Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter Now that winter is over (did we have one?), more inventory has come on the market in the Truckee area, and we anticipate an increase in sales as usually happens during the summer months. The months of inventory on this chart indicates a “seller’s market” at price points up to $600,000, at less than 6 months. A “balanced” inventory (equal seller’s/buyer’s markets) is considered to be 6 months. The higher end, above $600,000, is closer to a year’s worth of inventory, with homes priced at $1,000,000 and above potentially taking up to 2 years to sell. However, these statistics could change dramatically, as there is much more sales activity in the summer versus winter. As interest rates creep up, buyers are getting a little more anxious to find a great place to call home, be it permanent or vacation. With inventory finally increasing, we’re excited about helping our clients find the perfect fit!
Source: Tahoe Sierra MLS
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter It’s that time again! It’s the Fourth of July – and you have a house full of family and guests. Now what? The nice thing is you have lots of options. North Lake Tahoe is a large area and offers a bountiful assortment of events and activities happening all around the lake. We’ll highlight a few of them here. South Lake Tahoe: Lights on the Lake in South Lake Tahoe is always spectacular. It's synchronized to music and is billed as one of the largest and best Independence Day fireworks displays in the country.in fact, the American Pyrotechnics Association rates South Shore’s spectacular Fourth of July fireworks celebration one of the top five displays in the nation. There are lots of spots to snag a great view of the show – from boats on the lake, including historic paddle wheelers to Timber Cove Marina, Nevada Beach State Park, and Tallac Historic Site. The show is free and starts at around 9:45 p.m.
For information about where each of these spots are located, refer to the Lights on the Lake website. Thousands of people go to Lake Tahoe for this show, so get there early to ensure a good viewing place.
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter North Lake Tahoe: July 3rd Fireworks Show & Beach Party – in Lake Tahoe's Kings Beach, just west of Incline Village on the California side. Enjoy a free fireworks show launched out over the water at 9:30 p.m. From 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., a Beach Party will be happening at Kings Beach and the adjacent North Tahoe Event Center. There will be food vendors, a beer/wine and mixed drink garden, free watermelon eating, sand castle building, patriotic costume contests, games, music and live entertainment, fireworks glow toys, souvenirs and more. Bring your own beach chairs and blankets.
July 4th Red, White, and Tahoe Blue is a festival in Incline Village and Crystal Bay on Lake Tahoe's north shore. There will four days of events, starting on Thursday, July 3, and running through Saturday, July 5. The big fireworks show will launch from barges off Incline Beach at about 9:30 p.m. on the 4th of July. Check out the online events calendar for details about what is happening and when. (Note about access to Incline Beach - Incline Beach is private property belonging to the local homeowners' association. Access is restricted to residents and their guests between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. After 8 p.m., the public can visit the beach and watch the fireworks. Tahoe City 4th of July Celebration - The annual and fireworks show in Tahoe City will take place at Commons Beach on Lake Tahoe's west shore. There will be a street fair during the day, with a dunk tank, climbing wall, corn hole games, and more. Bring a picnic and enjoy the fireworks starting at dusk on the Fourth. It's free to attend, but donations to support this and future fireworks shows are gladly accepted. For more information, call (530) 583-3348.
