Eastern Plumas & Sierra Counties Newsletter - December 2018

NEWS YOU CAN USE

DECEMBER 2018 MARKET NEWSLETTER EASTERN PLUMAS & SIERRA COUNTIES Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and Golf Course Communities

The pine stays green in winter... wisdom in hardship. ~Norman Douglas~ Contents

Portola Office & Fun Facts Summit School Year To Date Sales Statistics Reports

Pg.

2 3-4

Guild Mortgage Corner

5

Determining Your Home’s Value

6

Cyber Crime Targets Real Estate Transactions

7-8

Helpful Hints

9-10

Calendar of Events & Details

11-12

Tree Cutting Permits

13-14

Ski Resort Schedules & Map

15-16

SEASONS GREETINGS

17

Dickson Portola Team 289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700

NEWS YOU CAN USE

DECEMBER 2018 MARKET NEWSLETTER EASTERN PLUMAS & SIERRA COUNTIES Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and Golf Course Communities

The Dickson Realty Portola Team is always available to provide excellent and dedicated client service whether you are considering buying or selling a home. Our team of seasoned professionals, all Realtors®, possess the most current and comprehensive market information and, combined with their knowledge and experience, they are uniquely qualified to be expert guides in your real estate venture. Call, e-mail, visit our office, or access us on the web. We are here for you 24/7.

Office Phone: 530-832-1700 Email: portolainfo@dicksonrealty.com Web: www.Dicksonrealty.com

Fun Facts – Summit Schoolhouse Hwy. 70 West of Vinton Sale transaction by Dickson Realty, Paula Erle

The 150-year-old Summit Schoolhouse was moved in the early 1900’s to its present position on Highway 70 West of Vinton because of a population shift in the valley. The school was originally located near Beckwourth Pass at a settlement called “Summit.”

It is now private property, owned by Ed and Diane Yang of Reno. The Yangs continue to gather items that either belonged to the school, or that could have been used when students attended the school. They have also been given

items that originally belonged to the school and have made it into a small museum and library to preserve this part of Sierra Valley’s history. There is a lending library in the driveway of the School and the Yangs are happy to do tours of the school when they are in residence.

The Summit School has a barn owl. When they renovated one outbuilding, they made certain the the owl’s nest area was secure and accessible.

Contributed by ~Jean Myles~

RULES FOR TEACHERS 1872

1. Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys 2. Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day’s session 3. Make your pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to the individual taste of the pupils.

4. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week if they go to church regularly.

5. After ten hours in school, the teachers may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.

6. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.

7. Every teacher should lay aside from each pay a goodly sum of his earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.

8. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls, or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intention, integrity and honesty.

9. The teacher who performs his labor faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of twenty-five cents per week in his pay, providing the Board of Education approves.

Dickson Portola Team

289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700

NEWS YOU CAN USE DECEMBER 2018 MARKET NEWSLETTER EASTERN PLUMAS & SIERRA COUNTIES Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and Golf Course Communities

The following pages provide Residential Sales Statistics for the areas of Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and the Golf Course Communities of Whitehawk, Grizzly Ranch, and Gold Mountain The sales statistics are a year-to-date look at sales by price range and the percentage of sales within each price range. Additionally, the active listings and months of market inventory they represent is provided.

The sales shown are for Single Family Residential Condominiums and Townhouses in each of the market areas.

(Time share and/or shared ownership are not included in the statistics presented.)

