Incline Village Broker’s Tour Highlights – October 21, 2025

Incline Village Broker’s Tour Highlights – October 21, 2025

Every week (or two during the winter), I preview homes across Incline Village and Crystal Bay to stay on top of the market and help my buyers make smart, confident decisions. Today also happens to be my birthday, and there’s nothing I love more than touring homes, so spending the day exploring new listings felt like the perfect gift to myself. Here are the homes from this week’s tour:


866 Northwood Blvd, Unit 6 – $825,000 [Link]

3 bed | 2.5 bath | 1,628 sqft
Offering generous square footage in central Incline Village, this residence includes a covered carport adjacent to the unit for convenient access and a private patio with gated entry to the community’s scenic walkways. With thoughtful updates, this home presents an appealing opportunity at this price point.


845 Southwood Blvd, Unit 22 – $829,000 [Link]

3 bed | 2 bath | 1,332 sqft
Short-term rentals are permissible at this location. The unit backs up to a peaceful creek with wooded views, creating a tranquil setting. Inside, hickory kitchen cabinets and hardwood floors throughout lend warmth and character to the space.


908 Harold Dr, Unit 23 – $1,225,000 [Link]

3 bed | 3.5 bath | 1,452 sqft
Featuring a large southwest-facing deck and a full bathroom on each level, this versatile floor plan includes a private studio with a kitchenette – ideal for guests or extended stays. With partial updates already in place, the property offers room for future personalization.


867 Tyner Way – $2,200,000 [Link]

3 bed | 2.5 bath | 1,560 sqft
Set on a quarter-acre parcel adjacent to forest service lots, this south-facing home enjoys filtered lake views and abundant natural light. Recently remodeled, the residence highlights a spacious primary suite and a floor plan that blends comfort with modern mountain appeal.


727 Kelly Dr – $5,795,000 [Link]

5 bed | 4.5+ bath | 4,643 sqft
Situated on just over a half-acre lot, this custom-designed home embraces its forested surroundings with walls of glass that bring the outdoors in. Every element reflects a refined approach to mountain living, offering privacy, natural light, and exceptional craftsmanship throughout.


My Takeaway

This week’s tour offered a clear snapshot of Incline Village’s diverse housing market, with listings ranging from $825K townhomes to a $5.7M custom estate tucked into the trees. Each home reflected the lifestyle that continues to draw buyers to Tahoe – whether that means a quiet creekside retreat, a forest-view sanctuary, or a central location close to town amenities. With several properties offering short-term rental eligibility and others presenting opportunities for thoughtful updates, the market remains balanced between move-in-ready options and homes with long-term potential. As winter approaches, activity naturally tapers, yet motivated sellers and strategic buyers are still finding alignment in this season’s offerings.

Reach out anytime – I’d love to help you find the Tahoe home that fits your lifestyle, budget, and dreams.

Contact:

Kristie Wells | Nevada License: S.0204026 | Phone: 415-692-1002 | Email: [email protected]

Inside Incline | Market Update: October 16, 2025

Inside Incline | Market Update: October 16, 2025

Incline Village woke up to a light dusting of snow this week, a beautiful preview of the season ahead. Fall still lingers, offering quiet trails, golden aspens, and time for locals to enjoy the calm before winter. The market remains active, with new listings and steady movement across price points.

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Inside Incline | Market Update: October 3, 2025

Inside Incline | Market Update: October 3, 2025

Incline Village’s energy is alive this season, from the buzz around Bar La Loca’s creative Spanish-inspired tapas to a surprisingly active real estate market. With new listings, steady sales, and luxury homes like Crystal Pointe capturing attention, there’s no slowing down on the North Shore.

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Inside Incline | Market Update: September 25, 2025

Inside Incline | Market Update: September 25, 2025

It’s been an incredible week in Incline Village – from the Highlanders’ homecoming win to perfect fall weather and even a few early flakes atop Mt. Rose. The local real estate market remains lively, with new listings, active buyers, and steady closings across the board.

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Inside Incline | Market Update: September 17, 2025

Inside Incline | Market Update: September 17, 2025

From hikers and bikers at Tunnel Creek Café to buyers and sellers across the North Shore, this week celebrates the Tahoe lifestyle in full. The local favorite café continues to anchor the outdoor community, while the real estate market remains steady with new listings, active escrows, and ongoing interest across all price points.

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Inside Incline | Market Update: November 6, 2025

Inside Incline | Market Update: November 6, 2025

As the crowds thin and Tahoe’s trails turn gold, locals embrace the season that truly belongs to them. Autumn here means crisp hikes, colorful foliage, and quiet lake days — all paired with an unexpectedly strong real estate market. Listings, escrows, and closings continue at a steady pace, proving fall is far from a slowdown on the North Shore.

