JULIE GARDNER
  • HOME
  • COMPASS
    • WHY COMPASS?
    • COMPASS CONCIERGE
    • COMPASS BRIDGE LOANS
  • LISTINGS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT JULIE
    • A DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP
    • CONTACT
    • PROCESS
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • PRESS
  • PROJECTS
    • BEFORE & AFTER
    • GARDENS
    • OUR TEAM
    • VIDEOS
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • UTILITIES
    • SCHOOLS

Tales from Tahoe

9/24/2021

0 Comments

 
While those of you who read the column regularly know I rarely have guest authors, a few weeks back I reached out to my friends and COMPASS colleagues in Tahoe at Team Blair and asked them to update us all on the impact the Caldor fires have had on the Tahoe basin, and gratefully, their marketing manager, Theresa Candon, replied. (Thank you, Theresa). I hope you'll enjoy today's article as much as I did. JG

There is no sugar coating the fact that the past 18 months have presented the Lake Tahoe/Truckee area with a host of challenges. Between a global pandemic that heavily impacted tourism, an influx of remote workers adding pressure to the local housing market, light winter snowpack, and several weeks of fire danger and smoke pollution, our community has been through the wringer.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of fire fighters from CALFire and supporting agencies from both California and Nevada, South Lake Tahoe residents were able to begin returning home within a week of evacuation. The Caldor fire is now 76% contained and no longer presents an immediate threat to the basin but the damage has been nothing short of catastrophic as well as heartbreaking to many of our neighbors and residents. More than 220,877 acres burned. (That gives a more profound meaning to the words "holy smokes!")

Experiencing first hand the destruction of the forests while the Caldor Fire raged reminded us all why local initiatives such as the Forest Futures Campaign are ramping up efforts to protect the forests and restore the ecosystem's health as soon as feasibly possible - there's not only a world-renowned legacy to consider, but an economic reality with respect to crystal blue skies and turquoise waters.

Now that North Lake Tahoe and the West Shore are experiencing clearer skies and Air Quality Index reports of less than 100, the cooler days of fall are signaling a return to homeowners and guests alike. As the outside temperatures begin to dip, and the smoke lifts, the beautiful Lake Tahoe that we all love has once again re-emerged. With a clear understanding of what's at stake, we've come out of the fire with a renewed appreciation for the power of nature to both scar and heal . . .

AND while the world struggled with the isolation forced upon many by the Coronavirus, weathering a pandemic was not as difficult for those of us with easy access to socially-distanced adventures just outside our front doors, and was likely the reason tourism continued to expand, in spite of Covid-19 restrictions.

Nor were we alone - many of our Bay Area friends made the trek to Tahoe (some permanently) to enjoy the freedom and to gather outside with family and friends, while much of the rest of the world had quite literally closed its doors to visitors. Hiking, boating, and skiing were a few of the many outdoor diversions Tahoe offered in abundance and relative safety, and we didn't lose a beat. In a word, Tahoe was busy!

So how did these historic events affect Tahoe real estate? 

Like all local industries, real estate felt the impact - for better and for worse. Shortly after the pandemic lockdown began in March 2020, Lake Tahoe real estate sky-rocketed, and has continued at an impressive pace since. After pandemic restrictions eased in the second half of 2021, there's been a subtle shift in buyer demand. Consequently, the past four months required an evolving pricing strategy, but because of low inventory, sales continued at a rapid pace nonetheless. 

In the face of the recent Caldor fire and the highly publicized evacuation of South Lake Tahoe, there was some speculation that safety concerns would discourage buyers from entering into contract. Which is to say that poor air quality and local access restrictions DID result in canceled showings and low foot traffic at open houses. (That's to be expected.)

However, the lull seems to have been temporary. As air quality has improved, buyer interest and activity has resumed to a somewhat normal level. After the buying frenzy of the past year, buyers are exercising a bit more caution, and days on market (DOM) have increased slightly; however, the forecast remains promising for Lake Tahoe real estate.

A recent article in the Tahoe Daily Tribune quotes Team Blair Tahoe Agent Jackie Arthur:
“I’ve got clients that are asking, ‘When can we come back?’” said Team Blair Tahoe Compass Agent Jackie Arthur. “They’re not really afraid of the fires. They’re just wanting to be more educated about the process of fire insurance moving forward.”

A good note for agents everywhere. As we head into fall, it’s fair to anticipate that the market will adjust again, keeping us all on our toes. Stay tuned!

https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/wildfires-dont-stop-home-buyers-from-wanting-to-come-to-tahoe
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe

    Author

    Julie Gardner, has been writing The Perspective for 18 years and has published more than 775 humorous but always informative, essays on life and real estate. 

    Picture

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008

    Categories

    All
    Business
    Design
    Drought
    Holiday
    Home Maintenance
    Homes For Sale
    Life
    Market
    Politics
    Renovation

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Piedmont · Oakland · Berkeley
 510.326.0840
[email protected]
DRE# 01431765
​COMPASS

  • HOME
  • COMPASS
    • WHY COMPASS?
    • COMPASS CONCIERGE
    • COMPASS BRIDGE LOANS
  • LISTINGS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT JULIE
    • A DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP
    • CONTACT
    • PROCESS
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • PRESS
  • PROJECTS
    • BEFORE & AFTER
    • GARDENS
    • OUR TEAM
    • VIDEOS
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • UTILITIES
    • SCHOOLS