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Reality Check: Optimistic Housing Market Outlook!

By Taylor | Published: February 6, 2012

Here is an analysis of what to expect in the 2012 housing market. It is accompanied by photos of my home, Truckee, CA. Call me today to explore the opportunity of becoming a member of our beautiful community.

Truckee Hiking

Frozen Donner Lake

Introduction

While the housing market had its challenges in recent years, there could be reason for optimism as we begin the new year. Some of the nation’s top housing economists believe that the worst of the downturn may be over, and predict we’ll see gradual improvement in home sales and prices this year. That would be good news for both home sellers as well as potential buyers, many of whom have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for confirmation that the real estate market is truly on the mend before they take the plunge and buy. Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors, said in his annual forecast that home sales should be stronger in 2012. “There is a sizeable pent-up demand based on population growth, employment levels and a doubling-up phenomenon that can’t continue indefinitely,” he said in a NAR news release. “This demand could quickly stimulate the market when conditions improve.” Housing demand will also be driven by the health of the nation’s overall economy and the job market, Yun said. He forecasts GDP growth will finish at 1.8 percent for 2011 and then rise moderately to 2.2 percent in 2012. Additionally, Yun expects job growth of 1.7 to 2.2 million this year and the unemployment rate to fall to 8.7 percent in the second half of 2012.

Truckee Rock Climbing

Truckee River in Winter

Truckee River in Summer

Housing Affordability High
For homebuyers, housing affordability right now is as good as it has been in decades as a result of near record low mortgage interest rates and reduced home prices in many markets. NAR expects those conditions to continue for much of this year. Average mortgage interest rates for the week of January 16, for example, stood at 3.88 percent for a 30-year conforming fixed rate loan and 3.22 percent for a 15-year fixed rate loan, according to Bank Rate Monitor, the widely followed financial publishing website. “Housing affordability conditions, based on the relationship between median home prices, mortgage interest rates, and median family income, have been at a record high,” Yun said. “Very favorable affordability conditions will dominate (2012) as well, which will probably be the second best year on record dating back to 1970,” he noted. “Our hope is that credit restrictions will ease and allow more home buyers to take advantage of current opportunities.”

Truckee Stand Up Paddle

Old Highway 40 Bridge

Rates Keeping Payments Low
Lower interest rates on top of more affordable home prices can make a big difference for first-time homebuyers. For someone purchasing a $500,000 home, putting 20 percent down and borrowing $400,000, that average 30-year fixed rate mortgage of 3.88 percent translates into monthly principal and interest payments at $1,882 today. If that same home were to climb even 10 percent in price and mortgage rates increased just one percentage point, it may be harder for many first-time buyers to qualify. Borrowers would be looking at a monthly payment $500 higher than they have today in that scenario. The combination of low interest rates on top of affordable home prices offers buyers a window of opportunity to jump into the market, whether they are first-time buyers looking for a starter home, someone hoping to move up to a larger property or a family considering the vacation home of their dreams.

Truckee Shredding

Truckee Downtown in Summer

Truckee Downtown in Winter

Home Sales To Rise in 2012
NAR economists believe favorable market conditions and an improving economy will lead to an increase in home sales in 2012. The organization forecasts existing-home sales will rise 4 to 5 percent this year after increasing about 1 percent in 2011. On the new home front, NAR expects sales to jump from a record low 302,000 units in 2011 to 372,000 in 2012. Housing starts are forecast to rise 8 percent to 630,000 this year as well. With the inventory of homes declining in many areas, consumers can expect to see home prices gradually begin to rise again this year, NAR said. “Given an over-correction in prices, there likely will bemoderate appreciation in 2012,” Yun said. “Once home prices turn positive on a sustained basis, consumer confidence will rise and help the broader economy to improve,” he
added. NAR isn’t alone in its assessment of a market turnaround. Noted housing economist Liz Ann Sonders of Charles Schwab said in a recent report that “we’re seeing a light at the end of the housing tunnel.” The senior vice president and chief investment strategist for Schwab pointed out that the pending-home-sales index surged more than 7% last month to its best level since April 2010. “At that point, housing was artificially supported by the homebuyer tax credit,” she said in her new economic forecast. “The last time that pending sales were at the current level without government support was June 2007.” Adding to the optimism, Sonders said in her report, was the fact that the latest construction spending report was well ahead of expectations with most of the gains in private housing.

Truckee Sunset

Truckee Farmers Market

California Housing Outlook

Leslie Appleton-Young, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist for the California Association of Realtors, believes the Golden State’s housing market will also improve this year, although the recovery will be gradual. Appleton-Young is calling for a 1 percent increase in sales in California to 496,200 this year following essentially flat sales in 2011. “The most likely scenario is for the modest recovery to continue, and this should push sales up slightly next year and maintain levels that are significantly higher than those recorded during the depths of the housing downturn,” she said in her report. While no one knows for sure what will happen to the housing market in the coming year, many analysts agree that things are getting better. One important indicator – pending home sales – saw a year-overyear increase for the seventh straight month in November, according to CAR. And closed sales were up for the fifth consecutive month as well. An improving job market and overall economy could translate into a rebound for the housing market as well. So if you have been holding off buying a home, this may be the year you’ll want to jump back into the market while prices, interest rates and overall affordability are still in your favor.

