Truckee/Tahoe March Newsletter

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

Sunset Upper Truckee River Photo Courtesy of J. Cook Fisher

Contents

Truckee Office - Feds Hold Interest Rates Sales Statistic Reports

Pg.

2 3-5

Guild Mortgage Corner

6

Guide to Loans on Investment Properties

7

California Assn. of REALTORS® January News Release

8-10

California Assn. of REALTORS® ; Excerpts Graphs from December 2019 California Housing Market Update

11-13

Essentials for Winter Car Travel with Kids

14-15

Calendar (with a Little Irish Humor) and Event Details

16-19

Sunrise Trail Photo compliments of Michael Hoyt on Unsplash

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA. The Dickson Realty Truckee 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 RealtorsÂŽ, 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 Info: Phone: 530-587-7444 Fax:530-587-8064 Email: truckeeinfo@dicksonrealty.com Web: www.Dicksonrealty.com

In its first meeting of 2020, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) reviewed economic activity over the past couple of months and unanimously decided to maintain the federal funds rate at the target range of 1.50% to 1.75%.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and the nine other voters agreed that the U.S. economy is trending upward and that the current monetary policy will help sustain this growth. To determine the next best step for interest rates, the committee will continue to keep an eye on inflation, consumer spending and unemployment. It will also pay special attention to developments in geopolitical issues, like the conflict in Iran and the coronavirus epidemic in China.

For the Most Part, the Economy is in Good Shape The FOMC announced that labor market conditions have been very stable in the past several months. Job gains keep getting stronger while unemployment remains historically low. But not all aspects of the economy are moving in the right direction.

After the meeting in December, the committee described household spending as "strong." Now, the assessment has been lowered to "moderate."

As far as overall inflation goes, it's still slightly below the Fed's goal of 2%. Also, business fixed investments and exports continue to underperform.

The Fed is Increasing Its Own Rates The Fed pays interest on the reserves that it houses for regular banks. From October 2019 up until now, the central bank paid at a rate of 1.55%.

The committee upped this to 1.60% with the hopes that it will position the federal funds rate closer to the center of its target range.

The Future of the Federal Funds Rate Looks Stagnant In 2019, the federal funds rate was cut three times, largely due to several geopolitical factors, including the trade war between the U.S. and China.

However, this year, most of the policymakers are predicting no changes at all. In a recent tweet, President Trump expressed hopefulness that the committee will decrease the rate at some point, in order to help refinance the government's debt.

Interest Rates on Mortgages Won't Change What does this all mean for homebuyers? The federal funds rate plays a key role in determining the interest rates that lenders put on mortgages.

When the Fed increases rates, it costs more for lenders to borrow money to provide their customers with loans. In a trickle-down effect, lenders end up charging their borrowers with higher monthly payments.

Luckily, the federal funds rate is the same as it was last month, so interest rates won't be increasing. And if the members of the committee are correct in their predictions, rates will remain unchanged in the upcoming months as well, making this an optimal time to apply for a mortgage.

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA. This month’s reports are a 12 month look, February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020, of sales by price range and the percent (%) of sales represented in those price ranges. Additionally, the tables show the number of current active listings by price range and the approximate months of inventory they represent.

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

The data source is the Tahoe Sierra Multiple Listing Service with data pulled on February 13, 2019 RESIDENTIAL SOLD OVERALL MARKET: Truckee (Inclusive); Alpine/Squaw; North Lake Tahoe, CA; West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020 SOLD PRICE RANGE

Under $400,000 $400,000-$599,999 $600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999 $1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

RESIDENTIAL SOLD OVERALL MARKET: Truckee (Inclusive); Alpine/Squaw; North Lake Tahoe, CA; West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

Residences Sold

Percent of Sales

183 372 341 173 143 136 54 1402

Current Active Listings

13% 27% 24% 12% 10% 10% 4% 100%

February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020

Months of Inventory

10%

45 49 59 38 49 70 44 354

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

91 250 209 107 83 97 39 876

Under $400,000

13%

$400,000-$599,999

10%

$600,000-$799,000

27%

12%

$800,000-$999,999

24%

$1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

RESIDENTIAL SOLD TRUCKEE (Inclusive) February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020 SOLD Residences Percent of PRICE RANGE Sold Sales Under $400,000 $400,000-$599,999 $600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999 $1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

4%

Current Active Listings

10% 29% 24% 12% 9% 11% 4% 100%

Months of Inventory

21 27 21 28 31 52 28 208

3 1 1 3 4 6 9

RESIDENTIAL SOLD TRUCKEE (Inclusive) February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020

