Lake Tahoe - Truckee, CA Real Estate for Sale

Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260 » Page 41

Are there North Lake Tahoe Lakefront Homes for Sale with a Pier?

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Are there North Lake Tahoe Lakefront Homes for Sale with a Pier?

Are there North Lake Tahoe Lakefront Homes for Sale with a Pier? Our North Lake Tahoe luxury home market has been very active in 2017!

Over twenty-one percent (21%) of all North Lake Tahoe – Truckee home sales were over $1 million dollars and over five percent (5%) of total sales were over $2 million in price.

As a point of comparison, a normal market will see around ten percent (10%) of all sales in this luxury market segment.

In the exclusive North Lake Tahoe lakefront luxury home market there have been six (6) reported lakefront home sales  during the first five (5) months of 2017.  This compares to the total of eighteen (18) lakefront home sales in 2016.

Currently there are only eighteen (18) lakefront homes for sale on both the North Shore, and West Shore areas.  Low Lake Tahoe waterfront homes for sale inventory has lead to several lakefront home buyers asking the question:

The short answer is yes, but not every community has them!

Here is a breakdown of where lakefront home buyers will find North Lake Tahoe Lakefront Homes for Sale with a Pier as of 06-08-2017:

  • 9 – North Shore Lake Tahoe Lakefront Homes for Sale with a Pier
  • 5 – West Shore Lake Tahoe Lakefront Homes for Sale with a Pier

See all lakefront homes, with, or without a pier for sale by community here:

In our Tahoe Sierra Multiple Listing Service (TSMLS) our lakefront homes for sale identified with a pier, may be for a private pier, or include shared private piers with another lakefront owner(s).

If you want additional information you can always call me and I can get you more information on the pier associated with the property, including whether it is private, shared, if shared with how many other owners, and if it is permitted.

In addition to Lake Tahoe homes with piers, we have lakefront homes with boat houses, sun decks, lakeside decks, rock crib marinas, and buoys.  If you’re looking for something specific, let me know.  I can help you with a specific narrow Tahoe property search.

If you’re in the market for a Lake Tahoe Lakefront home, this is the time to look at what is available for sale, along with getting notified on new Lake Tahoe lakefront listings as they come on the market.

As a Tahoe second home Buyer, or Seller you are going to have a number of questions, so let me know how I can help you!

Thinking about making Lake Tahoe, California your second home? Check out these Lake Tahoe Lakefront homes that are for sale here:

Lake Tahoe, California homes that are for sale here:

Want to see what condos are for sale in Lake Tahoe? Here are the current listings:

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260  | Laura@TahoeLaura.com
BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent
CalRE# 01473598
Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

Are there North Lake Tahoe Lakefront Homes for Sale with a Pier?

When should I open my foundation vents in Tahoe City?

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When should I open my foundation vents in Tahoe City?

If you live in a mild climate, where the temperatures do not drop below the freezing point, then your foundation vents are probably open all year-long.

When should I open my foundation vents in Tahoe City?If you have a property in the greater Tahoe City, North Lake Tahoe, or Truckee area, where our temperatures will drop below freezing for months at a time, it is highly recommended that you close your foundation vents in the fall, which means you will also need to re-open your foundation vents during the warmer months.

As a local Tahoe REALTOR® I am often asked by buyers when should they open and close their foundation vents in the greater Tahoe City area? It’s a great question, and here is what I suggest:

My general rule of thumb to open and close your Tahoe home/condo foundation vents:

  • Open Foundation Vents – Any time beginning from late May –  Memorial Day Weekend through early June, no later than Fathers’ Day.
  • Close Foundation Vents – Early October, but no later than Halloween.

Why is it important to open and close your foundation vents each year in the Tahoe area as a home, or condo owner?

The Tahoe area receives on average about 400 inches of snow each year.  That means our area has high levels of snow/water exposure around our buildings.  As the snow melts, the ground becomes wet and that can include the area under your home, or condo.

Opening the foundation vents in the early summer lets warmer air flow through the space under your ground level floor and the ground.  This area may be referred to as a “crawl space”, or it may be much larger and you can walk into this area.  Either way, this dirt area under your floor needs to be dry to prevent problems, or damage to the structure.

