The Placer County Sheriff’s Office and Placer County Parking Enforcement issued a reminder that regardless of whether there is snow on the ground or not ( and, “Yes, Virginia….” it will snow eventually), it is illegal to park on any roadway from November 1st to May 1st. 

This includes roadway shoulders, cul-de-sacs, etc.  Your vehicle may be cited and/or towed if you are found in violation of this code.  The only exception to this code is if signage indicates parking is allowed.   

So make sure where you park is legal; otherwise you might end up looking at a parking ticket on your windshield — and no one wants that!

Alpine Meadows Ski Resort – Official closing date Sunday, May 15, 2011

Boreal Mountain Resort – Official closing date (for daily operations) Sunday, April 24, 2011

Diamond Peak Ski Resort – Official closing date Sunday, April 24, 2011

Donner Ski Ranch – TBD

Heavenly Lake Tahoe – Official closing date Sunday, April 24, 2011

Homewood Mountain Resort – Official closing date (for daily operations) Monday, April 11, 2011.
Weekend skiing and snowboarding from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting Friday, April 15 through Monday, April 18; and Friday, April 22 through Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011

Kirkwood Ski Resort – Scheduled closing date Sunday, May 1, 2011

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe – Official closing date Friday, May 6, 2011
Passholders only ski days May 7th and 8th, 2011

Northstar-at-Tahoe Ski Resort – Official closing date Sunday, April 24, 2011 

Royal Gorge XC Ski Resort – Official closing date Sunday, April 24, 2011
Open Friday – Sunday through the last weekend
*Despite voluntary evacuation of Serene Lakes due to multiple propane leaks, Royal Gorge has been cleared to remain open to the public.

Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort – Official closing date Sunday, April 24, 2011

Soda Springs Winter Resort – Official closing date Sunday, April 24, 2011

Spooner Lake XC Ski Area – CLOSED

Squaw Valley USA  – Official closing date Monday, May 30, 2011 

Sugar Bowl Ski Resort – Official closing date Sunday, May 1, 2011

Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area – Official closing date Sunday, May 1, 2011

Tahoe Donner Downhill and XC Ski Areas – CLOSED

Right now, interest rates are still good and the worry is that they will be rising.  Inventory is tight and buyers are frustrated by the lack of choices. There is a surprising lack of move-in ready homes in many neighborhoods. Now is the time to take advantage of this situation as a seller. If you have thought about selling, why not contact us for a free market analysis of your property? We can help you with all the details from staging to repairs, if necessary, and get you top dollar for your home.

In looking at the Tahoe Donner subdivision in Truckee, which comprises the largest percentage of the sales in the overall area, the statistics are similar. A total of 222 single family homes sold in the subdivision (5 less than in 2009), at a median price of $520,000, a decrease of 8% from 2009, and a total decrease of 32% over that subdivision’s high of $765,000 in 2005. The 86 homes currently on the market within Tahoe Donner is only a 4.6 month inventory.

The sale of distressed properties increased in 2010, no surprise. Of the 858 homes sold, 151 were REO (investor owned) and 108 were Short Sales, an increase of 22% over the number of REO/Short Sales sold in 2009. We anticipate this distressed property activity to continue in 2011, as homeowners and their real estate agents/representatives continue to negotiate short sales where loan modifications/refinances are not an option, and lending institutions continue to sell their inventory of homes taken back in foreclosure.

A bright light for Buyers, and Sellers too, for that matter: Frank Nothaft, chief economist for Freddie Mac, says he expects long-term mortgage rates to hold below the 5% threshold throughout 2011, as key macroeconomic drivers provide a backdrop that supports a continued, albeit gradual, housing recovery. Turning to home prices, Nothaft says markets that have large inventories of for-sale homes and REO properties will continue to see home-value weakness in 2011, but he believes price indexes for the U.S. as a whole are close to bottoming out.

In this mountain paradise we love to call home, that’s great news. We look forward to another successful year, helping buyers and sellers realize their dreams!

If you haven’t yet made your plans for the evening, check out Truckee’s Chamber of Events Calendar.

Wishing all a wonderful New Year, filled with love, laughter and happiness!

Every major ski resort in the Truckee and Lake Tahoe area have reported nearly two feet of new snow over the past 24 hours. And all resorts have nearly reached the three-foot level of fresh snow.

More snow is arriving and with a weather break expected to arrive on New Year’s Eve day, which means the slopes will be crowded with skiers and snowboarders throughout the rest of the holiday period.

Come up and join us in this Holiday Wonderland!

Once you’ve winterized your home it’s time to curl up by the fire and enjoy the snow outside, right? Almost. There are still some important safety tips to follow to keep you and your home safe throughout the colder months.

The Home Safety Council urges homeowners to protect themselves against house fires by using portable space heaters safely and properly using and maintaining fireplaces and wood-burning stoves. Keep flammables away from both, ensure that they are in clean and good working condition, and never leave them unattended. Read more about fire safety here.

