Chase International and developers of the Tahoe Biltmore Revitalization Project donate sizable money to Operation Save the Tahoe Basin

What began as an annual company meeting for Chase International grew into an extraordinary 20-minute tournament that raised $100,000 to aid “Operation Save the Tahoe Basin” fundraising venture to buy a fire rescue helicopter. Before the assembly on March 23, Chase International representatives and EKN Development Group, developers of the former Tahoe Biltmore in Crystal Bay, Nevada, spearheaded the concept before the annual meeting.

“As stewards of the Lake Tahoe Basin’s most considerable revitalization project, we feel it is our obligation to aid initiatives that positively influence the complete region,” stated Ebbie K. Nakhjavani, President and CEO of EKN. “We collaborated with Chase International, which oversees the sales and marketing for our project, to find out methods to be effective. When we heard about Operation Save the Tahoe Basin, there was no question that we had to be involved.”

During each annual meeting, Chase International sets apart time to unveil their yearly venture as part of their “Chase Cares” company-wide mission to aid the communities in which they live. For this annual meeting, they invited Scott Lindgren, Fire Chief for the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, to educate the retailers and team of workers about his District’s (and others in the Basin) initiative to raise capital to buy a Fire Rescue Helicopter. In brief, his presentation stated that there are no committed aerial resources inside the Basin to help with fires and emergency rescues, and there is a desperate need to have an aggressive, immediate response helicopter.

“Everyone in the room, many of whom had been individually affected by the latest Caldor and Tamarack fires, was greatly surprised to hear the lack of aerial support and the benefits that Operation Save the Tahoe Basin could provide,” stated Mike Dunn, VP Development for Chase International.

Within moments after Chief Lindgren’s presentation, Dunn announced that if each agent donated simply $62 that Chase International could raise $20,000. He then revealed that EKN would match that quantity if that occurred. To add to the sizzle, Shari Chase, Founder & CEO of Chase International, announced that CHASE CARES would match each greenback raised by the people in the room and said, “Let’s do it now!”

“The room burst with an astounding scene of the individuals pledging donations at each and every level,” stated Dunn. “The passion we have for our neighborhood is what Chase International is all about.”

Twenty minutes later, agents and staff of the Chase International Family of Companies, CHASE CARES and EKN raised $100,000. “There is no higher cause than to guard our surroundings and our houses from fire, stated Shari Chase. We are so proud to partner with Tahoe Fire Chief Lindgren to support his dream of buying a desperately wished response helicopter for our region. Thanks to everyone for a magnificent effort.”

“We are so appreciative of the energy that Chase International and EKN put forth to jump-start the fundraising for this critically needed aid to assist save the Tahoe Basin from catastrophic wildfire,” stated Fire Chief Scott Lindgren. “The exposure we will acquire from absolutely everyone who participated will be the key to our success.”

Chase International unveiled Chase Cares – Tahoe Douglas Fire District Helicopter Fundraiser the following day. For particularly important points and to donate to the Fire Rescue Helicopter project, go to TahoeFire.org/helicopter.

About EKN Development Group

EKN is a Newport Beach-based real estate development firm specializing in premier hospitality, retail, mixed-use, and high-density residential developments. In 2021, EKN purchased the Tahoe Biltmore Hotel and Casino in Crystal Bay, Nevada, with the present Tahoe Regional Planning Agency allowing and plans to revitalize the property into a 15-acre Lake Tahoe Alpine Resort beginning Spring, 2022. In addition, EKN presently has over 1,400 hotel keys in development, 350 multifamily residential units, with associated eating places and various amenities in trends throughout the United States.

About Chase International

Founded in 1986, Chase International is a dynamic actual property organization becoming a member of the hearts of shoppers and marketers worldwide. Committed to the success of its clients, income associates, workforce and community, Chase cares and loves making a distinction in people’s lives. With greater than 375 expert Realtors representing properties at all charge points, the organization is proud to be the market leader, reaching the easiest 2021volume in the vicinity of $2.6 billion in annual sales. The employer has twelve locations: Zephyr Cove, Glenbrook, Incline Village, Carson Valley, Reno, Sparks, and Henderson in Nevada. South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City, Truckee, and Roseville in California. Chase has a European advertising and PR association in London. With effective country-wide and worldwide connections in place, Chase one-of-a-kind listings obtain the most publicity to certified conceivable customers worldwide.

