Greetings Fellow Life Travelers:

Last weekend I had the most enjoyable trip to visit friends in Camino, a lovely residential area next to Placerville.  Weather was glorious so I drove there on Hwy 49 off Int 80 and came back on Hwy 50 to South Lake Tahoe and up the West Shore.  Driving through the remnants of the Caldor Fire was sobering and amazing to see three cabins still standing even though they were surrounded by the fire.  Camino is in Apple Hill Country that has a myriad of vineyards and wineries and, of course, amazing apple-containing bakery items, one of which was apple crisp French toast with whipped cream and syrup we had for breakfast. Fresh watermelon was a fabulous foil to this decadent repast!  Dancer had a blast with Maddie, their Anatolian Shepherd….an absolute sweetheart they adopted almost a year ago. Everything was green – beautiful shades of green – and their decks and almost all rooms have long vistas over forested hillsides.  Being ‘in the country’ was a relaxing and fun diversion from the mountain living that I love. A hard part of leaving was taking Dancer away from her new best friend.  Back to reality – what took place in the biz this week?

Residential Real Estate – week 4/27 – 5/3

• Tahoe Sierra MLS – North/West Shores & Truckee.  New Listings – 37; Escrows – 19; Solds – 17
• Incline Village/Crystal Bay MLS.  New Listings – 12; Escrows – 8; Solds – 3
• East Shore, NV MLS.  New Listings – 6; Escrows – 2; Solds – 2
• Reno/Sparks MLS.  New Listings – 134; Escrows – 138; Solds – 121

Definite uptick in new listings, typical for this time of year.  No new lakefronts this week.  Highest sale for Tahoe Sierra was a great home and adjoining lot in Northstar for $6.045 Million.  Incline had a new condo listing on the water at $3 Million that seems like a high price for that complex.  We’ll see!  Reno’s escrows jumped ahead on new listings, so that market continues to be strong.  Solds for the Tahoe Sierra MLS were at 99% of ask.

Local/Real Estate/Luxe

• Per Mansion Global, the Los Angeles area saw a net outflow of 32,100 people in the first quarter of 2024, surpassing the exodus from New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Washing, D.C.  The ‘Mansion Tax’ of 4% charge on sales above $5 million and 5.5% over $10 million that took effect in Aprill of 2023 ignited numerous sales in advance.  Miami area and Las Vegas are big benefactors.
• Per Wall Street Journal, owners of high-end homes are reluctant to sell if they have a low mortgage rate.  Cost of building has escalated about 40% since Covid, and buildable land is even more scarce.  This is reflected in low inventory and rising prices in many luxury markets across the country.
• 40^th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering – Elko, NV.  This annual event is great fun, so if you haven’t been, put it on the bucket list.  Jan 27 – Feb 1, 2025.  Members presales – August 12, 2024; General sales – Sept 12, 2024.  www.westernfolklife.org
• Sydney, AU, has a waterfront mansion on the market for $129.77 (A$200) that has internal space to entertain up to 500 people and underground parking for 20 cars plus 8 in the garage.  There’s also a home theater that seats 22, 2500-bottle wine cellar, 2 commercial kitchens and a swimming pool.  If it sells for asking, will set a countrywide price record.  Mansion Global
• Boating season is here!  Lake Tahoe boat inspections stations are now open for motorized watercraft.  Meyer and Spooner Summit stations are open daily from 8:30am to 5:30pm; Alpine meadows will open on May 15. 

https://tahoeboatinspections.com/locations-2/ to schedule appointment.   Tahoe Fund

• San Francisco market heating up!  Sales were ahead first quarter compared to last year, with uptick in the luxury market as well.  There were 15 sales over $10 million with 3 above $20 million.  Inventory remains low with many having low interest rates holding on.
• Bay Bridge lights to return in 2025!  $10 million has been raised for funding twice as many LEDs as before.
• Tahoe Treetop Adventure Park at Granlibakken is open for the season.  Check it out:  www.tahoetreetop.com
• Cushing Crossing at Palisades Tahoe is rescheduled for next Saturday, May 11.  This crazy event is great fun to watch! 

Entertainment

• Michael Jackson – Dangerous   https://tinyurl.com/2bp9ydxa    (impressive number)
• Texas A & M Marching Band    https://tinyurl.com/3xausxx9    (best routine I’ve ever seen)

TidBits

• In the 1400s, a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb.  Hence, we have ‘the rule of thumb’.
• The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime tine TV was Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
• It is impossible to lick your elbow.
• When a clock is hungry, it goes back for seconds.
• It’s a wonderful day.  I’ve never seen this one before.  Maya Angelou
• I love bacon.  Sometimes I eat it twice a day.  It takes my mind off the terrible chest pains I keep getting.
• I want to be 14 again & ruin my life differently.  I have new ideas.
• No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead.  That’s the only way to keep the roads clear.  Greg Kincaid
• I’ll give you an idea of how bad my cooking is.  Last Christmas the family chipped in together and bought me an oven that flushes. Phyllis Diller
• Nothing will work unless you do.  Maya Angelou
• My doctor told me I had to stop throwing intimate dinners for four unless there are three other people. Orson Welles
• Becoming a vegetarian is a huge missed steak.
• The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.
• There was a professor named Chesterton/ Who went for a walk with his best shirt on/ Being hungry, he et it/ But lived to regret it/ And ruined for life his digestion.  W.S. Gilbert
• 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987, 654,321
• Life is too short to stuff a mushroom.  Shirley Conrad

My sentiments when it comes to cooking too!  However, can pull it together when having guests and sometimes amaze myself as well as my friends!  On another note, anyone try to lick your own elbow?  

Happy up-coming Mother’s Day to all the women who love and care for their own children and others, including fur-family members.  Have a good week and see you next time!  Summer is coming! 

Best wishes, 

Trinkie