Featured Property of the Month on the Schwartz-Stanton Group Blog is 671 Fairview Boulevard located in Incline Village on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

Spectacular panoramic views of Lake Tahoe dramatize the captivationg mountain backdrop of this Incline Village home.  Located on a 1.2 acre street-to-street lot, privacy surrounds you.  Designed with elegant indoor and outdoor spaces, this 5,720+ square foot home has it all including 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, a gourmet kitchen with stunning lake views, 3 car garage, and a private master suite on a separate level with a gas appliance fireplace with granite tile surround and a fabulous master bath with steam shower, Jacuzzi tub and large master closet.

Adding to the home is the expansive lake view deck (approximately 1,000 sq. ft.) with wet bar that opens from the dining and kitchen area.  The panoramic views of the lake from the deck are breathtaking.  This home is must see.  List Price:  $3,950,000.

To learn more about 671 Fairview or other Lake Tahoe properties please give Schwartz-Stanton Group, Coldwell Banker Incline Village Realty,  a call at 800.520.7358.

  
345 Country Club Drive
Incline Village, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Offered Exclusively by Schwartz-Stanton Group
Coldwell Banker Incline Village Realty
$3,295,000

The architecture of this exquisite home is distinctive, combining the best of classic Tahoe mountain with the sophisticaiton of French Normandy.  This like new home offers stunning golf course views with 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths in 4,235+/- square feet of living area.  The graceful stone turret entry and foyer features a striking slate floor and a magnificent, old-world crystal chandelier. You’ll be struck by the awe-inspiring living room and formal dining area with its wall of windows that look at the unparalleled beauty of the golf course. In addition, there is a massive and dramatic floor-to-ceiling split granite fireplace and the entire remainder of the first floor is Amish hand-hewn hickory plank flooring creating a feeling that is elegant yet cozy.

Other interior features include a spacious epicurean kitchen that looks onto the golf course with slab granite countertops and center island, a grand master suite offering breathtaking fairway views, 3 substantial guest suites and a loft/office/den with superb golf course views.

The exterior of the residence features exceptional landscaping that is given prominence by native granite boulders used for terracing, steps and accents as well as an array of professionally designed, installed and automatically irrigated trees, plants and tidy areas of lawn that discretely harmonize with the native 30-50 foot pine trees on the property.

Designed with a decorator’s eye, this home embraces the best that Tahoe has to offer.

Contact Schwartz-Stanton Group at 800.520.7358 for learn more about this exceptional Lake Tahoe residence. 

Schwartz-Stanton Group, Coldwell Banker Incline Village Realty, is pleased to introduce you to The Ridges at Hunter Creek.  This development is an intimate enclave of wilderness home sites that have been set aside within a gated community nestled in the Sierra Foothills in Reno, Nevada.   This unprecedented collection of 90 home sites commands panoramic views from the Sierra Mountains to the west, the Toyaibe National Forest to the south, Peavine Mountain to the north, and the lights of downtown Reno to the east.

Unspoiled nature is at your doorstep in a setting that feels secluded but is only minutes from downtown Reno.  Careful architectural controls will ensure the enduring beauty and quality of the community with a European feel.  This community has been developed with a particular attention to access the magnificent surround forests and mountains through a system of hiking trails developed in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Washoe County Park and Recreation Department.  For your estate, you would hike all the way through Lake Tahoe Natural Forest unfettered by man-made barriers.

Estate lots range from one to eight acres.  Contact Schwartz-Stanton Group at 800.520.7358 for more information.

Pending home sales have risen for nine months in a row, a first for the series of the index since its inception in 2001, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in October, increased 3.7 percent to 114.1 from 110.0 in September, and is 31.8 percent above October 2008 when it was 86.6. The rise from a year ago is the biggest annual increase ever recorded for the index, which is at the highest level since March 2006 when it was 115.2.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home sales are experiencing a pendulum swing. “Keep in mind that housing had been underperforming over most of the past year. Based on the demographics of our growing population, existing-home sales should be in the range of 5.5 million to 6.0 million annually, but we were well below the 5-million mark before the home buyer tax credit stimulus,” he said. “This means the tax credit is helping unleash a pent-up demand from a large pool of financially qualified renters, much more than borrowing sales from the future.

The PHSI in the Northeast surged 19.9 percent to 100.2 in October and is 44.2 percent above a year ago. In the Midwest the index rose 11.6 percent to 109.6 and is 36.6 percent higher than October 2008. Pending home sales in the South increased 5.4 percent to an index of 115.4, which is 31.6 percent above a year ago. In the West the index fell 11.2 percent to 127.7 but is 21.9 percent above October 2008.

Yun cautioned that home sales could dip in the months ahead. “The expanded tax credit has only been available for the past three weeks, but the time between when buyers start looking at homes until they close on a sale can take anywhere from three to five months. Given the lag time, we could see a temporary decline in closed existing-home sales from December until early spring when we get another surge, but the weak job market remains a major concern and could slow the recovery process.

