

We’ve also updated the Stateline Area, located between the casinos and the Lake. Homes in the Stateline Area offer a range of value and opportunity. Obviously the location is ideal, especially for people who want to be close to the Lake and our entertainment attractions. Values range widely, from market entry to lake front estates in the multiple-millions. Stateline is a rather small neighborhood, with little supply against high demand. Sales are usually quick here, especially in the market entry to mid-market range. (Number homes: 289+)

Also updated is our South Lake Tahoe neighborhood of Meyers, one of the first areas one passes when driving in from Sacramento and the Bay Area. Meyers is one of our mid-market and market entry neighborhoods. Features can include mountain views, trees, and back yards opening up to a meadow or forest. Some lots can be oversized. Values range from small fixer opportunities to the mid $500’s, and a few larger, new homes that are much more. (Number homes: 586+)

Also updated is our Y Area, a small, older neighborhood offering market entry level homes and remodel opportunities. Some new remodels are also available from time to time. Homes range in value from the $200K’s to new homes around the $600K’s and sometimes more. Almost any home here that is listed in the $200K’s, of which there are few these days, or low $300K’s, can sell quickly.

Please check out these South Lake Tahoe Neighborhoods in the left sidebar of our Lake Tahoe Real Estate Blog. Think of what’s here as “mini-sites” devoted to each neighborhoods market performance and statistics. In each one are all current listings, escrow, 2007 sales to date, and every sale in 2006, 2005 and 2005. Each page also has a pop-up statistics graph for that exact page. It’s found by clicking on the link in the middle of the page that reads “Meyers Statistics,” for example.

More neighborhoods will shortly follow until all of our 37 South Lake Tahoe neighborhoods are complete. As such, it will be your complete, detailed and thorough resource for area real estate information. That, coupled with our Absorption Rates will give you a precise understanding of your market and what it is doing.

(Please comment below about this post, or anything else where we might be helpful to you. If you liked it, please click on the “Vote for Me” icon in the left sidebar of our blog and add us to your technorati and del.ici.ous bookmark accounts.)

Your Definitive Neighborhood Resource: Only eight more South Lake Tahoe and Stateline Neighborhoods to follow. Whew!

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG) We’ve just updated most of our Stateline, NV neighborhoods. Please find and check them out in the left sidebar. You will find the following neighborhoods completely up to date, with all current, relevant stats and information.

Glenbrook
(Number homes: 316) With a guarded entrance, a private beach, pier, golf course and club, Glenbrook is one of Nevada’s most exclusive and upscale communities. Glenbrook properties range from top-of-the-market condominiums to expansive estates.

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Cave Rock
(Number homes: 189) Also located on hillsides overlooking the lake, Cave Rock and Lakeridge offer both breathtaking lake views and forested lots. Homes range from dated fixer-uppers, through mid-market opportunities to some of the most stunning view properties on the Lake.

Skyland
(Number homes: 225) Located next to the lake, Skyland is a sedate, backyard and barbeque neighborhood known for large lots nestled amid tall, shade bearing trees. Homes start with more mid-market opportunities and then range to top of the market lakefront properties.

Roundhill
(Number homes: 202) A quiet, secluded neighborhood set amid forest-backed lots and tall trees, Roundhill is one of the lake's most family oriented communities. Homes range from low to mid-market values to upscale lake view properties. There are a few condominiums located in Roundhill as well.

Lake Village Townhomes
(Number townhomes: 334) Set amid a hillside forest, Lake Village is a quiet, sedate, well-planned, highly desirable condominium / townhome community. Properties range from affordable townhouses to large, vaulted ceiling, lake-view sunset retreats. Many of the properties in Lake Village are used as vacation homes and offer significant vacation rental income possibilities.

Lower Kingsbury
Set amid the hills next to the lake near the Nevada state line, Lower Kingsbury Grade is part of Lake Tahoe’s largest community. With over 800 homes, the Kingsbury Grade is commonly divided into 3 sections. Homes throughout span from the bottom of Lake Tahoe’s real estate market to stunning, expansive, lakeview homes that are among the most breathtaking properties on the lake.

Middle Kingsbury
Set amid the hills next to the lake near the Nevada state line, Mid Kingsbury Grade is part of Lake Tahoe’s largest community. As with Lower Kingsbury Grade, homes in this area range in value from the bottom of the market to the most stunning, exclusive, and expensive.

Upper Kingsbury
This area rests atop the "Nevada Side" of Heavenly Mountain. The single family homes in this area tend to be spacious and sport spectacular lake or Carson Valley views. There are also large condominium / townhome communities located just steps from the Nevada lodges of Heavenly Ski Resort. It's a true "Ski In / Ski Out" neighborhood.

