Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Ten tips for enjoying your Northstar holiday vacation
Enjoy!
Happy Holidays!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Manzanita at The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Positive Article on Bay Area Housing Market
Enjoy!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Cheers to Northstar, Good Coffee, and a Grand Opening!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Let it snow, Let it snow!!
Northstar is undoubtedly the place for early season skiing. They have been diligently blowing snow and opening as much terrain as possible. I believe it because the riders are sure looking happy when they come down at the end of the day.
Fortunately, we won't have early season conditions for much longer.........
There is some serious hype going on up here this week about some inbound snow. Nobody seems to be able to tell us exactly how much we are going to get. I have heard as little as 2 feet and as much as 15 feet. That is quite a swing...
I haven't made the move to stock up on survival supplies at the grocery store yet, but that may be a mistake. I might reconsider tomorrow when hopefully the weather people can decide what is going on.
We are under a Winter Storm Watch, looks like about 2 feet possible Sun-Mon and then the next storm seems to be the doozy. They say "significant snow amounts possible" (15 feet??).
Weather Vane Brad?? Regarding the next few days??
Temps will be so cold that what does fall will be of the light powdery stuff they always brag about in Utah, and Colorado thus it could pile up faster than most storms do in our area. Early estimates are 12 inches up to 2.5 feet. I know very vague but for whatever reason these changes are puzzling the experts. Because this system is associated with such a strong cold front coming out of the Gulf of Alaska if skies clear by Monday evening (which they should) we could have some record low temps for the Truckee area, easily below 0!
Wednesday brings more changes. The Jet-Stream takes aim at California this time with several systems lined up. Most are packed with sub-tropical moisture so we should see more precipitation and higher snow levels. Two model solutions out there one is colder and drier the other being warmer and wetter due to it being influenced by the remnants of a tropical typhoon. What we want is the drier solution as it will still have plenty of moisture and snow levels should remain below our resorts base areas.
Either way it all looks fun. Love the changes! Go get your fat skis and boards tuned it looks like we will need them for the next couple of weeks.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Existing home sales up...Thoughts on N. Tahoe Market
I can tell you that in this North Tahoe market, we have definitely seen increased activity in the past 4-6 months and in some "sub-markets" the inventory has been absorbed and the prices are coming up again. There are some good deals still out there, but they are getting picked up very quickly by savvy buyers (often advised by good local real estate agents) who have been watching this market like hawks.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Ski season is here!! Big snow on the way...
AND we are expecting our first major storm of the season tomorrow. I hope you all are ready!
From Northstar's Website:
Open Saturday, Nov. 21
Northstar® Resort opens for its 37th ski/ride season on Nov. 21 with four lifts turning, access to beginner/interm. trails, affordable lift tickets, more big storms in the forecast, & some of the best early season conditions since the 1994.95 season!
** Also take note that the ice skating rink in the Village at Northstar will be opening on Saturday "weather permitting"**
From Squaw Valley USA's Website:
It's snowing at Squaw! Make plans to get here this weekend for skiing and riding as well as our Opening Day Celebration.
We'll have snowtubing at the Papoose Discovery Center this weekend, 10am-3:30pm, just $12.
I have got my ski quiver prepared to bring to work: The BIG powder skis, the "groomer" skis, the "in between day" skis and of course the "rock" skis (the pair I don't mind trashing). AND, I have picked up both of my ski passes, this year the mountains of choice will be Squaw and, of course, Northstar. Can you tell that I am excited?
Monday, November 2, 2009
Vacation Raffle for the Boys and Girls Club
Dear Friends:
If you are interested in supporting the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe and also a chance to win one of 7 Grand prizes in our Vacation Raffle-Check out the following information and let us know so we can get you a ticket. Your odds are great in this local raffle and as you can see the prizes are also terrific! Tickets are only $25 and all proceeds go to support the wonderful programs at the BGC. The drawing will be on November 18th so you will have time to wrap up your prize and give it as a gift for someone special at Christmas. Check out the info below and send me an email so I can get your ticket to you. GOOD LUCK!!
