Greetings Fellow Life Travelers:

Here we go again with different results from weather predictions.  As of late Friday afternoon, no new precip other than a tiny dusting Wednesday night.  Now a weak storm for tomorrow, partly sunny Sunday with heavier rain and snow Sunday night into Monday.  Possible lingering showers into Wednesday, then dry until a colder pattern for end of month into early March.  The good news is that we’re at ‘normal’ for the 30-year average so far.  And, there’s always Miracle March that could arrive!  I know I mentioned this a few weeks ago – the AI class I’m taking through REALM continues to be absolutely amazing.  We probably won’t be using all of it, but there are new tools arriving daily that will save oodles of time.  Reports will be streamlined, information will be immediate and marketing capabilities enhanced beyond what we’ve seen in the past.  We have an incredible coach/trainer who is making this course a lot of fun too!  I will not be taking credit for most of what we’ll be producing with AI as Cheryl is the tech arm of my business.  So, another new learning experience!  Let’s see what we learned about real estate action this last week.

Residential Real Estate – week 2/10 – 2/16

• Tahoe Sierra MLS – North/West Shores & Truckee.  New Listings – 13; Escrows – 19; Solds – 10
• Incline Village/Crystal Bay MLS.  New Listings – 5; Escrows – 4; Solds – 1
• East Shore, NV MLS.  New Listings – 2; Escrows – 3; Solds – 1
• Reno/Sparks MLS.  New Listings – 94; Escrows – 122; Solds – 66

Market here isn’t very robust right now. Inflation isn’t doing us any favors as it’s creeping up a bit, thereby impacting interest rates with a rise.  This is reflected in fewer loan applications and fewer escrows across the country.  The East Shore had a nice Chase sale at Tahoe Beachfront at $5.8M, Chase also listed a vintage lakefront at Jameson Beach, South Lake Tahoe, for a little over $4M, and Chase had a nice Reno sale just over $3M.  Will be interesting to see if action picks up this week with visitors here for President’s weekend & Ski Week.  

Local/Real Estate/Luxe

• Per Mansion Global, Hong Kong, the world’s most expensive housing market, offers a great opportunity to find a great deal.  
• Lakefront living at the max:  In the Hudson Valley on Copake Lake, 134 acres, 2,200 feet on water, equestrian facilities, pool, heated airplane hangar (or for car collection), tennis court, 2 ponds, 4000+ sq.ft. residence.  $6.95M
• Or a $15M 10,000 sq. ft. home and guest house on Spain’s Golden Mile in a gated community in Marbella that features everything from a home office to two pools, high-end spa, gym, tanning salon and more. 
• Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales, Australia:  2021 home in dramatic wild bushland – 4 bedrooms, 4 baths on 4.85 acres for $5.6 – $5.93M.
• Capetown, South Africa.  For $14M, a penthouse includes a 22-car garage along with rooftop deck & pool, ocean/mountain/city views, and a sleek Ferrari-themed cinema room. 
• Beverlywood (Los Angeles).  Ten – 15 years ago one could buy a house here for $200,000 to $300,000.  Today land on a prime street is $3M (6,500 sq. ft. lot).  This is true of areas at Tahoe – Truckee vs. the Basin, Mill Creek subdivision in Incline Village, for two areas that come to mind.
• FYI:  We are globally connected; my real estate contacts are spread all over the world. I can be helpful with property in just almost anyplace you can think of…where you’d want to be!
• Nibble.  Fascinating on-line program for discovering new knowledge in 15 minutes!  All kinds of topics including extensive history in bite-sized lessons and quizzes.  $10/month; $20/3 mos; $40/12 mos.  I haven’t signed up yet but think it sounds interesting!  
• Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup.   Men’s slalom and giant slalom this coming weekend– Feb 23 -25. For tickets:  http://tinyurl.com/zs2nfydx
• MAP (Mountain Area Preservation Foundation) has filed a lawsuit against TRPA accusing violation of the Tahoe Regional Planning Bi-State Compact.  MAP was instrumental in taking legal action to preserve the Martis Valley from development and development along the ridge above the North Shore of Tahoe.  This organization has teeth, so it will be interesting to see how all this plays out.
• New BRABUS Rocket 1000 – only 25 of this 1000HP 4-door supercar being made.  V8 engine and electric drive system, all-wheel drive (really, in the snow??) with electronically limited top speed of 196mph.  @$485,000.
• SNOWFEST. 42^nd year!  Thursday, Feb 29 through Sunday, March 10.  Forty family-friendly mountain-town events in Tahoe City and Kings Beach. www.tahoesnowfest.org

Entertainment

• Local bald eagle:  http://tinyurl.com/2kx3twnf

TidBits

• I cannot say that things will get better if we change. What I can say is they must change if they are to get better.  Reba McIntire
• Did your human break a treat in half and try to pass it off as a whole treat?  You may be entitled to compensation.  Hound, Wolfe & Chase, Attorneys at Paw
• Paris is always a good idea.
• If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.  Katharine Hepburn
• Mindfulness – to achieve everything:  Positive interest, Vigor, Concentration, Wisdom.  Dr. Jayanath Abeywickrama
• Did you know on the Canary Islands there is not one canary?  And on the Virgin Isles?  Same thing – not one canary there either. 
• If cats worked in shops: “Welcome!  Go find it yourself.”
• Pharmacist: “You may experience irritability and pain in the hands and wrist, and that’s just from trying to get the cap off.”
• I’m glad I learned about parallelograms in high school math instead of how to do my taxes.  It comes in so handy during parallelogram season.
• Well, well.  It seems your weight is perfect.  You just happen to be eleven feet too short. 
• When you’re dead, you don’t know you’re dead.  The pain is only felt by others.  The same thing happens when you’re stupid.
• Try to remember, the greener grass across the fence may be due to a septic tank issue.
• Fido:  Look at my mom outside picking up my poop.  She had better wash her hands before she even thinks about touching me.
• Scientifically, a raven has 17 primary wing feathers, the big ones at the end of the wing.  They are called pinion feathers.  A crow has 16.  So, the difference between a raven and a crow is only a matter of a pinion. 
• My friend said she wouldn’t eat cow’s tongue because it came out of a cow’s mouth. I gave her an egg.
• I went to the paint store to get thinner. It didn’t work.
• Whining:  complaining about a problem without having a solution for it.
• I bet aliens ride past earth and lock their doors.
• Today me will live in the moment, unless it’s unpleasant, in which case me will eat a cookie. Cookie Monster, Sesame Street

So, here’s to pleasant days this week…with or without a cookie….and see you next time!

Best wishes,

Trinkie