Greetings Fellow Life Travelers:

Happy Hanukkah for those celebrating this special time, expanding holiday celebrations for several weeks!  Candles lit, lights illuminating trees, roofs and decks, and blow up Santas in yards (really?), all the ways we celebrate this special time of year.  At least we don’t have fireworks and bombs as in Mexico where every holiday that has any religious connotation is a celebration that goes on for noisy, colorful days!  The good news is that we have joyful things to celebrate, even when the outer world may not look so great.  It’s all about being thankful for what we have inside…peace, harmony, joy, love…and a roof, food, water, warmth, family and good friends…and our dogs and cats, bunnies, horses and goats – all big family members.  Even with all the celebrating, there’s always someone that wants to talk about real estate.  So, here we go with what took place this last week.

Residential Real Estate – week 12/2 – 12/8  

• Tahoe Sierra MLS – North/West Shores & Truckee. New Listings – 13; Escrows – 13; Solds – 18
• Incline Village/Crystal Bay MLS.  New Listings – 2; Escrows – 3; Solds – 4
• East Shore, NV MLS.  New Listings – 1; Escrows – 4; Solds – 2
• Reno/Sparks MLS.  New Listings – 75; Escrows – 93; Solds – 76

Quieter time right now, as mentioned last week.  I listed a good friend’s gorgeous home in Reno this week, and already a neighbor says she wants to buy it!  Wouldn’t that be a nice present for everyone involved?! 

Local/Real Estate/Luxe

• Up for guided snowshoe hikes?  January 1 at Sugar Pine State Park and Donner Memorial State Park…beginner friendly, moderate strolls through magnificent conifers.  Noon at Sugar Pine, 11 AM at Donner.  Parks.ca.gov for more detail! 
• First real storm of the season rolled in on Wednesday night, dropping over a foot of snow at higher elevations.  Temps have stayed cold for snow remaining on the trees and continuing resort snow-making!  
• Zen, spa-like home atmospheres are trending into 2024.  Affluent buyers frequently want a turnkey property vs. putting own footprint on the new purchase.  Inman 
• Cool Septuagenarians:  #1 Rock & Country Album – Dolly Parton – 77; #1 Holiday Album – Cher – 77; #1 Song-Billboard Hot 100 – Brenda Lee – 78 (Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree)  
• Out of the top 10 U.S. cities where home sales prices are anticipated to grow in 2024, 5 are in California:  Oxnard, San Diego, Riverside, Bakersfield and Los Angeles.  Interest rates appear to be receding a bit, and buyers are getting used to rates above 6.5%.
• Barnes & Noble has reopened in The Towne Center, Corte Madera – a good sign for in-person book stores in general!  Its smaller size will focus on books rather than other media and toys.  Word for Word, the Truckee bookstore, does very well with its front-row position right downtown.
• Ski Butlers, local equipment delivery service, will donate 20% of rental fees for reservations made through the Tahoe Fund portal – https://www.skibutlers.com/portal/tahoe-fund   Heavenly, Mammoth, Northstar/Truckee, Palisades Tahoe
• Festive Fridays – Tahoe City and Downtown Truckee – two more Fridays to go.  Early evening shopping!
• Packages:  In 2019, UPS delivered 4.7B domestic packages, FedEx 3B, and Amazon 1.9B.  2022, UPS delivered 5.3B, Amazone 5.2B and FedEx 3.3B.  With UPS and FedEx expected to be flat in 2023 as they focus on higher margin volume, and Amazon growing, 2023 will see Amazon snatch the delivery crown with 6B packages delivered.  USPS remains largest parcel provider.  Elliot Eisenberg, Bowtie Economist
• Festive neighborhood party on Friday, hosted by long-time couple in the cul-de-sac – (see photos below)
• Christmas store.  Stop in at Hemmings & Jarrett in the Cobblestone Center in Tahoe City.  Gorgeous tree, holiday gifts, wonderful modern rustic furniture and furnishings!  Long-time family ownership.

Entertainment

• Ave Maria – beautiful rendition – song & harp.  https://tinyurl.com/mrb7prx6
• Andre Rieu – Christmas Concert 2022 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkQ0KcTxGI8   If not watching the whole thing, see the Waltz at 58 min. and Aria just past 1H.

TidBits

• Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit. Vince Lombardi
• There was a sign that said, ‘Don’t even think about parking here.’  So, I pulled in and parked without even thinking about it.
• Ants are healthy because they have little anti-bodies.
• Ban pre-shredded cheese.  Make America grate again.
• “It’s never crowded along the extra mile.”  Wayne Dyer
• “When one teaches, two learn.”  Robert Half
• “I have the simplest tastes.  I am always satisfied with the best.” Oscar Wilde
• “I never feel more alone than when I’m trying to put sunscreen on my back.”  Jimmy Kimmel
• “I’m invariable late for appointments – sometimes as much as two hours.  I’ve tried to change my ways but the things that make me late are too strong and too pleasing.” Marilyn Monroe
• “No man goes before his time – unless the boss leaves early.” Groucho Marx
• “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain!” Dolly Parton
• “What I like about Christmas is that you can make people forget the past with the present.”  Don Marquis
• Nobody said in the ‘80s…. “I lost my phone.”
• “We always have time for the things we put first.”  OBR, 2005
• Why don’t scientists trust atoms?  Because they make up everything!
• The future, the present and the past walked into a bar. Things got a little tense.
• Flu:  It is a nuizenza to have the fluenza. Winston Churchill
• If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.  Yiddish Proverb
• Laughter is the best medicine, but in certain situations, the Heimlich maneuver may be more appropriate.
• Families are like fudge – mostly sweet with a few nuts.
• “He has a profound respect for old age.  Especially when it’s bottled.”  Gene Fowler

So, open a nice vintage something and enjoy the season!  Have a lovely week and see you next time!

Best wishes,