How to Ensure You Have the Perfect Work From Home Office When Purchasing Your New Home

Www.TahoeTruckeeRealEstate.com

By E Miller

With the switch to remote work en-masse over the past two years, homeowners in Tahoe found themselves in need of adding new important space to their properties - a home office. While an obvious plus for any property, it’s not enough to put a desk in there and call it an office. There is much more to this space that you need to assess.

What are your needs from the space? How much time are you going to be spending here? Does it get natural light? Is it big enough? Can it fit your office furniture? Does it get good Wi-Fi signal? Is it far away enough from noisy areas of the home? Take some time to really think about this purchase and whether there is potential for a perfect home office.

Check the size

First thing’s first - is the space you’re potentially using as a home office big enough? It’s true you don’t need a massive room for this purpose, but you also don’t want to feel claustrophobic. A regular guest bedroom converted to an office is great. A closet office, while clever, is not a permanent solution.

Consider what your needs are - is it just you and a laptop spending a couple of hours a day here? Will you be spending 8 to 10 hours per day in your office? Do you ever need to receive clients or co-workers here? All that is going to impact your choice.

In addition, think about the furniture you need. Is this space large enough to comfortably fit a full-size desk, a comfortable chair, and any storage you may need for your files? Some compromise is inevitable, but if you need to squeeze past the desk to reach the door, then the space is not appropriate.

Natural light is a must

One of the big things to take into consideration is what kind of environment you are able to create here and how it’s going to make you feel. You are probably looking at spending at least 8 hours per day in this space, so it needs to be nice and calming.

Natural light is a big part of that and can set the mood for the space, so make sure whatever space you choose for an office has a big window. A little sunlight can lift your mood right up, energize you, and help your mental health. Especially in California, it would be a shame not to take advantage of it.

If you’re working in a cramped space with no windows and fluorescent lighting, then it’s no different than your cubicle at work. It’s stressful and not conducive of productivity.

Placement is crucial

Location, location, location is a cliche in real estate, but for a good reason - it’s always important. Not just the location of the property itself, but the location of your home office within that house.

Not many have the luxury to choose where, exactly, they want to place this space, but ideally, you want it to be a bit separate from the rest of your home. Having an office at the far end of the hall helps because it’s more private, and you’re less likely to be distracted by the noise and commotion that is created in a regular home - especially with kids or pets.

Moreover, the physical act of having to walk down the hall to your office can be an effective replacement for a makeshift commute. Your workspace is separate, allowing you to mentally unplug from your personal life and get into work mode. At the end of the day, you are able to walk out and close the door behind you, thus leaving work behind. It can do wonders for that mental separation.

Is it tech-ready?

We all have that one corner in the house where technology goes to die. There’s never any cell phone reception, calls drop out of nowhere, your Wi-Fi signal never quite reaches, Netflix won’t load. It’s incredibly frustrating, and the worst possible spot to put a home office.

The last thing you need is for calls to drop out of nowhere or not be able to complete even the most basic tasks because your Wi-Fi is spotty. It can be the most beautiful room in the house - if your tech doesn’t work here, it’s not the right spot.

Another thing you may want to consider is whether you have enough outlets. It may seem trivial, but when you find yourself needing to plug in a computer, an extra monitor, a phone, a printer, and a TV, you’ll be happy you added some extra ones.

Make it your own

It may not seem like a crucial aspect but being able to make this space your own and personalize it is a big part of its overall success. In short: if you don’t feel comfortable here, you won’t use this space. So, you need to make it comfortable.

That means bringing in comfortable furniture and making sure your needs are met, but it also includes injecting some personal touches into the space and bringing your personality into it. Even the most serious, most important CEO has pictures of their family or their pet.

