Sunday, August 31, 2014

HowStuffWorks "5 Tips for Moving Pets"

5 Tips for Moving Pets A move is rough on animals. They're used to the environment in which they roam - chasing squirrels and prowling after chipmunks. So when you put them into a car or on a plane to set up digs in a new place, they don't always take it that well. But for the most part, pets just want to be with their owners. So if you pay them some loving attention, they'll take the commute to the new home OK Read More: http://home.howstuffworks.com/real-estate/moving-tips/5-tips-for-moving-pets.htm

from The CalNev Team - North Lake Tahoe 1 Million Plus Homes http://home.howstuffworks.com/real-estate/moving-tips/5-tips-for-moving-pets.htm

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Selling Your Home Checklist

Selling Your Home Checklist FROM CLEANUP TO CLOSING, THIS GUIDE WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE STEPS (EVEN IF YOU DON'T USE A REAL ESTATE AGENT TO SELL YOUR PAD). http://ideas.thenest.com/real-estate/buying-a-home/articles/checklist-selling-a-home.aspx

from The CalNev Team - North Lake Tahoe 1 Million Plus Homes http://ideas.thenest.com/real-estate/buying-a-home/articles/checklist-selling-a-home.aspx

Friday, August 29, 2014

Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly

Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly Energy-saving changes that will lower your bills and prove that you can live green without sacrificing style or comfort. http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/green-living/home-more-eco-friendly-10000001710894/index.html

from The CalNev Team - North Lake Tahoe 1 Million Plus Homes http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/green-living/home-more-eco-friendly-10000001710894/index.html

Saturday, August 23, 2014

The CalNev Team: Truckee Real Estate Market Update August 2014

Truckee Real Estate Market Update August 2014 Tahoe Truckee Market Update: As we move into the heart of Tahoe’s peak summer season, the dynamics of the real estate market have begun to shift. The remarkable momentum experienced region-wide over the first half of 2014 has begun to segment with divergent trends becoming apparent.

from The CalNev Team - North Lake Tahoe 1 Million Plus Homes http://thecalnevteam.blogspot.com/2014/08/truckee-real-estate-market-update.html

Friday, August 22, 2014

GORGEOUS Home for sale in Juniper Creek

GORGEOUS home in Juniper Creek. JUST LISTED and Priced to SELL! Magnificently built, family-sized Lodge crafted from pine logs has over 6,000 sf with 7 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, family room, loft, office, wine rooms, and an attached two-car garage. See more images and information about this home now!

from The CalNev Team - North Lake Tahoe 1 Million Plus Homes http://realestateinfodirect.com/index.asp?ID=7321

Thursday, August 21, 2014

The CalNev Team: Summer Discovery Series in Truckee

Although our summer is almost over there are still four Summer Discovery Series left this month. For more information please call Ali Liptrot at 415-577-0733 or email calnevteam@gmail.com. Reservations are recommended.

from The CalNev Team - North Lake Tahoe 1 Million Plus Homes http://thecalnevteam.blogspot.com/2014/08/summer-discovery-series-in-truckee.html

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Truckee Real Estate Market Update August 2014




Tahoe Truckee Market Update:

As we move into the heart of Tahoe’s peak summer season, the dynamics of the real estate market have begun to shift. The remarkable momentum experienced region-wide over the first half of 2014 has begun to segment with divergent trends becoming apparent.
 
The luxury segment continues to show the same robust growth that has fueled the overall market for much of 2014 while purchases below $1,000,000 have begun to lag. 
 
Overall, July saw 106 total transactions. This number is exactly the historical average for July but lags the same month in 2013 by 23%.  Conversely, total real estate volume has risen 6% from the same period, indicative of fewer homes selling but at much higher prices.  Further evidence of divergence can be seen in the change in average price from 12 months prior (+37%) buoyed by 15 sales greater than $1,000,000, and median price (+9%).
 
A further look at purchases in the luxury segment shows incredible year over year growth:
 
$1,000,000-$2,000,000
124 sales
+25%
$2,000,000-$5,000,000
53 sales
+65%
$5,000,000 and up
9 sales
+300%
 The composition of the 15 transactions at $1,000,000 above show an interesting mix of lakeside and resort purchases in a time that is often more biased towards summer product. Included are eight lakeside sales (including two on Donner Lake) from $1,100,000 - $9,250,000; two Mountainside properties at Northstar from $1,520,000 - $1,804,000; two Alpine Meadows homes $1,150,000 and $1,800,000; two Schaffer’s Mill Mountain Lodges for $1,000,000 and $1,450,000; and a Martis Camp cabin for $2,900,000.
 
At the other end of the spectrum, a slight pause to the market’s momentum is apparent for properties below the luxury threshold. Contrasting the velocity of premium sales shown above, year-to-date purchases below $1,000,000 are down 20% from the same period in 2013.  A certain amount of this slowing can be attributed to a lack of available homes in this price range early in the year.  In recent months a considerable amount of new product has been introduced to the market however many sellers are clearly overreaching with asking prices. While median price for this segment of the market is up a healthy 6%, sellers are seeking a 24% premium over comparable prices creating a wide divide for prospective buyers to bridge. The resulting stalemate has contributed to slower transaction volume and increased inventory levels.

