Photo Credit Constellation Residences at Northstar

Have you heard the buzz about Northstar California™ Resort? Are you looking for a vacation home at a family-friendly mountain with endless activities for the little ones and adults alike? Then look no further for fantastic real estate opportunities, as I am intimately familiar with all that Northstar offers.

Constellation Residences at Northstar is truly Lake Tahoe’s only ski-in/ski-out mid-mountain residences. Located mid-mountain Constellation Residences at Northstar is a boutique collection of only 17 two-, three- and four-bedroom fully furnished mountain residences, offering exceptional amenities and services.

Photo Credit Constellation Residences at Northstar

Connected via a sky bridge to The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, owners can enjoy Manzanita — the Ritz-Carlton signature restaurant, a 17,000 square foot spa and fitness center, Ritz ski valet, Ritz kids programs, mountain-side heated swimming pool, fire pit, and hot tubs, and, access to the Village at Northstar via a direct-access gondola.

Photo Credit Constellation Residences at Northstar

Also new to the mountain is Northstar Mountainside Residences, providing an array of real estate options. It includes Home Run: 16 luxury town homes that connect directly to on-mountain ski runs, and The Glades: an intimate division of 25 custom homesites located above the Village at Northstar, and near The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe. The homesites range from .89 to 1.42 acres and will include advanced ski infrastructure: specially designed ski ways, bridges and tunnels allowing direct access from the slopes to each home.

Northstar-at-Tahoe, built in 1972 on what was originally called “Timber Farm,” is a year-round destination resort attracting hundreds of thousands of ski/snowboard and mountain biking buffs each year. It is home to the largest snowmaking system on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, the largest mountain bike park in Northern California and in 2011 became ‘home mountain’ to two-time Olympic gold medalist, Shaun White.

Northstar offers almost every kind of real estate option, from golf course estate homes to mid-mountain ski-in/ski-out condominiums; from town homes set right in the heart of the Village at Northstar, to luxury mountain homes sprawling slope side.  In late 2010 Vail Resorts® acquired Northstar-at-Tahoe and by the summer of 2011 $30 million in capital improvements were implemented for the winter season. This included a 17,000 square foot on-mountain lodge, the addition of Promised Land Express Lift, and other snow making and grooming expansion.

The growth at Northstar, from the family-friendly village shopping and dining options to terrain expansion, makes this the prime mountain for your next vacation home. With the variety of real estate choices, it is hard pressed to find a residence that would not fit your mountain-going needs. Whether you desire a full-service ski/in-ski/out experience or the comfort of your own slope side mountain home, Northstar abounds with real estate options.

Let’s chat soon, and tour the new developments!

For further information about Northstar real estate, contact Alison Elder at 530.582.8103 or email Tahoe@AlisonElder.com.

Truckee’s real estate sales in 2011 soared in the under $500,000 market with a whopping 373 transactions and a volume increase of 2%.  Overall, prices softened in 2011 with the average price of a Truckee home at $562,811 and a median price of $438,166.

Both the average and median price points experienced a 10% reduction. The luxury market, with over $1MM sales, softened by 13% with 55 units sold in our resort and acreage communities. And, click here to see Truckee communities and Tahoe Donner real estate market results for 2011, with information on number of home sales, average and median pricing. It’s clearly a great time to purchase real estate here in Truckee!

Contact Alison Elder at 530.582.8103 or email Tahoe@AlisonElder.com for further information on Truckee and Tahoe Donner real estate.

The median price of a home in Lake Tahoe is $370,500, down ten percent from the third quarter of 2010. The average home price fell 11 percent to $630,984. The National Association of Realtors recently reported that the median price of a home in the West ($189,400) is down 13 percent from a year ago.

While sales and prices were down around the lake overall, East Shore saw a seven-percent increase in median home price ($575,000) and 51-percent jump in average price ($1,408,018). Volume sold was up 32 percent, while units sold were down nine percent.

“We are starting to see the return of the high-end buyer with especially the East Shore experiencing some substantial high-end sales,” said Sue Lowe, corporate vice president for Chase International. “With the increase of high-end sales, we are anticipating a boost in end-of-year numbers.”

Truckee experienced some stabilization from this time last year, seeing a 16-percent increase in units sold and a 21-percent bump in units sold for less than a million. The median price of a home in Truckee is $435,000 (down 12 percent) and the average price is $554,744 (also down 12 percent).