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF NORTH LAKE TAHOE -VACATION RAFFLE
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO DONATE $25 TO SUPPORT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF NORTH LAKE TAHOE AND WIN A GREAT VACATION TOO!!
DRAWING- NOVEMBER 18, 2009 - 7 “GRAND PRIZES” $25.00 PER TICKET
1-week stay in 2 BR/2.5 bath home in San Miguel Allende, Mexico
1-week stay at Olympic Village Inn
1-week stay in a 1 BR/1 BA Marriotts Canyon Villa in Scottsdale 5/22/10-5/29/10
2-night stay at Granlibakken for 4 + 2 days of skiing at Alpine Meadows for 4
3-nights lodging in 2 BR Village at Northstar condo + 1 day lift ticket for 2 people
2-night stay in a lakefront room at Ferrari's Crown Motel + two 2-day Ski Tahoe North
2-night stay at Tahoma Lodge for 4 including 2 days of skiing for 4 at Homewood Mountain Resort
**TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE “CLUB” OR FROM BGCNLT BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF**
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB -(530) 546-4324
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Spa Membership Program - The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe
- Complimentary valet parking
- Unlimited access to wellness center equipment
- Complimentary equipment orientation + nutritional consultation
- Unlimited access to regularly scheduled fitness classes (Yoga, Pilates, Spin, etc...) and spa pool classes
- Unlimited use of spa lap pool, locker rooms, steam, sauna, whirlpool, verandas, relaxation areas
Additional benefits include:
- 20% discount on regularly priced spa services Sunday-Thursday
- 10% discount on retail merchandise in the spa boutique
- 20% off personal training sessions
- One complimentary 50-minute treatment of choice per year
- 2 complimentary physical fitness evaluations and personal training sessions per year
- Specially priced guest facility fees for non-members guests of $20 (+tax), members must accompany guest
- 1 night complimentary stay at The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe (subject to availability)
This is a phenomenal way to take advantage of the luxurious Ritz-Carlton spa as a property owner in the area without having to stay at the property or own one of the condos there. I am sure that this is a limited opportunity, as I think many people will sign up for this program.
See you there! I'll be the one with the cucumbers on my eyes, so you may not recognize me at first.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Ski Swap info...
With the first snow of the season, I wanted to make sure and let you know about the ski & Snowboard swaps, where you are able to get some great deals! Mammoth Mountain opened October 16th this year!!! It has only opened this early once before. El Nino!!!
Monday, October 5, 2009
California Dreamin? Wild weather...
There has been some wild weather these past few weeks! This will be my 6th winter here, and I have not seen such a long "cold" snap that I can remember in October. I took this lovely photo of the first snow on Northstar the other day on my way to work.
Check out this blog from Porters about the waves on Tahoe the other day. 2 boats capsized and there is a guy surfing!
http://www.porterstahoe.com/2009/10/surfs-up-on-lake-tahoe.asp
And, we can't talk about the weather without some commentary from Weather Vane Brad...
Nice warming trend in our area will continue through the weekend. Nice cold mountain nights and crisp, slightly cool fall days with the warmest temps just shy of 65 degrees and bright sunny skies.
Everything changes dramatically Tuesday or Tuesday night. The models are still very inconsistent. Lots of disturbances in the Pacific due to the remnants of an Asian Typhoon. Many of the models have the high pressure staying in place and pushing all systems and moisture just to our North giving us nothing more than increased cloud cover and some stiff breeze.
Some, however, have the ridge flattening out which would allow the moisture to hit us dead on. The first system is fueled by the old Typhoon with two large sub tropical moisture plumes. Because of where the moisture is coming from (the tropics) and lack of a cold front snow levels would remain very high. My best guess would be 8000 feet. We are talking inches of rain with this baby and feet of snow above 8000 feet. Some websites are predicting 4 inches of precipitation!
