Dickson Realty’s November 2016 Newsletter
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The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2016 Newsletter
Conservation is Catching On! Many homeowners are recognizing the value of a “smart” home, for both sake of ease, as well as resale value. Not to mention the savings on the pocket. And it’s not just in new homes that these systems are being installed. 59% of home renovations are now incorporating some sort of smart technology.
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2016 Newsletter
Here is our mid-year Luxury Market Report highlighting the news and trends of luxury home sales in our area. Sales of homes over $1MM have continued to flourish, with a total of 133 from January to June 2016, more than twice the sales of last year for the same time frame. The private, gated community of Martis Camp in Truckee continues to lead the market with just 8.7% of the active inventory but 15% of the inventory value. We hope you’ll find the information useful in planning your next real estate sale or purchase.
2016 Mid-year Luxury Market Report
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2016 Newsletter WINTER IS COMING No, it’s not the latest episode of Game of Thrones. Ol’ Man Winter himself is lurking just around the corner. Here are some easy steps you can take to keep your home as toasty warm as possible without breaking the bank. •Replace any inefficient or single pane windows. Windows are one of the major ways heat leaks out of your house. Seal off drafty windows and patio doors with clear plastic. •If you have doors to the outside that leak air, try sealing a few off using plastic or caulk putty. Install storm doors to help keep out drafts. •How old is your furnace? If over 10 years old, there’s a chance it’s costing you a lot of money because it wastes a lot of fuel. Consider upgrading to a newer one. •Insulate the hot water lines around your hot water heater and turn down the temperature of the water heater to the “warm” setting (120 degrees F). If leaving your home for extended periods, turn it to the “vacation” setting. •Consider “blanketing” your water heater with faced fiberglass insulation. (Do not do this if you have a gaspowered water heater) •Wrap any hot water pipes that run through unheated areas of the house. Also, you can insulate cold water pipes to help prevent them from freezing during the winter. •Replace your furnace filter at the start of the furnace season and then about every 3 months. Make sure cold air returns aren’t blocked. Your furnace needs these to operate efficiently. Please see next page
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2016 Newsletter •Install a timer on your water heater so it isn’t heating a whole tank of water when you don’t need it. •Close off rooms that aren’t used and shut the vents •Install foam insulators behind the face plates of light switches and electrical outlets. Check the insulation in the walls of your home. It might need some work in order to keep heat in efficiently. •Reverse the direction of ceiling fans to push hot air downward and delay it from escaping the house. •Consider hanging thermal curtains to help prevent drafts. •Install a dryer vent seal to prevent cold air from traveling back into your home. There are attachments to vent your dryer inside your home so you don’t waste the heat and humidity. (Don’t try this if you have a gas-powered dryer). •Uncover all south-facing windows to let all possible sunlight in your home. Wash your windows. By some estimates, dirty window glass cuts daylight by 20%. That’s a lot less light coming in at a time of year when you really need it to help chase away winter blues. Our local PUD has more great energy saving tips and a wonderful rebate program on everything from light bulbs to geothermal heat systems. You can even schedule a free energy survey of your home to find out exactly where your home may be working against your pocketbook. Find out more here.
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2016 Newsletter
Beginning November 25th and running through December 14th, the Dickson Realty offices will be a drop off point for your Toys for Tots donations. In 2015, new toys were provided to approximately 500 Truckee children. Please keep in mind the spirit of the holidays and give to those less fortunate. Your new, unwrapped toys and gifts for any age, from toddler to teen, will make the season brighter for so many. Thanks in advance!
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2016 Newsletter What Does Q4 Look Like in Housing? As we begin Q4 and gear up for the election everyone is asking… What’s going to happen with rates? Will interest rates dip, quickly drive higher, or remain at the current steady increase? Most mortgage gurus believe the rates will slowly increase and adjust at the December 14th meeting of the Fed. Historically, when the Fed has hiked rates, they don’t stay high for long, but many are thinking that this next hike might be one that will remain steady for a while. So for those that are on the fence about a purchase or refinance, now might be your opportunity to either get into the market or secure your investment for the lowest cost. If you are considering financing at any level we suggest that you start the process with us now. That way, we are able to quickly move in the event that the market takes a tick upward. Being prepared and pre-approved offers you, as the buyer, flexibility to lock in your rate if the market trends upward. Please contact The Rice Team at Team@thericeteam for more information.