“Still, as inventories continue to decline and balance is gradually restored between buyers and sellers, we should reach self-sustaining housing conditions and firming home prices in most areas around the middle of 2010. That would mean broad wealth stabilization for the vast number of middle-class families,” Yun said.

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

# # #

*The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing.

The index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20 percent of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity from 2001 through 2004 parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months. There is a closer relationship between annual index changes (from the same month a year earlier) and year-ago changes in sales performance than with month-to-month comparisons.

An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined as well as the first of five consecutive record years for existing-home sales.

Courtesy of National Association of Realtors

Diamond Peak Ski Resort in Incline Village, Nevada on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe is scheduled to open on Thursday, December 10th, according to its website.  The resort is currently making snow as well.  

Season pass holders get a free BBQ lunch on opening and closing days. And, new this year, the resort will offer season pass holders early lift access on select powder days and regularly scheduled once a month early lift access. In addition, Diamond Peak season pass holders may enjoy discounts at Incline Village vendors: Crosby’s, Aloha Skin Spa, Yoshimi Sushi, Village Ski Loft and Wild Island in Reno.

Two special provisions in the present tax credit law will assist members of the military, intelligence and foreign services in taking advantage of the homebuyer tax credit, said National Association of Realtors President Charles McMillan, broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Armed services members, as well as intelligence service and foreign service personnel, who are on active duty and out of the U.S. for 90 days during any part of 2009, get an additional year to buy their homes, to May 1, 2011.

Another benefit is a waiver on the time of occupancy of the home purchased with the tax credit. Homebuyers who purchase their home using the tax credit must use that home as a principal residence for a period of no fewer than three years, or must forfeit the entire credit. Military, intelligence and foreign service members do not have to repay the credit if they have to sell their home after fewer than three years occupancy due to official business.

First-time homebuyers who are eligible can obtain a tax credit of $8,000. Current homeowners are eligible for a $6,500 tax credit, provided they have lived in the home they are selling, or have sold, as principal residence for five consecutive years in the past eight years. 

Income limits for eligible home buyers are expanded to $125,000 for single buyers and $225,000 for couples. The purchase price of the home cannot exceed $800,000. To help guard against fraud, buyers are required to attach documentation of purchase to their tax return.

The homebuyer tax credit was recently extended. All qualified homebuyers are urged to act and have a written, binding contract by April 30, 2010 (close by July 1, 2010)

Courtesy of National Association of Realtors.

Real estate news and information is on the radio airwaves!  Real Estate Today, is a National Association of Realtors (NAR) produced, national radio show that debuted earlier this year on stations across the country.  The show also airs nationwide on XM and Sirius Satellite Radio, and worldwide at www.RETRadio.com – visit the site any time to listen to current or past programs.

Real Estate Today covers the benefits and challenges of homeownership, from expert advice on buying and selling, to remodeling and landscaping, to the state of the current market and home financing issues.

The show’s interactive experience offers listeners an opportunity to exchange information and learn from some of the nation’s most recognized experts on a variety of real estate related topics such as buying and selling homes, obtaining mortgages, seasonal markets, home improvements and more. Guests often include key lawmakers, NAR leadership, staging and remodeling experts, and respected members of the national media.

Hosted by award-winning radio broadcaster Gil Gross, the show offers a fast-paced format that includes the week’s top real estate news, listener call-ins, field reports and customizable segments on local market conditions.

Satellite radio subscribers can hear Real Estate Today on:
XM Satellite Radio: America’s Talk, XM Channel 158, Saturdays 5-7 p.m. EST
XM Satellite Radio: Talk Radio, XM Channel 165, Saturdays 1-3 p.m. EST
Sirius Satellite Radio: Sirius/XM Stars, Sirius Channel 102, Saturdays 6-8 a.m. and Sundays 9-11 p.m. EST

Courtesy of NAR.

The federal income tax credit for homebuyers has been extended and expanded to now include homeowners who wish to “move on ” after 5 years of living in their current property, as well as first-time homebuyers.

• First-time homebuyers, or those who have not owned in the last three years, can receive up to an $8,000 tax credit

• Homeowners who have lived in a current home consecutively for 5 of the past 8 years can receive up to a $6,500 tax credit

• There will be no future extensions, so all qualified homebuyers are urged to act and have a written, binding contract by April 30, 2010 (close by July 1, 2010)

• Income limits are now $125,000 for singles, $225,000 for married couples

The original bill has been credited with helping approximately 2 million people to date, adding an estimated $22 billion to the general economy.