11%

10%

Under $400,000

4%

10%

$400,000-$599,999

29%

12%

$600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999

24%

$1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

Truckee Inclusive shows total market activity which includes sub-markets of Tahoe Donner, Northstar, the Golf Course Communities (Old Greenwood, Gray’s Landing, Lahontan, Martis Camp & Schaffer’s Mill) and Donner Summit. Specific details of those sub-markets are shown separately on the next pages

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA. RESIDENTIAL SOLD TAHOE DONNER February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020 SOLD Residences Percent of PRICE RANGE Sold Sales Under $400,000 $400,000-$599,999 $600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999 $1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

36 106 94 60 34 11 0 341

11% 31% 28% 18% 10% 3% 0% 100%

RESIDENTIAL SOLD NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020 SOLD Residences Percent of PRICE RANGE Sold Sales Under $400,000 $400,000-$599,999 $600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999 $1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

9 29 12 9 8 21 1 89

10% 33% 13% 10% 9% 24% 1% 100%

RESIDENTIAL SOLD GOLF COURSE COMMUNITIES February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020 SOLD Residences Percent of PRICE RANGE Sold Sales Under $400,000 $400,000-$599,999 $600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999 $1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

1 0 3 6 14 52 35 111

0.9% 0.0% 2.7% 5.4% 12.6% 46.8% 31.5% 100%

RESIDENTIAL SOLD DONNER SUMMIT February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020 SOLD Residences Percent of PRICE RANGE Sold Sales Under $400,000 $400,000-$599,999 $600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999 $1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

18 15 16 5 2 6 2 64

28.1% 23.4% 25.0% 7.8% 3.1% 9.4% 3.1% 100%

RESIDENTIAL SOLD TAHOE DONNER February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020

Current Active Listings 8 3 7 12 7 2 1 40

Current Active Listings 4 8 7 8 9 17 6 59

3%

Months of Inventory

10%

10%

3 0 1 2 2 2 0

$400,000-$599,999 18%

31% 28%

$600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999 $1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

RESIDENTIAL SOLD NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020 1%

Months of Inventory 5 3 7 11 14 10 72

Under $400,000

10%

Under $400,000

24%

$400,000-$599,999

33%

9%

$600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999 $1,000,000-$1,499,999

10% 13%

$1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

RESIDENTIAL SOLD GOLF COURSE COMMUNITIES February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020 Gray's Crossing, Lahontan, Old Greenwood, Schaffer's Mill, Martis Camp

Current Active Listings 0 0 1 2 14 19 21 57

1%

Months of Inventory 0 0 4 4 12 4 7

2.7% 5.4%

Under $400,000

12.6%

31.5%

$400,000-$599,999 $600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999

46.8%

$1,000,000-$1,499,999

$1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

RESIDENTIAL SOLD DONNER SUMMIT February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020

Current Active Listings 5 7 0 0 0 5 0 17

Months of Inventory 3 6 0 0 0 10 0

3.1% 3.1%

9.4%

7.8%

Under $400,000

28.1%

$400,000-$599,999 $600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999

25%

23.4%

$1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

RESIDENTIAL SOLD ALPINE/SQUAW February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020 SOLD Residences Percent of PRICE RANGE Sold Sales Under $400,000 $400,000-$599,999 $600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999 $1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

30 24 28 8 19 8 3 120

25% 20% 23% 7% 16% 7% 3% 100%

RESIDENTIAL SOLD NORTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020 SOLD Residences Percent of PRICE RANGE Sold Sales Under $400,000 $400,000-$599,999 $600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999 $1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

46 62 59 28 23 15 5 238

19% 26% 25% 12% 10% 6% 2% 100%

RESIDENTIAL SOLD WEST SHORE LAKE TAHOE, CA. February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020 SOLD Residences Percent of PRICE RANGE Sold Sales Under $400,000 $400,000-$599,999 $600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999 $1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

16 36 45 30 18 16 7 168

10% 21% 27% 18% 11% 10% 4% 100%

RESIDENTIAL SOLD ALPINE/SQUAW February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020

Current Active Listings 15 11 16 4 5 9 5 65

2%

Months of Inventory 6 6 7 6 3 14 20

7%

Under $400,000

25%

16%

$400,000-$599,999 $600,000-$799,000

7%

20%

23%

$800,000-$999,999 $1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

RESIDENTIAL SOLD NORTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020

Current Active Listings 8 4 10 3 10 6 5 46

2%

Months of Inventory

6%

19%

10%

2 1 2 1 5 5 12

Under $400,000

$400,000-$599,999 $600,000-$799,000

12%

26%

25%

$800,000-$999,999 $1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

RESIDENTIAL SOLD WEST SHORE LAKE TAHOE, CA. February 1, 2019 thru January 31, 2020

Current Active Listings 1 7 11 3 3 4 6 35

Months of Inventory 1 2 3 1 2 3 10

10%

9%

Under $400,000

4%

$400,000-$599,999

11%

21%

$600,000-$799,000 $800,000-$999,999

18%

27%

$1,000,000-$1,499,999 $1,500,000-$2,999,999 $3,000,000 +

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.