  • When you open the foundation vents around the base of your home/condo, this allows for that ground area to “dry out” if it has become wet.
  • Dry dirt is what we need to avoid the formation and growth of organic materials like fungus and other nasty items that can cause significant problems for home owners down the road.

If you are a Tahoe condo owner, your local home owner association (HOA) may open the foundation vents in your building, but that responsibility may fall-back to you.

In early June look around the foundation for vent opening and if they are still closed, call the HOA and find out who needs to do this important task.

While it may seem that just 3-5 months of open air flow is not enough time to do the job, given our dry, low humidity climate, it is more than enough time to “dry” things out and avoid future problems if you do this task every year.

What if you forget to do this in May/June?  Even opening the vents up for just a few weeks in August/September is better than not at all, so do it as soon as you remember.

How will you  know if the foundation vents are open, or closed when you are buying a home/condo? When a local pest company does their inspection of the property you are buying, or just a regular check-up, they will note if the foundation vents are closed.

If the inspection is done during our winter months, we would expect the foundation vents to be closed, and if they are, the pest inspector will recommend that the home owners opens them once the weather is warmer.

Why close the foundation vents in early October? Closing the foundation vents in the greater Tahoe City area is a way to prevent freezing water pipes.

During the late fall and early winter, our temperatures will start dropping below the freezing point.  At some point during our winter season we will experience at least a few days/weeks of single digit temperatures during the winter season and that’s when having the foundation vents closed can help prevent water pipes from freezing.

These low temperatures can cause plumbing problems, so closing the foundation vents in October is a way to help prevent frozen water pipes.  It is also a way to prevent animals from making a home under your home, and creating damage to duct work, or insulation.

Today, I removed our foundation vent covers.  Our home was built in the 1930’s so our covers are on the outside of the home, so I’ve removed the insulation board pieces and stored them away for the season.

When should I open my foundation vents in Tahoe City?I’ve also made notes on my calendar to close our foundation vents back up during the first week in October.

You may need to open your foundation vents by going under your home, or you may be able to open them by using a lever on the vent (see first photo).  How to open your foundation vents will depend on the style of vent that has been installed and how the previous owner decided to close them.

If you don’t know how to open your foundation vents, or close them, set up an appointment with your handyman to do this task for you.  They can also show you how to do this work so you’ll be ready for the fall when it is time to close them, or you’ll know you need to have the handyman come back in the fall to close things up for you.

Home ownership in the greater Tahoe City – Truckee area is different than in other parts of Northern California.  A little planning and a few reminders on your annual calendar can help you do some simple things that will really help you maintain your Tahoe property.

If you haven’t opened your Tahoe home foundation vents, now is the time to do it!

As a Tahoe second home Buyer, or Seller you are going to have a number of questions, so let me know how I can help you!

Thinking about making Lake Tahoe, California your second home? Check out the homes that are for sale here:

Want to see what condos are for sale in Lake Tahoe? Here are the current listings:

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260  | Laura@TahoeLaura.com
BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent
CalRE# 01473598
Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

When should I open my foundation vents in Tahoe City?

Are there Mello-Roos Fees in Lake Tahoe – Truckee

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Are there Mello-Roos Fees in Lake Tahoe – Truckee

Are there Mello-Roos Fees in Lake Tahoe - Truckee

When it comes to buying property

in the North Lake Tahoe – Truckee area, a common Tahoe Buyer question I am often asked about are about “Mello-Roos” fees and are there “Mello-Roos” Fees in Lake Tahoe – Truckee area.

  • The answer is – that depends on where the property is located at. Yes, I know a non-committal answer, but location is a big part on who does, or doesn’t have a “Mello-Roos” Fee in the North Lake Tahoe – Truckee area.

In the greater North Lake Tahoe – Truckee, California area, we do have properties that will have a “Mello-Roos” Fee that will be on your tax bill.  We also have a number of areas that do not have a “Mello-Roos” fee as part of their tax bill.

The discussion on “Mello-Roos” fees as a Tahoe Buyers’ agent typically comes up when I’m asked “How much will property taxes be on my Tahoe second home?” Both are taxes, but they are handled differently and have different rules on if they can be increased and how they are calculated.

