As school doors reopen for the new year North Lake Tahoe undergoes a transformation. Traditionally this time of year marks the beginning of the shoulder season when town seems more quiet, summer traffic dissipates, and lines at the grocery store return to reasonable length. From a real estate perspective this shoulder season represents the culmination of a summer spent window shopping in golf- and lake-centric communities to the anticipation of winter and ski-centric resort communities, with Northstar leading the way.

Common perception views summer as the busiest time of year for real estate sales. Data compiled from the Sierra Tahoe MLS over the past 5 years demonstrate the exact opposite. The average number of transactions on a monthly basis during this shoulder season – Late August, September, & October – outpaces those of the busiest summer months.

With snow on the horizon and thoughts of ski turns sloshing through the brain, consumers begin contemplating winter arrangements. Those considering a highly sought after rental opportunity, especially during the prime holiday weeks, recognize this $16K-$20K cost could be reallocated to the purchase of property thus creating a more sustainable return opportunity for their family. These amounts effectively offset the entire annual costs associated with ownership – dues, taxes, etc. – while, potentially gaining an appreciating asset.

Going back to April there have been 29 sales in the Northstar area. In the past few weeks alone Northstar has experienced a huge uptick in transactions – 8 combined single family & condominium/townhome sales with another 15 pending. Additionally, 2 homesites have been purchased. These 25 transactions since heading towards shoulder season emphasize the shift toward the ski-centric resort community.

Labor Day is only a few days away and the passing of this holiday marks the unofficial start of shoulder season. All indicators point to North Lake Tahoe experiencing the busiest shoulder season ever.

Here are the best valued Northstar Single Family Homes, Condominium/Townhomes, and Homesites currently available. Contact me directly to obtain more information, to book a personalized property tour, to inquire about listing your home, and to join the upcoming winter fun.