Summit Tahoe Village
(Number condominiums/townhomes: 379) Perched at the top of the Nevada side of Heavenly Mountain, Tahoe Village and Summit Village are our two most desirable condominium / townhome communities. From small duplexes to elevator buildings, condominiums here range from modest studios to large, multi-floor, panoramic lake view and Carson-valley view properties. Many are vacation homes that produce strong vacation rental income.

Please check out these Stateline, NV, South Shore Lake Tahoe Neighborhoods in the left sidebar of our Lake Tahoe Real Estate Blog. Think of what’s here as “mini-sites” devoted to each neighborhoods market performance and statistics. In each one are all current listings, escrow, 2007 sales to date, and every sale in 2006, 2005 and 2005. Each page also has a pop-up statistics graph for that exact page. It’s found by clicking on the link in the middle of the page that reads “Glenbrook Statistics,” for example.

More neighborhoods will shortly follow until all of our 37 South Lake Tahoe neighborhoods are complete. As such, it will be your complete, detailed and thorough resource for area real estate information. That, coupled with our Absorption Rates will give you a precise understanding of your market and what it is doing.

(Please comment below about this post, or anything else where we might be helpful to you. If you liked it, please click on the “Vote for Me” icon in the left sidebar and add us to your technorati and del.ici.ous bookmark accounts.)

The best lake view at the best price on our Market!

• A Lakeview jewel in prestigious Cave Rock Estates.
• Private spacious view lot adjacent to forest land.
• A stone’s throw from the lake and boating facilities.
• Recently remodeled home w/ a modern touch and top quality materials.
• Dream kitchen w/ state of the art stainless steel appliances w/ indoor BBQ.
• Incredible Great Room: bright and airy, cathedral ceilings and what a view!
• Two modern fireplaces, one in polished granite, the other natural granite.
• Top-floor Family room w/ fireplace & private deck w/ that panoramic view.
• 2730 sq. ft. (per assessor), 3 BD, 2.5 BA. Plus mudroom and workshop below.
• Lake View Master suite w/ walk-in closet and featuring new jetted tub and separate shower.
• Top-floor Family room w/ fireplace... private deck... and that View again.
• Spacious deck ideal for outdoor entertaining and BBQ’s….again that magnificent view
• Just minutes from Tahoe resorts, entertainment & natural attractions.

A classic lifestyle in a modern setting.

Located in prestigious Montgomery Estates, this unique mountain setting home was built in 1995, yet it feels like Mark Twain might visit anytime. Home features large custom kitchen, dining room, living room with Italian fireplace, parlor, 4BD, 2.5BA, exquisite Master suite and bath, top-of-the-line accents & fixtures, approx 3,183 sq. ft., plus bonus room, inviting yard w/ hot tub & hot house, miles of forest and hiking trails nearby, minutes from all Lake Tahoe entertainment and attractions. (download brochure pdf)

Victorian House Features

• Master-crafted woodwork & detail throughout
• Spacious entry-way w/ beveled & stained glass windows
• Large gourmet kitchen w/ center island, breakfast nook, Wolf range & Fisher Paykel dishwasher
• Formal dining room
• Gold-plated Xtrordinaire™ fireplace w/ Italian marble face
• Australian hardwood floors
• Guest BD Suite w/ turret & built-in window seats to enjoy forest/mountain views
• Two additional guest bedrooms
• Guest bath w/ jetted tub
• Formal parlor w/ turret
• Furniture-quality cabinets & vanities
• Exquisite crown, trim & baseboard molding throughout
• Spacious decks in front, rear, & side w/ wraparound porch on 3 sides
• Deluxe hot-tub w/ built-in CD/radio, speakers & lighting
• Park-like landscaping including waterfall/pond, benches & bbq
• Custom greenhouse
• Over sized two-car garage w/ plenty of storage
• Paving-stone driveway
• 225 square feet of bonus space at Garage Level
• Ground-level access
• Built in 1995
• Dual-paned vinyl windows
• 30-year composition roof
• Two forced-air heating units
• BMP certification complete

The Master Suite:

• Spacious, private Master suite w/ sumptuous Bath
• Skylights and picture windows let in warming light & mountain views
• Separate sitting area or workout space
• Bath has separate shower & jetted bathtub nestled in a beautiful turret
• Spacious walk-in closet w/ cathedral ceiling & custom shelving
• Ceiling fan, recessed lighting & period-style fixtures

Your Definitive Neighborhood Resource: Thirty-three more South Lake Tahoe and Stateline Neighborhoods to follow.

