According to the rhythm of Tahoe-Truckee real estate, October is typically the zenith for closed transactions in any given year.
2018 appears to have peaked out early with a massive month of August while otherwise following a generally traditional pattern. As has been the case for most of 2018, the number of transactions will lag the prior year slightly however average price is markedly higher driven by a huge volume of premium sales.
An average sale price of $1,050,213 for October reflects an increase of 26% over the same period in 2017. Median price was also up an impressive 14% year over year.
Unlike recent months where singular mega-sales have driven average price upward, October saw a steady flow of high-end sales including 4 residential transactions in Martis Camp from $3.6m to $7.3m, another 4 in Lahontan from $2.2m – $3.5m, and 9 transactions in Northstar as focus begins to shift toward winter mountain property.
At Northstar, the Mountainside community experienced the sellout of its Stellar Collection with the final on-mountain residence in two distinct enclaves sold out. This sets it up nicely for the release of Boulders, an ideally balanced project of elegant mountain homes starting at $2.2m.
With the end of summer came the final sales within the Legacy Collection at Old Greenwood. Within this community, the introduction of diverse product has proved stimulating with a record quantity of custom and multi-family homes trading at values not seen since before the recession.
Consistent with the figures present above, inventory remains slightly tilted in the seller’s favor at just under 5 months’ supply. This number is slightly elevated from the same period last year largely inflated by overly ambitious, and largely unmotivated, sellers.
Thus, we conclude the peak selling season for 2018 in fine fashion. While the market will remain throughout the entire year, there will be a taper through year end and into early January before winter closings pick back up. The economic landscape may look different 90 days from now however the fundamental elements that make Lake Tahoe homeownership rewarding will remain constant.