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

GUILD MORTGAGE CORNER 6 Steps to Guarantee a Stress-Free Homebuying Experience While buying a home is an exciting experience, there’s a lot that needs to be considered. Here are six tips that will help you confidently navigate the process.

1.

Call The Rice Team at Guild Mortgage Experience matters when it comes to purchasing a home. The Rice Team has more than a decade of mortgage experience and we understand the complex intricacies of lending. We will guide you through every step - from preapproval to funding. Furthermore, we have handled all types of loans and know the Truckee/Tahoe market well.

2.

Get pre-approved Pre-approval for a mortgage loan gives you a goal of which homes are in your affordability range, as well as how much money you should save for a down payment. Having a pre-approval letter helps limit your home search to homes within your means, and can make your offer and negotiations easier. A pre-approval letter also shows a seller you’re serious about buying a home. Without this letter, you could lose out on your dream home, since many sellers require a pre-approval letter with your bid.

3.

Determine your down payment Lower borrowing costs can be one advantage of a larger down payment. But a substantial down payment can also deplete your emergency savings fund or leave you with no cash on hand for maintenance. There are a variety of mortgage programs that include low or no down payment options. Choose the best loan and the down payment amount based on your financial situation.

4.

Compare types of mortgage loans There is no “best” type of mortgage loan because no two homebuyers are alike. Instead of looking for the best loan, choose the loan most suited to meet your best interests.

5.

Check your credit report Mistakes on your credit report can cost you when you apply for a loan. Before you get pre-approved, review your report for inaccuracies. To correct them, contact the business that issued the account or the credit reporting company that issued the report.

6.

Prepare your documentation The exact documents needed to apply for a new home loan will vary by type of loan. However, there are items every mortgage applicant must supply, such as proof of income for the past two years and the sales contract.

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

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

A Quick Guide to Home Loans on Investment Properties January 2, 2020

While primary home mortgages help borrowers purchase

homes to live in, property investment mortgages are designed specifically for real estate investors. In other words, the borrower doesn't necessarily plan on living in the property, but rather plans on using it as an incomegenerating opportunity.

The biggest difference between the two is availability. In general, investment property loans are harder to come by than primary home loans. They're more expensive, fewer lenders provide them and they come with stricter qualifications for the borrower. If thinking about investing in real estate for the first time, you might be asking, why are mortgages for investment properties more expensive and harder to acquire?

Property investment loans are considered riskier for the lender According to The Mortgage Reports, borrowers are more likely to let property investment loans default before their primary home loans do. For this reason, property investment mortgage rates will almost always be more expensive. In addition, interest rates for these loans are .50-75% higher than they are for primary home loans.

But it's not just the monthly payments and interest rates that are more expensive. If you're trying to obtain a property investment mortgage, expect the lender to require a down payment of at least 15%. It's important to note that the price of your rate and your down payment will vary depending on the dwelling. For example, financing a four-unit household could come with higher expenses than a one-bedroom condo.

Types of property investment loans If you're new to investing in real estate and want to start off financing a single property with fewer than four units, you should consider a government-backed loan.

These mortgages are bought, securitized, and guaranteed by government agencies like the Federal National Mortgage Association, which makes them less risky in the eyes of the lender. As long as the loan is conforming, which means it does not exceed the limits set by the Federal Housing Administration, government agencies will back it. Benefits of these mortgages include cheaper rates and down-payments, as well as less strict qualifications for the borrower. It's important

to mention that in order to qualify for governmentbacked property investment loans, you may be required to live in the property for at least a year.

If you're looking to expand your property investments beyond single family homes, you'll probably need a commercial loan. Typically, these mortgages are borrowed by companies in the real estate market, not individuals. If you (or your company) are purchasing a building with more than four units, a conventional loan won't cover it. With a commercial loan, you can use the income you make from your property (rent/ lease money) to satisfy the monthly payments. Once the mortgage is paid off, your profit margin for that property will grow substantially. These loans, though necessary for big real-estate investors, are usually more expensive and more complicated to set up.

If you don't qualify for a conventional loan with most banks and mortgage companies, you may have to look elsewhere for a portfolio loan. This is a good fit for borrowers with bad credit, a high debt-to-income ratio, or less money to spend on a down payment. With portfolio loans, there is no government backing, so the lenders assume greater risks. Therefore, if you end up going with this type of loan, you can expect much higher monthly rates.