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG) We’ve just updated all current real estate market information for Pioneer Trail, a sought after neighborhood here in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Situated next to Country Club Estates, Pioneer Trail is an upscale hillside neighborhood. Homes range from the mid $400K’s to large, $1M+ newer estates with Lake Tahoe Airport and/or mountain views. Features include forest hillside settings, tall trees, some large lots and mountain views. Well priced homes sell quickly here. (Number homes: 672, with many remodeled and a few new homes from time to time too.)

More neighborhoods will shortly follow until all of our 37 South Lake Tahoe neighborhoods are complete. As such, it will be your complete, detailed and thorough resource for area real estate information. That, coupled with our Absorption Rates will give you a precise understanding of your market and what it is doing.

Sales Summaries for South Lake Tahoe, CA - Last 365 Days... It's Stable, a good time to Buy, a good time to Sell... especially if listed reasonably!

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG) We’ve just updated your real estate sales summaries for South Lake Tahoe, CA. We last updated this information on March 17th. Here’s what the latest data shows us, and a list of the key data points below.

Prices are lower, but are stable.
Median Sold price has remained steady for the last 6 months. That is a good sign for both buyers and sellers alike. Compared to the Median Sold Price for all of 2006, we have a decline of $20,750 in median sold price value at present. This too has also remained stable for the last six months... your Median Sold Price decrease has fluctuated between $20,000 and $26,000.

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Almost twice as much comes off the listing price as it did a year ago.
The difference between the average original list price and the median sold price in the last 365 days is 10%, compared to 5.9% for all of 2006. In the last six months, the reduction percentage has ranged from slightly below 10% to 13.2%.

What it all means:
Now is a good time to sell... if your home is priced reasonably. There has been a price reduction, though only 5% off the 2005 and 2006 Median Sold price of $475,000. Now is a good time to buy because prices are somewhat lower, interest rates remain attractive, there is an increasing inventory of choices to make, and homes that have been on the market for a half year or more may represent an opportunity to purchase at a further reduced price.

All Sales in the Last 365 Days:
Median Sold price is now $454,250.
It was $449,000 on March 17.
Median Sold price for all of 2006 was $475,000.

All Sales in the Last 180 Days:
Median Sold price is now $465,150.
It was $415,000 on March 17.

All Sales in the Last 90 Days:
Median Sold price is now $469,000.
It was $467,000 on March 17.

All Sales in the Last 30 Days:
Median Sold price is now $462,000.
It was $482,500 on March 17.

Average Days on Market the Last 365 Days (DOM):
DOM is now 139.
It was 124 on March 17.
DOM for all of 2006 was 125.

Average Days on Market in the Last 180 Days:
DOM is now 153.
It was 160 on March 17.

Average Days on Market in the Last 90 Days:
DOM is now 169.
It was 170 on March 17.

Average Days on Market in the Last 30 Days:
DOM is now 171.
It was 194 on March 17.

Difference Avg. Original List Price and Median Sold Price - Last 365 Days:
Difference from Original List price to Median Sold price is now $56,764, or 10%.
It was $36,532, or 7.1% on March 17.
For all of 2006 was 5.9%

Difference Avg. Original List Price and Median Sold Price - Last 180 Days:
Difference from Original List price to Median Sold price is now $79,250, or 13.2%.
It was $54,057, or 10.6% on March 17.

Difference Avg. Original List Price and Median Sold Price - Last 90 Days:
Difference from Original List price to Median Sold price is now $58,238, or 9.8%.
It was $106,109, or 16.6% on March 17.

Difference Avg. Original List Price and Median Sold Price - Last 30 Days:
Difference from Original List price to Median Sold price is now $79,250, or 13.2%.
It was $43,937, or 7.8% on March 17

Your Definitive Neighborhood Resource: Thirty-three more South Lake Tahoe and Stateline Neighborhoods to follow.

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG)  We’ve just updated all current real estate market information for Tahoe Paradise. Located across Pioneer Trail from Country Club Estates, homes in the Tahoe Paradise area offer secluded yet convenient mountain living. Only a few short miles from the casinos at Stateline, it also has convenient access to the shopping in Meyers. As in other areas, some of the homes are ripe for remodeling, and many have been upgraded already. Homes range in price here from market entry fixers, few to remodeled or new homes surpassing $1M in value. This is a great neighborhood.

