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Greetings!
It may not seem like it now, but guess what is just around the corner? The beautiful and glorious days of spring. The month of April is traditionally in the Tuckee Tahoe area, the time when most sellers think about putting their homes on the market.
To this end, we thought it would be a good idea to point out some things you may want to think about doing to your house before putting it on the market.
- First and most important is that you de-clutter and thoroughly clean your home. Sellers need to remember what it was that helped them make the decision to buy their home in the first place. More than likely it was not all the knick nacks, family photos and heirlooms that you now have laying around your home. These things need to be stored away. Sure they are important BUT only to you. A prospective buyer doesn't know great-aunt Martha and sees her picture only as clutter and a dust catcher. Pack up your things now, put them in the garage or better yet rent a storage unit for a few months. You may find that you really don't need that stuff.
- Make your living area look like a showroom. You are going to be moving so why not buy some new furniture now? Something simple that will go with any decor. give your old furniture to the thrift shop and get a tax write off to boot.
- The two biggest things that sell a house are kitchens and bathrooms. That is because, you guessed it, take it from us agents who have been selling homes for over 20 years, the woman is most often the person who makes the final decision on the house and these are the things she is picky about.
- To modernize a kitchen does not necessarily mean that you HAVE to spend a lot of money. For instance if you have old, dark oak cabinets that are still in good shape, you might change out the dated hardware, paint the cabinets a new, lighter color and voila, you have a new set of cabinets. Of course old Formica countertops could be replaced with nice granite but if you don't have the money for that, there are other newer, but less expensive formicas available. I also just read an article that suggested that people looking for a less expensive way to add Granite to your home might be by asking at the supplier for "leftovers," from former jobs. These leftovers can shave a whole lot off of the price for a bathroom countertop.
- Paint is an inexpensive upgrade too. More than likely a fresh coat of paint, including one accent wall, will change the look of a room completely.
- Light fixtures. Go to Lowes or Home Depot and check out what's available in the chandelier department or consider a couple of drop lights over a dark spot in your kitchen or living room. Get creative -- not expensive. Also, you can change your light switches out to something newer and cleaner looking. Maybe even change from the standard switch to the rocker type.
- Perhaps your bathroom could use a new shower door to replace that one that has been etched by hard water mineral deposits. Or replace your old shower curtain and rod with one of those new curved models. Additionally, the mirror may be easily replaced. The sink fixtures and the light fixtures are other things to look at updating.
Just some ideas here. If you have any others that you would like to add to our list, please be sure to contact us. Also, if you want a real objective view of what your house would look like to a potential buyer, be sure to give us a call. No obligation -- and no hard feelings. Sometimes we just get too close to our stuff to see the forest through the trees!! |
Market Update - February 2012
| | Sales of Single Family Residences continued to pick up in February 2012 with a total of 69 residential properties in the North Lake Tahoe - Truckee Area. The distressed market played a big part in this number as 30 of the sales were either Short or REO (43%). The biggest problem with sales this past month was the lack of inventory . For our clients who are looking, there was nothing new to show them. Tahoe Donner and the Westshore of Lake Tahoe again are the leaders in sales this month. For the month of February, the median price of homes in our mls is $358,000 (average $616,660).
Statistics from the Tahoe MLS: solds from February 1 - 29, 2012
Tahoe Donner: 14 homes (1 SS, 1 REO), 4 condos (1 REO, 1 SS)
Northstar: 2 homes, 6 condos (1 SS, 2 REO)
Glenshire, Cambridge, Juniper Hill, Juniper Creek: 7 homes (2 SS, 4 REO)
Prosser Area: 2 homes (2 REO)
Sierra Meadows, Ponderosa Palisades: 3 homes (1 SS)
Lahontan: 2 homes
Martis Camp: 1 home
Old Greenwood & Grays: 0 residential properties
Truckee Proper: ) residential properties
Donner Lake: 2 homes (2 SS)
Donner Summit: 2 homes
Westshore Lake Tahoe: 8 homes (3 REO, 1 SS)
Tahoe City: 1 home (1 REO)
Northshore: 2 homes
Kings Beach & Tahoe Vista: 7 homes (4 REO, 1 SS)
Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows: 2 homes, 1 condo
Shared Ownerships (entire area): 2
Mobile Homes (entire area): 2 ( REO)
Sierra and Plumas Counties: 3 homes (1 SS, 2REO)
Condos and Homes in Truckee-North Lake Tahoe over 1M = 9
Highest Priced home or condo sold: Located lakefront at Lake Tahoe, 5526 North Lake Blvd sold after only 167 days on the market for $8,600,000. This 6 bedroom 36.5 bath home was originally priced at $10,500,000. All Cash again. Seller was really serious - he gave an 18% discount for the convenience.