Tips for getting a property investment loan There are a handful of ways to make your property investment mortgage rate cheaper. First, shop around and compare the options and rates between different banks and mortgage companies. Once you've found a lender that works for you, try to get the best deal possible by keeping these variables in mind: Having a good credit history will help you when applying for a property investment mortgage, because it shows that you're trustworthy with borrowed money.

You'll need a FICO score of at least 650 to be considered by most lenders. And the higher your score is, the less you're rate will be.

Paying a big down payment is another way to help lower the cost of your monthly mortgage rate. If you're able to put more than 20% down, you'll enjoy cheaper rates. Also, in many cases, if your down payment is equal to one fifth of the property's value, you can avoid paying Private Mortgage Insurance fees each month.

Finally, consider living in your investment property. Usually, primary home loan lenders will allow borrowers to rent out their property after one year of living there. So if you buy a house that you plan on renting out in the future, you could purchase it with a conventional loan (which will be much cheaper), move in for a year, then start renting it out without an increased rate Courtesy of Brad Berndt The Federal Savings Bank

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.

NEWS RELEASE January 17, 2020 Low interest rates boost housing market in second half of year as home prices post strong gains in December, C.A.R. reports - Existing, single-family home sales totaled 398,880 in December on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, down 1.0 percent from November and up 7.4 percent from December 2018.

- December’s statewide median home price was $615,090, up 4.3 percent from November and up 10.3 percent from December 2018.

- For 2019 as a whole, sales of existing statewide homes were down 1.2 percent from 2018.

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 17) – Tight housing inventory tamped down the benefits of the lowest interest rates in years and held back California home sales in December, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) said today. Meanwhile, the median home price recorded the second highest price of the year and its largest year-over-year increase since May 2014.

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 398,880 units in December, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide. The statewide annualized sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2019 if sales maintained the December pace

December’s sales total was down 1.0 percent from the 402,880 level in November and marked the first time in six months that sales fell below the 400,000 benchmark. Still, sales were up a solid 7.4 percent from December 2018’s revised 371,410 figure. For the year 2019, annual home sales fell for the second consecutive year to a preliminary 397,910 closed escrow sales in California, down from 2018’s pace of 402,640.

“Despite a sales slowdown at year-end, home sales were up from a year ago as interest rates remained low. It’s important to note, however, that the increase was due partly to low housing demand in the prior year,” said 2020 C.A.R. President Jeanne Radsick, a second-generation REALTOR® from Bakersfield, Calif. “Looking ahead, low rates should continue to provide support to the market as buyers have become more motivated to get back into the market, and home sales in California should see an improvement at the start of the year.”

The median price was up 4.3 percent from November’s $589,770 to $615,090 in December and climbed 10.3 percent from $557,740 in December 2018. The year-over-year price increase was the largest since May 2014 and the first double-digit price increase in more than five-and-ahalf years. The statewide median home price for the year as a whole was $592,450, an increase of 4.0 percent from a revised $569,480 in 2018.

“With housing supply dropping to the lowest level in nearly seven years, California experienced an unusual jump in its median price at the end of the year when the market is supposed to cool down,” said C.A.R. Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. “While low rates have been fueling demand in the second half of 2019, supply constraints continued to put a drag on the market and undercut the positive effect

The Dickson Truckee Team

11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

of low rates. The surge in price is a byproduct of the imbalance between supply and demand as market competition continues to heat up.”

With prices rising faster in recent months while supply continued to shrink, home sellers’ optimism improved both month-over-month and year-over-year. According to a monthly Google poll conducted by C.A.R. in December, slightly more than half (56 percent) believe it is a good time to sell, up from 51 percent a month ago, and up from 48 percent a year ago. Many buyers, however, remain uncertain about the current housing market conditions as only one-quarter of respondents (25 percent) believe that it is a good time to buy now, slightly higher than last year (22 percent), when interest rates were more than 100 basis points higher.

Other key points from C.A.R.’s December 2019 resale housing report include: •

At the regional level, non-seasonally adjusted sales rose on both a monthly and annual basis in all major regions. On a yearly basis, sales in the Central Coast increased the most at 42.4 percent, followed by the San Francisco Bay Area (16.0 percent) and Los Angeles (15.6 percent). The Inland Empire and Central Valley rounded out the remaining regions with annual increases of 13.3 percent and 11.6 percent, respectively. Forty of the 51 counties tracked by C.A.R. experienced year-over-year sales growth.

•

At the regional level from a price perspective, median prices increased from last year in all regions except the Central Coast, with Southern California up the most at 10.0 percent, followed by the Central Valley (7.7 percent) and the Bay Area (6.9 percent). The median price in the Central Coast dipped from a year ago by 2.2 percent but edged up 0.7 percent from November.