The data source is the Plumas Multiple Listing Service with data pulled on November 10, 2018

RESIDENTIAL SOLD PORTOLA Jan. 1, 2018 thru Oct. 31, 2018 SOLD PRICE RANGE Residences Sold

Under $100,000 $100,001 - $200,000 $200,001 - $300,000 $300,001 - $400,000 $400,001 - $600,000 $600,001 - $1,000,000 $1,000,001 +

Percent of Sales

Current Active Listings

Months of Inventory

9 24 8

22% 59% 19.5%

4 12 10

4.4 5.0 12.5

0 0 0

0% 0% 0%

4 1

0.0 0.0 0.0

0 41

0%

RESIDENTIAL SOLD LOYALTON Jan. 1, 2018 thru Oct. 31, 2018 Residences SOLD PRICE RANGE Sold

Under $100,000 $100,001 - $200,000 $200,001 - $300,000 $300,001 - $400,000 $400,001 - $600,000 $600,001 - $1,000,000 $1,000,001 +

RESIDENTIAL SOLD PORTOLA JAN. 1, 2018 - OCT. 31, 2018

0 0

0.0

31

Percent of Sales

Current Active Listings

Months of Inventory

2 8 5

7% 30% 19%

0 6 2

0.0 7.5 4.0

7 3 2

26% 11% 7% 0%

11 4

15.7 13.3 0.0 0.0

0 27

3 1

$200,001 $300,000 19%

Under $100,000 22%

$100,001 $200,000 59%

RESIDENTIAL SOLD LOYALTON JAN. 1, 2018 - OCT. 31, 2018 $600,001 Under $100,000 $1,000,000 7% 7% $400,001 $600,000 11% $100,001 $200,000 30% $300,001 $400,000 26% $200,001 $300,000 19%

27

Dickson Realty is dedicated to helping you keep a pulse on the local market and real estate related information by providing the latest news, trends, and issues affecting the area’s real estate market.

Dickson Portola Team 289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700

NEWS YOU CAN USE DECEMBER 2018 MARKET NEWSLETTER EASTERN PLUMAS & SIERRA COUNTIES Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and Golf Course Communities RESIDENTIAL SOLD GRAEAGLE Jan. 1, 2018 thru Oct. 31, 2018 SOLD PRICE RANGE Residences

Percent of Sales

Sold

Under $100,000 $100,001 - $200,000 $200,001 - $300,000 $300,001 - $400,000 $400,001 - $600,000 $600,001 - $1,000,000 $1,000,001 +

Current Active Listings

1 5 17 8 16 3

2% 10% 33% 16% 31% 6%

1 51

2%

Months of Inventory 1 0 7 11 14

10.0 0.0 4.1 13.8 8.8 46.7

14 2

20.0

49

RESIDENTIAL SOLD GOLF COURSE COMMUNITIES ( Whitehawk, Grizzly, Gold Mtn.) Jan. 1, 2018 thru Oct. 31, 2018 Current SOLD PRICE RANGE Residences Percent of Sold

Under $100,000 $100,001 - $200,000 $200,001 - $300,000 $300,001 - $400,000 $400,001 - $600,000 $600,001 - $1,000,000 $1,000,001 +

Sales

Active Listings 0%

0

0.0

0% 13% 38%

0 1 6

0.0 5.0 10.0

5 2

31% 13%

8

16.0 85.0

1 16

6%

17 6

60.0

38

$300,001 $400,000 16%

$400,001 $600,000 31%

$200,001 $300,000 12%

$300,001 $400,000 38%

RESIDENTIAL SOLD CHILCOOT JAN. 1, 2018 - OCT. 31, 2018 Percent of Sales

Current Active Listings

Months of Inventory

0 1

0% 50%

0 0

0.0 0.0

1 0 0

50% 0% 0%

1 1 0

10.0 0.0 0.0

0

0% 0%

1 0

0.0 0.0

0 2

$200,001 $300,000 33%

$1,000,001 + 6% $600,001 $1,000,000 13%

Months of Inventory

0 2 6

Sold

$400,001 $600,000 31%

RESIDENTIAL SOLD GOLF COURSE COMMUNITIES JAN. 1, 2018 - OCT. 31, 2018

0

RESIDENTIAL SOLD CHILCOOT Jan. 1, 2018 thru Oct. 31, 2018 SOLD PRICE RANGE Residences Under $100,000 $100,001 - $200,000 $200,001 - $300,000 $300,001 - $400,000 $400,001 - $600,000 $600,001 - $1,000,000 $1,000,001 +