Don’t be afraid to add artwork for visual interest, or some plants to liven up the place. Curtains are a necessary privacy measure, but they can also act as a pop of color against an otherwise neutral backdrop.

Bottom line

With the remote office becoming a mainstay necessity of today’s modern home, Tahoe buyers can afford to be pickier about the space they will be spending so much time in. While makeshift offices and the kitchen counter are perfectly suitable temporary replacements, when you’re buying a new home, you want the real deal.

Space is, of course, the primary issue, as you want to ensure that you have enough room to comfortably carry out all your tasks. The room should be in a quiet corner of your home to minimize distractions and interruptions, especially during meetings and calls.

In addition, the perfect home office is one where you feel like you can create a comfortable, inviting environment. Natural light, plants, and personal touches can all encourage productivity and creativity and transform this space from somewhere you are forced to spend time to a room where you feel relaxed and at ease.

Search for Tahoe Truckee Real Estate www.TahoeTruckeeRealEstate.com

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What's Going on in Reno?

Check out the upcoming fun Reno Nevada events.

10th Annual Leprechaun Race

10th Annual Leprechaun Race
The Discovery  Map
3/06, 8:30-10am

Reno First Thursday  Midtown Reno  Map 3/03-3/04, 9am-12am

Stoned Level Outer Space Tour 1UP Club  Map 3/04-3/05, 10pm-5am

STR ORDINANCE UPDATE

On January 25, 2022, the Placer County Board of Supervisors added an ordinance to

repeal and change the present non permanent condo ordinance, Chapter 9, Article 9.42 of the

Placer County Code. The ordinance was once adopted on February 8, 2022. The ordinance is

intended to keep residential local personality and tackle neighborhood concerns

regarding nuisances triggered by way of STR operations, such as parking, noise, and trash and to

ensure that every STR is running in compliance with constructing and fireplace codes. The ordinance

also consists of new provisions aimed at restricting/limiting STR operations in East Placer. The

ordinance consists of the following key components.

SHORT-TERM RENTAL DEFINITION

• Short-term leases are described as any unit, or element thereof, accepted for residential

use and rented for occupancy, dwelling, lodging, or drowsing functions for a duration of

not much less than one night time and no longer extra than thirty (30) days. Commercial lodging use

(hotel, motel, condo-hotel [as described in the ordinance] or timeshare) is no longer protected in

the temporary condominium definition and now not difficulty to the ordinance.

EXEMPTIONS

• The preceding non permanent apartment ordinance protected provisions that exempted certain

properties. The amended ordinance eliminated allow exemption provisions. Therefore,

any unit rented for much less than 30 days backyard of a industrial lodging use (hotel, motel,

condo-hotel or timeshare) requires a momentary condominium permit.

o Condo-hotels are described as a facility assembly the definition of a resort or motel,

rented to the prevalent public for in a single day or different transient lodgings, with

ownership structured as a condominium, cooperative or other

ownership/financing arrangement, however shall no longer consist of timeshares in or interval

or fractional possession of a hotel. The condo-hotel has the front desk in-person

management with get entry to to all devices who responds to complaints enforces

trash, noise, and parking rules, and consists of NFPA 13-R or thirteen hearth sprinkler systems

and NFPA seventy two centrally monitored furnace alarm device related to all individual

units and is inspected annually.

Contact Tilly Mezger, Realtor, for a complete file

In mid-September, California passed two new Senate bills that have many Californians wondering what the future of their neighborhoods might look like. The new pair of bills, SB-9 and 10, have effectively put an end to single-family zoning restrictions statewide. Due to the ongoing housing crisis throughout California, these new bills are aimed at making it easier for homeowners and developers to create more housing throughout the State of California. 

Senate Bills 9 & 10 do not take effect until January 1, 2022, and while the hope is that they will create more opportunities for housing, experts say there is no evidence that either bill will allow for the creation of nearly enough housing to mitigate the housing crisis.

So what do these bills change?