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Healthy Super Bowl Snacks

By Taylor | Published: February 3, 2012

It’s easy to go overboard when it comes to snacking during the Super Bowl. Studies show that Americans eat about 44 percent more in social settings than when dining alone. It is recommend to use salad bowls and plates for main dishes and going easy on or entirely skipping fatty dips and chips, which pack a lot of calories in a small serving. Here are some recommendations for a healthier Super Bowl snacking experience.

Fig and goat cheese dip


  • - 10 oz. dried Calimyrna figs
  • - 22 oz. goat cheese
  • - 16 oz. low-fat Greek yogurt
  • - ½ cup honey

Cut stems off figs and place in food processor. Process until well chopped. Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth, occasionally scraping the sides of the bowl. Serve chilled with multigrain crackers or sweet potato baked chips.

Veggie tray with hummus


  • 1 16 oz can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans
  • 1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas
  • 3-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas. Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth.

Simply set out baby carrots, broccoli flowerets, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes and red peppers with your favorite hummus.

Stuffed mushroom caps


- 12 mushrooms
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup couscous
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil

Remove stems from mushrooms; simmer the mushroom caps in olive oil and garlic. Stuff with a mixture of walnuts, Parmesan cheese and cooked couscous.

Grilled tomato and Swiss cheese sandwiches on whole wheat bread

Add lettuce and spicy mustard for a little extra zest. Cut sandwiches into halves or quarters and serve.

Fruit tray with low-fat yogurt dip


Serve apples, pineapples, cantaloupe, kiwi, oranges, papayas and blackberries on a platter with low-fat vanilla yogurt for dipping.

Smoked salmon and low-fat cream cheese on whole grain crackers


Spread a dab of low-fat cream cheese on your favorite whole grain cracker and top with a sliver of smoked salmon.

Guacamole with veggie dippers


- Peeled, mashed avocados
- Diced tomatoes
- Garlic
- Lemon or lime juice
- Onion
- Diced cilantro

Opt for serving celery sticks, baby carrots, cucumber spears or whole wheat pita over low-nutrient tortilla chips.

Homemade trail mix


Go nuts and make your own trail mix with pistachios, macadamia nuts, walnuts, cashews, almonds, dried apricots, dried cherries, dried cranberries and golden raisins. Add mini pretzels and dark chocolate chips for a hint of sweetness.

Popcorn

Prepare your popcorn on the stove with canola oil or by using an air popper and place in small servings in baskets. Spray popcorn lightly with an oil mister and add healthy spices like cinnamon or herbs for extra flavor

Burgers


Steer clear of greasy fast food burgers and try garden burgers or salmon burgers instead for your Super Bowl soiree. Serve with 100 percent whole grain buns and low-fat cheese and top with mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles. Serve with baked sweet potato fries.

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The Mega-machine of Super Bowl Commercials

By Taylor | Published: January 31, 2012

The Super Bowl has become much more than a sporting event and the culmination of the NFL season. It’s become a cultural phenomenon, a pop culture bellwether that more than 111 million Americans watched in 2011. That’s more than one third of all the people living in the U.S. at the time. If you have a message you want to get across to America, there’s no bigger stage. Run your commercial during the big game and you’ll access not only all the sets of eyes watching, but all the Monday morning water cooler talk that a creative ad can generate. Ask a non-football fan how they’ll be spending Super Bowl Sunday and you’re likely to hear, “I’ll be watching it for the commercials.”

In 1967, the first Super Bowl commercials cost $40,000 for a 30-second spot. That’s about $261,000 when adjusted for inflation. 2011′s ads cost roughly $3 million each — and that’s just the cost of the ad time itself. Add in the cost of the advertising agency and the production cost of filming the commercial, plus the overall advertising campaign (which might include magazine ads, billboards, or other commercials run before or after the Super Bowl), and you’re looking at one very expensive message.

Let’s break down Super Bowl commercials one piece at a time. How much do they cost, and why do they cost that much? Where does the money go? And what is the cultural impact of Super Bowl commercials. Which ones are the most famous? Which are the best and worst? How has watching the Super Bowl (and its commercials) changed over the years?


Super Bowl = Big Money

To understand the cost of a Super Bowl commercial, we need to figure out all the factors that affect that cost. The first is the advertising inventory that’s available. The NFL typically allows one minute and 30 seconds per commercial break. Over the course of the game, that adds up to roughly 45 total minutes of commercials. Not all of that time is available for sale to advertisers. The network broadcasting the Super Bowl will use up to a quarter of the ad spots to promote its own shows.


The Price of a Super Bowl Ad


Of course, acquiring that inventory isn’t free. Its cost is rolled into the overall contracts that CBS, NBC, and FOX negotiate with the NFL. The three networks rotate Super Bowl coverage over the years of the contract. In 2011, those networks signed a nine-year contract that costs each network about $1 billion per year. With the rotating schedule, each network gets three Super Bowls over the length of the contract. Networks make back most of that money (and eventually, profit) by selling ads during regular season games. This is no surprise; after all, NFL games are among the highest-rated programs on television each fall.

A single Super Bowl broadcast will bring in around $250 million in advertising fees to the network. Remember, however, that they only get to do that once every three years. So, while the Super Bowl brings in a ton of revenue for a single game, it’s still just a piece of a very large pie.


The Super Bowl’s Huge Audience

Advertisers want to expose an audience to a message that should get people to buy soemthing. Super Bowl ads cost so much because they offer an unparalleled opportunity to do so.