RESIDENTIAL SOLD GRAEAGLE JAN. 1, 2018 - OCT. 31, 2018 $1,000,001 + Under $100,000 $600,001 2% 2% $100,001 $1,000,000 6% $200,000 10%

$200,001 $300,000 50%

$100,001 $200,000 50%

3

Dickson Portola Team 289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700

NEWS YOU CAN USE DECEMBER 2018 MARKET NEWSLETTER EASTERN PLUMAS & SIERRA COUNTIES Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and Golf Course Communities

The Importance of the Appraisal The housing industry can be a whirlwind of moving parts. Buyers are scrambling to view property while sellers are prepping and painting to get that curb side appeal. Brokers are juggling numerous clients and their schedules, taking them all over town to help them find the perfect home. Lenders are working diligently to qualify and approve borrowers and update all parties. In the midst of this flurry is the appraiser.

The appraiser is a necessary part of the lending process. Financial institutions rely on appraisers, whether residential or commercial, to determine the value of homes and/or investment properties. This is no small task. An appraiser must be licensed through the completion of extensive coursework and completing a minimum of 2000 hours as a trainee under a certified appraiser. The financial institutions rely on the market expertise of the local appraiser to determine and analyze comparable properties, evaluate recent sales and derive a value conclusion for the appraisal report. This can take from 3 days to 3 weeks and the appraisal report either supports the value or does not.

Lenders want to make sure that the property is a good investment and the appraiser helps with this determination. For instance, if the borrower stops making payments and the house goes into foreclosure lenders want to make sure that their investment is protected and it can be sold again. Conversely, if the appraisal comes in low the borrower can re-evaluate their investment options and move forward if they see fit. The appraisal is a necessary part of the process.

If you have any questions on the appraisal process, what’s happening locally with appraisers or have any financing or mortgage questions or inquiries feel free to contact us!

If you have any questions regarding loan limits, refinancing or purchasing a home, please feel free to reach out to The Rice Team.

11050 Pioneer Trail Suite 201 Truckee, CA 96161 Phone: (530) 582-9991 Fax: (530) 582-9995.

Web:wwwTheRiceTeam.com

Caution: Wire transfer fraud is on the rise. If you receive an email or text message containing wire instructions, call the closing agent or attorney at a verified phone number immediately to confirm the information prior to sending the funds. You will never receive wire instructions or changes to previously provided wire instructions from Guild Mortgage Company. Any such communications should be considered suspicious and reported to your Loan Officer.

Dickson Portola Team 289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700

NEWS YOU CAN USE DECEMBER 2018 MARKET NEWSLETTER EASTERN PLUMAS & SIERRA COUNTIES Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and Golf Course Communities

Determining Your Home's Value Appraisals and CMAs Appraisals are primarily used to protect the lender's interest in the property. Just like lenders can be hesitant to issue a mortgage to credit-risky borrowers, they don't like to underwrite properties for more than they're worth. Appraisals also are used when other factors have made it difficult to assess your property's value, such as a lack of real estate activity in your area.

REALTORS® stress the importance of understanding that an appraisal is just the opinion of a trained professional: Five different appraisers could attach five different price tags to your home. Appraisals are based on past sales data, the location of the home, the size of the lot and the condition of the home. If the buyer's mortgage is insured through the FHA, the appraiser must disclose potential problems relating to the physical condition of the home; there are no similar stipulations for non-FHA mortgages.

Your REALTOR® may recommend an appraiser for your home. Also, the Appraisal Subcommittee of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council offers a member directory on its Web site. You can check the status of California appraisers? licenses through the Office of Real Estate Appraisers.

