Quiet Time

I like this time of year, it is quiet.  The traffic is a little slower, a few more parking places to choose from. The pace just seems to slow down a bit. The mornings are cooler, but the days still warm up to a pleasant t-shirt kind of day. Soon the trees will be changing their color as the days get shorter, but for now there is still time for a nice hike after work or glass of wine out on the back deck. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t live in a tourist town because I love the quiet (well, yes I do – kind of),  it is just a nice break from the hustle bustle of the summer and winter seasons here in Truckee.  We love the tourists and make no mistake, they are our bread and butter. It is just a different kind of season for us, that is what I love about the High Sierras – The Seasons.

Donner Party Hike, October 9-10, 2010

This summer I have been able to enjoy several of the hikes that are easily accessible to us around Truckee.  Some  people who don’t live in our area can’t just go out for a 4 hour hike without getting in their cars and traveling 3-4 hours from the city.  Again this year the Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce has organized the “Donner Party Hike,” an inexpensive and convenient way for visitors and locals to become acquainted with the routes and stories of the Donner Party.

When I arrived in Truckee 30 years ago, I was taken with the story of the Donner Party.  Being from the midwest, I could understand how the Donner Party got themselves into the situation where they had to spend the winter in the Sierras.  Back home, when it snows, it generally melts over the next couple of days.  The standing snow generally gets no higher than about 18 inches (if my girlfriend in Silver Springs MD is reading this — she will refute this after this past winter).  So when Jacob Donner hurt himself while trying to repair a wagon wheel, he and his family decided to just take a few days to rest, thinking that the snow would stop falling, they could wait for it to melt and then press on.  Well they hadn’t counted on the elevation playing such a huge part in the retention of snow.  Thus their story and how they spent the winter in 30 feet of snow, surviving on little food has become part of our history here in Truckee.

During the Donner Party Hike weekend you can hike on Saturday for $45 per hiker (advanced tickets).  The price of admission includes a guided hike, commemorative hat, a barbeque lunch and a presentation by Mark Twain on the subject of Tales of the Comstock (something he knows lots about).  There are 5 different hikes you can choose from — with various subject matter and activity levels.  The Chamber makes a point of mentioning in their brochure that the hikes are long in length and do require some athletic ability.  You will have to carry your own water and personal items.  There will be no drinking water or restrooms along the hike.  Don’t want to scare anyone, just give them the facts, that’s all!!

Sunday’s program includes an interpretive  walking tour beginning at the Donner Party Camp on Hwy 89 and continuing on at the Emigrant Trail Museum.  The price for this portion is $15 per person and includes day use at the Donner Memorial State Park.

If you are interested in doing the whole weekend — the price is a package of $60 per person.

Sign up in advance at The Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce.   Several hotels/motels have extended some discounts if you want to spend the night in Truckee.  Get out, enjoy and learn!!

The Soccer Field Today

Looks like big doin’s at the soccer field in Truckee. I arrived a bit before 9 am for my jog and the folks were gathering. Now every field is covered with colorful jerseys. Trying to fit it all in
before winter. 37 degrees F this am.

August Market Stats

 We are happy to report the downward trend of distressed sales however small it may seem. The total number of sales for the month of August was 87 with 22 of those being distressed properties, which translates to 25% (last month reported 26% distressed sales). The Timbers condominium complex in Truckee represents a large number of August’s distressed properties. This entire development was foreclosed upon during the construction phase, so to see these properties being sold is a good thing. The list to sale median is down from 98% in July to 89% in August, however the median sale price was up from $420,000 to $434,000 – translation… Sellers are coming further off of their asking price, but the median sale price has gone up. What all of this really means has us scratching our heads!

 Statistics from the Tahoe MLS: the solds from August 1 – 31, 2010:   

Tahoe Donner:  23 homes (2 REO) (1 SS), 2 condos

Northstar:  0 homes , 4 condos

Glenshire, Cambridge, Juniper Hill, Juniper Creek, The Meadows:   3 homes (1 REO)

Olympic Heights:  0 residential properties

Prosser Lake Area:  3 homes (1 REO)

Sierra Meadows: 0 residential properties

Martiswoods, Ponderosa Ranchos:   0 residential properties

Ponderosa Fairway: 1 home

Winter Creek:   1 home (1 SS)

The Timbers: 5 condos (5 REO)

Lahontan:   3 homes

Timlick: 0 residential properties

Old Greenwood:  1 home (1 SS)

Gray’s Crossing:  1 home

Martis Camp:  0 residential properties

Truckee Proper:   2 homes (1 SS)

Donner Crest:  0 residential properties

Donner Lake:    0 homes, 1 condo

Donner Summit: 3 homes, 1 condo

West shore Lake Tahoe:  6 homes (3 REO), 1 condo (1 SS)

Tahoe City:   4 homes, 2 condos (2 REO)

North shore Lake Tahoe:  4 homes, 1 Condos

Kings Beach & Tahoe Vista:  6 homes (2 REO), 1 condo

Alpine & Squaw Valley:  3 homes (1 REO), 4 condos (1 REO)

Shared Ownerships – entire region:  2 Old Greenwood, 2 North Shore, Lake Tahoe

Mobile Homes – entire region:  0 sales

Sierra & Plumas Counties: 3 homes (2 REO), 1 condo (1 REO)

 Condos and Homes sold over $1M in Truckee and North Lake Tahoe: 12 homes, 2 condos

 Highest priced home or condo sold: This special Carnelian Bay Lakefront Estate never actually hit the market but was sold behind the scene for $10,000,000. The 5,200 sq. ft. home + 1,300 sq. ft. guest house sits upon 1.4 acres with tennis court, private double deck deep water pier with hoists and bouy.

 Lowest priced home or condo sold:  This studio condo at the Donner Lake Village sold for $66,000. A super location on the shore of Donner Lake, perfect for the vacation get away. Don’t plan on staying too long because these condos do not allow full time residency. 

 The list to sell ratio on the median was 89%.  In other words, the homes sold within 89% of the list price.  The median list price for this period was $489,500 and the median sale price was $434,000. Using the median price tends to take the extreme highs and lows out of the picture as it is based on the sale of the house in the middle of the pack.

 

 

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