  • As a disclosure to anyone reading this blog post, I am not a tax professional, and this is not intended as tax advice, but is general information.  When it comes to the nuts and bolts of property and “Mello-Roos” taxes I always recommend talking to a tax professional on any specific property. 

You may not be from California, or from an area in the state that has a “Mello-Roos” fee, so

  • What is a Mello-Roos Fee (tax)?

Special taxes for infrastructure, or for public services is not a new concept, but when they are tied to real estate ownership in California as an extra fee to be attached to a real estate parcel, it may be done through the Community Facilities Act, commonly referred to as a “Mello-Roos” fee.

Are there Mello-Roos Fees in Lake Tahoe - Truckee When it comes to buying property in the North Lake Tahoe – Truckee area, a common Tahoe Buyer question I am often asked about are “Mello-Roos” fees and are there “Mello-Roos” Fees in Lake Tahoe – Truckee area. • The answer is – that depends on where the property is located at. In the greater North Lake Tahoe – Truckee, California area, we do have properties that will have a “Mello-Roos” Fee that will be on your tax bill. We also have a number of areas that do not have a “Mello-Roos” fee as part of their tax bill. The discussion on “Mello-Roos” fees as a Tahoe Buyers’ agent typically comes up when I’m asked “How much will property taxes be on my Tahoe second home?” Both are taxes, but they are handled differently and have different rules on if they can be increased and how they are calculated. As a disclosure to anyone reading this blog post, I am not a tax professional, and this is not intended as tax advice, but is general information. When it comes to the nuts and bolts of property and “Mello-Roos” taxes I always recommend talking to a tax professional on any specific property. You may not be from California, or from an area that has “Mello-Roos” fees, so what is a Mello-Roos Fee (tax) and how is that different from regular property tax and Prop 13? Special taxes for infrastructure, or for public services is not a new concept, but when they are tied to real estate ownership in California one way for an extra fee to be attached to a real estate parcel may be through the Community Facilities Act, commonly referred to as a “Mello-Roos” fee. In 1978, Californians passed Proposition 13, which limited the property tax rate and the ability of the state to increase the assessed value of real property. Unlike other states, real estate in California is not assessed at its current market value, but follows a specific rules outlined in Prop 13, which is initially based upon the original sales price. As a way to generate additional funds, in 1982 the Community Facilities Act was enacted by the California State Legislature. The nick-name “Mello-Roos” came from the two co-authors of the bill – Senator Henry J. Mello and Assemblyman Mike Roos. The Community Facilities Act was designed to provide a way for additional revenue and a way to generate special property taxes in a Community Facilities District (CFD) that could be attached to a parcel in addition to the state property tax bill if two-thirds of the voters approved the proposed “Mello-Roos” tax. Unlike California property taxes that are restricted by Prop 13, “Mello-Roos” fees do not have those same Prop 13 restrictions and are not tied to the assessed value of the property. They are also typically tied to a specific time period. They can last up to forty (40) years, but are often structured with a thirty (30) year period of time. In newer communities, or new real estate developments it can be used as an alternative, or as an in-addition to impact fees (fees imposed by local government on a new/proposed development) paid by the real estate developer for infrastructure and the cost of providing those public services into the new development. In this case, there may be a single owner, or developer voting to approve a “Mello-Roos” tax. In older communities they can extend an expiring “Mello-Roos” tax, or increase it, if two-thirds of the tax payers approve it. This is often a way to cover revenue short-falls. A “Mello-Roos” District (also known as a Community Facilities District) is a specific geographic area (can be a city, county, a designated special district) where a special property tax on real property is imposed in addition to the regular property tax. In some areas of California it is referred to as a CFD tax. Common “Mello-Roos”, or CFD taxes are for public services including streets, water, sewage and drainage, electricity, infrastructure, schools, parks, and police protection. In the North Lake Tahoe - Truckee area we do have a few “Mello-Roos” areas. Here are a couple of examples • On the North Shore of Lake Tahoe there is a small “Mello-Roos” fee that is attached to properties in the North Lake Tahoe Public Utilities District: o The communities impacted are Carnelian Bay, Tahoe Vista and Kings Beach. The impact of this “Mello-Roos” fee for the North Lake Tahoe Conference Center has been small. o It appears on the tax bill as: North Tahoe PUD CFD#94-1 MR (FundNo: 69900) | Purpose “Recreation Funds and Parks” Started in 1995 and it is on-going. There is an annual escalator of 2%. • In the Truckee area there is a “Mello-Roos” fee for the newer condos that have been built over the last ten years located in the new Northstar Village. o Property impacted are the newer condos in the newer Northstar Village development. o It appears on the tax bill as: Northstar CSD CFD #1 MR This is an example of a “Mello-Roos” fee being created from a developer. Not every new real estate development will come with a “Mello-Roos” fee in addition to the regular tax bill, but when buying a second home in the greater North Lake Tahoe – Truckee area, it is always important to ask if the properties, or areas you like have a special “Mello-Roos” fee in addition to the traditional property tax before you make an offer. Once you have an accepted offer, California Civil Code requires a Seller to disclose the presence of a Mello-Roos tax. One way a seller may do this can be in the Natural Hazard Disclosure. Typically sellers will pay for a Natural Hazard Disclosure report that includes natural hazard information, but may reports also include additional disclosures for sellers on their property like the Mello-Roos tax information. I typically recommend to my buyers and seller to provide a Natural Hazards Disclosure report from Property ID because they do include a disclosure section on the Property Tax Records for the property. In addition to the line-by-line break-down on taxes, they provide a contact name and phone number so you can ask questions and learn more about each tax item. Do properties in the North Lake Tahoe – Truckee area have a “Mello-Roos” Fee? That depends on where that property is located at. In addition to the special “Mello-Roos” fee there will be additional line taxes that have been approved by voters. Being aware that our area does have special “Mello-Roos” fees, and other additional tax line items is the first step to becoming prepared for the Tahoe second home buying process. As a new property owner in the area you will want to budget accordingly for your property taxes, and to be prepared for your future tax bill, which may include a “Mello-Roos” fee. Want to check out a specific property? If you know the county the property is located in you can view the current property tax bill for that property, and see all of the individual line item charges: o El Dorado County o Nevada County o Placer County As a Tahoe second home Buyer, or Seller you are going to have a number of questions, so let me know how I can help you! For all of your Tahoe real estate needs – Laura Allen, 530.414.1260, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, Tahoe REALTOR®, CRS, Laura@TahoeLaura.com CalBRE# 01473598 www.TahoeLauraLuxuryHomes.com, www.TahoeLauraRealEstate.com Coldwell Banker Cal BRE# 01908304, Tahoe City, California. Are there Mello-Roos Fees in Lake Tahoe - Truckee