We’ve already talked about the raw numbers — 111 million Americans watched the big game in 2011. On top of that, it’s a culturally pervasive phenomenon. Even people who have no interest in football and steadfastly refuse to watch the game can’t escape hearing about it (and the commercials) from friends and co-workers in the weeks following Super Bowl Sunday. Super Bowl advertising also benefits from being a live event. If it were simply an enormously popular scripted show, people could just record it on their DVR’s, watch it later and fast-forward through the commercials. Most people don’t like recording a live event to watch later, since it robs it of some of its immediacy.

Super Bowl commercials are also a big deal just because they’re such a big deal. It’s one of those weird pop culture situations where companies put a lot of money and marketing hype into a commercial, so people get excited to watch it, and people get excited to watch the commercials because companies put so much money and hype into them. Over the years, they’ve become highly anticipated events themselves. Not only do people not fast-forward through the commercials, they go out of their way to watch them, even if they’re not really watching the game. Next time you’re at a Super Bowl party, notice how a lot of the chatter in the room quiets when a commercial comes on (often ushered in by someone shushing everyone with the phrase “Commercials!”).

It doesn’t stop there, though. The advent of online video sharing sites like YouTube has given commercials a long life after the Super Bowl, and even more reason for ad agencies to make them funny, exciting and “buzzworthy.” A typical Super Bowl ad will receive a few hundred million views online in the weeks after the big game.


From Concept to Broadcast: Creating an Ad

A Super Bowl commercial starts with a decision by company executives. They will have a general idea of the type of campaign they want to run and the product or feature they want to emphasize. This helps them select who will design the actual ad campaign and the commercial itself. For example, the ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky is known for creating humorous, edgy campaigns that attract a lot of attention. Wieden+Kennedy is known for creating emotionally resonant ads for global megabrands like Coca-Cola and Nike. Some companies, like Hyundai and GoDaddy, have their own in-house advertising teams that handle these projects.

Once the commercial itself has been created, it gets handed off to a production team. They have to assemble actors, computer programmers and effects specialists, all the various technical personnel required for lighting and sound, plus a director. Does your commercial use no-name actors, or A-list movie stars? Are you using a huge Hollywood director? Is it a simple setup with people talking or a car driving around, or do you need hundreds of extras and elaborate computer effects? All things that are taken into consideration during this process.


From Concept to Broadcast: Paying for a Spot

Once you’ve shot the ad and paid the actors, there’s still one more step to take. The final cost is the purchase of the 30-second ad spot itself. Even at this point, costs can vary. Super Bowl ad costs fluctuate with economic conditions. While they tend to increase 5 percent per year, prices were flat in 1992, dipped in 2001, and fell one more time in 2010. Prior to the 2012 Super Bowl, NBC was predicting an average price of $3.5 million per spot, a huge increase over the previous year — a prediction that turned out to be true.

However, that average price isn’t what everyone pays for their 30 seconds in the spotlight. Ads in the fourth quarter of the game tend to be less expensive than those in the first quarter. Anheuser-Busch likely pays less due to a volume discount — after all, they buy as many as 10 commercials in a single Super Bowl. Sometimes, Super Bowl ads are tied into other advertising purchases with the network, which may bring a discount as well. Finally, not all commercials are 30 seconds long. A lot of the most famous ones are a full minute or more. In 2011, Chrysler ran a two-minute ad about the resurgence of the Detroit auto industry, featuring the music of rapper Eminem. It was the longest Super Bowl commercial ever run, and required special permission from the NFL, because it exceeded the usual 1:30 time allotted for a commercial break.

The total cost for a single 30-second Super Bowl ad? Some are probably made for $4 to $5 million. Others are probably closer to $10 million. With all that money being spent, some of these ads must have resonated with the public.

The Most Famous Super Bowl Commercials of all Time

When people insist on shushing their friends when the big game heads to commercial break, here are a few reasons why.

Apple – 1984 (1984)

This ad spotlighting Apple’s upcoming Macintosh computer is widely considered the first of the blockbuster Super Bowl commercials, the one that set the standard and made the commercials an event unto themselves. Directed by Ridley Scott (director of “Alien,” “Blade Runner,” and “Gladiator”), it depicts a dystopian future where people march in lockstep to the orders of their fascist overlords. A woman runs through them and hurls a hammer into a giant video screen in protest.

Coca-Cola – Mean Joe Greene (1980)

Injured Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Mean Joe Greene staggers up the tunnel, leaving the game. A young fan tells him he’s the greatest, but discouraged by his injury, Greene blows him off. Then the kid offers Joe his bottle of Coke. The iconic image of the football player in profile chugging the cola is topped only by the final scene, the saddened boy walking away, only to have his favorite player throw him his game-worn jersey. The commercial has been parodied countless times, recently in a promo for the TV drama “House,” in which the acerbic Dr. House chucks his wooden cane at the kid, bonking him on the head.

McDonald’s – The Showdown (1993)

Basketball players Michael Jordan and Larry Bird square off for a game of HORSE, in which a player makes a trick shot which his opponent must then duplicate. The challenges get increasingly ludicrous: “Through the window, off the wall, nothin’ but net.” “Off the expressway, over the river…”

EDS – Herding Cats (2000)

This is a perfect example of a brilliant commercial that everyone remembers, but no one has any idea what it was supposed to sell. A company name like Electronic Data Services is no match for images of cowboys driving cats across the open range, winding giant balls of yarn and comparing scratches.

Reebok – Terry Tate, Office Linebacker (2003)

The indelible, hilarious image of a massive football player crushing office workers with violent tackles is a Super Bowl classic. All the while, a CEO extolls the increases in productivity derived from Tate delivering thundering hits and chastising people for not putting cover sheets on their TPS reports. Did you remember that this ad was selling sneakers?

