Tahoe Update - August 16th

Greetings Fellow Life Travelers:

Good weather news as the hot spell has subsided.  Open Snow and others predict significant El Niño, meaning heavy winter.  We will see!  Not quite ready to address that.  Kiddos are heading back to school if not already there, and parents are looking forward to a more normal routine.  The market has been a bit odd this summer – some things are selling well, others are languishing.  Lakefront sales have been quiet, but we’re heading into a productive time now that summer use is waning.  Now for this last week’s report.

Residential Real Estate – week 8/8 – 8/14

Tahoe Sierra had Holiday House in Tahoe Vista (both residential/commercial) originally listed at $9M, reduced to $6.995M, go to contract.  Closing not until October.  Crystal Bay had a lakefront list at $12.25M and Zephyr Cove had a lakefront listed at $6.5M go to escrow.  Reno had activity on two Arrow Creek new builds – a Chase listing at $5.25M go into escrow and a $5.3M listing sell at $5.2M.  

Local/Real Estate/Luxe

• Waffling sellers.  There have been at least 4 lakefront sellers who decided to keep their property after either listing it or making an appointment to list.  Always great to see owners keeping their properties when they can stay in the family.

• Heartbreaker:  Jackie, the beautiful Big Bear eagle and Shadow’s long-time partner, died last Monday after over three weeks in intensive care at Ojai Raptor Center.  Not all tests are back, but extreme anemia and other health challenges were more than all the wonderful care could do to save her.  Thousands have been following the pair through their webcam for years, so the sad news has had significant impact.

• Boatworks Mall:  This did not go to foreclosure auction as owner filed bankruptcy the day before, subject now to reorganization.    

• Generational wealth.  New trend, showing up in NYC, shows wealthy parents investing big time in homes or condos for their kids now, instead of passing the whole estate on at death.  Some are in the $15M and up range.  WSJ.com 

• 2026 Stats for N/W Shores & Truckee:  Out of 461 solds as of 8/14, 141 were under $1M; 200 were between $1M & 2M; 55 were between $2M and $3M; 56 were between $3M and $10M, and 9 were over $10M (6 lakefronts and 3 Martis Camp).

TidBits

• Woke Golf:  When you hit your tee shot, you get to pick your ball up and put it where you feel it should be,  I don’t want to brag but I had 42 holes-in-one last week.

• Today I’m having a vision problem.  I can’t see myself doing anything at all.

• The best friendships are based on inappropriate humor, witty sarcasm, fun shenanigans, unfiltered honesty and an amazing acceptance of it all. 

• Happiness is found in three simple things:  releasing what is gone, appreciating what is here, and trusting what is still to come. 

• Be careful when buying a mirror. Mirrors from 1980s and 1990s were amazing.  Every time you looked into one, you looked young, beautiful, handsome and full of charm.  Today’s mirrors are a different story.

• Some of the biggest cases of mistaken identity are among intellectuals who have trouble remembering that they are not god.  Thomas Sowell

• Due to consequence of my own actions, I will still be fat this summer.

• Your future is shaped by the habits you repeat, not the goals you set. 

• We didn’t have tracking apps when we were kids.  Our parents just yelled our name out the front door.  If you heard your middle name, you ran like the police were coming.

• I always wake up with good intentions, but then my attitude wakes up too and she’s already cussing.  Now we’re both outside unsupervised and disrespectful.  It’s going to be a good day.

• Why do we say, “Something is out of whack”.  What is a whack?

• A co-worker said to me once, “Could you be any more annoying”?  So the next day I wore tap shoes to work.

• Vince the Sign Guy:  1) Horses are one of the fastest animals ever, based on one Gallup Poll.  2)  Electricians must strip to make ends meet.  3) Cow stumbles into pot field.  The steaks have never been higher.  4) My favorite essential oil is bacon grease.

• Welcome to adulthood where you’ll be constantly tired except when it’s time to go to sleep.

• If you boil a funny bone, it becomes a laughing stock.  That’s humerus. 

• People who wonder whether the glass is half empty or half full miss the point.  The glass is refillable. 

• I never use turn signals.  It’s nobody’s business where I’m going.

• The only pain I want in my life is Champagne.

Have a bubbly-filled week and see you next time!  

Best wishes,