Different Options for Holding Title

There are many great Truckee area homes for sale.  Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home,click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (530) 582-6900 for a FREE home buying consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Today, I’m joined by Michael E. Graham, a local attorney who specializes in estate planning. Today, we’ll discuss some of the different ways to hold title and the respective pros and cons of each.

Michael says that for single persons, holding title alone is a no-brainer because you’re taking the title as separate property. The exception is if you’re a married person and you take title solely under the married person’s name, under California law, that’s still considered to be a community property acquisition, unless there is proof that it is separate property.

If the married person wants to take title separately, the title company requires the other spouse to sign off on an inter spousal deed or some kind of quit-claim deed. Simply notify the escrow officer, and they should be able to assist you.

If more than one person is taking title to property, then there are various forms of title. The two most common are joint tenancy and tenancy in common. Joint tenants must hold equal interests in the property. If one person owns 60% and the other owns 40%, then you would fall under a tenancy in common arrangement.

The joint tenancy form of title is the default option that title companies usually offer married people. However, it is not the best option for married people. If one spouse were to pass away, the surviving spouse would record an affidavit with the death certificate in order for the title to pass to them. This is a simple way of avoiding probate court.

There is also a new option for married people who want to hold title with right of survivorship: community property with right of survivorship. This is essentially the same thing as the joint tenancy, and an affidavit if one spouse passes away for the property to vest in the surviving spouse. Michael recommends this for married people in California because there is an important tax ramification.

Tenancy in common is the other form of holding title between adults. Tenants in common means people can own unequal interests that are then passed by the will. If you say in your will that you want the title to go to someone who is not a tenant in common, then that can happen. Tenants in common also allows for restrictions. You may want to consider some type of tenant in common agreement so you don’t end up owning the vacation home with your ex-wife.

A popular alternative is holding title through a trust. The property can still be a community property asset within the context of the trust, and the title can be passed to the person entitled under the trust by the surviving trustee. This guarantees you a sound estate.


We know this is a lot of information, so if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us! We look forward to hearing from you!

How Can You Be Protected When Tragedy Strikes?

There are many great Truckee area homes for sale.  Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home,click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (530) 582-6900 for a FREE home buying consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Today we are excited to be joined by local attorney and estate planning specialist, Michael E. Graham. He is here to give us an overview in estate planning and how it relates to real estate up here in the mountains. 

The first step in estate planning is gathering all the information necessary to assess what the estate planning client’s needs are. Michael likes to send out a questionnaire that asks potential clients all the necessary questions about their family and life so that everything can be put in order. After he gets all this information, he has full lists of assets and liabilities to determine what the nature and extent of the client’s estate is. 

After he has that information, Michael works as a filter, using the information to determine what the client would want in an estate plan. As a basic rule of thumb, he likes to start his clients off with a core plan of a basic will and trust. Trusts can be amended or changed at any time while the older is living, and the will acts in conjunction with the trust. If you have assets that are not in the name of the trust at the time of death, the will works to put in those assets.

Another document he likes to have his clients fill out is a durable power of attorney. This is a document where you essentially authorize an agent to act on your behalf in financial matters. The benefit of this is that if the principal becomes incapacitated, the agent can take action on their behalf. Usually, the “agent” is a close family member, like a spouse, sibling, or child. Attorneys like Michael can only serve as the agent for a client under power of attorney only if there is a certificate of independent review from another attorney. 

Finally, the last important document we will talk about today is the advanced healthcare directive. This has a lot of important information on it for you to fill out in case of a health emergency, and there are a lot of decisions to be made. What organs you are willing to donate, how you want your body disposed of when you die, and what you want done in a medical emergency. This isn’t something that only needs an oral contract, you have to have this in writing. A copy of this document can usually be obtained through your local health care provider for free. 

Trusts are very beneficial, allowing you to avoid probate, while still taking advantage of property tax laws, like the parent-child exclusion. If you have any questions for us about estate planning or real estate in general, give us a call or send us an email. We can’t wait to hear from you!

What Should You Know About the Truckee Real Estate Market?

There are many great Truckee area homes for sale.  Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home,click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (530) 582-6900 for a FREE home buying consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Today I would like to provide you with a brief real estate market update for the Truckee area. It's an exciting time to be a home seller right now, and I'll tell you why in a moment.

We can tell that people are serious about buying because the number of homes that have gone into escrow have nearly doubled. In the last week of August we had 30 homes go into Escrow, and then from August 30 to the present we have had 51 houses go into Escrow.

This isn't to say that supply isn't keeping up with demand because we have seen 72 homes come onto the market in the last 9 days. This tells me that the market is actually accelerating and homes are finally selling.

So, what's the bottom line here? If you've been thinking about selling your property, now is a phenomenal time to do so. Feel free to contact me and we can set up a plan to sell your home for top dollar.