Snow safety is important as well. Storms in Truckee-Lake Tahoe can drop feet of snow at a time. Ensure your pantry is stocked and you have plenty of fresh drinking water in case it takes more than a few hours for snow to be cleared. Sometimes snow and ice can affect power lines and cause power bumps or loss. Keep candles and flashlights handy, along with board games and cards, to keep your family in the light and entertained until power is restored. Oh, and remember to keep lots of cozy blankets handy too.

As you shovel snow around your home be sure to knock loose any large accumulations along the edge of your roof as well as large icicles which may drop and cause hazardous conditions. Carefully sweep snow away from propane and gas tanks and nozzles to prevent accidental damage and gas leaks. And last, be sure to salt or sand walkways to prevent ice accumulation and slippery conditions.

Read more about weather safety and awareness and get tips for driving in inclement weather.

Enter Reno and Northern Nevada where some positive headlines are coming to light. Enter a new focus on outdoor recreation.

In the last eight months, two national magazines have labeled Reno in their “Best Towns” features.

In the April edition of Men’s Health in an article titled “Ski and Climb Without the Crowds”, the Reno image of downtown casinos and their accompanying all-night buffets are debunked, giving way to a more “hipper” way of life. Men’s Health talks to Reno’s proximity to Lake Tahoe and the four season recreational opportunities available. It also tells about Reno’s new attractions: The Truckee River, coffeehouses, artists’ galleries and a younger-targeted night-life scene. (to read the article, go to: http://bit.ly/9lGiLb )

In a recent edition of Outdoor, the magazine labeled the down town rafting and kayaking park, the new Aces ball park, a rejuvenation of the downtown area and affordable housing prices as a reason to put Reno on your relocation list if you are an outdoor enthusiast. (to read article, go to: http://bit.ly/aIb2mh).

If outdoor recreation is your passion and a second home in an area that offers great amenities to pursue your interests is your goal, why not consider Reno? It’s really a no brainer. Currently, there are sellers motivated to sell, interest rates are low and loans are available to qualified buyers. Prices in our market are very affordable making Reno a great place to invest in a second home.

One of the best examples is being able to go to the local golf courses, without having to make a tee time, and enjoying the perfectly green grass and great playing conditions which come together at this time of year.  After a long winter our courses can be a little rough in the early season, but after a long summer the courses are in their absolute best condition in late August through September.

This is also a wonderful time for hiking and biking with slightly cooler temperatures but absolutely gorgeous surroundings.  Or maybe you prefer to relax on what feels like a private beach or take out the boat in what can be incredibly calm and private waters.

You can wrap up your days with a comfortable evening on the deck of one of our many fine restaurants.  Not only will you be seated immediately, but many of the establishments will also offer seasonal discounts to all of their patrons.

The combination of colder mornings and numerous ski shop sales also make us start thinking of what brought us here . . . ski season!!  Believe it or not, it’s just around the corner.

When the weather starts to warm up (and this year it started awfully early) a lot of people feel the desire to head for the ocean, pull out their golf clubs, get their boat out on the lake, or just do something which involves wearing shorts and flip flops.  Those of us who are lucky enough to live in the  Lake Tahoe/Truckee area (yes, I’m lucky enough!!) know that this really signifies time to get out your light weight ski clothes and head for the slopes.  Sure, nothing beats the powder days we experienced in late January and early February, but I think spring skiing comes in a close second.

The key to great spring skiing is paying attention to the night time temperatures and the wind (the NOAA forecast gives you everything you need).  If night time temps are barely reaching freezing, it’s best to get out on the mountain early (Alpine Meadows will start turning Summit Six as early as 8am when we get deep into spring).  However, if the temps are getting down into the 20′s at night, or the wind is blowing over the ridges, you can sleep in a little and show up at the mountain at 10:30 or so.

If you’re timing is right, you’ll get there just as the snow starts to soften.  You’ll want to start on the southeast and south facing slopes which have been absorbing the early morning sunshine.  One of the best examples is the Mecca of spring skiing, High Traverse at Alpine Meadows (just call it “high T” if you want to sound like a local).  Other great options are Sugar Bowl’s Disney Chair and numerous places at Squaw including skiing off the southeast side of Palisades to Sun Spot (my favorite) and Granite Chief Chair.  These runs will treat you to some of the sweetest and smoothest skiing you’ve ever had.  Your edges will dig in effortlessly and your skis will bend and carve heroically.  As these runs start to turn from corn to slush, you’ll want to follow the sun to different exposures.  Keep doing this until the temperature is high enough to soften the north facing slopes which will remain glorious longer than your legs will.

The highlights of spring skiing are numerous.  Within just a couple hours you can get in more runs than you can imagine (no crowds! no lift lines!).  When you’re done skiing, normally by noon or one if you’re like me, you don’t have to head to your car and sit in traffic.  Instead, head to the lodge and peel off some layers and kick back in the sunshine on the deck.  If you pick your days well it will be warm enough to wear the ultimate after ski boots . . . flip flops!!!  Every ski area has local bands rocking, and ice cold beer pouring.  There’s no better way to relax your muscles after your day on the slopes.

The moral of the story is . . . don’t put away your ski gear yet!!!  Get out there and enjoy!