Volkswagen – The Force (2011)

This commercial is famous for the cute, funny depiction of a young boy dressed as Darth Vader trying futilely to use his Force powers, only to be validated by his dad, playing along using the car’s remote starter. It’s also a sign of change in the Super Bowl ad industry. For years, the commercials were kept under wraps until the game. The VW Force ad debuted online a few weeks before the Super Bowl, driving hype before it ever aired on TV.

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Stone Soup: A Truckee Community Event

By Taylor | Published: January 27, 2012

The first Stone Soup of the 2012 season took place Sunday, Jan. 22, 5-7 p.m., at the Community Arts Center, 10046 Church St., Downtown Truckee, Stone Soup is a community based, volunteer staffed evening of soup and friendship. A different business or organization sponsors this weekly event, the volunteer group chopping, dicing, sautéing and cooking a huge pot of soup to share with anyone who walks through the door. Soup is free, donations welcome!

Few things bring a community together better than food and music. Stone Soup, a weekly soup night in Truckee, melds this powerful combination into a special treat of homemade soup, friends, family, conversation, mu­sic and, most importantly, community.

While it’s a lot of work to cook for such a large “family,” there is no shortage of willing volunteers. Stone Soup, the brainchild of Truckee locals Penny Fink, Kaili Sanchez and Deb Ryan, is entirely volunteer-run un­der the administrative umbrella of Pro­ject MANA.

Now in its fourth year, it was created as an attempt to help ad­dress hunger and isolation in our community as dramatic economic changes affected countless people nationwide. The organizers saw winter as a time when people need extra encouragement to gather with their community. “It is important to remember just how full life really is,” said Ryan, “and Stone Soup is our way of remembering that.” Stone Soup is made possible by generous donations from local business and individuals.

Stone Soup

Truckee Community Soup Night

The old Community Center @ 10046 Church Street

5:00-7:00 pm

Come visit for a night of soup, friends, family, conversation, music and community!!

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The Snow Is Here, Be Avalanche Aware!

By Taylor | Published: January 23, 2012

Mother nature has finally decided to bring us some of that fluffy white stuff. Naturally, it’s a race to the gates to get the freshest tracks. As responsible snowsport enthusiasts, we should all have an awareness of the prevention and safety of avalanche emergencies.  Here is a link to a video of a real burial and rescue in Alaska, along with a collection of avalanche tips as found on the internet. Check out your local avalanche centers for professional education and training opportunities.

Avalanche burial & rescue video: http://vimeo.com/6581009

TIPS:

JUDGE THE STABILITY OF THE SNOW

  • look for evidence of other avalanches. (Most Important)
  • Look for collapsing snow. Listen for a “whomp” sound. This sound means that snow is extremely unsafe. Move out of the area immediately, and stay off of steep slopes.
  • Look for cracks in snow. The longer the crack the more dangerous the snow.
  • Watch for rapid changes in weather. (rapid increase of new or wind blown snow, rapid warming, melting, or rain on new snow).

    JUDGING TERRAIN FOR AVALANCHE RISK

  • Anchors. Things such as trees and rocks help hold snow in place, but to be effective, they must be thick and strong.  Tree age and population density are examlpes of anchor effectiveness. A sparcely populated stand of saplings, would be much less successful in anchoring snow than a mature densely populated stand of trees.
  • Steepness. Most avalanches occur, most frequently on slopes between 35 and 45 degrees. Slopes less than 30 degrees seldom produce avalanches and slopes steeper than about 50 degrees slough so often that they tend not to build up into slabs. Unfortunately, 35-40 degree slopes are the most popular for skiing.
  • Aspect with respect to wind and sun. Slopes that have been covered with wind blown snow are more dangerous, while slopes that have been eroded by the wind, are usually more stable. Slopes that are shaded, especially during colder months are more likely to produce dry-slab avalanches, while sunny slopes during warming months are more likely to produce wet slab avalanches.
  • Consequences. Survival depends on the size of the avalanche, and where one is caught. A large avalanche could trap an individual in a deep crevasse under many feet of snow. One could even be pushed over a cliff and then be buried from there. Smaller avalanches, although just as deadly, may not involve as much snow and force, and are more likely to be survived.

    TESTING FOR AVALANCHE PROBABILITY

  • Use test slopes. Test small slopes on foot, skis, snowboard, or snowmobile to see how the snow responds. If it is questionable, stay off larger slopes.
  • Cornice tests. Find a refrigerator-sized cornice and tumble it down the slope. Hint: ALWAYS wear a belay rope and use a snow saw or thin avalanche cord to cut the cornice. This this should only be attempted by experienced individuals.
  • Dig snow pits in representative slopes. To do this test, you will need to complete a multi day class on avalanche safety. This show only be attempted by experienced individuals.

    SAFE TRAVEL TECHNIQUES

  • Have an escape route planned. It always better to have a plan beforehand, and to expect that something will happen, rather than not being aware that it may happen.
  • If it looks like questionable terrain, find a safer route. Take advantage of the safety of ridges, thick trees and slopes with safer consequences. Always remember, you can, in most cases go back the way you came if a safe route is an issue.
  • Travel One at a time. Someone should always remain in a safe place for rescue purposes while members of their group are on the dangerous part of the slope. Always keep visual and voice contact with everyone in your party, but do not occcupy the slope all at once.With large groups, split them in half.
  • Use slope cuts. Keep your speed up and cut across the starting zone, so that if the slope slides, your momentum can carry you off the moving slab into safer terrain. You can do this on skis, snowboards or on snowmobiles.
  • Watch out for cornices (overhangs caused by blown snow that have little to no solid foundation). These pieces of unsteady ground break off easily, and should be avoided by taking a wide path around. NEVER, NEVER walk out to the edge of a drop-off without first checking it out. Many people have died this way.
  • If there’s no other choice, go underground. Snow caves or crevasses provide adequate shelter for short term survival during bad snow storms or avalanches. You may be uncomfortable but you will be alive.


WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET CAUGHT IN AN AVALANCHE

  • GETTING OFF THE SNOW SLAB This needs to be done quickly and is hard to do. If descending on skis or snowboard, head straight down the slope. This will increase speed. You then much angle off to either side (preferably the side with the closest stable snow) and move off the slab. If you’re ascending there’s really not much you can do. If you’re close enough to the crown, you can try running uphill to get off the slab, or running off to the side. If you are on a snowmobile, increase the power to move you to safety. If you’re headed uphill, continue to move uphill. If you are crossing a slope, continue across to safe snow. If you’re headed downhill, the only thing that you can dois to try and outrun the avalanche. Sometimes it works, but usually it doesn’t.
  • If you can’t get off of the snow slab, try grabbing a tree. This needs to be done very quickly because avalanches will pick up speed. The trees that were once your saving grace, will become deadly devices. After about 4 seconds they can easily be traveling at 40 miles per hour, and you can imagine what a tree feels like at 40 mph. (Almost a third of avalanche victims die from trauma from hitting trees and rocks on the way down.)
  • If you are not able to escape or grab onto a tree, you need to swim hardbefore you start to sink. As the avalanche finally slows down and just before it comes to rest,
  • Try and clear an air space in front of your mouth to help delay the formation of an ice mask, which hinders breathing even more than what it already is.
  • Try to push a hand upward to attempt to have a visual marker for rescuers. You may not know which way is up, but take your best guess.
  • After the avalanche comes to a stop, the debris will instantly set up like concrete. So any actions you take must occur BEFORE it comes to a stop. Unless you are very near the surface or have a hand sticking up out of the snow, it’s almost impossible to dig yourself out of an avalanche.

AVALANCHE RESCUES

  • Watch them to see where they end up
  • Assess if you should go for professional help. Victims may have only a few minutes of life, and if you leave, they will probably be dead when you return. Know your rescue ability and/or how close professional help is. Also, by going for help, you could endanger people making an attempt to provide rescue assistance by loosening more unstable snow.
  • Is it safe to try a rescue? Usually it’s safe, but if the individual is buried in a place with multiple avalanche starting zones looming above and weather conditions are questionable (i.e. it’s snowing hard or blowing hard or there’s rapid melting), then there may be a good chance of another avalanche coming down on top of the search area. It’s a hard call. If you think it’s too dangerous then it probably is. If it’s too dangerous then you should go for help. It’s a job for professionals.
  • Find a safe route to the avalanche debris. Often you can descend down the avalanche path or come up from the bottom onto the debris.
  • If the victim is  wearing a beacon, turn yours to receive and make SURE everyone in your party is turned to receive.
  • Go fast and cover a lot of ground.
  • Look carefully for clues, hands sticking out of the snow, snowmobiles, skies, gloves.
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Ghostly Morals

By Taylor | Published: January 20, 2012

A recent featured blog post on ActiveRain.com brought up the topic of selling a home with a morbid history. The blog post was this…

“I was doing a staging consultation for a Realtor I work with and as I walked through the home taking notes the homeowner, Karen, a very nice woman talked about the home’s history built in 1886.

She went on to tell us in a nonplussed tone how there was a ghost of a young boy who hung himself back in the early 1900′s. Virginia and I both looked at her like she had two heads. She went on to say No, it’s not what you think, he’s a nice ghost!

I of course kept my mouth shut. The Realtor said, That’s an interesting rumor that you wouldn’t want potential buyers to know.

Karen didn’t get it and went on to tell us more about the ghost with good energy who lived with her. He’s harmless. He only moves things around, shuts off lights and turns the pictures off center, but he’s never done anything bad. He just lets me know he’s here.

I could sense the Realtor was getting frustrated and again reiterated Karen, many people don’t want to live in a house with a ghost! I’d keep that rumor to yourself! I don’t know if Karen felt silly or inept, but continued to defend her ghost stating all the reasons why it was “cool” to have one live with you. She went on to say how he made her feel better, gave the home a soul, was good energy and was never scary.

Finally Virginia quipped,  Karen, keep that to yourself if you want to sell your house and trust me, plenty of people don’t want to live in a home where someone took their own life and is now rumored to be a ghost!

This really speaks to an interesting situation. In this scenario the issue is a ghost, but the ghost is friendly. What about the homes in the world where people have committed suicide? Or where murders have happened? Ghosts or not, sometimes a person’s mind can not wrap around the cold hard facts. Opinions on the subject surely vary on a case by case scenario. Whereas one homeowner may be thrilled with the prospect of having a home with a history, another home owner may not even want to live on the same block as a haunted abode.  As a resident in your own home, where is the line drawn between what is unacceptable, tolerable or even a bonus? Equally, what is the responsibility of the Seller or Realtor that is listing a haunted, or historically grim property?

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‘Dream Big’ Artist Creates from Rubix Cubes

By Taylor | Published: January 19, 2012

Dream big

For his artwork Dream Big Peter Fecteau used 4.242 Rubik’s Cubes to make a portrait of Martin Luther King Jr.