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter Truckee 4th of July Parade and Fireworks - This old-fashioned hometown 4th of July parade starts at 10 a.m. on the west end of town and marches down Donner Pass Road, ending up in historic downtown Truckee. Bring low backed chairs and set yourselves up anywhere along the parade route for some good old fashioned fun. Try the pancake breakfast at the fire station before the parade – it’s a Truckee tradition - or run in the Firecracker Mile. Fireworks and a family activities day will be at Donner Lake's West End Beach starting at 9 a.m. West End Beach activities are restricted to Truckee property owners only and their guests and you must provide proof of residence with a utility or tax bill or driver’s license. Tickets are sold in advance at the Community Center at 8924 Donner Pass Road and must be picked up by 5pm on July 3rd. If you are not a resident in our district and unable to attend the beach festivities, you can still enjoy a fun day at Donner Lake on the docks, swimming, boating, fishing. Fireworks are at 9:30 p.m. and will be visible from many spots around the lake. Many folks park along old Highway 40 or hike out towards Negro Canyon from Tahoe Donner’s Skislope Way trail access to look down on the fireworks over Donner Lake. If hiking out along the Tahoe Donner ridgeline, make sure you have sturdy shoes and a flashlight. Traffic is tremendous and there are limited access points to the lake so plan ahead and get a spot early – and don’t plan to get out after the show easily. Traffic is long and sometimes arduous. Please keep all pets indoors as they are not as fond of the loud fireworks shows as their human counterparts, and unfortunately, can bolt in fear and you don’t want a lost pet or a terrible tragedy on busy roads.
Most importantly, do remember, though, that personal fireworks are illegal all over northern Nevada and at Lake Tahoe. Don't risk starting a wildfire, injuring someone, and/or getting arrested - enjoy one of our spectacular professional fireworks shows instead. This is taken extremely seriously in our area because of the wildfire danger. The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter Our rates may depend on Greece Rates have increased over the last month and keep hedging up, then down, and then up. In fact, overall rates have increased a ½ point across most loan products. The volatility in the last few months has been connected (for a huge part) to what is happening with Greece and the European Union. As the date of June 30th nears our mortgage rates have been getting more volatile. June 30th is the Dday for Greece a failure to pay its debt to the International Monetary Fund will cause a default. The EU is trying to reach a deal with Greece and once an agreement is met will provide bailout funds. However, no agreement has been reached. Greece may potentially exit the EU to potentially get rid of its debt rather than reach an agreement with the EU. What that may seem to other countries than is the EU has failed. And then other countries such as Spain, Portugal or Italy may also exit to get out of their debt. Thus, investors will move and flock to the yields of the US dollars. This will cause interest rates to improve.
If an agreement is reached, Greece does not exit the EU then more money could go into European Yields thus causing rates to increase. Thus, our rates right now are closely tied with the decisions of Greek leaders. Rates are still low so if you are thinking of purchasing or refinancing call the experts at the Rice Team of Guild Mortgage. 530-582-991.
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter Ready for Wildfire? It’s no surprise that we are in a serious drought here in California and much of the west. Four below average years in a row of snowfall have devastated our water resources and have forced us as a population to take drastic measures for conservation and management. Obviously, wildfire is a serious concern. Each of us, as homeowners and citizens, needs to take action to protect our property and inhibit the spread of fire throughout our neighborhoods. There are countless resources for learning how to take action and install and maintain defensible space around your home. Defensible space is the buffer you create by removing dead plants, grass and weeds. One of the best is the Cal Fire site where you can also learn how to plan for possible evacuation in the event of a wildfire near you.
Some quick and easy, MINIMAL actions can make a tremendous difference: •
Fire season was delayed a few weeks from the rain we received but now the grasses and bushes are drying quickly will be able to carry fire. When you look around the area you can see that the grasses have grown more than an average year over the past few weeks. Fire people call these “flashy fuels” because when fire gets into grass and brush it can move very quickly and be difficult to stop. What can you do? Get these fuels away from your house! The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter •
Cut the grass. While the grass is still a little green it is time to take it down with the weed eater. Fires send off embers that can land on your property and lead to structures burning down. Try to cut grass before 10 am while it is cool - occasionally mowers and weed eaters have started fires from their hot motors usually in the afternoon.
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Remove and space brush. If you have bushes on your property it is time to cut them back, space them out 10 feet and remove dead ones.
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Limb the low branches. Those low branches let the small grass fire quickly climb into the tress and are called ladder fuels. The trees are very dry and will carry big fire. You can prevent this by liming the low branches at least 6 feet off the ground.