To determine an accurate measure of what your home is worth, REALTORS® can supply a comparative market analysis (CMA), which provides information on recent selling prices of similar properties in the same market. With a CMA, you can monitor the closing price of specific house types in certain areas (e.g., a condominium in a metropolitan area). Again, consult your REALTOR® if you're interested in learning more about a CMA. Setting The Price In establishing the listing price for your home, you need to strike a delicate balance between a figure that will scare off potential buyers and a low price that doesn't represent your home's worth. Buyers will compare your home's price with other properties on the market. Therefore, you should use a CMA to assess what consumers are paying for similar homes. CMAs also include information about area homes that failed to sell in recent months along with their corresponding list prices. Your REALTOR® can assist you in obtaining and analyzing that information.

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® suggests some additional steps to help you set your list price. After analyzing sales data, conduct some market research on your own. Attend an open house or two and make an impartial assessment of how those homes compare to yours in terms of size, location, amenities and condition.

Your REALTOR® can be a vital resource in analyzing all the pertinent information with you to develop a list price. Trust your REALTOR®'s judgment, as he or she offers experience in this arena. However, the final decision on the listing price for your home is your choice to make.

All Agents in Dickson Realty Offices are REALTORS®.

They stand ready to help you navigate any real estate transaction.

Dickson Portola Team 289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700

NEWS YOU CAN USE DECEMBER 2018 MARKET NEWSLETTER EASTERN PLUMAS & SIERRA COUNTIES Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and Golf Course Communities

While Cyber Criminals Continue To Target Real Estate Transactions, Take These Protective Measures John Dillinger, Jesse James, Bonnie and Clyde — these were some of the most notorious thieves in U.S. history. But for as much as these gangsters stole, they don’t hold a candle to the amount of money that can be lost due to acts of faceless online criminals.

Real estate transactions have become a target because they are lucrative. While the average bank robbery nets just about $6,500, a typical wire fraud nets a much higher payday. Traditional criminals are limited to how much money they can carry during a heist, but there’s no limit to the loot cyber crooks can snatch with the use of cyber mules.

A Growing Threat

fraudsters assume the identity of the title or real estate agent handling the sale. The criminals forge the person’s email and other details that appear specific and authentic.

Next, posing as the real estate or title agent, the scammers send an email to the buyer, providing wire instructions to the criminal’s bank account, not the title agency’s legitimate account."

On June 11, 2018, federal authorities announced a major coordinated law enforcement effort to disrupt international BEC schemes designed to intercept and hijack wire transfers. Called Operation WireWire, the six-month sweep culminated in 74 arrests (42 in the United States). The operation resulted in the disruption and recovery of approximately $14 million in fraudulent wire transfers. But this doesn't mean the individual threat is over.

A good practice to avoid potential

Wire fraud in real estate is one of the fastest exploitation by scammers is to growing cybercrimes in the country. The verify all email requests involving FBI reportedly received 301,580 complaints in 2017 and losses exceeded $1.4 billion, the wiring of funds or changes and in the real estate/rental sector alone, thereto by calling a verified phone more than 9,600 victims lost over $56 number of the alleged sender. million in the same year.

Phone numbers included in bogus The type of fraud with the highest reported emails may also be fraudulent. loss last year was Business Email Legitimate changes to established Compromise (BEC)/Email Account wiring instructions are rare, and Compromise (EAC), with losses totaling the receipt of a request for changes more than $675 million. According to the American Land Title Association, of which I should be a red flag.

Dickson Portola Team am a member: "In real estate transactions, 289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700

NEWS YOU CAN USE DECEMBER 2018 MARKET NEWSLETTER EASTERN PLUMAS & SIERRA COUNTIES Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and Golf Course Communities

Difficult To Detect Staying ahead of BEC scams is proving to be a serious and ongoing challenge for real estate and mortgage professionals nationwide. This is true despite significant investments by all sectors to prevent losses.

While total prevention of BEC compromises seems a long shot at best, it is imperative for real estate and mortgage professionals to stay as abreast as possible of the everevolving schemes. The next step is to educate potential homebuyers on how these schemes work. A little caution can go a long way in preventing potentially catastrophic losses for unsuspecting consumers.