Lowest Price home or condo sold:
Who says you can't find a home in the Sierras for under $100K? A little 2 bedroom, 2 bath bank owned home located in Loyalton, CA at 357 Wrangler Drive closed at $61,500 after 112 days on the market. If you were looking closer in to the Truckee-Tahoe area, you could have picked up a little 1 bed, 1 bath condo on Snowpeak in Tahoe Donner for a mere $119,000.
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| Screaming Hot Deals | |
In this particular spot, we feature the 3 properties in the multiple listing service that we feel are well priced. These are the properties that we wish we had buyers for because we know they are of such value that they will not last long, even in this market. So, for this month, come and get 'em before they are gone. . . .(by the way if when you click on the link you get nothing -- they have already gone under contract).
1) 10841 Cinnabar is a well appointed, newer condo located in Truckee. The Boulders development is located adjacent to the SaveMart shopping center and just across the street from several eating establishments, if you lived here, you wouldn't need to buy much gas. 2 bedrooms 2 baths and a garage, the development also has a pool and small clubhouse. Priced at $320,000, we think this place will go quick!! 2) 13656 Heidi Way in Tahoe Donner probably won't make it to press. We saw this cabin on tour yesterday and think that 1600 square feet with a garage couldn't be priced better that where it is at $475,000. The age is deceptive as it has all be updated with granite countertops and modern upgrades. The skylights really keep the living area light and bright! 3) We like this condo at 3093 Silver Strike in Northstar's Aspen Grove Condo development looks like a really great deal. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and so close to the gondola and lift access. $369,000 seems like a great price to pay for all of Northstar's amenities -- winter and summer!!
Be sure to contact us if you would like to take a look at any of these properties!
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| Worst Deals on the Market | |
These are the properties for sale that we feel are the worst priced homes on the market in our multiple listing service. Every month we will choose 2 or 3 properties which, for one reason or another (usually price) are something we alone feel are not going to sell anytime soon. Remember, this newsletter is purely and solely our opinion - there is nothing here that indicates that it is ANYTHING but our opinion.
1) We're sorry but this house located at 12513 Pinnacle Loop still has a long way to go before it gets to the correct price point. I have been in it a couple of times and I love the agent and the seller but after 525 days on the market, they are really going to have to face reality and realize that they need to make it a screaming hot deal because it totally needs a major remodel. There is a fantastic view up there but no windows to look out of!!
2) We're curious about what is so special about this condo at 277 Squaw Valley Road #42. This 2 bedroom 2 bath condo has been on the market 833 days and is currently priced as its original price of $498,000. The last two that have sold there during the past 6 months have sold for $309K and $320K. What do they have buried there -- gold under the floor boards? Or maybe it is just a case of them both forgetting it exists.
Be sure to let us know what you think that any of these properties will sell for by contacting us here and when it does, the entry closest to the actual sale price will win a gift certificate.
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| Congratulations Leslie ETAL | |
About 4 years ago our client Leslie purchased a house on Michaels in the "Cabins" tract at Donner Lake. Since then she has been an avid supporter of our Relay For Life efforts in Truckee. She is easily the biggest single financial supporter of our team. She also captains a huge effort with her own team in Bakersfield's Relay for Life. Leslie Knox is one generous person.
This past summer one of the other "Cabins," came on the market as a short sale. It was the largest home in the tract originally built by the developer for his own family. It has the finest view and location. We were surprised when we got a phone call from Leslie saying that she and her fellow co-workers would like to take a shot at purchasing the property. Altogether there were 7 purchasers. They all are connected through an oil rig maintenance company that they are involved in located in the Bakersfield CA area.