In 1978, Californians passed Proposition 13, which limited the property tax rate and the ability of the state to increase the assessed value of real property.

Unlike other states, real estate in California is not re-assessed annually at its current re-sale market value.  Instead it follows a specific set of rules outlined in Prop 13, which is initially based upon the original sales price.

As a way to generate additional funds, in 1982 the Community Facilities Act was enacted by the California State Legislature. The nick-name “Mello-Roos” came from the last names of the two co-authors of the bill – Senator Henry J. Mello and Assemblyman Mike Roos.

The Community Facilities Act was designed to provide a way for additional revenue and a way to generate special property taxes in a Community Facilities District (CFD) that could be attached to a parcel in addition to the state property tax bill if two-thirds (2/3) of the voters approved the proposed “Mello-Roos” tax.

Unlike California property taxes that are restricted by Prop 13, a “Mello-Roos” fee do not have those same Prop 13 restrictions and are not tied to the assessed value of the property.

A “Mello-Roos” fee is tied to a specific time period.  They can last up to forty (40) years, but are typically set-up for a thirty (30) year period of time.  A “Mello-Roos” fee can expire, or be extended with additional voter approval.

In newer communities, or a new real estate development it can be used as an alternative, or in addition to impact fees (fees imposed by local government on a new/proposed developments) paid by the real estate developer/owner for infrastructure and the cost of providing those public services into the new development.  In this case, there may be a single owner, or developer voting to approve a “Mello-Roos” tax rather than the two-thirds (2/3) voter requirement.

