World Cup at Squaw Valley

World Cup at Squaw Valley

For the first time in 19 years, the World Cup will return to California. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows will host the Audi FIS World Cup on March 9, 2017. Race events held will consist of a Woman’s Giant Slalom on Friday, March 10th and Woman’s Slalom on Saturday, March 11. The races will be held on the Red Dog face with a finish corral adjacent to the base of the lift. To see the racers fly down this world class hill will be exhilarating. Young ski racers from everywhere can look up at their role models as they fly down the course. Squaw Valley was host to racing in the 1960 Winter Olympics and 1968 World Cup. Keep and eye out for local favorite and Olympic gold medalist, Julia Mancuso as she represents USA and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows in both race events. Each day will end with an Official FIS Award Ceremony and we hope to see Mancuso on the podium!

The 2 races are center stage for the weekend but there are other events built around the World Cup that will be fun. Thursday, March 9th is the community kickoff parade through The Village at Squaw Valley followed by music and a welcome party for all racers and spectators. Ready to meet your favorite US Ski Team member? Friday afternoon at 4pm is the US Ski Team Poster Signing at the KT Base Bar. Stick around Friday night for live music and fireworks at 8pm all taking place at the KT Base Bar. All weekend you will have the chance to see featured products and promotions in the Village at Squaw Valley.

Click here for a list of all events.

This is a great testament to the entire Tahoe region. More from the press release below:
“Squaw is probably going to be the most difficult GS on the tour next year for the ladies,” said Atle Skårdal, FIS chie race director for the ladies’ Alpine World Cup. “It is a very, very technical and difficult hill, which we’re excited about. It seems to be a really keen organizing committee that is proactive in developing something memorable for everybody. Like Killington, it’s not a long-term deal with Squaw for the moment, but you don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. The production of a really great event has to be the motivation for these organizing committees."

The weekend-long events will welcome thousands of spectators and fans to North Lake Tahoe. The entire community will play host to ski racing enthusiasts, aspiring young skiers and media from around the world. The event will be broadcast across America on NBC and NBCSN, and will be seen during primetime evening hours in Europe as well as across the globe, highlighting athletic talent and the Squaw Valley destination.

"From perfect bluebird days and adrenaline pumping trails to luxurious resorts and cool après ski vibes, winter in The Golden State is like nowhere else in the world," said Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta. "The 2017 Alpine World Cup will put an international spotlight on one of California’s most majestic ski destinations and showcase the high altitude thrills and laid-back lifestyle that make for a snow experience that is uniquely Californian."

Katie Tyler

Realtor®

BRE 01442453

c 530 277 1012 

5 Snow Activities To Try This Year

5 Snow Activities To Try This Year

The snow is here and the skiing has been the best we’ve seen in years.  The snow also brings with it the opportunity to try other snow sports.  Check out these off-mountain adventures as part of your Tahoe experience.  

1) Dog Sled Tour

Wilderness Adventures hosts Dog Sled Tours in Squaw Valley.  Experience the thrill and excitement of touring through the hills and meadows of Squaw Valley.  The dog sled team will guide you in a great adventure as a team of eager huskies pulls you through the snowy wonderland.  Bring your camera as there are many photo opportunities along the way.  This is a unique adventure that everyone will always remember. 

2) Fat BikingNorthstar Cross Country Center is now offering Fat Biking (a new form of mountain biking you can do on the snow). These mountain bikes have extremely large tires and can be rented at the Cross Country Center and taken out on the groomed trails.  If you love fat biking, sign up for Northstar's very first fat bike race this Saturday, January 21st as part of the Tahoe Fat Bike Summit & Festival.

3) Snowmobile Tour
Get out with a professional snowmobile tour company and let them take you to some unbelievable places with breathtaking views and scenery.  The guides are very knowledgable and all ability levels are welcome.  Get ready for some exhilarating thrills and a fun way to explore the winter forest trails. 

4) Ice Skating
My top two favorite ice skating spots are in the heart of Northstar Village and at 8,200 feet at Squaw Valley’s High Camp.  The Village of Northstar is the hub of all things apres.  With live music on most nights, smores, fire pits and multiple cabana bars; Northstar is always a lively place to be. At Squaw Valley, the stunning aerial tram ride is almost just as fun as the ice skating you will find at the top.  The Lake Tahoe and Squaw Valley views from this venue make for a jaw dropping experience. You can also tour the Olympic museum at the top of the tram. See you on the ice! 

