It stopped snowing, and it’s going to get up to 42 today. Blue skies are promised for the next 5 days.  Tonight  begins the festivities for Cinco de Mayo, so head over to the Hacienda.

Today, I just want to point out some random observations.  A house on Jennifer just fell out of escrow. Listed price is $399,000.  There may be a real opportunity here.  A 3,100 sq ft house in Mill Creek just closed for $636,000. I am going to do my research, but if I am not mistaken, that has to be one of the biggest values in terms of price per sq. ft.  There are some challenges to the design of  this property so it can’t be used as a comp across the board, but I would put this in the “top value” category.

And then removed from anything, else I have written about, but curious… I am going to show properties on Sunday. One of the properties I am showing states terms of sale is “cash”.  Property is listed for $1.2. Interesting, don’t you think? Cash only?  Turns out that the Seller just doesn’t want to deal w/ the hassle of bank loans.  She wants a clean deal.  So while there are distressed properties out there, while there are Sellers willing to do lots of creative things out there to sell their properties, there are still Sellers that will command such things as “cash”.  And my thought is… She’ll get it.

There are values out there, and I am willing to meet your objectives.  Please call me.  Heading out right now w/ my husband to explore a listing on the lake for one of my clients.  Have a lovely, lovely weekend– no snow.

Incline High School’s We the People Team took Western Regional Award in the competition held in Washington DC.  Last night, I was at Granlibakken at a Rotary Music & Speech Contest. What an amazing night to hear some HIGHLY talented local  high school musicians. The room was filled with rich poetry that touched one’s heart.  We, as Americans, must do everything to ensure that our young people continue to have high level programs in the Arts.

When I came out of the program, I found 5 inches of snow had fallen on my car.  Beautiful, beautiful snow.  Today, blue skies, and as we roll toward the weekend and into next week temperatures will continue to rise. Who knows Summer may be here by June.

Today a 8,000 + sq ft home went into escrow.  It was listed at $5.9M. Seeing pops in very, very high end properties. 

At the other end: Some Buyers want in on the Short Sale or Bank Owned.  I am seeing some incredible ‘deals” in condos.  Recent sales at McCloud, Forest Pines, and Bitterbrush reflect that Sellers are taking a look at the distress market and have come to the reality that they must compete. With that said, Buyers may turn to my skill set to secure a property at a real value.

Reported corporate profits of yesterday indicate that there is some “light”, there is some movement away from the darkness as we have most recently come to know it .  Let’s see how this translates to the real estate market. Some sources are saying that the FED is going to keep interest rates down. Let’s see how this translates to the banks and their lending practices.

If you have made the decision to carry on with you life, and that includes your objective to own property in Incline Village/Crystal Bay, please call me today.

It’s a beautiful Day.

A couple of inches of snow.  This weekend head over to THE HACIENDA for the activities leading up to Cinco de Mayo.  Alan Richards, my husband, will be doing the tequila tasting. Our wine 39n120w will be carried at the Hacienda this Summer.  Summer? hmmm.  It will come.

Wow… did you see the sale at McCloud… a two bedroom under $400K? Did you see the sale at Bitterbrush?  Panoramic lakeview sold at the low $500K.  There are some very, very serious deals. SO serioius that one of my clients is flying in from Germany to check out a 999, next door to the Hyatt. I have to mention once more today that a property on Eagle (east slope) was listed at a nudge from $3M and sold for $2.5M.  Did I say it yet?  Wow!

I have some pocket listings too.  Pocket listings are properties for sale but under the radar– they aren’t in MLS.  Please call me to discuss how I can get you into the Incline market for the Summer.

Oh, did I say… It’s snowing right now.

Yesterday, my daughter Alessandra and I were at Garwoods’ Beach. Pistol, my silver lab, was a swimming “fool” as one man said. He said, “That dog’s part fish”. 

Today, Krishna and Pistol were just let in, and their fur is covered w/ snow. That’s how it is here in the mountains in April and May. One day bikinis, the next day, layer your bikini up to a ski jacket.

What our market saw in the last week are some high end contracts and sales: An 8600 sq ft home off of Champagne is  under contract  Lsiting price $5,995,000.  An East slope home sold for $2.5M asking price was $2,995,000.  That was on the market for 271 days. in the last 3 days there have been reductions of 3 properties. 

Seeing some short sales going into “pending”.  Some of these banks have learned how to move the sales along, but it solely depends on the “individual” bank.  B of A is using a system called Equator that is their answer to some sanity to the short sale process. While short sales are becoming part of the climate, they still tax the patience and sheer tenacity of any seasoned bargain hunter.  Yes, there are the exceptions.  I did one in 3 weeks. I also had one go for 8 months. 

Please call me today, so we can discuss what is happening in the market and how the present opportunities can launch your life in Incline Village, NV

If you are not at Tahoe today, you are missing why we don’t take for granted our lives here.  Temps getting to 61. It’s a bright blue day that has you running to get your sun glasses and then to the beach or a hike.