SB-9 is the bill most are taking a closer look at. What it means for property owners is that those living on property traditionally zoned for single-family lots will now be able to add a second home to their lot, or split the lot into two lots, or even split the lot in two and place duplexes on each. 

In neighborhoods with single-family zoning laws, these lots have typically been reserved for one home plus an “accessory dwelling unit”. The new law will not only allow for the new property allotments, but they will require cities and counties California-wide to approve such development proposals so long as they meet local design and sizing requirements.

What are the exceptions? 

The new bills do allow for some exceptions to the rules. Most notably the requirements for council approval of these proposals do not apply to historic neighborhoods or historic landmarks. Other exceptions include low-income or rent-controlled housing, farmland, wetlands or properties at high risk of fire and/or flood.

New zoning proposals will also be required to comply with local building height, yard size, and design specification requirements. Property owners must also provide an affidavit stating their intent to live in one of the units or homes on the property for at least 3 years. If the property is near public transit, no additional parking requirements apply - however, if it is not, they may require up to one additional off-street parking spot on the lot.

What is SB-10? 

Senate Bill 10 streamlines the application process to rezone neighborhoods near large public transit centers to increase density with apartment complexes up to 10 units. It streamlines the normally lengthy and costly process by allowing applicants to bypass reviews by the California Environmental Quality Act.

Will this help the housing crisis?

Essentially, at this time there is no evidence to suggest these new bills will put a significant dent in the new development of housing needed to provide the amount needed to mitigate the crisis. A recent study by the Terner Center for Housing Development found that only 5.4% of California’s current single-family lots have the potential to be developed under SB-9.

What’s more is that these new bills have other important “side effects” - like not addressing affordability issues, providing a loophole to skirt Environmental Impact reviews by CEQA, loss of local governance and review processes, and the increase of parking issues just to name a few. 

Find out more about the local impact SB-9 may have on your community here, and for the bill details in full take a look here. 

Nevada County Passes Restrictions for Short Term Rentals

Hot on the heels of Placer County’s Urgency Ordinance, Nevada County followed suit, passing its own ordinance restricting the approval of new Short Term Rental (STR) applications. Beginning September 29, 2021, there has been a 45-day moratorium placed on the acceptance of new STR applications. What this means is for new homeowners looking to purchase a home for the purpose of turning it into an STR, your application will not be approved for the foreseeable future if Placer County’s extension is any indication. 

The aim of the new moratorium is to allow housing provisions to be prioritized to the full-time residence and to offset property destruction and noise pollution in certain neighborhoods. What this means for local real estate, however, is that it can lessen property interest for potential second-home or vacation-home buyers and in turn depreciate the “seller’s market”. 

The moratorium does not apply to any applications currently in process (prior to September 29), nor does it apply to any reapplications for property owners that currently hold an STR license or properties currently in escrow that were intended for STR use explicitly. 

Find out more about how this can affect you here if you’re in Placer County and here if you’re located in Truckee. 

A rise in remote work has influenced what people are looking for in a home and has created a greater appetite for a dedicated home office. Some professionals took advantage of the situation and purchased a bigger/modern home. Others opted to live in more desirable locations and are getting inventive when creating the perfect environment for work-from-home. 

Truckee-Tahoe is a highly desirable area with housing prices above that of the majority of the country. Often sacrificing space and modern updates for location, buyers in Truckee-Tahoe use extra dollars to renovate their home offices, paramount to efficiency and a healthy work/life balance. These trends are expected to continue. 

More and more companies are delaying their plans to return to the office – others are deciding to remain fully remote permanently. According to Erik Bradley, chief engagement strategist at ETR, in a recent article from Forbes:

“The productivity metric is proving that remote work is working,” said Bradley. “So, we all thought that there would be some increase in permanent remote work, but we didn’t expect that to double from pre-pandemic levels.”

If you own your home, it is essential to realize that continued remote work may give you opportunities not available before. Since you do not need to be tied to a specific area for your job, you have more flexibility when it comes to where you can live. This is likely the best time and opportunity to move to an area like Lake Tahoe or Truckee so that you can take advantage of working from home while having a healthy work/life balance. 