As we look to towards the latter part of summer, historical trends indicate that purchases will increase through the peak months of August, September and October as consumers return from vacation and begin making purchasing decisions. This often coincides with sellers developing a more realistic picture of market value and either adjusting price or departing the sales arena.
 
Indications of demand across all price points are very strong as measured by the level of inquiries through Tahoe Mountain Resorts’ showrooms. The region is swollen with visitors enjoying all that the region has to offer as we bask in another perfect summer.
Northstar:
4 new listings: 
Click Here to View Listings

Martis Camp:
2 new listings: Click Here to View Listings 

Lahontan:
No new listings: 

Gray's Crossing: 

Old Greenwood:
5 new listings: 
Click Here to View Listings

Schaffer's Mill:

Squaw Valley:
No new listings: 

Lake Tahoe (North, West & East Shore):
19 new listings: Click Here to View Listings


Summer Discovery Series in Truckee



Although our summer is almost over there are still four Summer Discovery Series left this month.  For more information please call Ali Liptrot at 415-577-0733 or email calnevteam@gmail.com.  Reservations are recommended.



Thursday, August 14, 2014

The CalNev Team: 4 Rules to Live By When Making an Offer on a House

4 Rules to Live By When Making an Offer on a House Buying a house is a little like asking someone to marry you. In both cases, you make your offer believing there's a good chance you'll get a yes, but you know you could get a no. If the answer is yes in either situation, your fates will be linked for many years to come – possibly until death do you part. But if you don't get an immediate answer, the wait can be excruciating. We may not be able to help you with your love life, but if you want your house offer to be greeted with a yes – and a quick one – here are four rules to follow. http://thecalnevteam.blogspot.com/2014/08/4-rules-to-live-by-when-making-offer-on.html

from The CalNev Team - North Lake Tahoe 1 Million Plus Homes http://thecalnevteam.blogspot.com/2014/08/4-rules-to-live-by-when-making-offer-on.html

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

BURNING MAN Coming Soon BLACK ROCK DESERT AUGUST 25, 2014 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2014 http://thecalnevteam.blogspot.com/2014/07/burning-man-coming-soon.html http://ow.ly/i/6egCd nev



from The CalNev Team - North Lake Tahoe 1 Million Plus Homes https://www.facebook.com/TheCalNevTeam/photos/a.698773480183216.1073741828.693275294066368/736920716368492/?type=1

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

The CalNev Team: 5 things sellers need to know before listing this summer

5 things sellers need to know before listing this summer The right renovations and incentives can sweeten the deal http://thecalnevteam.blogspot.com/2014/08/5-things-sellers-need-to-know-before.html

from The CalNev Team - North Lake Tahoe 1 Million Plus Homes http://thecalnevteam.blogspot.com/2014/08/5-things-sellers-need-to-know-before.html

FREE EXCLUSIVE LUXURY TAHOE HOME LIST

NEW FREE TAHOE LUXURY HOME FINDER! Enroll Now to start receiving INSTANT NOTIFICATION via email whenever a LUXURY Home Hits the TAHOE Market! BEAT OTHER HOME BUYERS TO THE BEST HOME BUYS!

from The CalNev Team - North Lake Tahoe 1 Million Plus Homes http://realestateinfodirect.com/index.asp?ID=7157

4 Rules to Live By When Making an Offer on a House


Buying a house is a little like asking someone to marry you. In both cases, you make your offer believing there's a good chance you'll get a yes, but you know you could get a no. If the answer is yes in either situation, your fates will be linked for many years to come – possibly until death do you part. But if you don't get an immediate answer, the wait can be excruciating. We may not be able to help you with your love life, but if you want your house offer to be greeted with a yes – and a quick one – here are four rules to follow.
Be likable. Money talks, but so do you. And you don't want to say anything that could turn off a seller.
"You're most likely buying someone's home that they have memories and a lot of emotional ties to," says Marc Takacs, a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty in Atlanta. So if the seller is present when you see the house, keep quiet about your grand plans for landscaping or repainting the living room.
"Don't tell someone how bad, ugly, stupid, et cetera, that someone's house is, and then try to buy it. That doesn't work," Takacs says.
Well, it might, if the homeowner is desperate and primed to sell, but if there are other buyers circling, you've given the seller an excuse to reject your offer and accept someone else’s.
Another no-no, according to Takacs, is being high-maintenance. "Don't overstay your welcome," he advises. "I don’t think anything irritates a seller more than when a buyer visits a house too much or stays for too long."
He also suggests that when you submit your offer, avoid making unreasonable demands such as a lightning-fast closing date. "Try to be considerate of the fact people are trying to carry on with their lives, move and all the other stuff that goes along with that. Being pushed out of your house can be very unsettling," Takacs says.
Don't be stingy with your offer, but don’t overreach. If you offer exactly what the seller is asking, you will get his or her attention and probably their respect and appreciation. In many cases, your offer will be accepted. Offer a tad bit more, and you may chase other buyers away whose offers are at or below the list price.
At the other end of the spectrum, a lowball offer may insult the homeowner. In some instances, it may be shrewd to offer significantly less than the list price, but first consult your real estate agent, who will probably have the best read on what your seller is likely to accept.
If you’re looking to make the strongest offer possible, make sure it’s not so high that you can’t afford it, warns Kelly Long, a Chicago-based money coach and member of the National CPA Financial Literacy Commission. "Don't offer more than you can practically afford, even if you're approved for more," she says, adding that this can easily happen if you're looking at a house that's out of your price range.
"If you buy it for more than you can afford, you'll end up hating the house and yourself in the long run," she says.
That’s because the more expensive your house is, the higher your monthly payments will likely be. Long cites the rule of thumb that a monthly payment shouldn't exceed more than 28 percent of your gross income. That includes taxes and insurance, she adds.
Be ready for a yes. If the seller says no, the next steps are clear enough: You make a better offer, or continue house hunting. But even if the seller accepts the offer, you don't have those front door keys yet.
"You may be preapproved based on your credit report and supplying your W-2, but the [mortgage] application process is much more involved and requires extensive documentation in a short window of time," Long says. "Make sure you have some time set aside to gather all the necessary information in the week following the offer’s acceptance. You’ll also need to schedule, attend and pay for an inspection in that first week, so make sure you have the money on hand to pay for that.

