Tahoe Real Estate – What are BMP’s?

Each time I show Lake Tahoe property to a prospective buyer the subject of BMP’s comes up. What are BMP’s and how does that impact the purchase of my Tahoe home?

BMP’s stands for Best Management Practices, which is a program implemented by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). The TRPA is a regional bi-state compact between California and Nevada, which is charged with protecting the environment in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The BMP program is designed to help protect Lake Tahoe and the local environment. The BMP’s are TRPA methods developed to help properties function more like natural, undisturbed forest and meadowland.

Water that is conveyed to a lake by an undisturbed watershed is usually quite pure, because the watershed’s soils and plants act as a natural water purification system.

BMPs help developed properties mimic natural conditions, preventing sediment and nutrients from entering our surface waters and filtering runoff water through the soil.

BMPs are prescribed for residential properties falling into the following categories:

· Vegetating and mulching bare, disturbed soils

· Infiltrating storm water runoff from impervious surfaces

· Paving dirt driveways and roads

· Stabilizing or retaining steep slopes and loose soils

BMP work on a property can be done all year long, but due to our heavy snowfall, BMP work is typically done in the late spring, summer, or early fall months.

Signs that an owner may have done their BMP’s are visible rock drainage around the home and decks, a paved driveway with a metal slotted drain at the end of the driveway, and wood chips spread out over bare ground.

Once a property owner has completed the necessary work to become BMP compliant, after an inspection, the TRPA will issue a BMP certificate.

All property owners should have a BMP certificate, but many do not. Currently, not having a BMP certificate will not stop the transfer of property in the Tahoe Basin, even though all property owners should be compliant.

If the property you are considering does not have a current BMP Certificate, Tahoe buyers should consider the following tips:

1) Negotiate to have the seller complete the BMP work and get the BMP certificate prior to closing.

2) Negotiate to have the seller give you a financial credit for you to complete the work after escrow has closed. This is a more practical option given the time constraints in escrow and our seasonal limitations on competing BMP work.

3) Can’t get the seller to do the BMP’s, or give you a credit, then the buyer should get a cost estimate during their investigation (contingency) period so you’ll know what it may cost to implement the BMP program at the property you are buying.

4) The cost to implement BMP’s will vary from property to property. Don’t assume the cost at one home will be the same at the next.

What buyers need to know about BMP’s and their Tahoe real estate.

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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 Real Estate – What are BMP’s?