I always like to stay somewhere in-between. I would be happy with a couple inches of rain and maybe a quick shot of snow on the end if we can get lucky with a late arriving cold front.
.
This would be a great start to our water year as October is the first month for the 2010 water year. A nice heavy rain would knock down all the dust in the basin making it ready for a good heavy blanket of winter snow and in the mean time our trails would become hard and tacky rather than slippery and dusty as they are now. Great for mountain biking until the first big snow does come.
El Nino is still fizzling. Don’t get overly excited about this.
(I thought we were supposed to get 800 inches of snow?!?)
OK. So let's be honest, the weather is still beautiful, this is perfect hiking and mountain biking weather, and I am just complaining that the nights are getting a little chilly...Undoubtedly, snow is on the way and we are all very excited for a big winter...start those ski conditioning classes now!Monday, September 28, 2009
Why I love The Ritz-Carlton...
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
North Tahoe Resorts Ranked in Ski Magazine Article
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Fall Tahoe Article in Sunset Magazine
Also scroll down to the bottom of the Sunset page to "Related Features". There are spotlight articles on activities in the area.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Flipping real estate again?
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Weather Vane Brad Returns... Big Winter Ahead??
"LETS HYPE IT UP! The word of the year is... EL NINO! For those of you that don’t “hable the espanole” that means… THE NINO!! Just kidding. You may have all heard we are currently experiencing a weak El Nino out in the Pacific Ocean right now. So as follows the real definition of El Nino...
So what does it all mean Basil? El Nino’s typically have large effects on the California winter weather patterns. Weak El Nino’s such as the one that is occurring right now typically only affect weather in Southern California- Causing winter weather to be warmer and much wetter than the average. They have however (on some years) changed weather for Northern California as well. We can say that with a weak El Nino the weather in Southern California will most certainly be affected and that our weather here in Northern CA has a 50/50 shot at a wetter than average winter. (Don’t get caught up in all the HYPE!!) That being said, how 'bout this tidbit: The sun is experiencing an unusually low period of activity or lack of sun spots. This is typically associated with periods of global cooling. The only time period in our history of keeping weather records in which we have had both a weak El Nino along with a period of low solar activity was the winter of 1950-51. That winter the Lake Tahoe basin recorded 800 inches of snow, almost twice as much as last season. (Don’t you love it! Don’t get excited! Don’t hype it up! Don’t start rumors! But look it could snow 800 inches!!!)
Just look at the facts just the facts. A strong El Nino (which is still possible)... will most certainly mean our weather pattern will change for the wetter. We will keep you updated. Lastly, El Nino winters almost always come early. So get your boards waxed! You don’t want to miss this one! (But don’t get caught up in all the hype! Unless of course you are lucky enough to own that crystal ball I look for every day on craigslist)!"
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tour de Truckee - Shop local!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Just like the good old days
No joke in our office alone we had about 7-10 offers on condos and 5 offers on Village Walk Townhomes. This week left the developer of the Village at Northstar with only 1 two bedroom condo and 4 or 5 one bedroom condos left. All the Village Walk Townhomes are sold. Just like that!
Buying frenzy? What does it mean?
Maybe nothing but I spoke with a local builder friend of mine yesterday and he is swamped with bidding on new construction projects, both residential and commercial. He said that people are recognizing that they had better take advantage of these low building costs in combination with the ability to get great deals on land. He also said that contractors in general are still "hungry" but new jobs are lining up for them quickly.
I also spoke with several clients of mine who are entrenched in the financial world on both coasts. They are saying it is time to invest in real estate again...they are seeing more confidence.
I saw this article in the Wall Street Journal the other day, and I am hoping it ties in. I would rather be on the "recovery" side of the recession, I think.
Well, maybe we don't want the "good old days" because that is what got us into this mess. But we will take "better days", right??
Monday, August 3, 2009
Wake Surfing in Tahoe
Check out the links below....