5) Sledding
Kids and adults alike can agree that the most simple way to enjoy the snow is to go sledding. Northstar is home to a legendary tubing that feels more like a roller coaster ride.  Squaw Valley also has a tubing hill at the SnoVentures location, and even some "mini" snowmobiles to let the kiddos rip around a track. 

Katie Tyler

Realtor®

BRE 01442453

c 530 277 1012 

Year End, 2016 Martis Camp Market Overview

Martis Camp Market Update - 2016 Year In Review

Martis Camp closed out 2016 with an unbelievable year of sales accounting for around 15% of transactions in the entire region. The trend in buyers preferring new construction and a contemporary design is evident more in Martis Camp than anywhere else. A fully amenitiezed experience with ski access makes living at Martis Camp appealing and an easy choice for many buyers. The community has experienced a balanced meeting of supply and demand in 2016 with enough cabin inventory and diversity in estate home products to satisfy a wide range of tastes and consumers. Also, we saw more of the “upgrade” buyer who may have owned a cabin or guest house for the last couple of years and shifted gears to an estate home purchase.

In 2015, there were 22 home sales in Martis Camp, 6 were cabin (3250 max SF) and 16 were estate homes (~1.5 acre sites). 2015 marked the tail end of the tidal wave of spec homes hitting the market in the cabin neighborhoods leading to scarcity in that product type . The average sale price for cabins was $3,275,000 at an average of 109 days on the market prior to contract. The average price for estate homes was $5.3M and the average days on the market prior to going under contract was 290 days. The highest price for a property sold was $8.3M for an estate home, and the lowest price/square foot paid for a home was $554/SF (average just under $1100/SF).

Sales more than doubled in 2016 of single family homes with 49 transactions, 15 of which were cabin properties, 28 were estate properties (the remainder were “guest house” properties). The volume in 2016 accounts for 35% of all single family home sales in Martis Camp since its inception. Prices also increased for both cabin and estate home products in comparison to 2015. Cabins traded at an average of $3,550,000 after being on the market for 129 days. Estate homes spent much less time on the market in 2016 averaging 138 days before contract and transacted at an average of $5.65M. The highest priced sale logged was a at $8.9M, and the lowest price/square foot paid was $790/SF (average just under $1100/SF).

The lifestyle that Martis Camp has brought to the Tahoe area has flipped the dynamics of demand for high dollar properties to an organized community experience vs the prestigious lakefront address. The consumer preference for new construction with a modern flair is strong, and buyers have not been willing to settle for a “charming” lake estate, even if it is located on the shores of one of the most beautiful locations in the world. An estate property was recently listed in Martis Camp at $15,995,000 which if sold near that price point would rival some of the most coveted estates on Lake Tahoe.

There is no sign of slowing for Martis Camp, the community will continue to settle in to its identity as one of the most unique and sought after addresses in North America.

Katie Tyler

Realtor®

BRE 01442453

c 530 277 1012 

Lahontan Market Update - 2016 Year in Review

Lahontan Market Update - 2016 Year in Review

 

Lahontan is by far the best combination of value, quality, amenities and overall setting in the Tahoe region. As the "original" gated resort community in the Tahoe/Truckee area, Lahontan over the years has maintained its identity and understated elegance. There has been a marked appreciation of both land and single home properties over the last few years. 2016 stats leaped ahead in home sales vs 2015, while also hitting price/sq foot highs specifically in new construction offerings.
 
The demand for new construction options in Lahontan is strong with few options for buyers to choose from. In fact, many new construction projects secure buyers before going to market. The Lahontan story in 2017 undoubtedly will be focused on new construction demand again, with many new spec options slated to be completed and ready for sale. Land prices remain extremely reasonable (and likely undervalued) in comparison to neighboring Martis Camp. 

In 2015, there were 15 home sales at an average price of just over $2M. The highest price/square foot sale recorded at $667/SF and there were only 2 new construction homes available for sale. One was sold in less than 30 days, one was sold prior to hitting the market.  In 18 land transactions, the highest priced sale was at $475K. Investors and spec builders were responsible for a good chunk of the land sales recognizing the huge need in the market for updated inventory.

Lahontan home sales jumped up by about 60% in 2016 with 25 single family home transactions. The average closing price was just above 2015 numbers at $2,025,000. There were 4 newer construction options in 2016, 3 of which achieved new heights on the sold price/square foot spectrum. All 3 closed over $700/sq ft and the most paid was $747/SF. The last time there was a comp anywhere near that high $/SF was in 2008.  Land transactions were up by 39% from 2015, with the highest comp at $455K. What continues to stand out is that price of a premium lot in Lahontan is half of what it would cost for an "average" site at Martis Camp. And this logic isn't lost on Lahontan consumers.
 