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Disposal of debris. Once you removes grass, limbs and brush you can either take them to the Eastern Regional Landfill for free or order a yard debris dumpster for $60. For more info go to this link: http://www.townoftruckee.com/departments/solid-waste-recycling/recycling-programs-/yardwaste-recycling
And remember, an area wide BURN BAN is now in effect from Monday, June 22 through the entire Summer and Fall. This means there is no more debris burning.
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter July EVENTS 1 – Music in the Park (weekly) Truckee River Regional Park, 6:30 – 8:30 pm Weekly Music Series sponsored by Truckee Donner Rec and Parks District. Bring lawn chairs, food and drink and enjoy summer evenings and live music in the Sierra. Information: www.tdrpd.org 2 - Truckee Thursdays (weekly) Historic Downtown Truckee, 5:30 – 8:30pm Summer Thursdays mean a special experience for people of all ages - residents, tourists and participants alike. The event features a Certified Farmers’ Market, food vendors, merchant and community displays, as well as great entertainment, children’s activities and a beer garden. Information: www.truckeethursdays.com 2 – Free Outdoor Summer Movie Series (weekly through August 27 – no movie 7/16) Events Plaza, Village at Squaw Valley 8:30pm, Free. Weather permitting. Families and friends can snuggle up under the stars while enjoying new releases and family classics on the big screen at Squaw Valley! Blankets and warm clothes are recommended. Information: www.squawalpine.com
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter
3 - July 3rd Fireworks & Beach Party Kings Beach State Recreation Area, Kings Beach, CA 4-10pm, Free Information: www.truckee.com/explore/events/regional/#/?i=5 3 – Beer & Bluegrass Festival Northstar California 3- 6:30pm, $30 advance/$38 day of event The festival will include beer tastings from numerous breweries and two premier bluegrass bands. There will also be non-alcoholic beverages and a tasty barbecue available for purchase, as well as seating and games on the village rink the whole family can enjoy. Information: www.northstarcalifornia.com
3 – Kids Night Out Northwoods Clubhouse, Tahoe Donner 5-9pm, $20 in advance Information and RSVP: 530-587-9437 .
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter 3 – Tahoe Donner Summer Concert Driving Range, Tahoe Donner 5- 10pm Adults $35, Children 7-12 $15, under 6 free Two all-star tribute bands are scheduled: Britain’s Finest, bringing the complete Beatles experience to Tahoe Donner, and The Glimmer Twins, a Rolling Stones tribute band. You won’t believe how much they sound like the real deal! Our tree-lined driving range has a gentle slope, so bring the whole gang and prepare for a rockin’ and nostalgic evening under the stars. Food and drink by Morgan’s Lobster Shack and FiftyFifty Brewery will be available on-site, or bring your own picnic. Information: www.tahoedonner.com/news/category/recreation 3 - First Fridays Historic Downtown Truckee, 5- 8 pm (monthly) Most of downtown’s unique shops, boutiques, art studios, and eateries will keep their doors open later and offer special promotions, activities, demonstrations, food and beverages, music, and more! Participating shops and restaurants will display First Friday Flags so the public will know where the fun is. Information: www.historictruckee.com 4 – Firecracker Mile Truckee 9-11am, starting at $15 A one mile elite, fun run, or walk through Truckee's 4th of July parade route. Information: www.truckeefunrun.com
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter 4 – Truckee 4th of July Parade 10-11am, Donner Pass Road, Truckee Information: www.truckee.com 4 – Truckee 4th of July Celebration West End Beach, Donner Lake 10-am – 10pm, $6 Advanced Tickets for Truckee Residents Only Come spend the day on the beach, listen & dance to music, play games, eat BBQ and watch the fireworks! Information: www.tdrpd.org
4 – Kid’s Bike Parade Northstar California 12-3pm, Free Information: www.northstarcalifornia.com 5 - Pancake Breakfast Sierra Senior Center, 10040 Estates Drive, Truckee 8 to 11am, $7adults/$3 kids A fundraiser for Sierra Senior Services Information: www.sierraseniors.org