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2016 Newsletter November EVENTS 4 - First Fridays Historic Downtown Truckee, 5:30 - 8 pm 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 5 - STEAM Exploration Saturdays (weekly) 9am– 12noon; $35 per child – ages 4-7 Prices vary – see website STEAM is Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics. Science & Art: Bubbles, oil, salt, crystals and watercolor. Discover how creative you can be. Technology & Engineering: make things move with animation, toys and circuits. Have a blast experiencing how math can help your artistic designs. Information: www.kidzonemuseum.org 5 – 28th Annual Tahoe Chocolate and Wine Festival 6-10pm; Hyatt Regency Tahoe, Incline Village, NV $125pp; $80 is tax deductible Enjoy gourmet chocolate, sample boutique wines, and bid on tantalizing items in live & silent auctions. Proceeds support violence prevention education in local schools and services for survivors of abuse. Information: http://tahoechocolatefestival.org/ The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2016 Newsletter 5 – Truckee Ski and Snowboard Swap 11am-4pm; $2 for 13+; kids under 12 are free Community Recreation Center, 8924 Donner Pass Road, Truckee Back with a wide variety of new and used equipment, accessories, clothing and miscellaneous winter gear for the entire family. Come join the fun and look for bargains. Local reps from ski shops and resorts will be on hand to answer your questions. Proceeds from the Swap help support Truckee Youth Sports Programs. Information: www.tdrpd.org 6 – Far West Nordic “Kickoff” Party 2016 5:30 – 8pm (dinner at 6pm); $60 Far West Members • $70 non-members Cottonwood Restaurant,10142 Rue Hilltop, Truckee This is an incredible evening of fun, food, and friends, plus a great raffle. We’ll have a social hour with cash bar, 3 course dinner with beer and wine. Information: http://farwestnordic.org/far-west-nordic-kickoff-party-2016/ 6 - 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 November 2016 Newsletter 9 – Passport to Dining 6-9pm; $90/couple and $50/person North Tahoe Conference Center, Kings Beach North Tahoe’s most flavorful fundraiser features up to 35 tasting stations including restaurants, caterers, breweries, wineries and distilleries as well as a raffle and a silent auction that features Northern California Getaway Packages and many valuable items. Information: https://www.gotahoenorth.com/event/passport-to-dining-2/ 11 – Jolly Holiday Bazaar 9am – 3pm; Free Sierra City Community Hall, Sierra City, CA Get all your holiday gifts in one place! Information: 530-862-1580 12 & 13 – Women's Wellness Weekend 7am – 4pm; Packages start at $120 Granlibakken Conference Center, Tahoe City An event complete with lectures & exercise classes designed specifically for women and brought to you by medical doctors, alternative healthcare professionals, exercise instructors and more. Information: https://www.gotahoenorth.com/event/womens-wellness-weekend-2/2016-11-12/
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2016 Newsletter 18 – An Elegant Affair 6:30 – 9pm; $90/couple or $55/person Boatworks Mall, Tahoe City This annual event marks the beginning of winter season and is a great chance to get dressed up and enjoy the wintertime ambiance in a fully enclosed venue. Sample delicious food, wine and brews, get dressed up, socialize all while fundraising for the North Tahoe Booster Club. Information: http://www.northtahoeboosters.org/ 24 – Miss Jody Community Thanksgiving Dinner 1 - 4pm; All donations and contributions benefit the Western Sierra Food Bank Downieville Community Hall, Downieville, CA A holiday dining event at the Community Hall for all, locals, visitors and families sponsored by the Downieville Lion’s Club, the United Methodist and Assembly of God churches. Information: http://www.sierracountychamber.com/event-2143566 26 – Small Business Saturday* All day; Free Local small businesses everywhere Begun in 2010 as a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which feature big box stores and e-commerce, respectively. SBS encourages holiday shoppers to patronize their smaller, local brick and mortar stores. *Small Business Saturday is a registered trademark of the American Express Corporation. The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2016 Newsletter
25 & 26 - Mohawk Community Art Faire 10am – 4pm; Free Graeagle Fire Hall, 7620 Hwy 89, Graeagle, CA This local arts fair features quality vendors in jewelry, textiles, metal and wood works, paintings, fiber, photography, crafts and more. Information: www.plumasruralservices.org/mcrc 27 – Soroptishop 2-5pm; Truckee Community Recreation Center, 8924 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee Join in an afternoon of holiday shopping while supporting local artisans and our community. Your $10 entrance fee will provide you with music, cookies, and a glass of wine while you peruse the wares for sale. Information: https://www.facebook.com/events/189022064839204/
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440