The condominium market fared somewhat better around Lake Tahoe with a four-percent rise in units sold and 43-percent increase in units sold for more than $500,000. Tahoe City experienced the biggest jump in sales, with a 35-percent rise in units sold and up 52-percent in units sold for less than $500,000. South Lake Tahoe saw a 32-percent increase in overall volume sold, with median and average prices rising 36 and 32 percent, respectively. The median price of a condo in Lake Tahoe is $274,400 (down five percent) and the average price is $353,136 (down four percent).

For more information or assistance with purchasing Lake Tahoe or Truckee area real estate, contact Alison Elder (hot link to my site) at Tahoe@AlisonElder.com or 530-582-8103.

North Lake Tahoe, West Shore, Tahoe City and Truckee home sales have all posted slightly higher unit sales for the first half of 2011 as compared to 2010. The Lake Tahoe area is up 2% and Truckee 4% over 2010 unit counts.

Prices softened in Truckee (Truckee Statistics) by 13% on average with sales adjusting by -14% from $614,786 to $534,313. Fewer homes sold over the million dollar range – 18 units, representing a 33% decrease in luxury sales.

In combined areas of the West and North Shores plus Tahoe City, the average price fell 15% from $804,135 to $681,634 (LINK HERE FOR LAKE ONE). However, $1MM+ home sales at the Lake increased 7% by unit count with 92 sales recorded as compared to 86 units in 2010.

For more information and specific neighborhood information, contact Alison Elder, Elder Group Tahoe Real Estate at 530-582-8103 or Tahoe@AlisonElder.com

Spring is “almost” in full bloom here in Truckee-Tahoe after a glorious winter! While real estate inventory is still tight, Elder Group expects a solid amount of new inventory coming to market over the next six weeks. I wanted to share with you a beautiful new luxury listing – Stony Creek Lodge – in Sugar Pine Estates in Truckee. Custom designed by MWA, Inc. and built by Cotton Construction, the Lodge is truly one of the nicest luxury properties with acreage in Truckee. Nestled above Alder Creek, this 8.53 acre estate offers 5,006 square feet of luxury, five en-suite bedrooms, two powder rooms, two offices, wine room, butler’s pantry and an open great room and bistro kitchen that will simply knock your socks off! Down the sweeping driveway is a multi-purpose Barn and paddock – truly plenty of room to store your pet’s necessities, seasonal “toys” and of course, a tack room. Enjoy a virtual tour of this home at www.StonyCreekLodge.com  and please feel free to contact me to schedule a private showing of this mountain beauty. Welcome home to Stony Creek Lodge – you’ve arrived.

In the luxury real estate market, we experienced a 20% increase in homes sold under $1MM and a 67% decrease for homes sold over $1MM. Why? The value of $1MM+ home sales has decreased substantially over the last three years. Home buyers can now secure a lovely home that is under the $1MM mark.

Clearly, now is the time to buy your Truckee-Tahoe vacation retreat, second home or simply, move on up to the mountains as pricing appears to have stabilized. In several recent Q2, 2011 sales, I am seeing an uptick in square footage prices. Please feel free to call or email me for further information and discuss the neighborhood you are interested in following.  For more statistical information, click here for Elder Group Tahoe/Chase International Q1 Truckee Sales Statistics.

Northstar leads the Truckee area luxury real estate market with a $3 million sale on Grouse Ridge. Four home sales averaging $1.9 million closed year to date and two in escrow stabilizes this market.  The average square foot prices are still incredible values at $423 per square foot based on year to date sales.

Tahoe Donner continues to support the million dollar market with four home sales this year averaging $1,292,500, or $324 square foot, with one currently in escrow.  Despite Chapter 11 reorganization, due to be resolved by the end of June, Tahoe Mountain Resort Communities Old Greenwood and Gray’s Crossing also posted three $1 million plus sales with two in Gray’s Crossing and one in Old Greenwood. 

In the North Shore, six sales averaging almost $1.9 million closed year to date with square footage pricing at a whooping $1,055 per square foot.  North Lake Boulevard continues to offer superb values with great Lake views and 50% of the year to date sales.  Tahoe City saw two luxury sales averaging over $1.5 million with one property in escrow on day day.

Not to be left behind, the West Shore is raging.  As of today, there are three properties in contingent status, with a $16 million listing in escrow.  Year to date the West Shore saw five sales averaging $2.2 million and $973 per square good.  Yes, the luxury market has returned!