A scam involving wire fraud often begins with a fraudster finding its way into personal or business email accounts by way of phishing techniques. “Phishing” is when a hacker attempts to obtain personally sensitive information by way of phony emails, internet links or even phone calls, in order to commit acts of fraud. What may seem like a harmless click on a link could be all a hacker needs to breach a user’s computer system and email accounts.

Any party involved in a real estate transaction is a potential target for hackers, including the buyer, the seller, the real estate agent, the lender, the title company and the closing attorney. Once an email account has been compromised, hackers will quietly monitor messages and activity. They wait for the opportunity to enter the conversation, posing as an actual party to the transaction.

Criminals will either use the victim’s actual email account or create a fake email account closely resembling it to send out fraudulent wire transfer instructions. Their goal is to divert the funds straight into their own hands. — and it often works.

Whether scammers try to hook their prey by phone call or email, they always seem very convincing. For example, what would happen if a loan processor received an

urgent email asking to change funding details on the day of closing? The request appears to be from the title or settlement agent closing the loan. The email looks legitimate: The logo, the agent’s name and contact details, the loan number and the borrower name are all correct. Even a phone number is provided to confirm the lastminute change. However, the email is actually a scam. Even though every other detail looks correct, that phone number routes to the scammer.

What Businesses And Consumers Should Do It is estimated that businesses worldwide will spend approximately $93 billion fighting cybercrime in 2018 with implementation and enhancement of internet security measures. What’s important to remember is that even with all the internet protections available today, humans are the primary targets and often the weakest link.

The best defense is to be aware and prepared.

Businesses should update security practices frequently and train employees how to recognize and react to phishing attempts.

Consumers need to be informed of the risks and aware of potential red flags, especially if they are involved in a real estate transaction.

The American Land Title Association provides a helpful resource on how consumers can protect their money and offers advice on what to do if they have been targeted by a scam.

Anyone who suspects they’ve been victimized by online fraudsters should report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

POST WRITTEN BY: Amy NiesenAmy Niesen is the Senior VP and General Counsel for Land Title Company of Alabama, and has protected real property rights for over 25 years.

Dickson Portola Team

289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700

NEWS YOU CAN USE DECEMBER 2018 MARKET NEWSLETTER EASTERN PLUMAS & SIERRA COUNTIES Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and Golf Course Communities You Only Think It’s True: 10 Myths Costing You Time and Money Save your cash for more important things, like, you know, your mortgage.

You can’t swing a tool belt without hitting a website or TV network offering tips on taking care of your digs. Save money by watering your lawn at night! No, water it in the morning! No, dig it up and replace it with a drought-hardy meadow!

Throw in the info you pick up from well-meaning friends and there’s a sea of home care truisms out there, some of which can sink your budget.

Myth 1: Stone Countertops Are Indestructible Fact: Even rock can be damaged. Marble, quartz, travertine, soapstone, and limestone can all be stained. Regular household cleaners can dull their surfaces over time. And marble is maddeningly fragile — it’s the prima donna of stone. It’s easy to scratch.

It’s easy to stain. Here’s the worst part: Mildly acidic substances like soda, coffee, lemon juice, even hard water will eat into marble, creating a cloudy, dull spot in a process known as etching. “Spill a glass of wine on a marble counter and go to bed without cleaning it, the next morning you’ll have a problem,” says Louwrens Mulder, owner of Superior Stone in Knoxville, Tenn. And while stone counters won’t crack under a hot pot, such direct heat can discolor quartz or marble, says Mulder. So be nice to your counters, no matter what they’re made of. And note that the best rock for your buck is granite. “It doesn’t stain or scratch. It’s tough because it’s volcanic rock,” Mulder says. Which means it can stand up to all the merlot and barbecue sauce you can spill on it.

Myth 2: Your Smoke Detector's Test Button Is Foolproof Fact: The test button doesn’t tell you what you really need to know. Yes, check your smoke detector twice a year. But all that test button will tell you is whether the alarm sound is working, not if the sensor that detects smoke is working. Pretty key difference there.