Phone started ringing early this AM, as have an Offer going through negotiations. By 10 AM another phone call from an Agent asking about another property and immediately wanted to talk offer.  May 8th I have scheduled a showing. And before the end of today, showing a panoramic lake view.

It’s Spring.  But it’s also about moving on, having a life. We don’t have a lot of control about the media or about the economic conditions that swing on every index.  But we do have a Choice about how we intend to live our lives on what we have.  Some Buyers are saying: Tahoe, now.

As an English major and huge fan of Mark Twain, I was pleased to find this story in the NORTH LAKE TAHOE BONANZA

Before he became Mark Twain, a dirt poor Samuel Clemens chased a dream of being a timber baron from the shores of Lake Tahoe. But his hopes went up in smoke when he accidentally started a wildfire while preparing to cook dinner over a campfire.
Nearly 150 years later, Nevada historians are embracing new research they say pinpoints the location of his camp near Incline Village on the lake’s northeast shore with the help of a huge, table-like granite boulder that Twain used for meals and card games.

The Nevada State Board on Geographic Names is considering a request to name the site Sam Clemens Cove after the man who later assumed his pen name as a newspaper reporter in nearby Virginia City and created literary characters Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.

How cool is that?

Absolutely gorgeous day in Tahoe. I had a blast showing houses today. At one location I said, ” For the most part, the loudest thing you are going to hear is the argument of Stellar Jays”. It was bright, gorgeous, blue Tahoe.

Spring and the fact that people have to move on in their lives.  I mean let’s go w/ Doom and Gloom:  So according to them the economy won’t right itself for 10 plus years. So, I am now 5o years old. So I guess that means I wait until I am 60 to buy my second home?  Well, my dad died at 45. In the last month 4 people I know have died. If we keep deferring our goals and objectives, they might as well bury those with us.  I’m not saying go out and do stupid things. I am not saying put yourself into a pickle.  But when is it going to be the right time?

Within some basic perimeters, you need to live today. 10 years out? Hey, who has that crystal ball? I put together a counter today. I am going to be listing a property on Putter and one of South Dyer.  I am going to be doing another showing this week and weekend of May 8th is scheduled for showings. One client has me sending him properties between $200K and $300K Short sales and Bank Owned properties. I guess most human beings believe like I do.  You have to keep living.  And where could you live better than in Incline Village, NV.

Each day  weather inching up to the 70s on Monday. There is chatter about bringing up the boats. I have been watching this industrious squirrel outside my window digging up my bulbs. That gal attempted to build 2 nests inside the opening to the hose of my dryer. I discovered this when I turned on the dryer and it only blew out cool air. (Safety devices prevent heat when there is a block in the venting) My husband brought in the nest– very tightly woven. Last Saturday, I thought there was an army in my wall. Started hitting on the wall, and then silence. I think she got the hint. She abandoned construction. 

In looking at the HOTSHEET, Buyers are picking up properties under $600K. Some are short sales and REOs, but not necessarily. You now actually have a choice of condos between $200K and $300K.

Buyers for Golf Course properties are getting into the swing of at least viewing golf course listings. Caddie Court went into contract.

Saw a sale in the gated community of The Glen, under $2M–that’s newer construction, high quality, and low elevation.

Currently, I recommend Bitterbrush because I think there are deals in there because of high inventory. Get a lakeview and location close to additional parking. 

In luxury lake View: Check out 590 Pinto Court: High Quality construction, Lake view, and 4 car garage. My client told me that I could advertise that he is motivated.

I have some pocket listings and know of some properties coming to the market. I have my hand on the pulse of Incline’s real estate market.

Blue skies. Temperatures warming up, and weekend is going to look a lot like Spring. My tulips are pushing through the snow; they will not be deterred. The Aspens across the street are just about to burst into Green.  Good time to come up to Tahoe. DId you see the news on New Housing starts in the US?

Since the last publication of Short Sales and Bank Owned (REO), two properties sold. One on Apollo and the other on Tirol.

Today, I received an offer on one of my listings, so will be working on that w/ my client. Please call me, should you have any questions about Incline Village’s Real Estate Market. My phone is on.

All recent predictions regarding snow here have been accurate. As I look out the window this morning there is about 1/2 a foot on the hot tub. Adam, my son, has taken off for Squaw for skiing. Tomorrow, I understand temperatures will make an about face and we will head back into Spring. Looking to the Bay area the prediction is in the 70s tomorrow, so there you have it– the taunting of the Nature to anyone who wants to pull out the lawn furniture in Tahoe.

Once we thought predictions about the weather were totally unreliable. Now our skepticism turns to anyone who attempts to make prognostications about the economy and housing market What we can report is activity and trends.

The Fed’s  $8,000 tax housing incentive program (w/ restrictions) ends at the end of April.  In Incline Village you can look to a Seller incentive.  Some Sellers are choosing to credit back up to $8,000 at the close of escrow, paying closing costs. When making an offer on a property, ask your agent about closing costs.  Closing costs can be part of the negotiation in a sale.