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter
5 – Truckee River Railroad Truckee Regional Park, 10050 Brockway Rd 10am – 3pm, Free Information: www.truckeedonnerrailroadsociety.com 5 – Concert at Commons Beach (weekly) Commons Beach, Tahoe City, CA 4-7pm. Free 7 – Truckee Farmers Market Truckee River Regional Park, 10500 Brockway Rd 8am – 1pm
7 – Bluesdays (weekly) Village at Squaw Valley 6-8:30pm, Free This popular weekly series features acclaimed blues musicians, great grab and go food offerings from Village restaurants and a Blues bar with beer, wine & spirits available. Information: www.squawalpine.com/events-things-do/bluesdays-squaw
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter 10 – Music on the Beach (through August 7) Kings Beach State Recreation Area, Kings Beach 6-9pm, Free Featuring local and regional acts that are “family friendly.” Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase Sierra Nevada Brewing Company beer, wine, water and soda. Food will be available for sale at the venue. 11 - Truckee Tahoe AirShow and Family Festival "A Salute to our Veterans“ Truckee Airport, 10356 Airport Rd. 9am – 4pm, Free World Class aerobatic performers are featured along with static aircraft displays, speaker forums, Family Festival area for kids, free flights (July 12) for kids and much more. Information: www.truckeetahoeairshow.com
11 & 12 - Sagehen BioBlitz Photo credit: Mark Loper 11616 Sagehen Rd, Truckee, CA 10am – 10pm Community partners, scientists, California naturalists and volunteers will work together to find and identify as many different species as possible within Sagehen Creek Basin – everything from ants to Lodgepole Pines. We’ll break the Reserve up into zones and may even encourage some friendly zone-to-zone competition. Information: www.sagehenbioblitz.eventbrite.com The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter
11 & 12 – Art, Wine & Music Festival Village at Squaw Valley 2-5pm, Free Fine artists, crafts makers, performers and musicians come to participate in this fun, two-day annual event. With two performance stages, restaurants, shops, and walkways lined with fine art booths and exhibits. Information: www.squawalpine.com/events-things-do/art-wine-music-festival 13 – Bingo Night at Tahoe Donner Northwoods Club House, Tahoe Donner 6:30 – 8pm, Free Bingo lovers will play on the lawn outside of Northwoods Clubhouse for a chance to win prizes. Food is available for purchase at adjacent Pizza on the Hill. Information: www.tahoedonner.com/rec-programs/free-events/weekly-events
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter
17 - 19 – Truckee Antique Show Tahoe Truckee High School, 11725 Donner Pass Rd 10am – 5pm, $6 with free return all three days Known by loyal antique enthusiasts as the largest, finest show in the Cal Neva Area. 18 – Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Eastern Regional Materials Recovery Facility, 900 Cabin Creek Rd By appointment, Free Call for an appointment 530-583-7800 25 – Donner Lake Triathlon Donner Lake, Truckee, CA 6am – 4pm The 34th event features an epic setting, a beautiful and challenging course, and is located very near Truckee and North Lake Tahoe. Information: www.donnerlaketri.com 25 – Truckee Garden Tour Truckee Area 10am – 4pm, $25 View 8 gardens and landscaping in the 27th annual tour. Information: www.lake-of-the-sky.org The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s July 2015 Newsletter
25 - Northstar Village Wine Walk Village at Northstar 3 – 6pm, $25 advance sale, $30 day of event Enjoy a variety of wine and light snacks throughout the Village and live music, too. Information: www.northstarcalifornia.com 25 - Relay for Life Truckee Tahoe Riverview Sports Park, 12200 Joerger Dr, Truckee 3-10pm The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is the world's largest and most impactful fundraising event to end cancer. It unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action to finish the fight once and for all. Information: www.relayforlife.org
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440