Greetings Fellow Life Travelers:
Summer is showing big signs of change, with cooler night temps and now rain! One day it’s glorious with 87- degree temps, the next it’s wet and 71 degrees with nights in the 40s. Last 10 days have been house guest time for me, with one couple for the boat show weekend, another for about a week up from the hot desert. Fun time to catch up, wine and dine. The Ladies Lunch last Sunday was another winner as predicted, with a beautiful day, some arriving by boat, eye-candy fashion show and delicious lunch by Melanie, a long-time Tahoe caterer who does this lunch every year for the Tahoe Yacht Club Foundation’s Concourse d/Elegance. I think real estate activity is heating up a bit, so let’s take a look at this last week.
• Residential Real Estate – week 8/12 – 8/18
o Tahoe Sierra MLS – North/West Shores & Truckee. New Listings – 38; Escrows – 39; Solds – 29 o Incline Village/Crystal Bay MLS. New Listings – 8; Escrows – 5; Solds – 11
o East Shore, NV MLS. New Listings – 5; Escrows – 5; Solds – 3
o Reno/Sparks MLS. New Listings – 128; Escrows – 147; Solds – 89
North Shore had a lakefront listed at $9.65M go to escrow; Martis Camp had a $8.4M sale. Activity appears to be picking up a bit all over, and higher price points are starting to sell in general. It’s that time of year when sales tend to escalate.
• Local/Real Estate/Luxe
o Interest Rates, ad nauseum. On Thursday, rates hit a 20-year high – up at 7%. Lenders remind clients that finding the perfect house is harder to find than the perfect rate. Potential to re-fi once they come down, which they will at some point.
o 27th Lake Tahoe Annual Summit that took place on August 9 reinforced the Federal commitment to continue Lake Tahoe’s restoration as the region faces climate change, transportation and housing challenges. o Clean up the Lake Dive Center is now open in Incline Village. First of its kind, one goal is to create an ‘army’ of environmental divers and the other is to create an environmental science centner. Supported financially by individuals and companies, it will be able to match incoming donations up to $125,000.
o Sand Harbor boat ramp will now be closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays because of staffing shortages. Cave Rock is the closest alternative.
o PixieDrone – newest Lake cleaner-upper. Take a look! https://tinyurl.com/2vhmjdn7
o Tahoe Fund – Fun Fact: Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the U.S., with its deepest part located near Crystal Bay at 1,645’. Average depth of the lake is 1,000’. Which lake is deeper?
o New travel option: VistaJet. It’s the first and only global private aviation company. Clients have flown to over 1,900 airports in 96% of the world’s countries.
o Draft Horse Classic & Harvest Fair. September 21 – 24, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley. Features six different performances featuring draft horses and exhibitors from across the U.S. and Canada. For more information – https://tinyurl.com/2p8vuhpd
o Ski Time – already? Resorts are gearing up for another big season, with target dates for opening starting November 17th for Heavenly and Northstar, and Dec 1 for Kirkwood.
o Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe opened its Thrifty Tails Boutique on Saturday. Next to the Coffee Bar bakery at 12047 Donner Pass Rd. (formerly Sears). Now that we’ve lost hotel support for both Black Tie and Tails and Best of Chef’s dinners, there’s a need to find alternative venues to support philanthropic endeavors.
o Rooms with a view. In London, it will cost about 93% more than average for a property with city vista, green space of the River Thames.
o Ski Lease time! If you or friends are thinking about Tahoe skiing and don’t have a home here, now’s a good time to engage a ski lease.
o Tahoe Biltmore demo is scheduled to start any day. A new Waldorf Astoria Hotel, including condo options, will rise from the ashes.
• Entertainment
o The beauty of Audrey Hepburn: https://tinyurl.com/3yf93y26
• TidBits
o “I would ride every morning before I went to the studio. I learned to jump before ‘National Velvet’ because I just loved the feeling of flying. I could jump six feet bareback and it was the closest thing to being Pegasus and flying next to God. It’s the most liberating freedom-making feeling in the world.” —Elizabeth Taylor
o America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won’t cross the street to vote.
o Gripe Sheet – Pilot to Mechanic: 1) P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear. M: Evidence removed. 2) P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet-per-minute descent. M: Cannot reproduce problem on ground. 3) P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick. M: that’s what they’re for. 4) Target radar hums. M: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
o Money talks…but all mine ever says is goodbye!
o The location of your mailbox shows you how far away from your house you can go in a robe before looking like a mental patient.
o Signs needing proof-reading: 1) Toilet out of order. Please use floor below. 2) Laundromat: Automatic washing machines. Please remove all your clothes when light goes out. 3) London Dept. Store: Bargain Basement Upstairs. 4) In an office: After tea break, staff should empty the teapot and stand upside down on the draining board.
o “I believe in loyalty. When a woman reaches an age she likes, she should stick with it.” Eva Gabor o “The first sign of maturity is the discovery that the volume knob also turns to the left.” Jerry M. Wright o “The trouble with being punctual is that nobody’s there to appreciate it. Franklin P. Jones o “If you want your children to listen, try talking softly – to someone else.” Ann Landers
o My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he was God, and I didn’t. o Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.
Looks like we’ll have more rain for a day or two, then get back to sunshine. Have a great week, and see you next time!
Best wishes,
Trinkie