Coffee Talk | For Lake Tahoe Homeowners Affected by L.A. Wildfires

Tax Relief Options for Los Angeles Properties Affected by Wildfires

As wildfires continue to impact Los Angeles and surrounding areas, many homeowners face the daunting task of rebuilding and recovering. For Lake Tahoe homeowners with properties in Los Angeles, understanding available resources and relief options is critical. The Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office offers valuable tax relief programs to help property owners navigate these challenging times. Below, we’ve outlined the key options available and how they may apply to you.

1. Misfortune and Calamity Tax Relief

If your property has been damaged or destroyed by a calamity such as wildfire or flooding, you may qualify for property tax relief. Here are the details:

  • Eligibility Requirements:
    • The property must be damaged or destroyed by a calamity, with the loss exceeding $10,000 in current market value.
    • An Application for Reassessment: Property Damaged or Destroyed by Misfortune or Calamity (ADS-820) must be submitted to the Assessor’s Office.
    • The application must be filed within 12 months from the date of damage or destruction.
  • Benefits:
    • You may receive a reassessment of your property’s value based on its post-damage condition, potentially reducing your property tax liability.

For more information and to download the application, visit the LA County Assessor’s Disaster Relief page.

2. Proposition 19: Disaster Relief Transfer of Base Value

If your property was substantially damaged or destroyed by a Governor-declared disaster, Proposition 19 provides additional relief:

  • Key Features:
    • You can transfer your property’s tax base to a comparable replacement property within the same county or in another California county.
    • This allows you to maintain your lower tax base, even if you move to a new property.
  • Eligibility:
    • The replacement property must be comparable in value and purchased or built within a specific timeframe. For detailed guidelines, visit the Prop. 19 page.

Additional Resources

For further guidance or support, consider these resources:

  • LA County Assessor’s Office Contact Form: For personalized assistance, use the Contact Form.
  • California Board of Equalization Disaster Relief Website: Additional tools and resources are available at boe.ca.gov.

Recovering from a disaster is never easy, but these programs can help ease the financial burden.  Together, we can weather this challenging time and work toward rebuilding stronger communities.

📞 Let’s Chat! Call me at 650.290.3008
📧 Email me at amie@realestatenorthtahoe.com
🌐 Visit Amie Quirarte with The Q Group to learn more 

 

Heartfelt Support for our L.A. Friends

Our hearts are heavy as we witness the devastation caused by the Los Angeles fires. To all Angelenos impacted—families, neighbors, first responders, pets, and wildlife—our thoughts are with you during this incredibly trying time.

For our Tahoe community, we recognize that many of you are second homeowners with properties or loved ones in the Los Angeles area. If you’ve been directly impacted, please know that our support extends to you as well. The strength and resilience shown by our communities remind us that we are stronger together.

In the spirit of unity, we’ve compiled essential resources to assist those affected and to help those who wish to contribute to relief efforts:

Emergency Updates and Safety Tips

  • Ready LA: ready.lacounty.gov
    Stay informed on evacuation orders, safety tips, and emergency alerts.
  • Cal Fire: fire.ca.gov/incidents
    Track fire updates, containment progress, and safety guidelines.

Evacuation Shelters and Assistance

Air Quality and Health

  • AirNow: airnow.gov
    Monitor air quality levels and take precautions for sensitive groups.
  • Wear N95 masks outdoors and use HEPA filters indoors to protect against hazardous smoke.

How to Help

 

Coffee Talk | Leveraging a Worldwide Audience

Global Reach That Sets Us Apart

Your home deserves more than local exposure. With our global reach, we connect your property to buyers across the world, ensuring it stands out and attracts top offers. 

  • Access to 550+ top-tier brokerages in over 60 countries through the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®.
  • Exposure to high-net-worth buyers via Luxury Portfolio International®, the largest global network of independent luxury brokerages.
  • Exclusive advertising and public relations opportunities through Mayfair International Realty, which includes premium placements like Country Life magazine in the U.K.
  • Exclusive member of REALM®,  a collective of the most accomplished real estate agents worldwide. My affiliation with REALM® opens up a world of opportunities for you. Ask me why.

With these connections, your property is marketed to an extensive international audience, ensuring maximum visibility and success.

