Tahoe City welcomes the “Pineapple Express” – Rain/Snow 02-06-2015

February 6, 2015 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

Tahoe City welcomes the “Pineapple Express” – Rain/Snow 02-06-2015

Okay, so perhaps Tahoe City hasn’t officially welcomed the “Pineapple Express” – rain/snow to the area today, Friday, February 6, 2015, but I am!

Our very dry winter weather has to go, and any type of rain/snow action is a welcome sight.

For those that are not familiar with what a “Pineapple Express” weather pattern is, the local weather stations explain this type of storm as being one loaded with water that originates from the Hawaiian Islands area, which is where the nick-name of the “Pineapple Express” comes from.

Today at around 2:30 p.m. this is what the weather was like in Hurricane Bay on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe in Tahoe City, California! You can see that the rain/snow was really starting to come down and was a welcome sight!

Check out this video showing the weather change from this “Pineapple Express” storm with Laura Allen, Tahoe Real Estate Agent here:

Our day-time temperature this afternoon has dropped from 48 degrees to 32 degrees at the lake level (elevation 6,200 +/- feet) here in Tahoe City, which means the rain, is trying to turn into snow.

We’re expecting heavy rain/snow showers here in Tahoe City area for the next two to three days, but with day-time temperatures in the low 40’s, we’re more likely to have rain here at the lake level rather than snow, but I’m hoping that our snow will stick!

At the higher elevations at our Tahoe ski resorts, they are expecting about four (4) new feet of snow by the time the Pineapple Express storm moves out of our area on Monday, so we’ll see how this winter storm works out.

“Hello Pineapple Express”! Bring on the rain and snow here in Tahoe City, California!

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

Want to see what condos are for sale in Tahoe City? 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.

Tahoe City welcomes the “Pineapple Express” – Rain/Snow 02-06-2015

West Lake Tahoe, California

July 4, 2012 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

West Lake Tahoe, California

This is my favorite time of year here in West Lake Tahoe, California. I don’t know what I like the best – the warm summer days, the blue and I do mean blue skies, or the sparkle that comes off Lake Tahoe at this time of year.

Each day I try to get a bike ride in. While I will never be seen in one of those serious bike spandex outfits ready to ride the Tour de France (try Spanx® underneath casual sportswear), you will find me riding my up-right bike along the paved bike paths that are separate from the highway here in West Lake Tahoe, California.

As I ride along this spectacular stretch of Lake Tahoe, I love catching the scent of sun tan lotion as I pass by the people on the beach. I love seeing the children having fun in the water, chasing after their dogs, and just enjoying a great day on the West Shore beaches of Lake Tahoe.

The public beaches in our area are great. Take a look at this video, which will give you an idea of what I saw over the weekend here in West Lake Tahoe, California.

Great Beaches on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, California!

Wondering how you’ll enjoy your summer? Make plans to make a trip up here to Tahoe City and be sure to spend some time here in West Lake Tahoe, California.

Ready to make Tahoe City, California your second home? Check out what is for sale on the West Shore of Tahoe City 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.

West Lake Tahoe, California

Blue Agave, Tahoe City, California

June 19, 2012 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

Blue Agave, Tahoe City, California

One of my favorite places to have dinner is at the Blue Agave in Tahoe City, California. This is a local favorite and if you like Mexican food this will become your favorite too. What I really like about the Blue Agave apart from their friendly, fast service, and great food is their setting. Located right on Main Street in downtown Tahoe City you can often get a table that has a good view of Lake Tahoe.

Everyone starts with the house chips and salsa. At the Blue Agave they give you two salsas to choose from one mild and one hot. We love the hot salsa. Their selection of margaritas is extensive. If you have a sweet-tooth try one of their fruit margaritas, but when in doubt their top-shelf margarita blended with salt is always a winner.

We typically get the nachos supreme, and then dinner. I’m a vegetarian (eggs and cheese are okay), so I always have a lot to choose from on their menu. I’m a fan of their #10 combination plate: bean tostada and cheese enchilada. Craig, my better half, always orders the carnitas. He’s not a vegetarian and he thinks the Blue Agave does an amazing job with their pork.

The portions are large and we almost always need a to-go box at the end. You’ll find that the staff is very friendly and they aren’t afraid of substitutions. So if you don’t find exactly what you are looking for, or have specific dietary needs, there is a really good chance with a few changes, you’ll have the perfect dish.

If your group is larger the Blue Agave is also a place that can handle larger groups. They also have outside deck seating in the summer months. The next time you’re in Tahoe City and you’re wondering where to a margarita, lunch, or dinner check out the Blue Agave!

You’ll find the Blue Agave at 425 North Lake Blvd. (downtown), Tahoe City, California 96145, 530.583.8113

For a Margarita, Lunch, or Dinner try the Blue Agave, Tahoe City, California.

For all of your Tahoe real estate needs – Laura Allen | 530.414.1260 Broker Associate, Tahoe REALTOR®, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CRS, Laura@TahoeLaura.com CalBRE# 01473598

www.TahoeLauraLuxuryHomes.com

www.TahoeLauraRealEstate.com

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Tahoe City, California.

Blue Agave, Tahoe City, California

West Lake Tahoe, Homes for Sale, Real Estate Market Report, June 2012

June 2, 2012 By Laura Allen, Broker Associate, Tahoe Real Estate Agent, CA RE 01473598 | 530-414-1260

West Lake Tahoe, Homes for Sale, Real Estate Market Report, June 2012

West Lake Tahoe, California is known for its easy access, forest setting, and casual, outdoor lifestyle. This area is approximately 15 miles of Lake Tahoe shoreline and starts with Tahoe City, California where Highway 28 meets Highway 89 South ending in the Rubicon Bay area right before the D.L. Bliss State Park / Emerald Bay area.