In older communities, voters can extend an expiring “Mello-Roos” tax, or increase it, if two-thirds (2/3) of the tax payers approve it.  This is often a way to cover revenue short-falls, or expand the number of properties covered by the tax.

A “Mello-Roos” District (also known as a Community Facilities District) is a specific geographic area (can be a city, county, a designated special district) where a special property tax on real property is imposed in addition to the regular property tax.  In some areas of California it is referred to as a “CFD tax”.

Reasons for a “Mello-Roos”, or CFD taxes are for public services including streets, water, sewage and drainage, electricity, infrastructure, schools, parks, and police protection.

In the North Lake Tahoe – Truckee area we do have a few “Mello-Roos” areas with special taxes.  Here are a couple of examples

  • On the North Shore of Lake Tahoe there is a small “Mello-Roos” fee that is attached to properties in the North Lake Tahoe Public Utilities District (NTPUD):
    • The communities impacted are Carnelian Bay, Tahoe Vista and Kings Beach. The “Mello-Roos” fee was for the “Recreation Funds and Parks”, which included the North Lake Tahoe Conference Center located in downtown Kings Beach.
    • It appears on the tax bill as: North Tahoe PUD CFD#94-1 MR (FundNo: 69900) and was started in 1995. It is on-going today.
  • Are there Mello-Roos Fees in Lake Tahoe - TruckeeIn the Truckee area there is a “Mello-Roos” fee for the newer condos that have been built over the last ten years located in the new Northstar Village.
    • Property impacted are the newer condos in the newer Northstar Village development.
    • It appears on the tax bill as: Northstar CSD CFD #1 MR This is an example of a “Mello-Roos” fee being created from a developer.

Not every new real estate development will come with a “Mello-Roos” fee in addition to the regular tax bill, but when buying a second home/condo/lot in the greater North Lake Tahoe – Truckee area, it is always important to ask if the properties, or areas you like have a special “Mello-Roos” fee in addition to the traditional property tax before you make an offer.

After you’ve found a property, and have an accepted offer, California Civil Code does require a Seller to disclose to the Buyer the presence of a Mello-Roos tax.  One way a seller may do this can be by purchasing a Natural Hazard Disclosure that includes this additional information.

Typically sellers will pay for a Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD) report and selecting a company that also includes natural hazard information, but also provides additional disclosures for sellers on their property like the Mello-Roos tax information is an easy way to meet this required disclosure.

I typically recommend to my buyers and seller to provide a NHD report from Property ID because they do include additional property disclosure information, including one on the Property Tax Records for the property.

In addition to the line-by-line break-down on taxes, they provide a contact name and phone number so you can ask questions and learn more about each tax item.

In addition to the special “Mello-Roos” fee there will be additional line tax items that have been approved by voters.  Being aware that some of our areas do have a special “Mello-Roos” fee, and other additional tax line items is the first step to becoming prepared for the Tahoe second home buying process.

Want to check out a specific property to see what tax items are included?  If you know the county the property is located in you can view the current property tax bill (public record) for that property, and see all of the individual line item charges:

As a Tahoe second home Buyer, or Seller you are going to have a number of questions on the buying or selling process, so let me know how I can help you!

Thinking about making Lake Tahoe, California your second home? Check out the homes that are for sale here:

Want to see what condos are for sale in Lake Tahoe? Here are the current listings:

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260  | Laura@TahoeLaura.com
BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent
CalRE# 01473598
Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

Are there Mello-Roos Fees in Lake Tahoe – Truckee

Can I buy a home in Tahoe Donner for under $500,000?

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Can I buy a home in Tahoe Donner for under $500,000?

Can I buy a home in Tahoe Donner for under $500,000?Tahoe Donner Buyers are asking me can I buy a home in Tahoe Donner for under $500,000?  Our market is hot, hot, hot, and I’m not talking about temperatures, but those are also rising too!

Recently I’ve had several Tahoe Donner home Buyers ask if they can still find homes for sale in the Tahoe Donner community for under $500,000 in price – the short answer is yes, but not very many!!!

Currently only 5% of the Tahoe Donner market is priced under $500,000 (as of 06-05-2017). In real numbers this represents only 3 homes for sale in Tahoe Donner.