Ready to Get Started?
Whether this is your first time selling or you’re a seasoned homeowner, having a trusted expert by your side can make all the difference.

📞 Let’s Chat! Call me at 650.290.3008
📧 Email me at amie@realestatenorthtahoe.com
🌐 Visit Amie Quirarte with The Q Group to learn more 

 

Design Trends | Paint Colors that will Dominate 2025

Painting your home in carefully chosen colors before listing it can be a cost-effective strategy to boost its marketability and value. As we dive into the new year, design leaders are setting the stage for the hottest paint trends. Think warm, earthy, and moody hues to brighten or refresh any space in your home for a stylish update.

The Biggest Paint Color Trends of 2025, According to Design Pros

By 

It’s that time of year when design industry leaders unveil their forecasts for the hottest upcoming trends — and that includes paint colors. With minimalism on its way out and joyful, personalized interiors taking over, designers are leaning toward warm, earthy and moody colors. That means shades like deep purple, cocoa brown and sunny yellow are showing up in interiors. The new year is a perfect time for a fresh coat of paint, so why not try one of these trendy hues? They’re perfect for the living room, the kitchen space, you name it.

We asked 14 interior designers to share their predictions for the biggest paint color trends of 2025. While certain timeless shades will never go out of style (think warm whites), designers say they are loving bold colors this year. (Indeed, we’ve been noticing so many shades of red!) We’re seeing a lot of inspiration pulled from 2025’s Colors of the Year, too, like Benjamin Moore’s Cinnamon Slate and Pantone’s Mocha Mousse.

READ MORE

 

Coffee Talk | Seasonal Home Maintenance Tips

Winterizing Your Home for Comfort, Safety, and Value

We are well into the winter season here in Lake Tahoe, but it’s not too late to take steps to prepare your home for the colder months. Winterizing isn’t just about staying cozy—it’s also about protecting your property and adding value. Whether you’re planning to sell your home or have just purchased one, winterizing is a smart move that benefits both buyers and sellers.


What Does Winterizing Mean?

Winterizing involves preparing your home to handle the challenges of cold weather, such as freezing temperatures, snow, and ice. It includes tasks like sealing drafts, protecting pipes, and ensuring your heating system is in top shape.


Top Winterizing Tips for Every Homeowner

Whether you’re a buyer, seller, or homeowner preparing for the season, here are essential tips to winterize your property:

  1. Protect Pipes from Freezing: Insulate exposed pipes and disconnect outdoor hoses.
  2. Inspect Heating Systems: Clean or replace furnace filters and schedule a professional inspection.
  3. Seal Gaps and Drafts: Use weatherstripping or caulking around windows and doors.
  4. Clean Gutters and Check Your Roof: Clear debris to prevent ice dams and repair damaged shingles.
  5. Prepare Outdoor Spaces: Cover patio furniture, drain irrigation systems, and stock up on de-icers.

Final Thoughts

For sellers, it’s a chance to showcase a well-maintained property that’s ready for its next owner. For buyers, it provides peace of mind and a head start on maintaining your new home.

If you’d like more tips or guidance on preparing your home for the winter market, feel free to reach out. I’m here to help you make the most of your property this season!

Contact Amie Quirarte with The Q Group

JOIN US | Farm-To-Table Dinner for Hunger Relief + Giveaway

Please join us for a magical evening as we host our inaugural Blue Harvest dinner at Dancing Pines in beautiful Sierraville, California. As a passionate supporter of Sierra Community House, this local organization is dedicated to empowering our community through family strengthening, crisis intervention, hunger relief, and legal services. This event will raise money towards hunger relief in our community. The cost of one ticket feeds a family of four for two months.

Blue Harvest Farm to Table Feast

Sunday, August 25th | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Blue Harvest Tickets Here

Enjoy a five-course meal crafted by the acclaimed local chef, Meredith Miller Elliott. Indulge in exquisite wine pairings, including the coveted Forlorn Hope, and mingle with local farmers and winemakers in an intimate setting. It’s a celebration of community, sustainability, and compassion!