More neighborhoods will shortly follow until all of our 37 South Lake Tahoe neighborhoods are complete. As such, it will be your complete, detailed and thorough resource for area real estate information. That, coupled with our Absorption Rates will give you a precise understanding of your market and what it is doing.

(Please comment below about this post, or anything else where we might be helpful to you. If you liked it, please click on the “Vote for Me” icon in the left sidebar and add us to your technorati and del.ici.ous bookmark accounts.)

Your Definitive Neighborhood Resource: Thirty-three more South Lake Tahoe and Stateline Neighborhoods to follow.

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG) We’ve just updated all current real estate market information for Al Tahoe, one of our most sought after neighborhoods here in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Highly desirable Al Tahoe is also one of South Lake Tahoe’s oldest neighborhoods. Known for having some of the first cabins on the Lake, Al Tahoe features lake fronts, newly remodeled homes and homes and cabins in original condition, many of which represent significant updating and value increasing opportunities. Al Tahoe experienced high demand and meaningful value increases throughout 2004 and 2005. One reason for this activity is Al Tahoe’s close proximity to the Lake (most homes are within short walking distance) and its central location amid South Lake Tahoe’s shopping, recreation and entertainment attractions. Among the neighborhood’s features are tall trees, open meadows, lake and mountain views, some oversized lots and the feel of an alpine forest setting. (Number of homes: 902+)

More neighborhoods will shortly follow until all of our 37 South Lake Tahoe neighborhoods are complete. As such, it will be your complete, detailed and thorough resource for area real estate information. That, coupled with our Absorption Rates will give you a precise understanding of your market and what it is doing.

(Please comment below about this post, or anything else where we might be helpful to you. If you liked it, please click on the “Vote for Me” icon in the left sidebar and add us to your technorati and del.ici.ous bookmark accounts.)

Your Definitive Neighborhood Resource: Thirty-four more South Lake Tahoe and Stateline Neighborhoods to follow.

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG) We’ve just updated all current real estate market information for North Upper Truckee, one of our most active and desirable neighborhoods in South Lake Tahoe, CA. N. Upper Truckee spans mid-market to high end values. Homes here can be $300K fixers to panoramic Lake view estates in highly desirable Angora Highlands. Features are secluded forest-backed lots, towering trees, and the feel of an Alpine setting. Many streets are named after Native American Indian tribes. Homes are in high demand here. (Number homes: 1,302+, and every now and then there’s a new one!)

 Upper Truckee statistics. In it are all current listings, escrow, 2007 sales to date, and every North Upper Truckee sale in 2006, 2005 and 2005. Each page also has a pop-up statistics graph for that exact page. It’s found by clicking on the link that reads “North Upper Truckee Statistics.”

More neighborhoods will shortly follow until all of our 37 South Lake Tahoe neighborhoods are complete. As such, it will be your complete, detailed and thorough resource for area real estate information. That, coupled with our Absorption Rates will give you a precise understanding of your market and what it is doing.

(Please comment below about this post, or anything else where we might be helpful to you. If you liked it, please click on the “Vote for Me” icon in the left sidebar and add us to your technorati and del.ici.ous bookmark accounts.)

A behind-the-scene look at what it takes to get our South Lake Tahoe real estate information on the web for you.

 (This was also posted by my brother and partner on our Lake Tahoe blog this morning.)

(LAKE TAHOE REAL ESTATE BLOG) Ok, I’m somewhat computer literate. But it didn’t come easy. We’ve got an extensive digital design background in print, which we’ve talked about briefly in a recent post. Learning how to do that was challenging enough; it took a lot of time, weekend seminars, and semester courses. That was back in the late 80’s and early 90’s, and looking back it seems it took about two years to get up to speed, which meant to me at the time being able to technically produce most any design I could think of and get it printed as magazine quality, high-resolution graphics.

<!-- technorati tags end --> Perhaps the most difficult of the software programs we had to learn back then was Photoshop. That took the longest to learn. It’s much easier to grasp and use now, but that was before Photoshop 3.0 introduced layers. Before that, in its pioneer phase, Photoshop had no layers, which meant that enhancing images with such things, for example, as true opaque shadows, back-lighting, text glows, beveling, embossing..., all common, easy-to-do Photoshop parlor tricks now, had to be done using hand-built, time consuming masks. These then had to be applied to the image directly.

Now all such Photoshop enhancements are not done by hand anymore. Masks are instantly built automatically by the software itself, which requires no learning curve, and then kept in isolated layers that can be easily changed. Back then that was not possible. Any enhancement, after being saved only once, could not be undone, thus any changes to an image had to be made starting from scratch all over again. That meant one always had to make and save back-up copies of every image... every time, otherwise changes were always permanent, and unwanted changes meant that the image was destroyed.