I look forward to hearing from you!

What Is Your Home Worth?

There are many great Truckee area homes for sale.  Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home,click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (530) 582-6900 for a FREE home buying consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Today we're going to talk about determining the value of your home. Often, people call me asking about their home value because they've seen something on Zillow or Trulia. Zillow and Trulia are often inaccurate, and cannot be trusted to find the true value.

A recent report in the Los Angeles Times featured the president of Zillow, who admitted that there is a deviation of up to 8% in home values quoted online. For a $700,000 home, that could mean that the value is off by $56,000. That's a pretty wide range.

To determine the value of your home, we need to look at what your home is competing with on the market. We need to know what features and benefits your home can offer, and how many buyers are looking for your type of property.

In Truckee, our inventory has exploded. From May to July, we have nearly doubled or tripled our inventory. It's more important than ever for sellers to make sure their property shines. If you're a buyer, you have a lot to choose from.

The good news is if you're selling your property, there are very few new listings coming on the market now. The supply is starting to dwindle right before September, which is one of our best selling months.


If you want to know a realistic value on your home, you should talk to a qualified and experienced real estate agent. They can look at your home objectively, give you the home's true value, and tell you what it will sell for.

How Has Our Market Improved in the Past Year?

There are many great Truckee area homes for sale.  Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home,click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (530) 582-6900 for a FREE home buying consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Hey there everyone, today I am going to give you a quick summer real estate market update for Tahoe and Truckee. To get started, we are seeing our inventory really start to increase, as well as flattening home prices in most areas. This is totally normal for this time of year.

This year, we have seen some great improvements over our numbers from 2014. We took a look at the numbers through June 2015, and compared them to the numbers from June 2014. Here is what we found:

• Our sales volume is up 6%
• The average home price is down 8%
• The median home price is down about 11%
• There are 7% fewer homes on the market

As you can see, the market is starting to level out a bit. This is not to say you should hold off if you are thinking of selling. What it is saying is that at this time of year, you've got to price your home right and have it in good condition in order to sell quickly.

During this time of year, we always see inventory increase. In fact, we have seen our inventory grow by nearly 100 in just over a month. 

If you have any questions for us, or are looking to buy or sell a home here in Tahoe/Truckee, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

Is Your Truckee Home Worth More than You Think?

There are many great Truckee area homes for sale.  Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (530) 582-6900 for a FREE home buying consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Hello and welcome back! Today, we want to share a quick market update, so you know what to expect from the Truckee market in the coming months!

The number of homes sold is down, but in most areas the average and median prices have risen! Additionally, the inventory of available homes has dropped.

The conditions in our high-end luxury market are a good example of recent trends. Sales are down 34% when compared to the same time period year to date in 2014. However, the average price is up 4% and the median price is up 10%! Also, inventory is down 10%, which is great news for sellers.

In Tahoe Donner, sales are down 22%, but the median price is up 8%. The general sales in this area are between $400,000-$750,000. It has been difficult, however, to find enough inventory to satisfy buyer demand. In the primary home market - like Sierra Meadows, Prosser, and Glenshire - sales are down 30%, but the average price is up 22%. Additionally, there are 5% fewer homes on the market. Again, we're having trouble satisfying buyer demand, so it is a fantastic time to list! 

Lastly, in the Donner Lake area, there are 57% fewer home sales now than there were last year. This may have something to do with the lack of snow we had this winter season. Despite a sharp drop in sales, we saw the average price jump up over 31%! This is with a drop in inventory of 27%!

As you can see, now is the time to sell in the Truckee area. Inventory is low and prices are high, so if you take the right steps toward selling, you should have great success! If you have questions about anything real estate related, or if you would like our assistance taking advantage of this market, give us a call or shoot us an email. We would love to hear from you! 

How Can Staging Help You Sell Your Truckee Home Faster and for More Money?

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search
Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation
Call me at (530) 582-6900 for a FREE home buying consultation

Today, we are going to discuss the staging process and how it could help you get your home sold! 

I've helped a lot of sellers get their home sold after they had trouble selling with other agents. This is because I have a lot of experience, and know what sells and what doesn't sell.

Even the most updated and beautiful homes feel cold and barren when they are vacant. Having furniture and light decor makes a huge difference! Staging allows us to come in and properly present the house as a home: a place where buyers can see themselves and their families living comfortably. 

Homes that are staged well draw buyers in and make them feel warm inside the home. I have my own inventory of furniture and decorative items to help properly stage your home! It's one of the services we provide when you list with us so that you can get top dollar for your home and sell it quickly! 

If you have any questions about how staging can benefit you, give me a call or shoot me a quick email! I would love to help you out! 

How to Avoid the "Kiss of Death" When Selling Your Home

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search
Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation
Call me at (530) 582-6900 for a FREE home buying consultation

Are you thinking about selling your property in the near future? If so, you've come to the right place. Today, I'll cover how to avoid the kiss of death when putting your home on the Truckee market! 