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Inside Incline | Market Update: September 4, 2025

Inside Incline | Market Update: September 4, 2025

It’s locals’ summer in Tahoe – when the beaches quiet down, the nights cool off, and we remember why we love living here. The real estate market is heating up though, with strong buyer activity, luxury closings, and new listings across the board. From golf course views to record-setting sales, Incline Village is ending summer on a high note.

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First-Time Homebuyer Myths (and the Truth That’ll Save You Money)

First-Time Homebuyer Myths (and the Truth That’ll Save You Money)

Buying your first home is exciting, and noisy. Friends, TikTok, even well-meaning relatives will hand you “rules” that aren’t really rules. Let’s clear the air with five stubborn myths I hear all the time (plus what to do instead).

Myth #1: “You need 20% down to buy a home.”

Reality: Plenty of solid loans allow 3%–3.5% down (and even 0% for VA/USDA-eligible buyers). Conventional options like Fannie Mae HomeReady and Freddie Mac Home Possible/HomeOne start at 3% down; FHA is 3.5%. On top of that, many state and local down-payment assistance (DPA) programs can cover part of your down payment or closing costs. Also, many programs define “first-time buyer” as someone who hasn’t owned a home in three years, so you may qualify again sooner than you think.

What to do instead

  • Ask your lender about 3% down conventional and 3.5% down FHA options.
  • Check eligibility for local DPA grants/forgivable seconds; they exist in most states and cities.

Myth #2: “Shopping multiple lenders will tank my credit, so I should stick to one quote.”

Reality: Credit models treat rate-shopping as smart behavior. Multiple mortgage inquiries within a single window (typically 14–45 days, depending on model) count as one inquiry, and checking your own credit report does not hurt your score. [link]

What to do instead

  • Gather 3+ quotes within a two-week window to be safe across scoring models.
  • Pull your own reports first to fix errors with no score impact. [link]

Myth #3: “PMI is forever and it’s just throwing money away.”

Reality: Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) enables lower-down-payment loans. On conventional mortgages, PMI is removable – you can request cancellation at 80% LTV and it automatically terminates at 78% under the Homeowners Protection Act (assuming you’re current). FHA mortgage insurance follows different rules and may require refinancing to remove. [link]

What to do instead

  • Ask your lender to map your PMI-removal date at application.
  • Consider extra principal payments to hit 80% LTV sooner.

Myth #4: “First-time buyer programs are only for very low-income households and are impossible to qualify for.”

Reality: Many programs target low-to-moderate income and vary by area; qualification is often more attainable than people think. And remember the HUD ‘first-time buyer’ rule – no ownership in the last 3 years, which helps many repeat renters qualify again.

What to do instead

  • Search your state and county housing agencies for DPA, closing-cost credits, and tax credits.
  • Complete homebuyer education – some programs (e.g., HomeReady) require it and may even reduce costs. [link]

Myth #5: “To win in a competitive market, I should waive the home inspection.”

Reality: Inspections protect you from expensive surprises and can strengthen negotiations. Yes, some buyers waive contingencies, but it’s not the norm, and it carries risk. Industry data shows a meaningful minority waive inspections, yet guidance remains clear: inspections help you discover defects, negotiate repairs/credits, or walk away if needed.

What to do instead

  • Consider a shorter inspection window or informational inspection rather than waiving outright.
  • In Tahoe, add specialty checks (roof, sewer, chimney, radon, wildfire defensible-space) given mountain conditions.

Quick Recap (Pin This)

  • 20% down is optional; legit loans start at 3–3.5% with possible DPA help.
  • Rate-shop freely; mortgage pulls within 14–45 days count as one.
  • PMI is temporary on conventional loans – plan your 80% LTV milestone.
  • Programs aren’t just for very low income – check your eligibility (and the 3-year rule).
  • Inspections protect you – don’t buy blind.

My Word for the Year: Challenge

Each year, I choose a word to guide my focus, a compass for where I want to grow. For 2025, that word is challenge.

First and foremost, I’m looking for a professional challenge — one that stretches my skills, sparks my curiosity, and allows me to make a meaningful impact. I spent much of 2024 doing work that was both important and deeply fulfilling. I helped build systems, strategies, and programs that strengthened the connection between customers, partners, and the business. Unfortunately, when the company underwent its latest round of layoffs, my role was included.

Now, I find myself in a new chapter, one that’s equal parts reflection and reinvention. I’m searching for my next opportunity, one that will challenge me in all the right ways.

What I enjoy most is building relationships for growth-oriented, customer-centric organizations. I artfully balance the needs and voice of the customer with business objectives to ensure the journey is optimized for loyalty and lifetime value. I also excel in developing and expanding partner relationships and ecosystem programs that create win-win-win outcomes for everyone involved.