If you’re one of the almost 15% of individuals who will have a partially remote or hybrid schedule: You have the option to move to a lower cost-of-living area or to the location of your dreams. If you search for a home in a more affordable area, you’ll be able to get more home for your money, freeing up more options for your dedicated office space and additional breathing room.

If you’re one of the nearly 23% of workers who will remain 100% remote:

You could move to a location you’ve always wanted to live – somewhere near the beach or the mountains. Truckee-Tahoe offers residents and visitors abundant natural beauty perfect for exploration and fun outdoors. 

From the perspective of a seller, you can market the features of your mountain home to more prospective buyers. 

Relocating within your local area to a home further away from your office could be a great choice. Since you won’t be going in to work every day, or are working from home full-time, a slightly longer commute from a more suburban or rural neighborhood may be a worthy trade-off for a home with more features, space, or comforts.

Crypto and Buying a Home

If you’ve ever walked around at an arcade with a couple pocketfuls of game tokens or won similar tokens at a fair to be exchanged for candy and stuffed bears, you already know how cryptocurrencies work. Except cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, are digital currencies that can be used to purchase goods and services. Today, there are more than 6,700 types of cryptocurrencies, some better known than others. Traded as commodities on the stock market and known for their volatility, cryptocurrencies have become increasingly mainstream as more people invest in them and trust the blockchain technology employed to secure them. In fact, some people are using their crypto assets to purchase large, expensive items—like houses!

Introduction to Cryptocurrencies

Major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and others are a digital form of currency. Once you own them, you can use them to purchase goods or services. Although banned in some countries such as China, major digital currencies are growing in popularity in the U.S. and other nations around the globe. Increasingly, companies like Microsoft have begun to accept these currencies as a form of payment. In fact, you can even book airplane flights on some platforms using your crypto. 

As cryptocurrencies mature and become more widely accepted around the world, people who use them to purchase large, valuable items like homes or even yachts will become less an anomaly and more commonplace. In fact, the normalization of these digital currencies may actually help to tame their historic volatility on the market. So, while they may become subject to more regulation, taxes, and more widespread acceptance, they’re also likely to achieve more stability, and that’s good news for crypto investors who want to use their assets as collateral or payment on costly goods and services. 

Buying a Home with Cryptocurrency

Using cryptocurrency to purchase real estate is perfectly legal in countries where crypto is accepted, providing both the buyer and seller agree to transact the deal using whatever kind of crypto is on the table. That’s the sticking point: Both parties must agree to the use of crypto. Sellers who accept this form of payment can retain it as their crypto asset or they can transfer their Bitcoin or other crypto into dollars using a conversion service like BitPay. 

In the US, BitPay has been involved in a number of real estate transactions when the seller was willing to accept crypto so long as it was converted into dollars during the deal. One of the most valuable real estate deals handled by BitPay sold for 2,739 Bitcoins, which, at the crypto’s current value, converted to roughly $1.6 million. On the other hand, some real estate sellers are perfectly content to allow their payment to remain in crypto form, and that trend is likely to continue and grow as digital currencies become less volatile and more widely accepted. 

What Are the Pros of Using Crypto to Purchase Real Estate?

If you have the crypto, you might find it easy and convenient to use it to purchase your next home. On the other hand, if you find a property that suits but the seller isn’t interested in your Bitcoin, there’s nothing preventing you from cashing it in yourself and paying in dollars. However, there are some benefits to bringing your crypto assets to the bargaining table.

Diversification

When you have a valuable crypto asset, you’ll find that you have something that’s increasingly in demand. In fact, you may have already noted that some sellers are advertising that cryptocurrencies are welcome. While many sellers are prepared to convert their crypto into a dollar amount immediately with the sale of their property, others view the crypto like the commodity it is—something that could very well go up in value. Certainly, it’s a gamble—and the risk doesn’t always pay off. But sellers who don’t mind playing the waiting game can hang on to the crypto until they feel comfortable converting it at the right time, making a nice profit.