I've been selling real estate in the area for over 15 years, and 25-30% of my business comes from sellers who failed to sell their home with another agent.

What is it that caused these homes to sit on the market for so long, you ask? It's quite simple, really: the kiss of death when selling your home is overpricing it from the beginning! 

Within the first 30 days your home is on the market, it is considered a fresh new listing. It's when the listing is in its prime - buyers come by to take a look at it, there is excitement about it, and it's the time period you're most likely to get an offer that's close to the full listing price. 

The problem is that many sellers want to list high and "leave room for negotiation." They don't want to give the home away, but overpricing the home from the start pushes buyers away and greatly diminishes the benefits that typically come with a fresh listing. When a home sits on the market for a long time, the first thing the buyer thinks is, "What's wrong with this home?" or "Why hasn't it sold?"

I don't want you to leave any money on the table, but I also don't want your listing to go stale and sell for much less than it would have otherwise. My experience in the industry is at your disposal - I know how to put the right price on your home, so you can get the most money possible. If you want to learn how I do this, or if you have any questions about real estate at all, give me a call or shoot me a quick email. I would love to hear from you!

What Do Changing Market Conditions in Truckee Mean for You?

There are many great Truckee area homes for sale.  Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (530) 582-6900 for a FREE home buying consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
Now that 2014 has wrapped up, we want to take a look back on what we saw in Truckee real estate. After we assess last year's trends, we'll take a look at what you can expect moving forward.

The new year marks a transition from a prominent buyer's market to a more balanced market. Inventory is still at record lows. Partly because bank-owned home sales are a thing of the past, we have seen a 15% drop in home sales in our area. However, we did see some gains in prices, as the average sales price rose by 17% and median home price went up by 11%!

The tech boom and real estate recovery in the Bay Area seems to be increasing the sales activity up here. For home prices under $1 million, 20% fewer sold, and the average sales priced increased by only 7%. However, for homes priced between $1 million and $5 million, there were 27% more sales in the area!

So, what can we expect in 2015?

We think prices will continue to increase, but at a slower, more steady pace than we saw last year. Also, expect a small increase in interest rates. If you're planning on buying in the coming year, it's as important as ever that you get pre-qualified before you start looking for a home. Lenders have been very strict about have the proper paperwork in order before going forward with a loan. 

Also, keep an eye for some of the new construction going on in Truckee. There are some great new homes going up all the time! 

If you have any questions about making a move in the Truckee area, we would love to hear from you. Give us a call or shoot us an email if you would like assistance in taking advantage of this great market! 

Why is it Important That You Accurately Price Your Home?

Today I wanted to talk to you about why it is so important to accurately price your home. When your home is priced accurately, you will typically receive multiple offers within the first two weeks of it being on the market. Also when buyers are competing against other buyers, and they love your home, they tend to pay more than if they were the only one bidding on your property.

When a home sits on the market, both buyers and agents start to wonder what is wrong with the property and why it hasn’t be selling. The home becomes an overripe piece of fruit because the longer it sits around, it begins to rot. That is what people look at when they’re look at homes and their days on market. When the home sits on the market, it is not a hot new item anymore!

If you’re a seller and you’re interested in selling your home, check out the free home vale report or give me a call at (530) 582-6900. Thanks and have a great day!

What Did 2013 Bring You?

Today I wanted to give you a recap of 2013 and also what you can expect in 2014 for the Truckee/Tahoe market. 2013 was an exciting real estate year and we continuing to stabilize and see strong growth in our market. Our average price is up about 10% right now and the median price is currently up about 11%. The exciting part is that inventory is down 9% from last year; this should allow continuing growth for prices through the springtime.

Looking toward 2014, keep in mind that our inventory typically doubles by July. If we look at last year, the average price dropped by over $100,000 from April-July when your compare it to last year between October and March. If you’re thinking about selling your property and taking advantage of low inventory and low interest rates, be sure to do so March to beat the crowd!

If you’re looking for a home, we can find you that perfect mountain home. Thanks and have a great day!

I Would Like to Personally Welcome You to My Video Blog!

Thank you for joining my video blog! I will be doing this twice a month to help anyone who is looking to buy or sell in the Truckee/Tahoe area.

Right now, we are seeing low inventory; the levels are 11% lower than the previous year. However, our median price is up 16% giving us more sales in the area and less for buyers to choose from. When we saw the original bump in interest rates a few months ago, sales slowed. When the interest rates dipped about a week ago, we’ve sold 5 properties since. With the decrease in interest rates, sellers are trying to find the perfect home before winter.

If you’re looking to sell your home, please utilize our free home value report and if you’re looking to buy, click on our free home search. You are always welcome to call me at (530) 582-6900. Thanks and have a great day!