1. My husband Brad surfing
2. Me surfing. (I think he has much better form...)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
It's a dog's life...
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Good Life...
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Know Your Real Estate Terminology 101
REO:
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Furnishing your mountain home? Here are some tips...
Next up....
Know the difference between a short sale, REO, foreclosure??? You will soon. Stay tuned.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Glass half full?? Thoughts on the real estate market...
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Summer is here...
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Katie is back!
Katie and Brad debarked the raft yesterday and are on their way to Las Vegas, then home to Truckee. Katie sounds great! Exhilarated! A small excerpt from her "I'm home" email:
"We have returned! What an amazing experience. We are re-absorbing into society now and it is rough. Everything is bright and loud and busy. {hello - Las Vegas? Megan's comment}
The trip was a spectacular adventure. We were very fortunate. we only had one "incident" and that was one boat flipped in a rapid (not ours) but the people jumped on it, flipped it over-no gear was lost and the people were fine. It is amazing that was all there was to report because the ingredients were all around us for more incidents. No sicknesses, no injury, no fights, no drama, no sunburns, - just sore feet and lots of bruises and scratches was all. We had plenty of food, water, beer, sunscreen, etc..."
Yay! We are so happy she is happy - and safe :) I am looking forward to hearing and seeing about all of their adventures - I'm sure she will share them here as well.
I will hurry and post my "Best of Tahoe - Visitor Edition - Part 2" before they get back home and Katie takes the blog keys away ;)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Favorite things to do in Tahoe - Visitor Edition - Part 1
Megan here again (Katie's sister). While Katie is taking on nature during her three week adventure down the Grand Canyon, I have been putting together some of my favorite things to do when visiting Tahoe. We go up a couple times a year and I have to say, while snow sports would be the obvious #1 attraction in Tahoe - there are many other fun things to do - even when there is no snow on the ground. Here are a few from the 3 - 4x a-year visitor. As I started putting this together, I realized I am going to have to break this up into two parts - so many great things to do! So here goes -- Part 1:
1. Sunnyside
Katie has already mentioned Sunnyside in a previous post - but it bears another mention. Go for the best deck on the Lake - a beautiful, peaceful setting on the West side. Ahhh... makes me a little more relaxed just thinking about it... You can also stay at the lodge there, which I've never done, but heard is also very nice. A short drive away from Tahoe City.
2. Horse back riding at Squaw ...er, I mean Northstar
While I am sure there are many horse back riding outfits around the lake, our favorite is at the base of Squaw Valley. If you have little riders, like we do, you can pay a small fee for them to sit on a friendly pony and ride in a ring led by an adult for 30 minutes. Kids love it - at least under the age of six. So, as I search to find a link to the stables - there is a notice that there is no longer horse back riding in Squaw Valley. Go figure. So without having gone to these other stables - try the Northstar stables.
3. Appetizers at Lone Eagle Grill
The food is amazing, but even more amazing is sitting on their patio next to a fire pit watching the sun set with a good adult beverage. This is a must-do every time we go to Tahoe, regardless of the time of year. You will also get to see the famous "Tahoe Luke" - or as we call him in my family - Luuuuke! (love those leather pants!) He can play just about any song you request - he is especially good at the Dan Fogelberg/James Taylor/Eagles tunes. (Note: There are many photos of Luke to choose from on his web site - and this one seemed nice enough. Looking at the photo today - I just noticed , is Luke sitting on a guard rail on the side of the road, playing his guitar, posing for a picture?)
4. Brunch at Gar Woods
Another wonderful place to eat with an amazing deck overlooking the lake. The brunch is amazing - as well as the rest of their menu. If you are there in the evening, you might catch a Tahoe Luke sighting (see #3). Don't forget to try their famous drink - the Wet Woody.
5. Squaw Valley - summer
Okay, that's all for today. I realize this was heavy on the eating and drinking. Next time we will go on to more important topics... like shopping!