Locks in Profits

If you have crypto, you might be feeling a bit squeamish because of its historic volatility. You, too, many wish to convert your asset into a different type of asset like a house that will allow you to more reliably lock in your profits. Your real estate purchase is an investment, too. If you’ve noticed that your Bitcoin or Ethereum is ranging in value a bit too much for comfort, you may be ready to turn your crypto asset into a less-volatile real estate asset. And that’s not usually a bad investment decision—particularly if you buy a property that’s safely expected to appreciate in value.

What Are the Cons of Using Crypto for Real Estate Transactions?

There are some downsides when it comes to paying for a house with cryptocurrencies. However, you’ll want to weigh your own specific circumstances in light of each. 

Crypto’s Limited Availability

First, cryptocurrency still only involves a small number of real estate deals. Only a very small percentage of sellers are open to accepting crypto or even advertise that they are open to this form of payment. In fact, the use of crypto for home deals is still in its infancy. While it is increasingly used to purchase commercial property, it’s still new in that marketplace, too. Nevertheless, these transactions are growing in number. 

It’s a Gamble

The cryptocurrency in your possession is associated with a value. That value may fall after you purchase your house with it—which means you let go at the right time—or it might rise, leaving the seller with the profit that could have been yours had you hung onto it longer. In this way, buyers are taking a gamble by using their crypto and forfeiting the opportunity to enjoy a significant profit should the crypto enjoy phenomenal value growth. On the other hand, remember that property, too, is an investment that may appreciate in value. 

It’s Complicated: Taxes

Cryptocurrencies, being effectively unregulated, can be frustrating at tax time. There is a capital gains tax that you have to be aware of any time you spend, trade, or exchange your crypto. If you plan to exchange your cryptocurrency for a home, you should definitely involve an accountant who is experienced with these types of crypto real estate transactions. Many CPAs are investing time and energy into understanding the ins and outs of crypto trading. 

Crypto is Volatile

One of the reasons you might be tempted to use your crypto to pay for a home is because of its volatile nature. Even as you decide to pay with crypto and begin your hunt for a house, your Bitcoin or other crypto’s value could rise—but it could also tank, forcing you to make other payment arrangements or to pay with more of your digital currency than you had expected. 

Sell Your Cryptocurrency for a Downpayment

If you’re planning to finance part of your home, you may want to consider converting your crypto into dollars in order to make your down payment. This certainly sounds simple enough, but banks tend to be a bit nosy about where you obtained your down payment and may want to have proof that you’ve had this money for a period of time before approving your application for a home mortgage. 

However, you can provide proof with a bit of diligence. For instance, you need to keep track of all of your transaction dates such as each time you purchased the cryptocurrency and those transactions’ blockchain IDs. Banks, of course, are used to viewing statements, so yours may be unused to dealing with blockchain. On the other hand, you can always put the converted dollars into your savings or checking account and let it sit there for a period of time—about 60 days—in order to satisfy the bank. 

Qualifying for a Mortgage with Cryptocurrencies

Your cryptocurrency is an asset. No, not all banks understand that asset, but they’re increasingly becoming obligated to do so. In fact, major mortgage loan companies like Fannie May have indicated that Bitcoin can be used as collateral to secure a home mortgage loan. However, these lenders have a strict requirement that the Bitcoin transactions must have a strict paper trail that includes documentation of your original crypto purchases and documents showing their sales. This can amount to quite a bit of paperwork, but if you don’t mind, you can qualify for a crypto-backed mortgage in this manner.

Is a Crypto Real Estate Deal for You?

When cryptocurrencies first came into use, few people dreamed they could be used to purchase real estate. Today, we know they can, and some people have already opted to use theirs to buy a home or commercial property. Is this the right move for you? You’ll definitely want to weigh the pros and cons outlined here carefully. You might even want to consult with your crypt-experienced CPA before you rush into any real estate transactions. The good news is, using your crypto is definitely an option you can consider, and it might be the ideal option for you.