Why Buy a Second Home in Tahoe Donner?

June 10, 2017 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

Why Buy a Second Home in Tahoe Donner?

Why buy a second home in Tahoe Donner is a question I often get from my Truckee – North Lake Tahoe second home buyers that are considering all of the different Tahoe Resort communities as options.

Why buy a second home in Tahoe Donner? Answer: Location | Amenities | Lifestyle

Tahoe Donner is one of the most well-known and popular communities in the greater Truckee area! This master planned unit development is one of the largest in the United States with nearly 6,500 properties, and 25,000 members enjoying over 7,300 acres in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Tahoe Donner is a favorite for second home owners representing over 84% of the total owners in this Tahoe resort community!

Tahoe Donner Homes for Sale:

Tahoe Donner Home Owner Amenities Include:

Aquatics* | Two different pool centers – one is open year-around, lap pool, recreational/seasonal pools!
Archery | Seasonal Archery Range – clinics, lessons, equipment rentals
Beach Club Marina* | Donner Lake – Seasonal – Beach, Grill, Boat Launch, Storage, Rentals
Bikeworks | Seasonal – Over 50 Kilometers, Rentals, Camps, Events, Guided Tours,
Bocce Ball | Seasonal – Four (4) Courts, League, Food/Beverage Available
Campground | Seasonal – Tent and RV sites available
Cross Country Ski Area | Seasonal – Tickets, Passes, Rentals, Up to 100 km of groomed trails, fat bike & dog friendly trails
Day Camps* | Seasonal – Daily and Weekly Day Camps, Age Restrictions
Downhill Ski Area | Seasonal – Tickets, Passes, Rentals, Lessons, Events, 17 Runs
Equestrian | Seasonal – Trail & Pony Rides, Lessons & Camps, Boarding, Events
Fitness* | Weight, Cardio, Stretching, Classes, Steam, Dry Sauna, Spas, Massage, Training, Kids Club,
Geocaching | Seasonal – Orienteering, GPS Rental
18 Hole Golf Course | Seasonal – 7,002 yards, par 72, on 200+ acres, mountain course, driving range, green fees, passes & packages, lessons, specials, events, plus winter golf academy
Kids Club* | Daily, Age restrictions, Hourly Charge
Massage* | Spa Treatments, Appointments, Rates vary by Service
Snowplay | Seasonal – Some Fees may apply, Sled and Tube Equipment available.
Tennis | Seasonal – Rates/Reservations – 11 Hard Courts, 2 Pickleball Courts, 2 practice walls, ball machine, clinics, lessons, events, pro shop, Tennis Club, Tournaments, and more
Trails* | Seasonal – Over 60+ miles of trails and fire service roads covering over 3,474 acres of terrain, trail map available.

* For Members Only | Additional entrance/use/equipment and/or food-beverage fees may apply depending on the activity and location.

In my opinion, a Buyer will find that their dollar will buy more home in Tahoe Donner, when compared to other similar Tahoe resort communities in the greater Truckee area. This is also true for condos for sale in Tahoe Donner. More condo for the money in Tahoe Donner too.

When Buyers look at the homes for sale in Tahoe Donner they will find that they can buy a larger home, a home with a garage, a newer home, a home with higher-end features, and their selection of Tahoe Donner homes for sale in their price range will be larger than in other resort communities in the area.

Tahoe Donner Condos for Sale:

For 2017, the annual Tahoe Donner HOA fee is $1,900/year with a $385 transfer fee between Buyers and Sellers. An optional additional recreational fee is also available for $270/year.

Why Buy a Second Home in Tahoe Donner?

Buyers also like that while they can purchase values passes to their favorite activities like cross country, downhill skiing, tennis, or golf, they can also have the option to pay as they go for only the times they will use the additional fee activities/services.

Tahoe Donner Homes for Sale

Most of my Tahoe Second home owners know where they want to buy and can easily select the Truckee communities they want to consider.

However, sometimes it can be over-whelming when it comes to deciding on which Tahoe resort community is going to be the best one for you.

Is it Tahoe Donner, or perhaps Schaffer’s Mill, Gray’s Crossing, Old Greenwood, Lahontan, Northstar, or Martis Camp?