5 things sellers need to know before listing this summer



The right renovations and incentives can sweeten the deal


In the hot summer months, when home inventory is low and demand is soaring, your sellers may think that their home will move in mere minutes — and at a price that defies even the loftiest expectations. Let’s face it: These dreams of big prices and warp speed sales can spell disaster — and major disappointment — for you and your clients.
Don’t worry! You’re not doomed to this fate. With a few smart, premeditated steps — and the help of a savvy agent — it’s easy to head off seller miseducation and common misconceptions. Here are five simple must-know facts and tips that your sellers need to know before their home hits the market this summer.
1. Staging matters — big time!
Every agent knows the old adage, “Homes that don’t show well don’t close well.” But still, time and time again we see sellers rail against the time and cost associated with staging a home. After all, if they love their home as it is, why shouldn’t everyone else? This is a situation where sometimes showing trumps telling. If you have a particularly staging-averse client, take them on a two-home showing: one where the home is staged and one where the home is not.
Be sensitive, but firm. Their decor may be a beautiful expression of their personality, but sometimes less is more. You can also download and share Trulia’s 10 Hardcore Staging Tips for Sellers so that they can reference it before every open house.
Also remember to stress that when the warm weather comes, it’s as equally important to show off the outside of the home as it is to highlight the inside of the home. During the summer selling season, buyers are more likely to value things like a stellar backyard, a great (but low-maintenance) garden, or incredible curb appeal.
2. The market sets the price, not the owner.
It’s understandable that many home sellers think that their home is above the price that the market dictates. Sentimental value often translates into an inflated sense of the home’s worth, but when it comes price, the winning opinion is always the market’s opinion. Agents know it’s impossible to effectively price a home without taking into account the competition. Unfortunately, too many sellers don’t.
First, it’s essential to determine how much the seller thinks their home is worth. If their expectation is wildly inappropriate, it may be worth taking the clients to see a home that is on the market and priced at their expectation. Then, take the seller to a comparable home that is priced similarly to where you feel their home should be priced. Take the time to both educate them on the competition and give them expert home pricing tips to help them understand your pricing strategy.

3. Small renovations may mean big bucks later.
In many cases, the cost of a home repair is less expensive than a potential buyer perceives the cost of the repair to be. If buyers overestimate the cost of fixing the problem, it may negatively impact the offer amount and end up costing the seller more in the long run. Be upfront with your seller clients when you spot unsightly blemishes that could cost your clients the deal.
Before you list and start marketing the property, counsel your sellers on the improvements you know will make a difference when it comes to price. If you need a starter list of simple ways to boost a home’s value and its showing potential, download our guide on the 10 ways to boost your home’s value to share with your sellers.
4. Incentives can help close the deal faster.
Offering practical incentives might not sound sexy, but those that fill legitimate buyer needs have the power to differentiate a listing from the competition and attract just the right attention needed to get the home sold for the right price.
Talk to your sellers early about how they might be prepared to sweeten the deal if the right offers don’t come rolling in. Talking incentives early and building them into the marketing plan can arm both agent and seller with the ammunition to jump potential marketing hurdles and beat out the competition for a fast sale.
5. Real estate is a local business.
The last few years have turned real estate headlines into high-profile news. Home prices are on the rise. In fact, last month home prices were up 8.1 percent year over year. While this is great news for the country as a whole, be sure to remind your sellers that real estate is a local industry and that asking price isn’t everything. To do this, consider posting your own local market updates on your personal real estate blog.
For many sellers, seeing the numbers is just the ammunition they need to see to agree to the right price.
Tell us! What would you add to the list of seller must-knows?