The best way to check your device is with real smoke. Light a long, wooden kitchen match, blow it out, and hold it near the unit. If the smoke sets off the alarm, it’s working. If not, replace the batteries. If it

still doesn’t work, you need a new smoke detector.

And replace those batteries once a year anyway, because dead batteries are the No. 1 reason smoke detectors fail.

Myth 3: Gutter Guards Are Maintenance-Free Fact: You gotta clean gutter guards, too.

Gutter guards keep out leaves, but small debris like seeds, pine straw, and flower buds will still get through.

Gutter guards can lessen your work, though — sometimes a lot. Instead of shoveling out wheelbarrow loads of leaves and other crap twice a year, you might just need to clean them every two years. But if there are lots of trees in your yard, once a year might be necessary.

Myth 4: A Lemon Is a Great Way to Clean a Disposal Fact: While wanting to use natural cleaners is admirable, all of them will damage your disposal and pipes over time. The lemon’s acidic juice will corrode the metal parts of your disposal. The mixture of salt and ice contains metal-eating acid, too. The coffee grounds are abrasive enough to clean the gunk off the blades and make it smell like a cup of americano, but they’ll accumulate in pipes and clog them.

The best natural cleaner for your disposal is good old baking soda. It’s mildly abrasive so it will clean the blades, but it’s a base, not an acid, and won’t damage the metal. Best of all, a box with enough baking soda big enough to clean your disposal twice costs less than a buck.

Myth 5: Mowing Your Lawn Super Short Means You'll Mow Less Often Fact: You might not have to mow as often, but your lawn will look like awful. Cut that grass under an inch high, and you’ll never have to mow again because your grass will die. Mowing a lawn down to the root — a screw-up known as scalping — is like cutting all the leaves off a plant.

Grass blades make and store your lawn’s energy.

Removing more than 1/3 of the length of the blade will leave your grass too weak to withstand weeds and pests. It also exposes the roots to the sun, causing the lawn to dry out quickly. Leave 1 to 3 inches of grass above the roots to keep your lawn lush

Dickson Portola Team

289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700

NEWS YOU CAN USE DECEMBER 2018 MARKET NEWSLETTER EASTERN PLUMAS & SIERRA COUNTIES Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and Golf Course Communities Myth 6: CFLs Cost Too Much, and Are Dangerous Fact: CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) have come down in price since they first hit the market and don’t contain enough mercury to cause any harm. You can buy one now for as low as $3. And replacing one incandescent bulb with a CFL will save nearly $60 a year for the lifetime of the bulb, says Consumer Reports. CFLs last an average of 5 years, so one bulb can save $300. A houseful of them, say 20, will save $600 each year.

And CFLs are a safe option. They actually lower your exposure to mercury indirectly, because they use 70 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs. That means the coal-fired power plants that spew 340 million pounds of mercury into the air each year won’t have to run as long to keep our houses lit. Fewer toxins, lower power bills. What’s not to love?

Myth 7: A Trendy Kitchen Re-Do Will Increase My Home's Value Fact: Décor trends come and go as fast as viral videos.

Remember those Tuscan-style kitchens with mustard gold walls, ornate cabinets, and medieval-looking light fixtures that were the must-have of the late ‘90s and early aughts? Today, they’re as dated as flip phones. Instead of remodeling in the latest look, which costs $22,000 on average, try repainting in ontrend colors, which costs $1,700 on average. If you do opt for a full remodel, choose elements like Shaker cabinets, wood floors, and subway tile, a timeless style you’ll love 10 years from now.

Myth 8: A Contractor Recommendation From a Friend Is Good Enough Fact: Good contractors have more than just your buddy to vouch for them. Your neighbor’s recommendation is a good start, but talk to a couple of sources before you hire anyone. Check the contractor’s reviews on Angie’s List or other online rating sites.

Ask a local building inspector which contractors meet code on the properties they inspect. Ask the contractor for the names of past clients you can talk to, how many other projects they have going, how

long they’ve worked with their subcontractors, and if they routinely do projects the size of yours.