Some of the roles where I thrive include Customer Experience, Partner Relations, and Community Engagement.

Beyond relationship-building, I’m energized by operational excellence – developing systems, processes, and feedback loops that generate ongoing insights to inform and validate business strategies. I don’t just enjoy this part of the work; I’m really good at it.

I’ve been quietly having conversations with friends about potential opportunities, but I’ve realized it’s time to cast a wider net — and ask for help.

If you know of a company looking for someone passionate about creating exceptional customer, partner, or community experiences, I’d love to hear about it (and especially appreciate introductions to hiring managers).

You can find my LinkedIn profile here, and I’m happy to share my resume upon request.

While I’m based in North Lake Tahoe, I’m open to remote roles and hybrid opportunities in the Bay Area, Sacramento, or Reno. My passport is current, so if your offices happen to be overseas, I’m ready to pack my bags.

Here’s to a year of new challenges, new connections, and new possibilities.

Putting The New Ski Boots To Work

I used to love to ski. Mom and dad would wake us up at 4am, throw us, our gear, as well as a pile of pillows and blankets into the truck, and make the four-hour drive for a fun day on the mountain. Hit it early, hit it hard, and make the most of every single minute we had.

From a young age, my sisters and I were racing down Black Diamond runs, carving lines around moguls, and taking every jump opportunity we could find. Our parents raised a bunch of wild women on the mountain, and we simply could not get enough.

As the oldest, I always got dad’s hand-me-downs when it came to gear. I remember him laughing with some of his friends that his (one foot shorter) 13-year daughter was skiing on his 174s. I didn’t know any better. I just knew if I wanted to ski, I either used his old gear or I had to buy my own, and gear was expensive, even back then. I have told this story a couple of times at various ski rental shops. They smile, hand me 164s, and tell me they don’t recommend anything longer. Ha.

As I got older (and my dad stopped paying for my ski lift tickets), my trips to the mountain slowed down. I blame a heavy workload, a solid social calendar, and the fact I was living in a city where there was always a lot to do (shout out to San Francisco!). I’d go a couple of times a year, renting equipment as needed, and finding I was ok not tearing down the mountain as much anymore.

Then I met Heuer. My snowboarding, Tahoe-loving partner-in-crime. We’d rent homes for the ski season and come up as much as we could. It was great, and I realized how much I had missed gliding down the mountain.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before I started to get a shooting pain in my knees, the right one mostly, but both were having issues. After a couple of doctor’s visits, I learned I had chondromalacia patella and scheduled the surgery to remove a couple of bone spurs that had formed under my kneecaps. I thought my skiing days were over.

They were, mostly. Every once in a while I would rent some gear and hit the mountain with Heuer, but I would pay for it after. So, I took up my post as an official “lodge bunny” and have spent the last decade+ reading or working at the resort while he slid around the mountain. I lied to myself and said it was “good enough,” even though I knew it wasn’t.

That all changed this year when we moved to North Lake Tahoe. With this move, I swore I was going to get back up on the mountain and enjoy the perks of living a mere 10 minutes from a resort. I rented some gear and got in one day of spring skiing. While my knees were not thrilled, they allowed the day to happen. This was a good sign, very good indeed. I decided to set the intention that I will ski, so it was time to buy some gear. Gulp.

We hit a local ski swap/sale and found a pair of new Atomic boots that fit my feet like a glove, er … sock. As I was not sure what type of skis I wanted (a lot has changed in 10+ years), I decided to only buy the boots as I could rent different pairs of skis each time I go out until I find something I’d really like. So I handed over my credit card and took them home.

We have gotten quite a bit of snow over the last couple of weeks, so Heuer and I picked up some rental skis for me, and headed up to Diamond Peak Ski Resort. I only lasted an hour that day, but it felt good and I was ready for more.

So, yesterday, we headed to the mountain again. I did a couple of runs on the bunny slopes to warm up the legs and make sure my knees were going to tolerate this, then we headed up the Crystal Express chair. The thing I love most about this lift is it drops you in front of (I think) one of the best views of Lake Tahoe, whether the sun is shining or snow is dumping down on you. Heuer waited patiently as I took a few minutes to get a couple of photos. You are welcome honey, as I think you look super cute here.

The runs down the hill are long and well-groomed, but there were a lot of fluffy snow piles throughout from people carving their own way down. While these little wannabe moguls would not have been an issue for me in my younger years, my knees quickly spoke up to remind me I am not quite ready for the Winter Olympics. I got down, but that was the last run of the day for me. I need to do more leg workouts and some yoga to help make sure my knee caps track correctly.

All in all a great day, but it will take me another week or two to get myself back up this hill. And I will, as I have to get my money’s worth out of these boots!