•

Thirty-nine of the 51 counties tracked by C.A.R. reported a year-over-year price gain in December, with Siskiyou gaining the most at 23.3 percent from last year. Of the 11 counties that experienced a price drop from last December, Mono had the biggest decline of 26.1 percent, while the rest of the counties all had 8.3 percent or less in price loss.

•

California’s housing supply recorded back-to-back drops of more than 20 percent at the end of 2019, with active listings declining 26.5 percent in December after a 22.5 percent decrease in November. December marked the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year decline in supply, and it was the largest since April 2013. The number of active listings in December was, in fact, the lowest level in nearly seven years.

•

The sharp drop in active listings and surge in year-over-year sales sharply curbed housing inventory in December. The Unsold Inventory Index (UII), which is a ratio of inventory over sales, was 2.5 months in December, down from 3.1 months in November and down sharply from 3.5 months in December 2018. The index measures the number of months it would take to sell the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate.

•

The UII in 39 of the 51 counties tracked by C.A.R. fell in December compared to a year ago.

•

The median number of days it took to sell a California single-family home fell from a year ago, declining from 32 days in December 2018 to 28 days in December 2019.

•

C.A.R.’s statewide sales-price-to-list-price ratio* was 98.3 percent in December 2019, up from 97.4 in December 2018.

•

The statewide average price per square foot** for an existing single-family home was $290 in December 2019 and $268 in December 2018.

•

The 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rate averaged 3.72 percent in December, down from 4.64 percent in December 2018, according to Freddie Mac. The five-year, adjustable mortgage interest rate was an average of 3.39 percent, compared to 4.02 percent in December 2018.

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA. homes only. County sales data are not adjusted to account for seasonal factors that can influence home sales. Movements in sales prices should not be interpreted as changes in the cost of a standard home. The median price is where half sold for more and half sold for less; medians are more typical than average prices, which are skewed by a relatively small share of transactions at either the lower end or the upper end. Median prices can be influenced by changes in cost, as well as changes in the characteristics and the size of homes sold. The change in median prices should not be construed as actual price changes in specific homes. *Sales-to-list-price ratio is an indicator that reflects the negotiation power of home buyers and home sellers under current market conditions. The ratio is calculated by dividing the final sales price of a property by its last list price and is expressed as a percentage. A sales-to-list ratio with 100 percent or above suggests that the property sold for more than the list price, and a ratio below 100 percent indicates that the price sold below the asking price. **Price per square foot is a measure commonly used by real estate agents and brokers to determine how much a square foot of space a buyer will pay for a property. It is calculated as the sale price of the home divided by the number of finished square feet. C.A.R. currently tracks price-per-square foot statistics for 50 counties.

Leading the way…® in California real estate for more than 110 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States with more than 200,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.

WHETHER YOU ARE BUYING OR SELLING, AT DICKSON REALTY: You come first. When everything we do centers on serving your unique needs - even to the exclusion of our own agenda - we can create an extraordinary experience for you, our client.

We never stop learning for you. Dickson is a learning organization. We strive, we succeed, we sometimes come up short, but we always learn. That's why we have Dickson University and experienced experts to train, educate, and grow our realtors.

You deserve mastery. As a client, you deserve to work with a realtor who's at the top of his or her game. Mastery takes 10,000 hours of concentrated effort - or more than five years of working full-time. Every Dickson agent is committed to developing his or her mastery of real estate.

We build our reputation through you. A reputation takes years to develop, and it can be destroyed in seconds. That's why honesty, integrity, hard work, and collaboration are the cornerstones of Dickson's business - and we expect nothing less from each and every agent who works with us.

Your relationship matters to us. When Dickson realtors invest in strong relationships at the start, we will enjoy extraordinary relationships that last.

We listen to you. Most sales professionals hear one client need, and they're off to the races. Dickson's agents know to bite their tongue and keep listening - uncovering at least five more client needs they can find solutions for.

We under-promise and over-deliver for you. Everyone loves a happy ending, so we temper the temptation to hype the outcome. Instead, Dickson agents concentrate our efforts on adding real value - for extraordinary results.

We share "hyper-local" knowledge with you. There's no substitute for knowing the territory, the customs, and the culture of the communities we serve. Dickson agents walk the neighborhoods, join community and neighborhood advisory boards, and build powerful networks to better serve you.

We negotiate for you. In real estate, you don't get what you deserve - you get what you negotiate. That's why our clients hire us over our competitors: for our negotiation skills. We take advantage of every opportunity to learn or fine-tune them, at Dickson University or through close personal study.

We create community to serve you. Since 1973, Dickson Realty has acted upon the responsibility to build a sense of community in the areas we serve, including active corporate philanthropy, volunteerism, and community involvement on the part of our agents, partners, and staff.