Look at this as a job interview where the contractor is an applicant and you’re the hiring manager. Make them show you they’re the guy or gal for the work.

Myth 9: Turning Off Your AC When You Leave Saves Energy Fact: Turning off the air conditioner when you leave could actually cost you money.That’s because when you turn it back on, all your savings will be lost as the unit works overtime to cool your hot house. A better way to save on utilities is to turn the thermostat up or down (depending on the season) 5 to 10 degrees when you leave, says home improvement expert Danny Lipford of todayshomeowner.com.

And the best option? “Install a programmable thermostat,” he says. Even better, buy one you can control remotely with your smartphone and adjust the temperature before you get home. Because thermostats you have to touch are so 1998.

Myth 10: Permits? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Permits Fact: You do.

Let’s say your neighbor’s brother-in-law, Cecil, is an electrician. Cecil can rewire your kitchen in a weekend because he won’t inconvenience you with a permit. Should you hire Cecil? No. Building codes protect you. From Cecil. Getting a permit means an inspector will check his work to make sure he didn’t screw up.

Plus, if your house burns down in an electrical fire and your insurance company finds out the work was done without a permit, they won’t cover your loss.

Check with your local planning or building department to find out if your project needs a permit.

If it does, get one.

Made Possible

by REALTORS® © Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Dickson Portola Team

289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700

NEWS YOU CAN USE DECEMBER 2018 MARKET NEWSLETTER EASTERN PLUMAS & SIERRA COUNTIES Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and Golf Course Communities

DECEMBER 2018 SUN

MON 25

TUES 26

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THUR 28

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01 GRAEAGLE ANNUAL HOLIDAY FESTIVAL LOYALTON TREE LIGHTING

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PORTOLA LIGHT PARADE AND TREE LIGHTING

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48TH ANNUAL

COMMUNITY

SING QUINCY 16

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Dickson Portola Team 289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700

NEWS YOU CAN USE DECEMBER 2018 MARKET NEWSLETTER EASTERN PLUMAS & SIERRA COUNTIES Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and Golf Course Communities Date and Event

Where Held

Time

Contact Info.

(530) 993-0709

Details Two floors of glorious gifts!

12/1 Christmas Craft Faire

Assembly of God Church Loyalton

10:00 am 4:00 pm

12/1 Annual Graeagle Holiday Festival

Downtown Graeagle

1:00 pm 5:00 pm

Refreshments, carolers singing, pictures with Santa and rides through town in a decorated horse drawn trolley.

Great traditional family event.

12/1 Annual Loyalton Tree Lighting

Downtown Loyalton

Dusk

Santa arrives by fire truck and kids get to ride!

Refreshments served by Loyalton Rotary Club Family event with fun for all.

12/7 Annual Portola Light Parade and Tree Lighting

Downtown Portola

5:00 pm 8:00 pm

Family event that also includes and Old Fashioned Christmas Market

Dickson Portola Team 289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700

NEWS YOU CAN USE DECEMBER 2018 MARKET NEWSLETTER EASTERN PLUMAS & SIERRA COUNTIES Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and Golf Course Communities

Plumas National Forest Christmas Tree Cutting Permits On Sale

Lassen National Forest Christmas Tree Cutting Permits On Sale

Christmas tree cutting permits (personal use) are now on sale for the Plumas and Lassen National Forests. Permits may be used only in the forest for which they were purchased. A map of the tree cutting areas and regulations are included with the permit.

Please note: There are no retail outlets for permits this year, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Lassen National Forest Christmas tree permits will be on sale through December 21, 2018.

Permits cost $10 (cash only) and may be used to cut one tree on Lassen National Forest until December 25th . Each household may purchase up to two permits. Along with the permit, buyers will also receive a map showing cutting areas, requirements, and helpful tips.