It must be said that this was one of the most unique transactions we have ever been involved in. We still haven't met 5 of the purchasers but are anxious to do so. This group "etal" bought themselves a beautiful home with lots of rental potential and lots of decorating promise. Apparently Lisa, one of the investors, is quite the decorator. When the Chase Bank (short sale bank) threatened to not extend the escrow and pull the rug out from under us, Leslie exclaimed "oh no, Lisa has already bought the furniture!". The bank must have heard their prayers because the deal went through and now there are 6 more citizens of Bakersfield with a second home in Donner Lake.
Thanks so much Leslie etal! So great to do business with you.
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Kappy, Jennifer, Jody and Christie have a combined 67 years in the Real Estate Profession. We are committed to giving our clients the most up to date Real Estate information and Stellar Service because, We Love Our Work and So Will You! Call us or e-mail us for information about the Tahoe Truckee Real Estate Market. By the way, if you think any of this information might be of interest to anyone you know, feel free to forward this newsletter. We would really appreciate it!
Sincerely,
Kappy Mann, Jennifer Boehm, Jody Scowcroft & Christie Coker
Keller Williams Real Estate
530 563-6165 |
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**INCENTIVE**
TAHOE DONNER HOMEOWNERS!
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Because we believe this is such a great time for our sellers to get ready to put their homes on the market, and because there is such a lack of inventory we are offering an incentive to any Tahoe Donner Homeowner who signs a listing agreement with us before our next newsletter is published. With a successful sale,
JK Real Estate will credit $1,000 towards your closing costs for any sale of $100,000 and over.
Rather than keep all the goodies in one place, we plan to move this incentive to YOUR neighborhood next month!!
It is just one more way for us to say
Thank You, we appreciate your business!
Contact us Here or call us at 530 320-0878 or 530 400-0531 today!!
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Peak Landscaping, Truckee-North Lake Tahoe
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Spring is here and with summertime approaching it is time to think about getting ready for horseshoes & backyard BBQ's. Peak Landscape is a full service landscape firm that will design, install and maintain landscapes of all shapes and sizes in the Truckee, Lake Tahoe & surrounding areas. Whether you need help cleaning up the yard just one time or on a weekly basis, Peak can do the job. If you have been thinking about sprucing up your yard with a new look, Peak can do the job from installing & servicing sprinkler/drip irrigation, water efficiency evaluations, installation of stone walkways, stairs, patios & raised planters, retaining walls, water features, fences, gates & trellises. Just about anything yard related - Peak can do the Job. Give them a call at (530) 587-4269 or 581-3615 www.peaklandscapeinc.com
Cleaning up the yard goes right along with getting your home ready for sale, and we feel strongly about the capabilities and work ethic of this vendor. They are specialists in energy efficient and low water useage, another popular feature with today's home shoppers!
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Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
| Everybody is a little Irish on March 17th. If you aren't then PLEASE claim yourself in my Hogan Clan -- I will gladly have you as a relative on this day!!
Did you know that St. Patrick's Day is a legal holiday in Great Britin, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Newfoundland, Labrador and Montserrat. Most of the rest of the western world (known as the Irish Diaspora) without formally naming it a holiday do celebrate by wearing green, drinking alcohol and attending parades in the saint's honor. |
| New Home Features We Can Do Without. |  | |
Interesting to note and as pointed out in a recent article published by yahoo.com in it's "Market Watch" section, the following once considered "premium" features of a well dressed home are no longer in demand.
1) a 2-story Foyer -- for obvious reasons, this is a heat sink that no one needs;
2) Sunrooms -- again, hard to heat and in snow territory -- almost dangerous;
3) Media Rooms -- nobody needs a theater in their home now really?
4) Outdoor kitchens and outdoor fireplaces -- so quick to wane, I remember coveting those that were features in Sunset Magazine but apparently these are the second least likely feature to be included in new homes for 2012 according to a survey from the National Association of Home Builders,
5) Formal Living Room -- this a no-brainer as most of us on the West Coast have known for a long time -- everyone congregates in the kitchen with the cook so the dining room and living room MUST be connected to that most special spot;
6) Luxury Master Bathrooms and Whirlpool Tubs - looks like the general public is much more interested in gussying up the kitchen than the Master.
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