7 Things You Didn't Know About North Lake Tahoe's Real Estate Market

If there is one thing that everywhere has in common when it comes to real estate, it’s that it’s constantly changing. From interest rates to market demand, real estate is an ever-evolving world. And North Lake Tahoe is no exception. The beloved destination hosts over 20 million visitors each year to explore the lakes, forests, trails, and world-class ski resorts, so it’s no surprise that the Truckee-Tahoe real estate market is always in such high demand. So, if you’re looking to own a little slice of North Lake Tahoe, here are a few things you should know.

Everything You Need to Know About North Lake Tahoe's Real Estate

1. Living in north lake tahoe

There are 72 miles of shoreline encompassing beautiful Lake Tahoe and it’s undeniable that those sandy shores are the most desirable areas to own a home in the region. Those who are lucky enough to find a home along the lake’s edge often get a private pier with the purchase. 

Those piers are one of the most expensive aspects of the home, seeing as how the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) had a moratorium on new piers and buoys for several years. The moratorium has recently been lifted, but the TRPA still very rarely issues permits for piers, which are now allocated on a limited lottery basis. And for that reason, the lakefront home value in North Lake Tahoe continues to increase, given its highly valuable resource: access to the beach. So, if you find North Lake Tahoe homes for sale with private piers, you might want to contact your realtor.

2. The Stars Shine Brighter in Tahoe

Several parts of the country are surrounded by untouched natural land under a “dark sky compliant” mandate, just like North Lake Tahoe. This means that any outdoor lighting has to be low-light facing downward so it does not disturb the wildlife or cause unnecessary “light pollution”. When buying a home in North Lake Tahoe’s real estate market, you’ll have to take this into consideration should you want to renovate any exterior lighting, but other than that it’s pretty easy to adhere to. The huge upside to this dark sky compliant guideline is North Lake Tahoe has been deemed one of the best places in the world for stargazing. 

3. Second Homeownership Is More Attainable Than You Think

Since North Lake Tahoe is a world-renowned destination, purchasing a vacation home in Lake Tahoe and hosting it as a short-term rental is a tool that many second-home owners use to help cover carrying costs. The average second-home owner will only use their home for 6 to 10 weeks throughout the year—leaving a wide window of opportunity to list the property as a North Lake Tahoe vacation rental. 

This means there is plenty of time—several months, in fact—to list the Tahoe home rental on a short-term basis to offset the mortgage, utilities, and even HOA dues for many homeowners. The best way to assess how you can offset the cost of your home is working with a local real estate agent who can help you crunch the numbers.

4. Ski In the Morning, Kayak in the Afternoon

North Lake Tahoe has recently been featured in several global publications as the newest “Zoom town.” Tahoe has always been a popular destination for San Francisco Bay Area residents who can easily make the three and a half-hour drive to escape the city here and there. But once the COVID pandemic hit and the majority of Bay Area workers had to work from home, Tahoe naturally became their more permanent escape. Residents jumped on the opportunity to buy the homes for sale on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, so taking Zoom calls between hitting the slopes or kayaking on the lake is becoming more commonplace in North Lake Tahoe these days.

5. Small Town, Many Offerings

North Lake Tahoe is relatively small—spanning just 22 miles—but the real estate offerings vary greatly; no two homes or communities within it are quite the same. A three bedroom, two bath home in one area can be worth far more than that same home just down the street—it all depends on the home’s proximity to the lake, ski resorts, or highly coveted HOA amenities. 

There are several “luxury communities'' in North Lake Tahoe—such as Martis Camp, Lahontan, and Schaffer’s Mill—which all have direct access to ski resorts and Lake Tahoe beaches. Other communities like Gray’s Crossing and Old Greenwood are golf lovers' paradises with championship courses just a quick golf cart ride from your front door. There are also ski resort communities that offer unrivaled ski-in, ski-out access, so homeowners don’t have to sacrifice anything in North Lake Tahoe’s real estate market. 

6. Sustainable Building is Increasingly Popular

Modular homes are becoming more and more popular for those tackling new developments within Tahoe’s pristine forestland. You can easily take a peek for yourself at the two most recent projects located at two of North Lake Tahoe’s ski resorts, both of which took a more progressive approach to conservation. 

At Northstar California Resort, the newest village construction in over a decade, Village Walk Skyline, is using all prefabricated modular buildings. These are large four bedroom, three and a half bathroom, and nearly 3,000 square foot homes with luxury finishes throughout, asking around $2.3 million. 

Over at Squaw Valley ski resort, the new Palisades development is also using modular construction on an enclave of 50 brand new luxury homes and townhomes just steps from the famous KT chairlift. Up in the gated community of Mountainside at Northstar, you’ll also find a handful of stunning mountain modern homes, all constructed using a prefab modular process. 

7. It Pays to Know a Good Real Estate Agent

On average, homes for sale in North Lake Tahoe only sit on the market for 14 days. That’s just two weeks from the time the home goes live on the market until offers are made, submitted, and accepted—an extremely short turnaround time. So, working with a local real estate agent is essential to finding and securing the home of your dreams because they have insider knowledge and understand the pulse of the North Lake Tahoe real estate market.