As of Monday, June 5, 2017 there were only 58 homes for sale in Tahoe Donner.  This inventory level is critically low for this time of year, and this area.

Here is the breakdown of homes for sale in Tahoe Donner as of Monday, June 5, 2017:

Can I buy a home in Tahoe Donner for under $500,000?Now for the bad news; any new home listing in the Tahoe Donner area that are priced to sell, priced just right, or priced under  $700,000 in price are gone in the blink of an eye.

Currently there are 29 homes that are sale–pending in Tahoe Donner area.  That is half of the current inventory of homes for sale of the 58 listings currently on the market.

Year to date, as of this post (06-05-2017), 77 homes have sold with a list to sales price ratio of 99%. 

This shows that homes are selling at almost their full listed price.   The current market conditions are favoring Sellers and Buyers have a lot of competition out there, so buyers need to be prepared to act quickly.

What does this means for home Buyers that are looking in the Tahoe Donner market?  You need to do the following things to be a successful buyer in this market:

  • Commit and work with a Tahoe Buyers’ REALTOR.  Select an agent and then work with them.  Stop bouncing from listing agent to listing agent hoping that they’ll help you get a deal, or favor your offer over the others because they wrote it up for you. 
    • The listing agents’ job is to get the Seller top dollar.
    • You need your own advocate/agent who will help you through the entire process and give you the advice you need to have to be successful.
  • Have your agent set you up to receive “real-time listing alerts”.  Ask your agent if you’ll get listing alerts the same day a new listing hits the market.  Some services only send out alerts once a day, so if a new listing comes out after your deadline, you can lose valuable time.
  • See new listings immediately.  Drive up the same day to see it the same day it hits the market.
  • Make your buying decision quickly.
  • Write your offer that same day.
  • Give the seller a short window to respond to your offer.
  • Have your financing lined up and ready to go.
    • That means your loan pre-approval letter can be updated and sent to you in minutes, not in a few days.
    • It also means that if you are a cash buyer, you know what accounts you’re going to use for this purchase and you have your statement(s) ready to go.
  • Have your 3% good faith/initial deposit (liquid funds) ready to go.  It will pay to be prepared once you have an accepted offer.
  • Be open to the advice your Tahoe REALTOR will give you.  This is a different market than your home market.  Your Tahoe agent works and represents you. They have valuable experience and know how to best position your offer and terms to make it the most attractive it can be to a Tahoe Donner Seller.

Be positive.  Be prepared.  Be ready to write on several homes!

Lastly, don’t give up, or get discourage if your first attempts are not successful.  It may take several tries, and you may have to go through the stress and time demands of several multiple offer situations before you’re successful, but it will happen.

Ready to make the Tahoe Donner Resort Community your second home?  Check out what is for sale here:

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260  | Laura@TahoeLaura.com
BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent
CalRE# 01473598
Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

Can I buy a home in Tahoe Donner for under $500,000?

What does it mean Furnishings Negotiable in the Tahoe Market?

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What does it mean Furnishings Negotiable in the Tahoe Market?

What does it mean Furnishings Negotiable in the Tahoe Market?Tahoe Buyers often asked me what does it mean Furnishings Negotiable in the Tahoe Market?

The greater Tahoe City, North Lake Tahoe, and Truckee area is dominated by second home owners.  As a result you will often find our home and condo listings that are for sale as Negotiable, Partially, or Mostly Furnished.

They will appear in our Tahoe Sierra Multiple Listing Service (TSMLS) as one of the following:

  • Furnished | Mostly Furnished
  • Furnished | Partially Furnished
  • Furnished | Negotiable
  • Furnished | None

What does it mean Furnishings Negotiable in the Tahoe Market?What does this mean as a buyer?  It means that you are more likely to find a Tahoe Seller that wants to include some, if not all furnishings in the sale of there property.