Update from the Grand Canyon
"They are having a lot of fun, everything going very well; they have run outof ice. Beer still in large supply. She sounds very energized and happy.
They are spending the night at Phantom Ranch on the Colorado River. You can see it if you download Google Earth and click the one that says "Phantom Ranch Colorado River" then click "mile 87.5". I suspect there are several other views but this one works.
There were a lot of people waiting for the phone and she sends love to all. Next point of contact will not be before the 15th--I think that is correct as the phone was sort of fuzzy."
Warm beer is better than no beer... ;-)
(This is not actually Katie and Brad, but these are rafters on the Grand Canyon...
so they could look just like this. This is called the
"Lava Fields Rapid" -
you can ask Katie about it when she gets back)
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Grand Canyon Expedition
The first check-in from Katie came on Wednesday (also, her birthday) as Katie and Brad began their journey driving across the great state of Nevada to get to Las Vegas for the night. What a way to spend a birthday! After several days of traveling to the Grand Canyon, packing and repacking, meeting up with their group, they will hit the water Saturday morning. From then on, no cell coverage for 16 days! Could you do it? No way!- er, I mean, I'm not sure I could.
Katie has emailed a schedule and a couple updates before she left - and this has been my favorite update so far:
"Supposedly there will be a phone in Phantom Ranch on the river on the 6th or 7th day of our trip. If so, I will call mom and dad and they can let everyone know how it’s going. Don’t be alarmed if I don’t call on the 6th or 7th day as sometimes that phone is out of order. It is in the middle of nowhere so it may not work. Or sometimes there is not room for all of the boats to park there so we would have to pass it by. "
Hard core, is all I can say.
To better familiarize myself with where my sister is going to be for the next several weeks, I found a couple educational and cool sites you should check out - something we should all know about one of our own national greats!
> Fly-through Grand Canyon Animation
> Virtual Tour Map of Grand Canyon National Park
(click on the upper right red dot - Lees Ferry - where Katie and Brad will begin their adventure) I should also add - Brad is a certified boat guide on the Grand Canyon. I am probably not listing his certification correctly, but whatever it is officially called, it makes us all feel better that he has earned a living in recent history taking people down the Grand Canyon in flotation devices - he knows what he's doing : ).
So while Katie is gone, I will be the guest blogger, and will pass on any updates I get from her. I also have a few Tahoe-related topics to share too.
Hope you are having a great weekend!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Memorial Day Weekend is here!
There are a lot of options in every neighborhood, the prices are incredibly low and the sellers are very motivated. I wish that I would have waited three or four years longer to buy my house, that is for sure. And the lending market has loosened up. A garage full of cash just to buy real estate would be useful right now.
My favorite tour this week was the west shore Tahoe lakefront tour. My colleague and I saw over 20 lakefront properties just on the west shore on Wednesday, and I am here to tell you that there are some deals to be had. It was a perfect experience to have right before the busy weekend. So even if you are just mildly interested in property, take some time when you are here and just look...I promise you will be pleasantly surprised.
The boats are out, the decks at the restaurants are open, summer is here! There are a lot of events going on this Memorial Day weekend, make sure to click some of the links on my page to view event calendars, etc...If you are out on the lake or running around, please go to Sunnyside and sit on the most gorgeous deck in Tahoe and have a Mai Tai for me.
Now...get this. I will be leaving on Wednesday to go rafting down the Grand Canyon for 16 days. (Yes...I will be rafting and camping for 16 days...). My sister Megan will be my guest blogger, I am sure that she will come up with some fun topics, so check in! Megan lives in the Bay Area and I think she will be giving some insight on her favorite things to do when she visits me!
I can assure you that I will have some great stories and photos upon my return. It's a rough life. But someone must do it. Seize the day!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Top Fifteen - Tahoe events to put on your calendar this summer
1. The Concours d' Elegance Wooden Boat Show
June 19th -21st The premier wooden boat show in North America will now be the opening boating event of the summer, and the true kick-off to the wooden boating season on Lake Tahoe. This is one of the most popular summer events at the Lake. Tickets are on sale now.