I realize this Photoshop discussion is likely tedious, or Greek, to many of you. It’s arcane, I agree, but I went into a little detail purposefully because what we’ve had to do to learn how to build this blog, and create such information resources for you on it as the neighborhoods and absorption rates, for example, eclipses everything we’ve ever done to learn about computer applications by a landslide.

It began last November. That was when we decided we would get our blog up and running... and that to do it the way we thought best, we’d have to do it ourselves. One of the outcomes of this decision meant that Gary would have to focus for the most part on all of our client services: showing listings, working with Buyers, processing escrow... etc. It also meant that I had to go back to school. And that I would be confronting face-to-face the dreaded “Code”, the precipice where what I knew about the computer falls to nothing, and the very wall of all of my prior computer resistance.

The first thing I had to do was become willing. Next was resolve. I had to make a deal with myself that I was going to get through it... no matter what. Then came about a month of research and reading, mostly downloaded information from WordPress, lots of things about Web 2.0, blogging in general, and two key articles from Steve Pavlina.com.

The school day for the research phase was basically when I was awake. It was the least fun of all. In retrospect, I should have stated with Lynda.com immediately, but I didn’t know that then. I thought I needed to know more about where I was going before I got on the road to get there. Reading and research was therefore my travel guide, and to be completely honest, sometimes I had no idea what I was looking at and trying to comprehend at all. Much of the time, I just wanted to quit, throw all of this computer-code-blog-web-crap against the wall, and sub-contract the work out... which almost always means loss of control to a techno geek that does not know the real estate industry, and more time and more money than what was agreed upon.

Lynda.com is where the fun started. It’s the best place in the world to learn a computer application. It teaches with immediate, online videos that are available 24/7. Each video is a detailed, step-by-step process that is supported by sample files that one can download and use over and over again. By doing this while following the instructions on each video... knowledge, comfort and confidence with the application comes. Their courses of instruction offered range from esoteric, high-end CGI (motion picture graphics), modeling and animation to the basic Mac OS and Windows operating systems, and most everything in between.

The school day for this phase was from when I woke up, usually around 6 am, until my eyes were to fuzzy to see clearly, usually around 9 pm. Rather than work out of our main office where there are some distractions, or my home office machine that my wife’s son sometime uses for school, most all of this phase was done at our dining room table working on a Dell 17” laptop and a Mac Pro 17” laptop at the same time.

To set up our foundation for this blog, being able to edit it, and to create the real estate information pages that we planned to make available for you, I watched 691 Lynda.com videos from December 10th to a few days ago on the following courses:
Html Essential Training
XHTML Essential Training
Dreamweaver 8 Essential Training
Dreamweaver 8 Beyond the Basics
CSS for Designers
CSS Web Site Design
Excel 2003 Essential Training
Power Point Essential Training

All of these have to do with web development, even Excel and Power Point, which have web interfaces, and have advanced features that are essential to learn, particularly Excel formulas, functions and macros, which may not at first seem to have anything to do with the web, but have everything to do with getting huge amounts of real estate information data processed and web-ready quickly.

The work on our Neighborhoods and Absorption Rates comes from a combination of three software programs. The actual numbers come off our MLS, and are gathered and then formulated in Excel. The spreadsheets and actual statistical charts are done there. It’s automated for the most part, with built-in formulas, functions and macros. Photoshop is involved as well, particularly for the stat charts. That too is somewhat automated through batch processing and Photoshop’s actions function. It’s all assembled in Dreamweaver, and that too is templated and somewhat automated via it’s history panel, primarily to take the data out of Excel and reformat it for the web.

The Neighborhood “prototype” took three days to build. Absorption Rates took a few hours to create for the web, but a few days to program in Excel. It’s triggered by a inserting a data feed into one page (don’t you know we named it “data” in the workbook), and on doing that the chart that you see on the web populates automatically.

I just learned a lot more when we did the first Neighborhood though, and today I’ll start taking apart and re-doing the entire Absorption Rates section... because I can do it better, and make it easier for you now.

That’s enough geek stuff for a long time. We just thought you might like this behind the scene look at our determination, and what’s involved, for us to bring you “all the information... all the time” about your South Lake Tahoe real estate market.

(Please comment below about this post, or anything else where we might be helpful to you. If you liked it, please click on the “Vote for Me” icon in the left sidebar and add us to your technorati and del.ici.ous bookmark accounts.)