Lake Tahoe Real Estate Market Report Q1 2017

Buyers Are Hungry for Inventory in Q1

The first quarter of North Lake Tahoe and Truckee real estate sales is complete and we are looking pretty good given the fact that we are just digging out of a historic winter.  Buyer activity was off 15% in Q1 which is not surprising as inventory was at a historical low. We also received 279” of snow in January, over 200” in February which closed I-80 for multiple days and crippled the local roadways. So far this winter North Lake Tahoe has received 654” of snow at the 8,000’ elevation which is 13 feet more than we received during the entire 2016 winter season!

During the first quarter, buyer activity remained strong although inventory was at a historic low which lead to a 5% rise in the median home price.  We have seen a reduction in distressed sales and the lower level price points are extremely competitive which is making it difficult for first-time buyers and people looking to purchase in the sub $600K price points.  

Currently, there are 97 homes under contract with 23 homes priced above $1M which shows that the North Lake Tahoe markets are heating up going into the summer selling season. The high number of luxury home escrows shows me that the luxury market remains solid and will continue to pull the other market segments up as the year progresses. Oliver Luxury Real Estate recently closed escrow on the historic Drum Estate for $28.9M, representing both the buyer and seller of this historic West shore lakefront estate. 

Lake Tahoe is Full

Lake Tahoe is FULL and the current lake level is at 6,227.26’ which is 4.26’ above the natural rim and only 1.74’ away from the legal limit of 6,229’. The Tahoe City Dam is currently releasing 723 cubic feet of water per second into the Truckee River!  A full lake drives demand for lakefront properties and increases recreation activity at Lake Tahoe which is a positive for the real estate market. A full lake and memories of a historic winter will help bolster the Tahoe real estate markets.

If you are considering selling your Tahoe property I would recommend listing now or early in the spring.  There will be minimal competition and buyers are eager for new inventory which will help you sell your property quickly and for top dollar.

Year over Year Market Conditions and Value Trends

Year Over Year Lake Tahoe Real Estate Sales Chart

*North Lake Tahoe and Truckee Single Family Home sales including lakefronts. Data is taken from the Tahoe-Sierra Board of Realtors, MLS Areas 1-9.

Year Over Year Lake Tahoe Real Estate Sales Volume Chart

Past Lake Tahoe Market Reports

• View All Tahoe Real Estate Market Reports
• Q1 2016 Lake Tahoe Market Report
• Q1 2015 Lake Tahoe Market Report

Do you have questions about Lake Tahoe Real Estate? Please call me (530) 448-9882 if you would like to discuss market conditions in more detail or to talk about how I can help you achieve your real estate goals.

For real estate news, property listings and Lake Tahoe events sign up for our newsletter here.

Want to know the value of your Lake Tahoe home?