Technicals:
The mosaic is made of 4,242 officially licensed Rubik’s Cubes. It measures 19′ x 8’6″ x 2.25″ (5.8m x 2.6m x 5.7cm ). It weighs roughly 1000 pounds (454kg). Each cube has been “reversed solved” or twisted so that one of the faces maps it’s nine stickers into the total image, 38,178 stickers total. The construction process took a little over 40 hours and the final installation to about five and a half hours with 6 volunteers helping. The cubes were rented through the You Can Do The Cube organization. The mosaic was on display during the 2010 ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan USA from September 22nd to October 10th. There were roughly 30,000 people who came to view the mosaic during that time. “Dream Big” placed in the top 50 out of 1,700+ entries. The mosaic was left intact for a month after the competition in an attempt to sell it. The pending sale did not materialize and the mosaic was disassembled in late November and the cubes were shipped back to their originating points.

Costs:
The cubes themselves were rented for roughly $8,000 however the total cost of the project was approximately $9,000. A private donation was made for $4,000 and fundraising through special events and Kickstarter.com helped to raise the remainder.

About the Artist:
Pete Fecteau is a designer by day. He attended Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan and attained his BFA in Digital Media Design in 2007. His design portfolio can be seen at http://buttonpresser.com. He mainly works as an interactive designer and helps build online and mobile experiences. Pete also loves illustration, painting, and sculpture and finds time between work to create more traditional art aside for his Rubik’s Cube mosaics. His wife Caitlin and he were married on August 27th, 2011 in Brighton, Michigan they both relocated to San Francisco in January, 2011 were Pete had been awarded a fellowship with Code for America.

Inspiration for “Dream Big”:
Upon graduating college, Fecteau accepted a position as design integrator at Spout.com, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Spout.com was later sold and the group became Pomegranite Studios. Pomegranite Studios, owned by Rick Devos (son of Amway co-founder Dick Devos), created ArtPrize, the world’s largest art competition. ArtPrize’s inaugural year in 2009 drew 1,262 artists and Fecteau, having history with the organization and a deep-seeded interest in art decided to volunteer his time helping with registration of voters and artists. Fecteau knew that he would want to compete in the 2010 competition but was failing to find a competitive concept. During the time he was volunteering, Fecteau went home to sleep and had a dream where he was using Rubik’s Cube to create something. Pete had been solving the Rubik’s Cube as a hobby since his time at Spout.com. Upon waking up, Fecteau set to document the idea and brainstorm other areas of the concept to make it well-rounded.

Outcome:
Fecteau’s “Dream Big” placed in the top 50 out of 1,700+ pieces entered. There was substantial buzz around the piece during the competition due in part to the television interviews and front-page newspaper articles regarding it. The public had trouble finding the venue and many maximized their time by visiting some of the larger venues that housed more artists. Despite these setbacks, the church estimated that 30,000 people came to visit the work, drawing more traffic than one of the major exhibition venues. The voting process, which was mainly text-message driven, experienced technical glitches and an undetermined percent of votes were lost. After the competition there was limited interest from private parties in the purchase of the mosaic. One such party was in talks with Fecteau for nearly eight months before the deal failed to be finalized. In September of 2011 an image of Fecteau working on the construction of the mosaic became popular on the internet and a resurgence of interest in the piece was reflected in the millions of views and traffic to his artwork website petefecteau.com.

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Futuristic and Innovative Homes for Sale Right Now

By Taylor | Published: January 17, 2012

Here is a selection of futuristic abodes that challenge traditional McMansion layouts.  These homes are handpicked as the sleekest, most avant-garde, in some cases zaniest, homes currently or recently on the market. They conjure images of science fiction lore, and in many cases, have actually been rented out by movie and television studios for that express reason.

Wissioming Court, Bethesda, MD

List Price: $7 million
Bed: 4

Bath: 5 full, 2 partial

Size: 10,000 sq ft

This brightly-hued, rectangular 10,000-square foot manse was designed by Robert Gurney, sits overlooking the Potomac River and boasts heated floors, glass bridges and walls, a five-car garage and an infinity pool.

Gonowabie Road, Crystal Bay, NV

List Price: $43 million

Bed: 4

Bath: 4 full, 1 partial

Size: 8,700 sq ft

This Lake Tahoe manse is architecturally significant and spectacularly engineered to maximize views. It touts walls of glass, a glass elevator, and a six-story glass stairwell, all suspended off the edge of a granite promontory making for a Dr. Seuss-like effect.

Loma Linda Drive, Beverly Hills, CA

Recently Sold: $9 million

Bed: 7

Bath: 6

Size: 7,500 sq ft

Designed by Ed Niles, this home is stunning in execution and design. With circular walls of glass and soaring steel beams, the marvelous interior garden courtyard offers hypnotizing views of the infinity edge pool to the city and sea beyond. Custom curved stainless windows and doors, wonderful views in every direction from all rooms.

Waterwood Estate, Vermilion, OH

List Price: $19.5 million

Bed: 5

Bath: 9 full, 7 partial

Size: 38,000 sq ft

The 38,000-square foot geometrically-shaped complex boasts an indoor pool, a wine grotto, a private barber shop, a ballet room, a rotating parking garage platform, even a heliport. From the dining room, which has a rotating floor allowing all dinner guests a view of the water.