2. 4th Of July Fireworks
North Shore Fire Works Schedule:
Kings Beach - TBA
Squaw Valley - TBA
Tahoe City - 9PM
Truckee (Donner Lake) - 9PM
Incline Village - TBA
West Shore Lake Tahoe - TBA
3. Edgewood Celebrity Golf Tournament
July 14-19 South Lake Tahoe
This event is a blast. You can take your boat right up to the course and watch the action from the beach.
4. Lake Tahoe Music Festival
Ongoing throughout the summer
Enjoy a variety of musical talent in some gorgeous venues all around the N. Tahoe area. Tickets are already onsale.
5. Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival
Ongoing throughout the summer
The venue is absolutely breathtaking and the performances such as "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Measure for Measure" will be featured this summer. Don't miss out on this. Tickets already on sale.
6. Tour de Nez
June 17-21 Try to watch part of the race or take part in some of the activities and parties surrounding these bike race events. Fun for all.
7. Northstar Beerfest
July 11 What could be better on a warm Tahoe summer day than Beer and Bluegrass??
8. Donner Lake Triathlon
July 19 Part of the Big Blue Adventure Series, this event is popular for locals and out of towners alike. If you are not up for the full race, try the sprint triathlon. Get ready for some great scenery and a fun day.
9. Art, Wine, and Music Festival at Squaw
July 19-20 Not ready for the triathlon? This is a good alternative. Art, wine and a gorgeous setting. Lodging packages are available.
10. Huey Lewis and the News
July 25 Part of the Lake Tahoe Music Festival, this concert should be a hit. The venue at Old Greenwood is fabulous for adults and kids alike. Plus, hasn't it been too long since you have heard "Power of Love"?
11. Community Sale at Northstar
August 8 Come eat and shop for a good cause. The Community Sale benefits the Boys and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe. Live music, BBQ, kid art, and a raffle will be just part of the fun. Check out the website for more details and info if you would like to donate items to the Sale.
12. Brews, Jazz and Funk at Squaw
August 17-18 This is a a really fun event that benefits the Humane Society for Truckee-Tahoe. The music is groovy and the beer is great!
13. XTerra Triathlon
August 29 For all of you endorphin junkies...this is your ticket to one of the prettiest courses you have ever raced on...start training now!!
14. Alpen Wine Fest
August 31 This event sponsors the Huega Center for MS, and is in its 20th year! Over 30 Northern California vineyards will be represented. Come enjoy the good life.
15. Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Fest at Northstar
September 5-7 Come enjoy four full days of food, wine and festivals, grape stomp, wine walks, seminars, cooking demonstrations, grand tasting, culinary competitions, mountain chef cook off and more!
These are some of my favorite events of the summer. Keep your eye on local calendars for weekly specials, free concerts, and happenings. I recommend http://www.tahoe.com/.
Golf Course Update-
This is exciting stuff... some of the first courses are opening this Saturday, Old Greenwood and Gray's Crossing. Thanks to some rain and sun, the fairways are lush and the greens look great.
Weather Vane Brad says-
The weather in Tahoe doesn't change much from here until September/October. It just gets a little warmer and more fabulous.
But, don't despair. Brad is good for other things. Like strange and fun facts...
I asked him the other day, "What is the difference between a raven and a crow?" Apparently ravens are much larger than crows and have black eyes. Ravens also have a much more complicated vocabulary. Crows just "caw". And, if you see a black bird in the Tahoe area, it is most likely a raven. Not many crows here. Who knew??
Friday, May 1, 2009
Avoiding the "Money Pit"...
Let me tell you some things that I look for on the first visit to a home during a quick 10-15 minute showing. Most of these items are easy to see in plain view. Of course, a professional home inspector is absolutely necessary before buying a home. These are just some little tidbits that may tip off some underlying problems, signals that there will be additional costs that may need to be addressed, or factors that may play in to the long term ongoing costs of home ownership.
