Our Mobile Search is up and running!

We've added a mobile search to make things easy!

We at Century 21 At Tahoe Paradise in South Lake Tahoe want to make your search for the perfect home as easy as possible! That is why we’ve added a new mobile search function to our website.  Now when you are out scouting properties, you can easily find out more details about the prospective home instantly from your smart phone in a format that’s easy on the eyes.

Bookmark our CA and NV search pages to help aid you in your home shopping process. 

California –   http://www.tahoeparadiserealty.com/mobile

Nevada -      http://www.tahoeparadiserealty.com/mobilenv

Make sure to bookmark the mobile search pages on your smart phone for quick access.

If you still need more information, or want to check out the inside of the home for yourself, then don’t hesitate to contact one of our experienced Realtors.  We have Realtors available 7 days a week ready to assist!   Just give us a call and we’ll get you into any listing on the market.

Are you Ready for Super Bowl?

Whether you’re a football fanatic or a fair weather fan, it’s hard to ignore the largest T.V event in North America.  Super Bowl Sunday has become a tradition among Americans and here in South Lake Tahoe it has become a semi-holiday. In town there are a handful of sports bars like Brothers, Mo’s and (our favorite) Steamers that will have deals on food and drinks.  The casinos are also a hot spot for Super Bowl viewing with their numerous flat screens and never ending beer and food.

Many will gather at these local establishments but many more will head over to a friend’s house with the biggest T.V to spend an intimate afternoon cheering loudly for teams and over indulging in everything bacon wrapped.  Wherever you decide to spend your Super Bowl, make sure to get a sober driver to take you home as their will be police checkpoints through the town in South Lake Tahoe.

Bacon wrapped Jalapenos are the Perfect Super Bowl food.

If you’re still undecided on what to bring to your Super Bowl gathering, we suggest trying these little bad boys.  If you’ve made them before, then you know how delicious they are, and if you have never made them then prepare to meet your match. Anything bacon wrapped always goes over well at our gatherings so we’re sure they’ll be a hit at yours too!

Ingredients:

• 10 Fresh jalapenos

• 1 package of soften cream cheese

• 1 pound of bacon

Directions:

Cut the jalapenos in half and remove the seeds and white membranes.  You might want to wear gloves for this part.  Fill the jalapenos with the soften cream cheese.  This is the part where you can get creative. Some people add cooked sausage or blue cheese and a mix of different seasoning.  It’s really up to you! Then take a strip of uncooked bacon and wrap that puppy up and secure with a toothpick.  Place on a pan with a rack. This allows the bacon goodness to drip away. Place in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until bacon is cooked. Then get ready to enjoy the best appetizer you have ever had!  Enjoy!

The “South Shore Vision Plan” has been the main goal of the South Tahoe Alliance of Resorts.  This group has been put together to help make the Casino corridor more visually attractive and aesthetically pleasing while still keep a precedence on environmental preservation. There have been many different discussions about inserting a loop in the down town area and rerouting highway 50 since 1980, but one has finally been chosen!

Expanded sidewalks, bike lanes, tree lined walkways and open spaces are all things the developers are envisioning for the new and improved Downtown Casino Corridor in South Lake Tahoe.         

The Artist's rendering for the Casino corridor.

Currently, highway 50 runs through the middle of the Casinos four lanes wide. The new plan would divert highway 50 behind the Harrah’s and Monte Bleu Casino, leaving the casino corridor much more pedestrian friendly and focused with just two lanes of motorized traffic.  This will also make it entirely easier to accommodate street closures that take place during New Year’s Eve, Hot August and other events nights leaving motorist and traffic control operations running smoothly.

Another goal of the South Tahoe Alliance of Resorts is to make the shift from gambling being the main focus South Shore, to having gambling be an amenity.  During the past few years the Casinos have seen a drop in the amount of traffic and revenue coming through their doors.  By having gambling be an amenity, and not the main draw for South Lake Tahoe, planners can focus on shifting the focus to being the natural beauty that Tahoe is, and attracting people who are more interested in outdoor recreational activities.

This dynamic plan is sure to improve the appearance of downtown, while also making it easier for pedestrians and motorists to get where they are going.  Although it will be a few years before the project breaks ground excitement is high among the South Lake Tahoe community for soon-to-be newly revamped Casino Corridor.

There are many more changes going on in the South Lake Tahoe community. Stayed tuned to Century 21 At Tahoe Paradise for current market updates on local Real Estate, and community events in South Lake Tahoe.

We are adding featuers to make seaching for Lake Tahoe homes Easy!

Coming in the next few weeks we will be adding a mobile friendly version of our site that will make finding the latest information of Lake Tahoe real estate listings a breeze.

When you go to the Century 21 At Tahoe Paradise page our site will instantly recognize that you are using a smart phone and will automatically direct you to an interface which will allow you easily search all Lake Tahoe listings. This is just one feature we are working on to help make finding the information you need as painless as possible. Don’t forget to check out our market reports for current statistical data on sold Lake Tahoe homes for the 2011 year.

Our mountains are finally turning white!

Although it appears that Old Man Winter slept through the first part of his winter shift in South Lake Tahoe, it seems that he finally might be waking up and getting busy releasing the storms. Or maybe it was the millions of snow dances and snow prayers that did it, but either way some much needed and welcomed weather in finally moving in. The first of three storms struck in South Lake Tahoe yesterday January 19th leaving the Ski Resorts and snow enthusiast asking for more. The second storm that is rolling in is supposed to be the real deal bringing the white fluffy stuff by the feet at lake level.

