Realty Round Up: North Lake Tahoe, California

May 31, 2013Emily Oster

I recently saw some amazing images of Lake Tahoe and was reminded of how much I want to visit. It seems as though there really isn't anything not to like - a huge beautiful lake in the summer and great skiing in the winter. Upon doing some further research, I learned that Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America and the second deepest lake in the United States (1,645 feet). It is located along the border of California and Nevada just west of Carson City. The official Lake Tahoe visitor bureau breaks the area into North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe South. For no particular reason, I chose to look at North Lake Tahoe focusing on the areas of Incline Village, Crystal Bay and Kings Beach.

Incline Village (according to the Visitor Bureau) is known for its hilly terrain, private mountain homes and relaxing beaches. It is also where the Hyatt Regency is located and where I would love to stay for a weekend (or longer). Crystal Bay bridges the state line and is named for the pristine bay it overlooks. One of its main draws is the night life with four casinos and lots of live entertainment. Lastly, Kings Beach is known as the north shore's banana belt as it is in the sun paths all day long. It also sounds a little more laid back and local.

House #1: $0 - $250,000

Kings Beach: The smallest space I have featured so far this tiny cabin in the woods would be a great romantic weekend spot.

House #2: $250,000 - $500,000

Crystal Bay: This house is so charming and it has a really nice backyard space. I especially like the kitchen however the best part of this property is definitely its proximity to the beach.

House #3: 500,000 - $750,000

Incline Village: This house has a lot of character with great outdoor living space and the view!

House #4: $750,000 - $1,000,000

Crystal Bay: This home maximizes its stunning location with most of the rooms having amazing views to the lake and surrounding mountains. My favorite element is the deck off the kitchen.

Have a good weekend!

categories Real Estate
tags Lake Tahoe

Our Outdoor Living Space

May 30, 2013Emily Oster

Before it gets too unbearably hot here in St. Louis, I am trying to be outside as much as possible. Key to this for me, is having an enjoyable backyard space. This past weekend, Jeff and I worked on putting the finishing touches on our outdoor living space. The key elements for our area are:

1. The picnic table - For my graduation last year, Jeff surprised me with having a local carpenter create a custom picnic table. Nothing fancy but great for seating a lot of people.
2. The fire pit - This was a present to Jeff from my parents. It is a Weber and we use it all year round.
3. Adirondack Chairs + Table - While these are not my favorite, they are quite comfortable. We positioned our four around our table from World Market to create a more relaxed seating area.
4. Lights - Our most recent addition to our space which adds a nice finishing touch.
5. Candles - I think no outdoor space is complete without night time candlelight.
6. Flowers - My neighbor brought me these peonies from her yard.
7. Clothesline - I try to dry our clothes and sheets on the line as much as possible during the warm months. It makes your clothes smell so fresh, is environmentally friendly and I think makes your space looked loved.
8. The Grill - Jeff got this grill for a graduation present a couple of years ago and it is one of his prized possessions.
9. The Planter - Hopefully our source of lots of delicious meals.

In the future, I would like to have a big back deck or patio area but for the time being I am rather content with what we have done with what we have.

Home Feature: Stone Creek Camp

May 28, 2013Emily Oster

Located in Bigfork, Montana this modern retreat caught my eye with its creative use of materials and textures. Designed by Andersson-Wise Architects, an Austin based firm, the multi-building home gracefully situates itself in its rustic landscape. While being rather large in size, it manages not to appear overpowering but rather blends in like it has always been there.

The thing that I really enjoy about this home is that it is part cabin, part lake house. Growing up in Michigan, we would spend our weekends traveling to the northern part of the state where two distinct housing types existed - winter homes and summer homes. Our second home is a winter home and what we love about it is how cozy and intimate it feels. Yet in the summer it can sometimes feel out of sync with the surroundings as we desire to open up to the outdoors craving an environment that is much more light and airy. The same problem exists in reverse with the local summer homes. This Montana home, however, seems to be able to do both. The use of wood and stone create the warm feel of a cabin while its open floor plan and expansive deck area make it feel equally like a lake house. Whatever the season might be, it is definitely a place I would like to spend my time.