The following chart provides more information:

Information courtesy of http://www.realtor.org and http://www.whitehouse.gov

Pending home sales rose again, marking eight consecutive monthly gains – the longest streak since measurement began in 2001, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in September, rose 6.1 percent to 110.1 from a reading of 103.8 in August, and is 21.2 percent higher than September 2008 when it stood at 90.9. The gain from a year ago is the largest annual increase on record, and the index is at the highest level since December 2006 when it was 112.8.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the momentum is understandable. “What we’re witnessing is a rush of first-time buyers trying to beat the expiration of the tax credit at the end of this month,” he said. “Home values will stabilize sooner rather than over-correcting. That, in turn, will mean wealth stabilization for the vast number of middle-class families and lay the foundation for a durable economic recovery.”

NAR estimates approximately 3 million renters are now financially well-qualified to buy a median-priced home. “As long as buyers do not overstretch and stay well within their budget, a sizable pent-up demand can be tapped among financially qualified potential buyers,” Yun said. “Although the tax credit is greatly reviving the existing home market, new-home sales may continue to struggle as home builders hold back production to drive down inventory. In addition, there remains an ongoing credit crunch for construction loans.”

The Pending Home Sales Index in the Northeast slipped 2.0 percent to 83.6 in September but remains 16.9 percent above September 2008. In the Midwest the index rose 8.1 percent to 98.2 in September and is 17.8 percent higher than a year ago. In the South, pending home sales increased 4.9 percent to an index of 109.7 and is 22.8 percent above September 2008. In the West the index jumped 10.2 percent to 143.8 and is 23.7 percent above a year ago.

Yun added that strong near-term reports should not be overstated. “We’re clearly not out of the woods because an excess of homes remains on the market despite recent improvements,” he said. “Although current inventory is getting closer to price equilibrium, foreclosures will continue to enter the pipeline. An extended and expanded tax credit would help absorb this incoming inventory.”

The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

# # #

*The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing.

The index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20 percent of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity from 2001 through 2004 parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months. There is a closer relationship between annual index changes (from the same month a year earlier) and year-ago changes in sales performance than with month-to-month comparisons.

An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined as well as the first of five consecutive record years for existing-home sales.

Courtesy National Association of Realtors

In the last few years, home staging has become an increasingly popular method of preparing a home for sale. However, home staging involves far more than the cleaning and minor repairs required to put your home on the market. The process of staging a home is actually an in depth dressing of a home to make the property seem as appealing as possible to prospective buyers. Home staging professionals use a variety of methods to help homeowners sell their properties, incorporating both amenities already inside the home and a number of special products. When preparing to sell your home, you may want to think about some of the home staging methods outlined here to help you find the right buyer.

At its most simple, home staging is about setting the right mood for prospective buyers. By decorating and arranging a home’s interior to present an ideal way of life, buyers are assisted in visualizing themselves in your home. Whether you undertake the process of staging your own home or decide to consult a professional, there are a number of different “props” that may be used around the home. For example, to add a vibrant sense of life to the home, many home staging professionals recommend using different types of potted plants and arrangements of flowers and fruit. Throughout the home, they tend to utilize soft, luxurious fabrics – such as satin, lamb’s wool and silk – to create an atmosphere of comfort. This process can also extend to the exterior of the property, where patio furniture can be added in the backyard and colorful flowers or unique accessories outside the front door.Many home staging professionals come from interior design or art-related backgrounds. Hence, when working on staging a home for sale, these professionals utilize a number of visual tricks to capture the attention of potential buyers. For instance, furniture is always arranged very carefully to simulate the ideal living space. In living rooms, home staging professionals often use loveseats and ottomans in lieu of large couches to create the illusion of added space. Likewise, mirrors are often placed throughout a staged home to make the living area seem larger to potential buyers. In areas where you hope to focus a buyer’s attention – like a hand built stone fireplace or a remodeled kitchen – staging professionals can place unique artwork or accessories to catch the eye.

One of the most important steps in home staging is the exchange of your personal decorations with more neutral furnishings. Beyond replacing family pictures with more design-friendly items, a successful home staging will attempt to eliminate any idiosyncratic tastes and represent a living space that has broad appeal. Though this process may feel like a slight on your family’s home, you should hardly take offense. This commonly used tactic simply helps potential buyers view the property not as someone else’s home, but as something they can call their own.

Most real estate experts claim that home staging is especially important when the home is empty. Without any furniture or amenities, even a home for sale in the most attractive area can make potential buyers feel uncomfortable. If you are trying to sell your home and have already moved out, you may want to consider working with your agent to stage the home’s interior. With the assistance of your agent and a home staging professional, you could quickly transform a lifeless house into dream home.

In the end, home staging is about making the most of your home’s potential. If the staging of your home is completed effectively, it is also possible that your home may receive better offers from potential buyers and spend less time on the market. By minimizing the flaws of your home and making the living area seem larger, brighter and more appealing, home staging may be one of the most important steps in selling your home quickly and at the right price