We are in business because of you. Anyone who's ever had an extraordinary experience will never forget the feeling - or the person who created it. That's why, at Dickson Realty, we harness our creativity, sense of fun, and concern for our fellow men and women to create extraordinary experiences for our clients.

Our goal, of course, is to become your realtor - for life!

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA. The graphs presented are excerpts from the California Housing Market Update by C.A.R.

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

16 ESSENTIALS FOR WINTER ROAD TRIPS WITH KIDS December 2, 2019 COMPLIMENTS OF FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE

Packing for winter travel with kids in tow? You’ve probably got a lot on your mind, from keeping the kids warm and entertained to avoiding dangerous road conditions. Oh, and where do you put the skis and snow gear?! We’re big fans of family road trips, no matter the season.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of 16 essential things to bring along on a winter road trip with kids.

Road Trip Safety Essentials §

§

§

Ice scraper and brush: Keep an ice scraper and brush in your car for the entire winter. These tools will help you remove snow and ice from your windshield and windows, so you can have full visibility in wintry conditions (without waiting with your impatient kiddos for things to melt!).

Sand/kitty litter: If you’re driving in snowy conditions, you’ll want to have a bag of sand or kitty litter on hand. If your car gets stuck, scatter either material in front of your tire to help create the traction your tires need to keep moving.

Flares or reflectors: Drivers have decreased visibility at night, and it’s even worse when you add snow to the mix. If the unfortunate happens and you’re stuck on the side of the road,

§

§

§

flares and reflectors will ensure other drivers see you.

Shovel: A small, collapsible shovel won’t take up too much space in your trunk and will be an invaluable tool if you find yourself stuck in deep snow.

Jumper cables: Freezing temperatures can take a toll on your car’s battery. Keep jumper cables on hand so you can get your car moving (and your heater blasting!) instead of waiting for a tow.

Portable cell phone battery: Black ice, slick roads, and stressed drivers — there are plenty of things that can cause your road trip to go sideways in the winter. No matter the situation, a dead cellphone can make it worse!

Keep a portable battery in the car so you can make sure your phone is ready to go in case you need to call for help.

The Dickson Truckee Team

11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

§

Flashlight: It gets dark early in the winter. Even if you don’t plan on hitting the road at night, you may still find yourself in the dark. Keep a flashlight and extra batteries in your vehicle in case you get stranded or stuck.

§

Winter Road Trip Warmth Essentials §

§

§

Blankets: Turn your car into a nap fort on wheels by bringing a cozy stack of blankets for long road trips with kids. Not only will these help your little ones catch some Z’s on your way to your destination, but they’re also an extra safety measure if you experience car troubles and can’t rely on your heater.

Coats: Even if you’re going from a heated house straight into a heated car and then back into a heated house, it’s important to always bring coats with you in your vehicle. If your car gets stuck or breaks down, you’ll want to make sure everyone in the family is bundled up.

Waterproof mittens/gloves: There’s a reason your vehicle has a glove box!

Stash a pair of waterproof gloves in your car just in case you need to change a tire or dig the wheels out of a snowbank. Make sure your children each have a warm pair as well. If you enjoy being super prepared, throw in a few hand warmer packs, too!

§

§

§

Winter Road Trip Entertainment Essentials §

§

Coloring books and stickers: Who doesn’t love a good coloring or sticker book? Purchase a few new ones for the trip and, at the very least, your kids will be excited by the novelty. Plus, you’ll get a few minutes of quiet time!

Snacks: If you’re looking for some tried and true road trip hacks with kids, look no further than the snack

aisle. Half the fun of road tripping is packing special treats for the drive.

For extra happy passengers, consider letting your kids each pick out one snack – ideally something that isn’t too messy!

Games: There’s no better way to pass the time on a road trip than by playing family games. Pack miniature dry erase boards for games like Tic Tac Toe, Hangman, or Pictionary. “I Spy” and “20 Questions” are classics and don’t require any special supplies.

Print off these MadLibs from FamilyEducation to get the laughs rolling.

Tablets (plus charger): There is a time and place to limit screen time… and it’s usually not on a road trip.

Load up your tablet with videos (make sure to download them in case your service is spotty) and enjoy a peaceful drive.

Music: Road trips are the perfect opportunity for a family sing-along.

Take music requests before hitting the road, and let your kids take turns being the DJ! Books: It’s the perfect compromise: one parent drives, the other one is on reading duty. Bring along a few of your family’s favorite books, and see how many you can read before your audience is snoozing. If you tend to get carsick, download some kidfriendly podcasts, and have them do the storytelling for you!