There is certainly still room to grow in the Lahontan market. For the quality of home and setting that can be found at Lahontan, properties are still undervalued. Anticipate an opportunistic market in 2017 for buyers, sellers, and contractors alike. The demand and absorption of new and updated construction will continue to drive Lahontan values up, and the available "new" inventory in 2017 should substantially increase. There is quite a bit of pent up demand specific to Lahontan and buyers will need to have a close pulse on the market to be ahead of game for the type of property they desire.

Katie Tyler

Realtor®

BRE 01442453

c 530 277 1012 

Storm Report January 2017

Storm Report January 2017

 

The start to 2017 has been nothing short of unbelievable weather-wise. The New Year brought us snow to celebrate.  Some mountains were reporting 5 feet of the fluff and the locals were celebrating. 

Then came the rain. Not just rain, but a behemoth atmospheric river from the equator that poured anywhere from 4-8 inches of rain on our beautiful newly fallen snow. A deluge. Flooding, rockslides and dangerous avalanche conditions were all the news. But, we were not left to despair for long. The storm we have been waiting for since 2011 finally showed up. 4 days of snow, power outages, blizzard conditions, wind, mountain and interstate closures...this is the good stuff. We watched it come down for days. Northstar reported 93" of snow as a 4 day total. Squaw reported 73", a lower number probably due to incredibly high winds. (The top of Squaw Valley Peak reported winds at 173 MPH). The National Weather Service says we are at 158% of average. And it is January.

From Open Snow-This has been our snowiest January since 2008, and our biggest snowfall month since March 2012. And the month is far from over with another 10 inches of snow expected in the next day and another potentially big storm moving in next week.
And now, we are excited to get out there and play. A winter wonderland awaits. We have plenty of powder, the resorts are digging out and it sounds like our epic winter has just begun. 

For the best insight check out what BA has to say at Open Snow.

See you on the slopes.

Katie Tyler

Realtor®

BRE 01442453

c 530 277 1012 

2016 Tahoe Truckee Market Summary

2016 Tahoe Truckee Market Summary

For sheer volume, 2016 may have been the most productive year ever for Tahoe Truckee Real Estate. Numerous metrics exceeded all-time highs demonstrating the values of mountain living to be in increasing demand.

Total residential transactions eclipsed 1,600 for the first time since 2004 and showed a 15% increase over the prior year. The total volume of sales leapt a remarkable 26% eclipsing $1.3 billion for the first time ever and continuing a stretch of 4 consecutive years post-recession in which the region has exceed $1 billion. Average price improved by 9% to $833,019 while median grew 5% to $550,000. The latter figures represent the strongest results by category since 2006 and 2008 respectively.

As is often the case with a growing market, the wealth was not distributed equally. Certain segments dramatically outperformed as consumers’ tastes demonstrated a strong preference for new, highly-amenitized communities with modern design over more traditional mountain retreats.

Martis Camp, the epitome of those virtues detailed above, saw explosive growth with 49 homes trading at an average price of $4,325,000 concentrating 15% of the entire regions sales volume. 49 transactions are more than double the prior year and, perhaps more notably, double the quantity of lakefront homes sold on Lake Tahoe.

For generations, waterfront property on Lake Tahoe represented the apex of luxury for Northern Californians. While prime lakefront properties still trade at values greater than $10,000,000, obsolescence in the form of dated and dilapidated product has made the grandeur of Martis Camp and similar communities including Lahontan, Old Greenwood, Gray’s Crossing and Northstar more appealing; particularly in the luxury segment (> $1 million).

While these results are reminiscent of a decade ago, the trajectory appears to have much greater stability as debt remains modest, interest rates historically low, and inventory at its lowest ever to start a new year.

A robust real estate market has brought to life a substantial number of new development projects that promise to keep the region on the cutting edge architecturally. New, infill projects likely to come to market in 2017 include Northstar Mountainside, Old Greenwood, Gray’s Crossing, Kings Beach, Alpine Meadows, and South Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe Mountain Realty has enjoyed great success at the forefront of this shifting consumer trend. Having led a substantial number of transactions in each of Martis Camp, Lahontan, Old Greenwood, Gray’s Crossing, Northstar, and Squaw Valley in addition to Tahoe lakefronts, TMR’s ethos of delivering meaningful content and service continues to drive innovation throughout the region.

Katie Tyler

Realtor®

BRE 01442453

c 530 277 1012