West Shore Lake Tahoe Homes for Sale:

West Lake Tahoe is also known as the West Shore of Lake Tahoe and homes in this area are easily accessed by Highway 89 South.

West Lake Tahoe is made up of several communities they are either located in unincorporated Placer County, or unincorporated El Dorado County, California. West Lake Tahoe is close to the popular ski resorts – Homewood, Alpine Meadows, and Squaw Valley. This area is also close to biking, hiking, golf courses, restaurants, shopping, and all of the water sports that Lake Tahoe is known for.

You’ll find tiny, old Tahoe cabins that are nearly 100 years old, along with multi-million dollar luxury, lakefront estates that define the ultimate in mountain luxury living. In the Meeks Bay – Rubicon Bay area, the beaches are known for being white and sandy and Lake Tahoe showing off its beautiful colors of blue and green. If you’re a bike rider, the West Shore offers some of the best bike paths that follow the edge of Lake Tahoe.

West Lake Tahoe also offers some of the most exclusive, gated condominium developments in area.

Each year visitors come to West Lake Tahoe to experience the beauty and outdoor lifestyle the area has to offer. West Lake Tahoe has a number of popular public beaches and parks that are maintained by the Tahoe City Public Utility Department.

Well known neighborhoods and communities in West Lake Tahoe include:
Tahoe City
Comstock
Tahoe Sierra Estates
Tahoe Woods
Lake Tahoe Park
Talmont
Alpine Peaks
Pineland
Timberland
Ward Creek
Skyland
Tahoe Pines
Tahoe Swiss Village
Homewood
McKinney Shores
Chamberlands
Tahoma
Glenridge
Meeks Bay
Rubicon Bay

Sold Single Family Homes in West Lake Tahoe, California:

In West Lake Tahoe, California, lakefronts, mountain homes, and cabin prices averaged $360,250. We would expect the average median sales prices for the rest of the year to move higher as new home listings replaces older listings that have sold. Since the market peak in 2006, the average median home sales price on West Lake Tahoe has dropped -56%.

There were 52 single family homes sold for the first 5 months in 2012. Of those sales, 2 were lakefronts ranging in sold price from $3,435,000 to $11 million. West Lake Tahoe luxury lakefront sales were 4% of the market. Homes sold up to $499,999 represented 67% of the market.

Cash sale transactions for North Lake Tahoe area dropped slightly to 29%, which is below the Lake Tahoe – Truckee, California regional trend of 34%.

The current absorption rate for North Lake Tahoe, as of 06/01/2012 is at 7.67 months. Anything above 7 months of inventory is considered a Buyers’ market, 5-7 months is a balanced market, and below 5 months is a sellers’ market. If the inventory levels continue to drop, the West Lake Tahoe market will become a balanced market.

There were only 9 distressed sales (bank foreclosures- real estate owned (REO’s) and short sales), or 10% of the market was a distressed sale for the first five months of 2012. As of 06/01/2012 only 10% of the active homes available for sale were currently distressed sellers, which is a significant improvement, and may be signaling a fundamental change in market conditions.

There were 92 Active – available homes, cabins, and lakefronts for sale on West Lake Tahoe as of 06/01/2012. Houses, cabins, and lakefront properties ranged in price from $139,900 to $20 million. Of the 92 homes offered for sale there were 2 REO listings, 5 Short Sale listings, 1 Notice of Default, and 1 Court Approval listing, which only represents 10% of the market as a distressed sellers, which is a 15% improvement over the 2011 distress seller rate of 25%. There were 18 pending sales on West Lake Tahoe ranging in listed price from $159,090 to $1,295,000 as of 06/01/2012.

Given the tight, West Lake Tahoe housing inventory situation, and the reduction in distressed sellers, the next step for the West Shore market will be price stabilization.

West Shore, Lake Tahoe, CA, Homes for Sale Real Estate Summary:

Year	Homes Sold	Median Average Sales Price	Lowest Price Sold	Highest Price Sold	% Cash Transactions	Absorption Rate < 5 months Sellers Mkt 5-7 months balanced Mkt >7 months Buyer’s Mkt	% Distressed Sales	Breakdown of Distressed Sales
2012*	52	$360,250	$79,000	$11,000,000	29%	7.67 Months Buyers’ Market	10%	1 Court Approval 2 REO’s 5 Short Sales 1 Notice of Default
2011	117	$476,000	$165,000	$6,400,000	35%	NA	25%	1 Court Approval 15 REO’s 13 Short Sales
2010	98	$454,500	$161,000	$12,400,000	34%	NA	27%	19 REO’s 7 Short Sale
2009	92	$582,500	$276,000	$6,288,000	34%	NA	20%	9 REO’s 8 Short Sales 1 Court Approval
2008	67	$689,000	$309,000	$20,000,000	24%	NA	0%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sales
2007	86	$804,500	$261,500	$12,400,000	24%	NA	0%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sales
2006	113	$812,000	$310,000	$16,700,000	12%	NA	0%	0 REO’s 0 Short Sales

*YTD period is 01/01/2012 – 05/31/2012. Absorption rate as of 06/01/2012. Data Source: Tahoe Sierra Multiple Listing Service (TSMLS) TSMLS Areas 4-5 and is subject to change and/or correction without notice.

Use caution when only a handful of sales are available in a neighborhood. The percent changes can be significant and numbers are easily moved in either direction.

Ready to make the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, California your second home? Check out what is for sale on the West Shore 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.

West Lake Tahoe, Homes for Sale, Real Estate Market Report, June 2012