To show our appreciation and gratitude for your continued support of my business, we’re having a giveaway! Reply back to this message, and you’ll be entered to win ONE FREE ticket to the event. Feel free to share this opportunity with your friends and family, and join us for a wonderful farm-to-table feast!

With gratitude,

Amie

Summer’s Ultimate Playground

Bring on the Summer fun! Lake Tahoe is often described as the Jewel of the Sierra Nevada, and it’s also the ultimate playground for summer. The stunning natural beauty, outdoor activities, ideal climate, and vibrant community provides a unique lifestyle offering a fulfilling and enriching environment.

The lake’s vibrant cobalt blue and crystal clear waters is a scenic wonder. With the favorable winter season we received through early spring, we were treated with higher-than-average water level. As of June 2024, the lake’s elevation is near the maximum legal limit of 6,229.1 feet​ per the USGS Water Data. Lake Tahoe remains a cherished natural wonder. It’s no surprise our beautiful lake is one of the most recognizable Alpine lakes.

For more on Summer’s Ultimate Playground and things to do in Lake Tahoe, click here for our summer issue.

A Special Message from Tahoe Fund and League to Save Lake Tahoe

Breaking News! A Big Leap Forward for Upper Truckee Restoration – Tahoe Fund

 

Dear Friends,

We are writing today with monumental news! With support from the Tahoe Fund and the League to Save Lake Tahoe, the California Tahoe Conservancy is purchasing the Motel 6 property and surrounding 31 acres that sit within the Upper Truckee River watershed next to Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe.

Long before environmental regulations were created to avoid such travesties, the motel was built in the middle of Tahoe’s largest marsh ecosystem, grossly impacting the native habitat and clarity of the Lake. It has long been a goal of both of our organizations and many agencies in the Basin to see this development removed from these sensitive lands and the wetlands restored to their function as a natural pollution filter for the Lake.

The property is being purchased with funding from the Conservancy, the California Wildlife Conservation Board, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and our two organizations.

The first step will be to secure the property and prepare for removal of the motel. Over the next few years, planning work will commence on the restoration of the lands.

READ MORE
Click on the map to see the acquisition location.
Credit: California Tahoe Conservancy

This is fantastic news! Restoring sensitive marshland is a significant environmental achievement. Marshlands play a crucial role in filtering pollutants and providing habitat for a wide range of wildlife, and enhance the quality of life for our communities. It’s a testament to the dedication and hard work of the agencies involved, and indeed a major win for the lake and its surrounding environment. Congratulations to everyone involved in making this happen!

If you have plans to visit Lake Tahoe, please do not hesitate to reach out. I would be more than happy to give you a tour and help you explore our diverse neighborhoods.

Price Reduction: 1635 Cedar Crest Avenue

PRICE REDUCTION

1635 Cedar Crest Avenue, Tahoe City, California

4 BR | 4 BA | 2218 SF

Listing  Price $1,380,000

This is an as-is sale. Please contact listing agent for more details. Located just a few blocks from Lake Tahoe Park, the private HOA beach and recreation area, this home is your idyllic west shore retreat. The attached living space/kitchenette/bathroom has a separate entrance, and can be closed off from the main home. This extensively remodeled home has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a separate living area, and ample space for you and all of your visitors. The fully fenced backyard and large deck allow maximum optimization for your outdoor time, no matter what the season.

For information on properties on the West Shore of Tahoe, contact Amie Quirarte.

2023 Lake Tahoe Ski Report Opening Dates

Let the Ski Season Begin

The Lake Tahoe 2023/2024 ski season is nearly here! Early storms are getting us excited for the winter to come. While ski resort opening dates are always subject to weather and conditions, it sure does give us something to look forward to. So get your skis waxed and your gear ready, because the ski season is around the corner and powder days are ahead!

Opening Days Announced!

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: November 10

Northstar California: November 17

Heavenly: November 17

Boreal: November 17

Palisades Tahoe: November 22

Tahoe Donner XC: November 24

Sugar Bowl: November 24 – Celebrating 85 Years!

Soda Springs: November 24

Tahoe City Winter Sports Park: November 24

Diamond Peak: December 7

Tahoe Donner Downhill: December 8

Homewood Mountain Resort: December 15

Granlibakken: December 15 – Celebrating 99 Years!