Truckee 1st QTR Sales Statistics

The following analysis represents the 3-Month Market Activity in all of Truckee for the time period including January 2011 through March 2011. During this 3-month period Tahoe Donner single family home sales represent 42% of all the homes sold in Truckee.

For more details click link to see chart that shows the Truckee Area Sales in the Last 3 Months. 

Truckee Storm 2011

Mountain Home Design Considerations

It is always a big decision for anyone to buy a new home in the mountains and, especially after a winter like we have just had, there are many things to take into consideration. While location and price are major determinants in the home buying process, many buyers often overlook other important elements.

For example, a house that is great in the summer may not be so great when it's buried with snow come winter. Following are some of the elements you should know about:

• Basic Home Design
• Lot Topography
• Location
• Materials and Design

In this article we will try to point out some of the features you should seriously consider when buying your mountain home. We want you to thoroughly enjoy your new place and we also want you to make a good investment. 
  

Home Styles

Truckee has a wide range of home styles. We see homes ranging from ranch style homes to A-frames (and variations) to reverse floor plans to luxurious mountain lodges! Following are a few things to think about:

• Ranch Style: While ranch style homes (all one level) can be nice in most locales, in snow country they are not always the best choice. Depending on the snow load, a single level home can easily get buried in the winter turning your bright and sunny summer chalet into an ice cave in the winter. If you do require a single level home, you should consider the snow load in the neighborhood and the roof angles and materials (see picture).
   
• Reverse Floor Plan: A typical Truckee home or cabin is designed with what we call a reverse floor plan which describes a home with the main living area upstairs and the garage and bedrooms on the ground level. This gets the main living area of the house up out of the snow and it is also more economical to build. This style home is a good way to accomplish a better view on a flat lot and also is quite common on an up slope lot.
   
• Garages are another consideration for mountain homes. A garage serves many purposes. In the winter, especially, it is nice to park inside a garage and this also makes it easier when your snow removal service comes to remove snow. A garage protects your car from snow shedding from the roof and a garage also gives you a place to store skis, boats, lawn furniture, etc.

Lot Characteristics

Lots come in all shapes and sizes. You should consider all of the following:

1. Lot Topography
2. Location
3. Soil, rock, vegetation characteristics (trees and bushes)
4. Orientation to the sun

• An upslope lot, which slopes upward from the street, will generally mean the house will have an upslope, sometimes steep, driveway and the view from the house will look out over the street. The entrance to the home will usually require stairs to get to the front door and main living area as the garage is often positioned below the living area. Depending on the steepness of the lot, the usable area to the rear of the house can be confined by the slope. A turn around area in an up slope or down slope driveway can be very helpful in icy conditions. Snow and ice on south facing driveways melts faster than the north facing driveway across the street! It makes a huge difference! Common sense will tell you if the driveway is too steep. Is it a driveway you will want to navigate in the winter when there is snow and ice?
   
• A down slope lot, which slopes downward from the street, usually allows entry to the house through the main living area. The driveway can either be down sloping or if it is elevated or bridged, the driveway may actually be flat. If power lines are a concern for you, they generally have less impact with a down slope lot as most windows will look out to the rear, away from the street.
   
• An advantage of a flat lot, if you build the right house, is that you have easy access to your yard. At our house, where the main living area is on the ground floor, in the summertime we use our deck as an extension of our house and in the winter we snowshoe just as easily. A flat driveway is always easiest for snow removal, and traction when icy.
   
• The location of your lot/home is also important. It is different for everyone, but the majority of our clients prefer homes on the more interior neighborhood streets vs. the main streets in a subdivision. Locations that get good sunshine are also preferable. Check out the orientation to the sun.
   
• Take a look at the soil, rocks and vegetation on your lot. Some people like lots of trees and other prefer more openness.

Materials / Design

The snow in Truckee should definitely be a consideration for the design of a home. Roof lines and type of roofing materials are a big factor in the effect the snow has around the house. Roofs that are angledtowards decks, garage and entry doors and even windows will shed snow in unwanted places. The roofing material is a factor in how much snow will actually slide off the roof. Metal roofs will not hold snow while a composition roof will. For example, a metal roof that angles towards your driveway will shed unwanted snow in front of your garage doors. Windows and doors are susceptible to the same thing (see picture). 

Sophisticated roof designs add attractiveness to the home, however, complex roof designs that have valleys and areas where snow can accumulate can be problematic. We find with newer homes, that apply more modern architecture and building techniques, these problems are greatly minimized. 

These are just a few things to keep in mind when considering a home in the Tahoe Donner and Truckee area. Remember, not every property will have everything just perfect, so be prepared to be flexible. That upslope or downslope driveway may just get you the view you have been looking for.

As your Realtors, we try to point out issues about properties that you are interested in purchasing because, first and foremost, your
satisfaction is our priority.

Please give us a call and let us hlep you make a good decision!

Robbie and karen Huntoon @ 530-412-0583.