Let's start outside...
1. Curb appeal- Is the home consistent in architecture/design with others in the neighborhood, or does it stand out? Does it look well maintained and inviting?
2. Driveway- We live in an area where it snows quite a bit. Heavy, wet, walls of snow. Most folks opt for a snow removal service (contracts $400-$800+/year depending on length and slope) or a snowblower ($2500 for a good one).
3. Landscaping-Is there any? Will the new owner maintain? Have defensible space measures already been taken care of? Will a landscaping service need to be hired? Landscaping can be very costly if you start from scratch or if the previous owner has not maintained their sprinkler lines, etc...Also be aware that strict BMP and defensible space ordinances exist, especially down by Lake Tahoe and get educated on them. http://www.tahoebmp.org/bmp_pdfs/DenfensibleSpaceBrochure.pdf
4. Home exterior/Fences-Does the home need to be stained or painted? Are the fences in good shape? This is a big deal if you have to shell out for this cost right away. The winters in Tahoe add wear and tear to the exterior and a paint/stain job may not last as long as you would think.
5. Roof/drainage-Sometimes hard to see, look for tiles that have fallen off, broken gutters, and in the winter, ice dams. Is there a snowmelt system on the roof? Where does the water drain from the gutters? Roof replacement and ice dam prevention can be very costly.
6. Windows-This is an interior and exterior issue. What type of windows were used? Are they double paned? Appropriate for a cold weather climate? Replacing windows is very expensive. Also good windows will reduce your overall energy costs.
Let's head inside for a quick tour:
1. Walls-Are there cracks in the walls? Any bubbling of paint or areas that look patched or repaired? If so, you may have water issues which are NO FUN. Subsidence (shifting of the soil under the home) is a big deal and causes cracks on walls near windows and doors. Also shifting will often cause doors to stick or be very loose. Stains on the walls or ceilings may indicate a leak in a bathroom or a roof leak. All costly repairs and potentially ongoing issues.
2. Smells-Is there a strange smell in the house? If nobody has been there in awhile, it may just be stale air. But be aware of strong rotten or musty smells. Could be plumbing problems or mold! An inspection would likely uncover both issues.
3. Kitchen and Bathrooms-Look at the tiles. Check for cracks, loose grout, signs of mold. Kitchens and bathrooms are very expensive to remodel. And, they are the most "used" parts of the home.
4. The bones-Is the space and layout of the home good? Does it have enough storage? Are the room sizes and configurations adequate for your needs? If you do need to remodel in the future, in most cases it is more efficient to change the space you have instead of add on or expand. Permits for additions are a pain and the process can be very pricey.
5.Beyond the walls-Try to identify what type of systems are in the home for heat, air conditioning, water heating, etc...The efficiency of these systems will determine how much you pay for energy in your home. These are big ticket items to replace and repair as well.
6.Flooring-What is the condition of the carpet/hardwood? Look at the trim around the walls/doors. Is the carpet fraying or loose on the stairs? Have any floor boards popped up? Replacing carpet is not a big deal. Hardwood floors are more expensive to repair/replace. You just want to make sure you know what you are getting into.
Looking for a new home is a very involved process, but it doesn't have to be hard work. All the information to make good decisions is out there. The catch is to not get too emotionally attached to the "idea" of a property before you see the full picture and what lies underneath. Asking the right questions and working with an educated Realtor that you trust as your advocate will insure that your bases are covered.
And, of course, don't forget to have fun!
Friday, April 24, 2009
If you build it, they will come...
A group of us ventured down to Kirkwood and Mammoth this past week and had a blast! Kirkwood is closing this weekend, Mammoth does not close until Memorial Day... the snow was perfect in the morning, a little sloppy in the afternoon.
On a Green Note:
In honor of Earth Day, Disney is planting a tree for every person who buys a ticket to the new "Earth" movie through April 28th. Good stuff.
Next time let's talk some real estate...