§

§

The Dickson Truckee Team

11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

MARCH 2020 SUN

MON

01 THE GREAT SKI RACE Tahoe to Truckee 08

TUES 02

03

THUR 04

FRI 05

SAT 06

Arts for the Schools Performance Trails & Vistas Film

09

I-Did-A-Run Humane Society Benefit

WED

10

11

12

Winter Beach Party Tahoe Donner Disco Tubing

13

14 Banana Split Extravaganza Tahoe Donner Ski for MS Benefit Squaw

Day Light Saving Time Clock Change

15

16

Final Longboard Ski Race Winners Announced

17

18

US Freestyle Moguls Championships

St. Patrick’s Day

22

23

24

19

25

20 US Freestyle Moguls Championships

26

Sierra Skogsloppet XC Race

21

US Freestyle Moguls Championships Dive-In Movie Series

Rotary Annual Crab Feed Dinner

27

28 Winter Wonder Grass Concert

Winter Wonder Grass Concert

US Freestyle Moguls Championships

Symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings, the daffodil is virtually synonymous with spring. Though their botanic name is narcissus, daffodils are sometimes called jonquils, and in England, because of their long association with Lent, they're known as the "Lent Lily."

07

29

30

31

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

Winter Wonder Grass Concert

A sobbing Mrs. Murphy approaches Father O’Grady after mass.

He says: “So what’s bothering you?”

She replies: “Oh, Father, I’ve terrible news.

My husband passed away last night.”

The priest says: “Oh, Mary, that’s terrible.

Did he have any last requests?”

"Certainly father," she replied.

“He said: “Please Mary, put down that damn gun.”

Billy stops Paddy in Dublin and asks for the quickest way to Cork.

Paddy says: "Are you on foot or in the car?"

Billy replies: "In the car."

"Well that's the quickest way," says Paddy.

Mick and Paddy are walking along when Mick falls down a manhole. Paddy shouts down: "What shall I do?" Mick barks back: "Call me an ambulance!"

Paddy then jumps up and down screaming: "Mick is an ambulance, Mick is an ambulance."

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

Date and Event March 1 43rd The Great Ski Race® Tahoe to Truckee

Where Held Start: Tahoe Cross Country Center 925 Country Club Dr Finish: Cottonwood Restaurant 10142 Rue Hilltop Road

Time 9:00 am Staggered Start All level skiers welcome

Contact Info.

Details

Due to the large number of participants, preregistration is highly encouraged. Racers start in waves according to bib number, starting at 9:00 am.

The Great Ski Race® is the main fundraising event for the Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue Team. Celebrating its 43rd year, the Great Ski Race is a TahoeTruckee tradition, bringing competitive and not as competitive skiers together for this challenging 30k Trek.

Team members, along with community supporters, organize The Great Ski Race®, which continues to be one of the largest Nordic ski races west of the Mississippi.

Race proceeds are used primarily to purchase equipment for the Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue Team, and education programs.

There are two hot soup stations along the route and the race ends with a hot lunch and party, including live music at Hilltop Lodge outside of Cottonwood Restaurant in Truckee

http://thegreatskirace.com/

March 6 Mixed eMotion Theatrix SO NOW YOU KNOW

March 6 Trails & Vistas “Art Within Nature” Film

March 7 Winter Beach Party at Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort

Arts For the Schools Presents @ Truckee High Theatre 11725 Donner Pass Road, Truckee

7:00 pm 10:00 pm

https://www.artsforthe schools.org/events

Cedar House Sport Hotel 10918 Brockway Rd Truckee

6:30 pm 8:00 pm

Nancy Lopez

Tahoe Donner 11603 Snowpeak Wy

12:00 pm 3:00 pm

(530) 587-9444 Info@tahoedonner.com

Adult: $20.00 Children: $5.00 Seniors/College Student/Military: $15.00 VIP: $30.00

info@trailsandvistas.org

So Now You Know combines the strengths of actors and dancers to tell personal stories in words and movement of individual discovery.

This hybrid dance & theatre concept integrates stories and performers in a new engaging dance & theatre experience. Each performance is developed specifically with a multi-faceted community of performers.

Along with working towards a final performance, our unique development process has the ultimate goal of creating a connected community within each cast that resonates with the audience. Our goal is to unite performers and audience in a moving live theater experience.

Local middle and high school students will be part of the cast and have the opportunity to work with a professional company!

This film takes the viewer on a lush and exquisite journey of Trails & Vistas’ art hikes, the unique installation work of founder and artistic director, Nancy Tieken Lopez. The goal is to transport viewers to the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains through the combination of nature, art, music, poetry, dance, and touching cinematography.

Bring your family and friends to the Downhill Ski Resort for a winter beach party full of tropical fun, including live music, food specials, snow sculpture contest, games and more.

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA. Date and Event March 7

Where Held

Time

Contact Info.