West 29th Street, New York, NY

List Price: $1.75 million

Bed: 2

Bath: 2

Size: 1,875 sq ft

This one-bedroom steam punk-inspired apartment is adorned in ship doors, steam pipes, construction dropcloths, even a 32-foot model of the Hindenburg that lights up and changes colors. Open the oversized glass sliding doors and step into your private 500-square foot southern facing terrace sanctuary.

Porsche Design Tower, Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Tentative List Prices: $$2.9 million to $9

Bed: varied

Bath: varied

Size: 3,800- 9,500 sq ft

“You will drive into the building, onto the elevator ramp, shut the ignition off and be magically whisked to the front door of your apartment in 45 seconds to a minute and 15 seconds depending on what floor you’re on,” Gil Dezer of Dezer Properties says of the new condo project.

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Coldwell Banker 2011 Year End Real Estate Market Report

By Val | Published: January 12, 2012

Coldwell Banker

2011 Year End Real Estate Market Report

North Lake Tahoe-Truckee Region MLS

Residential Properties – Single Family Homes and Condominiums

2011 Year End Summary:

Sales Summary 2011:

Overall, residential sales for 2011 were up 7.1% from the 2010 calendar year which was encouraging for the Tahoe-Truckee real estate market.

Total Sales:

For 2011, there were 1,217 residential properties sold in the market as compared to 1,136 residential properties sold for the same period in 2010.   Of the total sales in the market for 2011, 956 were single family homes, while 261 or 21% of the sales were condominiums.  I n 2010, condominiums represented 31% of the sales or 270 units and single family home sales represented 866 units.

REO & Short Sales:

Of the properties sold this year, 206 were REO’s, (16.9%), and 186 were Short Sales, (15.3%) which results in over 32% of the properties sold being distressed properties.  In 2010, there were 218 REO sales and 141 short sales or just over 31% of the total sales which was almost identical to this year.

Sales Price Range:

The hottest segment of the market in 2011 were homes priced under $500,000 as 66% or 808 properties have sold in this price range.  In 2010, 60% or 682 properties sold in this price range which was significantly lower than this year.  Certainly the price declines in the market influenced this trend as homebuyers took advantage of these buying opportunities in the market.

Luxury home sales, homes priced above $1,000,000, were down 24% from 2010 sales as 101 properties or 8.3% of sales occurred in this segment as compared to the 133 properties sold last year.  The median sales price of the luxury properties sold in 2011 were $1,625,000 which was up 1.5% from last year’s median sales price of $1,600,000.  Conversely, the average sales price of the luxury sales in 2011 was $2,016,821 which was 9% lower than last year’s average price of $2,199,131.

The mid-range market, homes priced between $500,000 and $1,000,000, resulted in 308 properties sold or 25.3% of sales as compared to 321 properties sold or 28.3% of sales in this range in 2010.  The mid-range market was very consistent in terms of year over year sales.

Median and Average Sales Prices:

The median sales price for properties sold in 2011 was $397,700 while the average sales price was $535,834. For the same period in 2010, the median sales price was $430,000 and the average sales price was $640,727 which is a (7.5%) and (16.4%) decline in price respectively year over year.

Active Inventory Summary:

Active Listings: The active inventory for residential properties reached a high for the year in August with 1,378 properties listed for sale.  At the end of the year, the active listings for residential properties was at the annual low of 854 active listings in the market; 622 single family homes and 232 condominiums for sale.  Coldwell Banker has over 15% of the active listings in the market and continues to be the market leader for listings.

REO-Short Sale Listings: Of the active listings, there are 132 properties listed as short sales, (15.5%) and 45 properties listed as REO sales, (5.3%).

Months of Inventory: Based on the current inventory and sales for the previous 30-day period, the market has roughly 6-months of inventory available.

2011 Summary and 2012 Outlook:

The 2011 Tahoe-Truckee real estate market was almost identical to the 2010 market as we saw an increase in total residential sales which were fueled by decreasing median and average home sales prices.  The distressed sales market for both REO’s and short sales was almost identical year over year with roughly 32% of all residential sales being distressed.

While none of us have a crystal ball as to what 2012 has in store, it seems likely that the trends of the past two years may carry forward for 2012 with increased sales, continued pressure on home prices and the existence of distressed properties in the overall sales mix.

With the inventory of great residential properties on the market, homes priced at 10-year lows and some of the lowest interest rates in history, savvy real estate investors will certainly be considering the many advantages this market holds for an investment in the Lake Tahoe–Truckee resort communities.

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Debunking the Rumors of Squaw

By Taylor | Published: January 9, 2012

For all the non-Squawpine pass holders, here is an email from Andy Wirth, President and CEO of Squaw Valley, in an attempt to debunk all those nasty circulating rumors.

Last year was a record breaking season for snowfall as most of you will fondly remember. This year is also record breaking, but for lack of snowfall, not just here but across the majority of the States. Not what any of us were dreaming about.

I’ve heard many questions and concerns as this dry spell has continued. With pride and consistency, I’ve held to an open and transparent communication approach with our guests. In that light I want to share a few important thoughts about how we are responding to the current meteorologically induced situation.

First, it’s not a questions of if, in our business, you will see warm and very dry times like these, it is a question of when and with what grace you will endure these types of circumstances and importantly, with what professionalism you respond. I am proud to say that our team has and continues to, respond to the situation with the utmost professionalism, dedication, hard work, high service levels and, yes, grace.