As a Tahoe REALTOR® that specializes in working with Truckee – North Lake Tahoe second home Buyers and Sellers, it is not uncommon for my buyers to find themselves asking, which community is best for me. While there are no wrong choices here, there are some questions you can ask yourself that may help you focus your Tahoe property second home search.

Here is a quick list of items I suggest Tahoe Second home owners consider as they start the process of figuring out which Tahoe resort community will be best for them:

Home price | What you are hoping to spend on the property? Include repairs, improvements, and/or upgrades.
On-going HOA annual fee requirements – do you have financial restrictions, or a budget you want to keep?
Are you prepared for potential assessments?
What Tahoe recreational interests are most important to you? Downhill skiing, cross country skiing, boating, golfing, tennis, hiking, biking, or support services like restaurants/shops/lessons/child care?
Location – Truckee versus one of the ski resorts (ski-in/ski-out), or being over in North Lake Tahoe
Large HOA membership, or smaller, more exclusive HOA membership?

As my Tahoe Buyers go through this list of questions and create their answers to them, they will find the right direction for their Tahoe property search and the best place to buy.

As a Tahoe second home Buyer, or Seller you are going to have a number of questions, and I’m here to get you more information and answers. Let me know how I can help you too!

Need more home buying options:

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.

Why Buy a Second Home in Tahoe Donner?

Can I fence in my Tahoe Donner Home?

June 9, 2017 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

Can I fence in my Tahoe Donner Home?

Can I fence in my Tahoe Donner home? This is a common question I get from my dog owners, or buyers with small children that are looking to buy a second home in the Tahoe Donner community.

When looking at property in the Tahoe Donner area you will notice that you do not see properties that are fenced in.

When you do find a property that has a fenced in area, it will be very small area and it will have built to meet the Architectural Standards within the development.

Fences are allowed, however, there are very strict rules and you must follow the application and approval process.
It is not a given that your request to build a fence will be approved.
Each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

If you want to build a fence on your Tahoe Donner property here are some of the things you should be aware of:

Download the Tahoe Donner Fencing Application. Click here to see the Tahoe Donner Fencing Application.
Once you’ve completed your application you will need to schedule an appointment to submit your application, along with your application fee. The Architectural Standards Office (ASO) is available to help you with your application request and to help you through the entire process at 530-587-9407.
As part of your application you (the owner) and your contractor must sign the Declaration, Agreements, and Statements page (see Tahoe Donner Fencing Application for more information).
If you are a new owner, you’ll also need to show proof of ownership in the form of a recorded grant deed that will need to go with your application.
Each application is evaluated on an individual basis.
Use – Reason for the fencing will be reviewed.
The type, size, location and height of a fence will be reviewed.
The location, primary use, and design are of utmost importance since any Owner’s fence may be viewed by their neighbors.
The majority of the fence must be transparent so as not to create a visual barrier.
Upon approval, the owner will be issued a permit to commence contraction once an approved site inspection has been conducted.
Owners are responsible to certify that the fence does not encroach upon any easement, setback, or contiguous property line, and they must conform to the approved plans and specifications
A Full-Size Site Plan and Elevation Plan (in black and white) are required for your application submittal.
There are many factors that should be taken into consideration:
- Fence design and Architectural style will be considered. No solid fencing is allowed.
- Size of the proposed fenced area. It cannot be located within any setback area.
- No Perimeter fencing of the lot is allowed.
- Fence height is restricted to six (6) feet, or less.
- Any wire must be plastic coated and in an approved color. All metal support posts, railing and hardware must match and be in the same approved color.
Fencing permits from Tahoe Donner are good for six (6) months.
A final inspection must be requested from the owner to complete the application, building and final approval process.

Ask the Tahoe Donner ASC if they have any recommendations on Tahoe fencing contractors that they have worked with in the past. Given the strict application process, selecting a fence contractor that has experience in the Tahoe Donner community will be very helpful.

If having your North Lake Tahoe – Truckee second home property fenced is important to you, some of our resort planned communities like Tahoe Donner not be the best fit for you given their strict restrictions on fencing.

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!

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 fence in my Tahoe Donner Home?

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

June 8, 2017 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

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:

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

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?

June 7, 2017 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

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

June 6, 2017 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

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.

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.
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.
- 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