Although tree cutting is permitted through December 25, officials recommend cutting early in the season before higher elevations become snowbound. Trees can stay fresh for several weeks when properly cared for.

Beckwourth Ranger District 23 Mohawk Road, Blairsden, CA (530) 836-2575 Mondays-Fridays 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Sat. 9am-2:00 pm on 11/24 and 12/1 Nervino – Beckwourth Fire Center 548 No. Industrial Way, Beckwourth, CA (530) 836-2575 Mondays-Fridays 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Sat. 9am-2:00 pm on 11/24 and 12/1 With a $10 permit (cash only), Christmas trees may be cut until December 24, 2016.

Tree cutters are asked to take extra care to cut in the areas noted and to remember to attach the permit to their tree before leaving the cutting area, to avoid penalties.

Permits may be purchased at all Lassen National Forest visitor centers and work stations and via mail. Order forms are available at www.fs.usda.gov/lassen (see “Passes & Permits” section). Mailed requests should be directed to the nearest Forest Service office listed below and must be received on or before December 7. To expedite requests, submitters should write “Christmas Tree Permit” on the envelope.

Eagle Lake Ranger Station 477-050 Eagle Lake Road Susanville, CA 96130 (530) 2574188 Almanor Ranger Station P.O. Box 767, 900 East Hwy 36 Chester, CA 96020 (530) 258-2141 Monday - Friday 8:00-4:30 (Nov. 1 – Dec. 21, except holidays) Saturdays: November 24, December 1 and 8 9:00-1:00

Make your family outing to Plumas County even more memorable by including some local holiday traditions such as a ride in a Dickson Portola Team horse drawn wagon or participating in a tree lighting ceremony complete with food, song, 289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700 and merriment.

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2018/2019 SKI RESORT SCHEDULE H A V E F U N S K I A N D B O A R D

R E S P O N S I B L Y

RESORT

ESTIMATED OPENING 2018 11/161

ESTIMATED CLOSING 2019 4/21

NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA Truckee, CA

11/16

4/14

SQUAW/ALPINE Squaw Vallley, CA

11/16

6/2

SUGAR BOWL Norden, CA

11/30

4/14

KIRKWOOD MOUNTAIN RESORT South Lake Tahoe, CA

11/21

TBD

HOMEWOOD MOUNTAIN RESORT Tahoe Pines, CA

2/14

3/31

TAHOE DONNER Truckee, CA

12/7

TBD

BOREAL MOUNTAIN RESORT Truckee, CA

11/9

4/21

DIAMOND PEAK Incline Village, NV

12/15

TBD

MOUNT ROSE Reno, NV

11/20

5/5

HEAVENLY TAHOE South Lake Tahoe, CA

S k i P a t r o l l e r s & T h e i r D o g s A l w a y s T h e r e F o r Y o u

Dickson Portola Team 289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700

NEWS YOU CAN USE DECEMBER 2018 MARKET NEWSLETTER EASTERN PLUMAS & SIERRA COUNTIES Graeagle, Portola, Loyalton, Chilcoot and Golf Course Communities Map and Resort Stats provided by SnowPak.com This website is updated daily; a great resource for checking current conditions of the mountain resorts you love!

Stat Best for Beginners Best for Intermediates Best for Advanced and Experts Best for All-rounder Highest Summit Elevation Highest number of runs Largest ski area Highest number of lifts

Resorts Squaw Valley – Alpine Meadows, Northstar Northstar, Heavenly Kirkwood Squaw Valley – Alpine Meadows Heavenly Squaw Valley – Alpine Meadows Squaw Valley – Alpine Meadows Squaw Valley – Alpine Meadows

Dickson Portola Team

289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700

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SEASON’S GREETINGS All of us at Dickson Realty wish you, your family, your extended families and friends a joyous and peaceful holiday season. May your new year dreams turn into reality and your efforts into great achievements.

What is a New Year?

"It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace."

Agnes M. Pharo

Dickson Portola Team 289 Commercial Street | Portola, CA 96122 | 530.832.1700