Even though the weather has been bizarre for the beginning of winter it did give everyone a chance to get out and tackle that hike they had been putting off all summer. It also gave hikers the opportunity to walk and ice skate on many of frozen lakes that are normally inaccessible without snowshoes or cross county skis.

Hikers and Ice skaters were enjoying frozen Eagle Lake last weekend.

We don’t like to complain about the weather in South Lake Tahoe because you know how the local saying goes…”If you don’t like the weather, then wait 10 minutes”. Well, it looks like those 10 minutes are up and snow is finally in the forecast.

Just in case you’re thinking of making a spur of the moment trip to South Lake Tahoe here are links to the local ski resorts to see the conditions for yourself. Stay safe and enjoy the snowy weekend!

Heavenly              Kirkwood               Siera-At-Tahoe                Squaw

Interest Rates a predicted to stay low into 2012

It can be tricky out there in the loan world so here are a few quick tips to get you thinking if you’re considering taking a loan for a new home in South Lake Tahoe.

• For some people trying to get a loan, having investments can count against you even if your stocks are preforming well. An underwriter could deny an application because it does not fit into their risk assessment model. We’ve heard stories of couples being turned down because one of the pair had been at their job less than a year…even though they were making substantially more money than at their previously held position. Luckily they were able to qualify under the others income, but the added stress and delay in closing almost killed the deal.

•  It is absolutely more difficult to qualify for a loan than it was a few years ago. With a conventional loan, a lender will want to see a 20-25% down payments in cash plus extra for closing cost and incidentals… and to qualify for the best rates a borrower needs to have a credit score above 700. Have your financial ducks in a row before you apply for a loan.

• Being self employed can also make it difficult to get through underwriting as W-2 income is much easier to verify than self-employed income. You could also hit an underwriting snag if you have had a lapse in employment or own multiple propertys.
  

  Being Self-Employed can be a red flag during Underwriting

•  If you need to sell your current home before buying your next home you’ll also need to have 30% equity in your home that will need to be verified by a lenders appraisal.

These are just a few of the many things to begin thinking about when you want to buy or sell you home in South Lake Tahoe. It can be a difficult process but that’s why we’ve been in town and in touch for over 32 years at Century 21 At Tahoe Paradise.

A Home Inspection is a Buyers Best Tool

A home inspection just might be a home buyers best tool in South Lake Tahoe. Home inspectors are a neutral third party who are usually hired by the the buyer to thoroughly inspect the home prior to the close of escrow. A home can be Pandora’s Box when it comes to discovering defects in the house. What looks like a little water stain in the living room could actually be the end of the life of the roof.

Sellers are required to disclose any and all defects they know about the home but this dose not prevent a seller from having a temporary case of amnesia, or in the case of a bank owned properties having no legal  knowledge of the the property’s history.

With Bank owned properties it’s even more important to get a good home inspection because it is truly up to the buyer to discover any major defects. Having your Realtor write in a home inspection contingency is a smart move that will protect your deposit should the home inspector uncover some deal breaking defects.

A home inspector can spot roof damage if it's not covered in snow.

While a home inspection is always recommended there are a few instances when a buyer might skip one. If the person buying a home is a licensed contractor then they might be able to eyeball and asses the situation of the home without the services of a professional home inspector. These people with the construction know-how might be willing to take the risk and forgo the home inspection.

For the average buyer it is hardly worth the risk to skip the home inspection. Although having the home inspection won’t necessarily give more leverage over the seller if the property is a hot deal. Many times sellers will have multiple back up offers in place in case the deal falls apart.

While the finding of a home inspection can be a deal breaker, it really is best to know what your getting into before it’s to late. Having the home inspection will prepare the buyers for how much they might have to come out of pocket to resolve the issues.

Buying a Home in Lake Tahoe is a big decision.

To help you prepare for the closing of your South Lake Tahoe home we’ve prepared a list of what to expect at the closing table before you get your keys.

• Complete a walk through.  Before you get the keys to your new home you’ll be required to do a final walk through of the property to ensure it is in the same condition as when you signed the purchase contract.
  

  The Final Walk through ensures the home is in the Same condition.

• Proof of Insurance.  Though this has usually been dealt with long before you sit down to sign your final papers, it’s a good idea to bring proof of your home insurance policy to prevent any snags.

• Show your I.D. While most people always have their state Identification on themselves you will want to check with you title company and lender if they require 1 or 2 forms of identification. You don’t want to be caught without the necessary proof at the closing of your home.

• Sign on the dotted line.On the signing day, both buyers and sellers will be required to sign several documents that will transfer the title.  You may be required to sign a final purchase agreement along with review and sign mortgage documents, promissory notes, title documents, settlement statement and the truth in lending statement . The truth in lending statement will outline the costs of your loan, your payment schedule and amount financed. Once you’ve signed your life away, all of these documents will be taken to the recorder’s office where title will be officially transferred.
  

  Make sure to Review the documents Before signing.

• Take the Keys! Once title has been transferred by the recorder’s office, you can take the keys and home is officially yours! Your next step should be to head to the hardware store or call a locksmith to have the locks changed or re-keyed. The house is now yours!