Secondly, these are times that don’t just develop character, they reveal character.  I am proud of the character our team’s revealed as we’ve taken every opportunity to make snow and to provide the best possible surface.  Moreover, we’ve done everything we can to engage our guests and facilitate the enjoyment of their mountain vacation experience in the region.

As a testament to this display of character and effort, Thursday morning I went to the top of Alpine Meadows at 8 a.m. and witnessed our patrollers, snowmakers, lift staff and more, all working together to haul snow in an effort to connect a lift off ramp to a really terrific snow surface waiting for skiers about 100 yards away on the Alpine Bowl run.  I helped out a bit, and then thanked every one of the hard-working individuals. Their response was, “Absolutely! This is what we’re here for!” And with a smile said, “Look around, see our surroundings, we like working hard for something great and we believe in this place and are glad to be here.” I was so impressed by the dedication, the hard work and the attitude as it exemplifies, perfectly, the aforementioned thoughts.

With these broad thoughts conveyed, I would now like to shift gears and talk to a few, very specific points that relate to our management and work on the mountain.  I’m addressing these in the context of a favorite show of mine, “Myth Busters.”  Let’s take on a few myths and set the record straight with irrefutable facts and truths:

Myth
Myth: Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows are shutting down in early January.

Truth: My visceral response to this inane and baseless rumor has been that you should question the intellect, judgment and motivation of the person forwarding this rumor. The specific response is that this is simply not true and we’ve never considered, even once, shutting down Squaw Valley or Alpine Meadows.

MythMyth:  Squaw Valley’s snowmaking approach has been lacking or simply fallen short.

Truth: A quick primer on snow making. The two key variables for snowmaking are ambient temperature and humidity. Much like natural snow the conditions have to be right to produce snow. When conditions have been right,  even with our temperature inversions, snowmaking has been very productive.  There is ample water to run all systems during the most productive hours at night.

The Squaw Valley system is working better than it ever has, and is producing more water than ever, thanks to some upgrades which were implemented in 2009.  At that time, Squaw Valley replaced the mile-long primary snowmaking pipeline between the snowmaking holding-ponds at the Resort at Squaw Creek and the resort base.  This pipeline replacement eliminated several significant leaks, vastly increasing the amount of water that could be made available to the snowmaking system. In addition, Squaw Valley connected several existing irrigation wells, and improved others, to enhance the resort’s ability to refill the ponds during hours when snowmaking is not occurring.  About half of all the snow that Squaw Valley has made during 2011-12 was produced from the improved wells and as a direct result of system upgrades.  Whenever snow is not being made, the ponds are being replenished at a rate of hundreds of gallons per minute. Pumping operations to refill the ponds occur 12 or more hours each day.

Two primary constraints we face in snowmaking are the same ones every snowmaking system in the world faces: ambient temperatures and humidity.

Our approach has been to make snow, in quality and quantity at every opportunity that temperatures allow, in the best most logical places possible and not reach for “number of trails” but quality of surface.  As I write this, a well known skier affirmed that in North Lake Tahoe, while we don’t have the largest trail count, the Squaw Valley snow surface is in fact superior in quality and resiliency given the ongoing, very warm days and nights.

MythMyth: Squaw Valley has held back making snow on key runs, such as Mountain Run.

Truth: Squaw Valley is a huge mountain.  It’s also in a region that’s blessed and cursed with a micro-climate condition called temperature inversions, which due to the sheer size of our two mountains, amplifies their impact. These inversions simply prohibited making snow on Mountain Run and other key areas on the upper mountain.

Myth
Myth: No snow is in the moderate to long term forecasts.

Truth:   First off, all of the resorts in the western US are dealing with a challenging start to the season with the exception of a few small resorts in the extreme southern part of the Rockies.  We’re in a La Nina influenced weather pattern, which is typified by a slow start and a strong, snow-filled finish.  We anticipate, based on current forecasts, the high pressure ridge to the west will break down in mid to late January, which in turn will open up the corridor for significant snowstorms coming into Lake Tahoe.  Of course this can change, but the current, most reliable models support this view.  You may remember a very similar pattern setting up for the Northern Sierra mountains last winter as despite the record snowfall, January of last season saw a very similar circumstance with very little snow in that month (due to a high pressure ridge off the coast of California very effectively blocking any weather systems).  When the ridge eventually broke down, the snow started to fall and kept falling through the spring, ending with a record season.

With the recent acquisition of Alpine Meadows ski resort, one pass and one ticket offers a great deal of varied terrain, with both mountains easily accessed via a free shuttle that departs every 20 minutes. Together, the mountains offer a total of over 6,000 skiable acres when they are at full operations. In the mean time, our hardworking team is making snow at every moment, with a focused and learned strategy.  We all know that it can turn on a dime. We all know that there’s a low pressure system with Squaw Valley’s and Alpine Meadow’s name on it, that’s brewing somewhere in the North Pacific and we will rebound.

While many resorts across the country are considering pulling back on lifts, terrain and snowmaking, we are doing everything possible to add to our terrain and lifts at both Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley. While many are managing back their operations of many aspects of their mountains, we are maintaining and providing excellent service for and within those facilities and operations. Lastly, we have been, since mid-December, staging special employee meals for those whom we simply don’t have shifts.

Keep a weather eye out. Somewhere in the North Pacific, there’s a low pressure system brewin’ that’s got Squaw & Alpine’s name on it. Until then, cross your fingers, do a snow dance, wash your cars and keep the faith.

With cold, snow-filled thoughts,
Thank you,

Andy Wirth

Andy Wirth
President & CEO
Squaw Valley Ski Holdings LLC

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