Last year in 2016 for the greater North Lake Tahoe – Truckee area we had over 56% (Mostly, Partially and Negotiable), or 1 out of every 2 homes sold in our area was offered with either furnishings, or the seller was negotiable on the item of furnishings!  Here was the break-down in sales:

  • 16% Mostly Furnished
  • 5% Partially Furnished
  • 35% Negotiable
  • 44% None (Not Furnished)

If you are looking to buy a home in the greater Tahoe City area – North Shore (Carnelian Bay, Tahoe Vista, and Kings Beach), and the West Shore (Homewood, Tahoma, Meeks Bay and Rubicon Bay) and you want it to come with furnishing, your chances are even better.

Homes sold in this area in 2016 were over 65%! Here was the break-down of sales:

  • 20% Mostly Furnished
  • 11% Partially Furnished
  • 34% Negotiable
  • 35% None (Not Furnished)

Some Tahoe Sellers may go as far as to offer their property as “Turn-Key” ready because the property may have been on a vacation rental program and they have little to no attachment to any of the items on the property, or the just don’t want the additional items.

  • What does “Turn-Key” ready mean? It means that everything will be left behind for the new owner.  Dishes, pots, pans, small appliances, large appliances, towels, bed linens, TV’s, furniture, deck furniture, even cleaning supplies, snow shovels, and toilet paper.

The seller will leave behind everything that was in/on the property for the next owner so the Buyer/new owner will literally turn the key in the door and walk-into a property that you can live in on your first night in your property without moving an item!

  • “Mostly Furnished” can mean “Turn-Key” ready, or it can mean just the furniture, or perhaps just a few items are excluded. Your Tahoe Agent will need to ask, what is intended by the Seller so you’ll know how to best position your offer.
  • “Partially Furnished” typically means just furniture and not a complete house-hold. The seller may have already moved the items they wanted leaving only a few items, or they may have a list of items they are willing to leave for the Buyer.
  • “Negotiable” now that can mean anything. Often local listing agents will list the property with furnishings as “Negotiable” knowing that the home may be “Turn-Key” ready, fully furnished with no exclusions, to only including just a few items to be agreed upon by the Buyer and Seller as staying.

The main reason for Sellers/Sellers’ Agent to note a property with Furnishings as “Negotiable” rather than using one of the other three options is to avoid potential problems with appraisers and/or a Buyer that may be getting a loan.

What does it mean Furnishings Negotiable in the Tahoe Market?It is also a way for the Sellers to have more control over how the inclusion of furnishings are handled – part of the contract, or in a separate Bill of Sale.

As a Tahoe City – Truckee real estate agent, when I prepare to show homes for my second home Buyers I contact each Sellers’ agent and ask them a number of questions about the property.  One of those questions is to get as much information on how the Seller intends to handle furnishings as some second home buyers want them, while others don’t.

Buyer Tip:  Furnishings are negotiable in our market so remember to:

  • Ask for the furnishing if you want them. You can use a separate bill of sale to address the items if you are getting a loan, or you can ask for them directly in the purchase contract if you are a cash buyer.
  • If you don’t want any furnishings, be sure to let your agent know so your offer doesn’t accidently include them.
  • Room-by-Room List: If you want to make sure there are no misunderstandings between you and the other side of the negotiation, you can prepare a room-by-room list of what you want and anything not on that list will be removed.  The best time to do that is when you are looking at the home, take photos and make up your list at that time.
  • Allow the Seller to provide you with a written list of any personal/excluded items with in the first seven days after acceptance. It’s a nice way to make sure a piece of art, or an item that has sentimental value isn’t accidently included with the sale.

Buying a home with furnishing can be a big convenience for both Buyers and Sellers, so make sure you don’t over-look this important item when it comes time to buy in the greater Tahoe City – Truckee second home market!

If you have more Tahoe second home buyer questions, you can email me at Laura@TahoeLaura.com, or call me 530.414.1260, I can help you too!

Thinking about making Lake Tahoe, California your second home? Check out the homes that are for sale here:

Want to see what condos are for sale in Lake Tahoe? Here are the current listings:

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs –

Laura A. Allen | 530.414.1260  | Laura@TahoeLaura.com
BROKER ASSOCIATE, Tahoe Real Estate Agent
CalRE# 01473598
Coldwell Banker, Tahoe City, CA CalRE#01908304

All information is deemed reliable, but is subject to change, and/or correction without notice.

What does it mean Furnishings Negotiable in the Tahoe Market?