Details Go to website For most current information

Squaw Valley

5:00 pm 8:00 pm

https://squawalpine.co m/ events-things-do/discotubing

Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort 11603 Snowpeak Wy Truckee

12:00 pm 1:30 pm

(530) 587-9444 Info@tahoedonner.com

1:30 pm 2:00 pm

530) 587-9444 Info@tahoedonner.com

200 Ft. Banana Split Extravaganza

Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort 11603 Snowpeak Wy Truckee

Come to Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area and help devour our incredible 200-foot banana split at 1:30 p.m. FREE event!

March 14

Squaw Valley

10:00 am 5:00 pm

Participants of all ages, abilities and skill levels for all day events.

SKI for MS is a day-long community skiing fundraiser benefitting Can Do Multiple Sclerosis.

Skiers and riders will come together at Squaw Valley and many other ski areas across the country to help people with MS and their families thrive.

New This Year Jonny Moseley is bringing the POW to SKI for MS with the all-new Vertical Challenge at Squaw Valley: ski 575,000 vertical feet and raise $110,000 for families living with MS.

Disco Tubing

March 8 I-DID-A-RUN Humane Society Benefit Event

March 14

SKI FOR MS BENEFIT EVENT Ski and Snowboard event of the season!

March 15 HISTORIC LONGBOARD REVIVAL SERIES March 19, 20, 21, 22 U.S. Freestyle Moguls Championships

Register on line

Dogs of all shapes and sizes compete in this entertaining, timed dog pull race, which raises money for the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe.

Categories: 0-25lbs, 26-50lbs, 51-75lbs, and over.

Plumas Eureka State Park in Johnsville, CA

All day event Racing starts Noon

For more information on the longboard races visit: www.plumasskiclub.org/ long.html

The FINAL RACE of the Historic Longboard Revival Series is on Sunday, March 15, 2020. The race is truly something to experience, and promises to be a fun family event. Food will be available to purchase, or bring your own picnic lunch. Racer and spectator prizes will be awarded.

The event will even feature live mountain music.

Squaw Valley

9:00 am 4:00 pm

https://squawalpine. com/events-thingsdo/us-freestyle-mogulschampionships

The nation's top freestyle moguls skiers will descend on Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows in the season-culminating event confirmed for March 19 22, 2020. The U.S. Freestyle Moguls Championships brings the nation's top freestyle moguls skiers together for two days of intense competition in moguls and dual moguls events.

National team members and divisional athletes will face off on the renowned Red Dog ski run-a venue that's hosted elite ski competition as far back as the 1960 Olympic Winter Games to compete for U.S. titles. U.S. Ski Team members Jaelin Kauf and Jesse Andringa will both look to defend their national titles.

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440

NEWS YOU CAN USE

MARCH 2020 MARKET NEWSLETTER

Truckee, Golf Course Communities, Tahoe Donner, Northstar, Donner Summit, Alpine/Squaw, North & West Shore Lake Tahoe, CA.

Date and Event March 21 Dive-In Movie Series

March 21 Truckee Rotary Annual Crab Feed Dinner

March 22 Sierra Skogsloppet XC Race

Where Held

Time

Contact Info.

Details Bring your own floaty! Join us for showing of SPACE JAM

Truckee Community Swimming Pool 10981 Truckee Way

4:00 pm 6:00 pm

info@tdrpd.org

Truckee Community Recreation Center 8924 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee

Bar opens 5:00 pm Dinner 6:007:00 pm Live Auction 7:00 pm

Buy tickets from a Truckee Rotarian or by contacting Steve Randall at 530-550-4443

26th Annual Chris Matthew Crab and Pasta Feed Silent and Live Auction - proceeds benefit Safe and Sober Grad Night Tickets $50 Adult $25 Kids(15 & Younger) One of the communities most popular annual fundraising events! Don’t miss it!

Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center 15275 Alder Creek

9:00 am 11:00 am

(530) 587-9484

Challenge yourself at this fun race for all levels of XC skiers. 16km and 3km courses.

Entry includes lunch and a chance to win spot prizes. This annual event is a fundraiser with proceeds going to support Truckee Middle School and Truckee High School cross country ski teams.

amxc@tahoedonner.com

Please go to website for more details and information on fees.

March 27, 28, 29 Winter Wonder Grass Tahoe

Squaw Valley

https://winterwonder grass.com/squaw/

WinterWonderGrass Tahoe returns for 3 days of world-class Bluegrass/Acoustic Roots music on four stages, California and Nevada craft breweries and beer tasting all under the snow covered peaks at Squaw Valley. It's going to be an epic weekend bringing together those who love music, mountains and a good time.

Headliners include: The Devil Makes Three, The Infamous Stringdusters, Billy Strings x 2, Peter Rowan, Keller & the Keels, and many more!

Please go to website for full details

The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440