Category: Golf Course Home Designs

New Take Care Tahoe Offers Eco-friendly Things to Do in Tahoe

Every once in a while we spin away from our trends in architectural design, or new resort communities in Lake Tahoe, Truckee and Carson City, and this post is no exception.

Today we are sharing a really cool new website that the Tahoe Fund has created for locals and visitors alike. We share this as the site includes almost endless ways to get out and enjoy our backyard. From birding on the North Shore, to underwater clean-up efforts, or simple hikes led by Eco-specialists who will teach you about our sensitive environment, it’s a super year-round resource.

Here are some highlights that we thought would be of interest to you:

Take Care Tahoe ~ Within this section you can learn about fire preparedness, where to recycle your sleds, bear activity, and more.

Events in Tahoe ~ Coming to Tahoe? Bored at home? Click into this section to see what events are going on in your neck of the woods. Like to bird hunt? Seeking a hike with a fundraising twist? Got the feel to join in on a community clean-up day? Look through the calendar to find something new to do in Tahoe.

Visitor and Community Centers in Tahoe – I never really thought about how many visitor or community centers there in Tahoe yet once you chime in to this section, you may be amazed as well.

But wait, there’s more!

Take Care Tahoe is a collective group of more than 50 organizations that love Lake Tahoe and want to see more people connect with this beautiful natural environment. They developed their website to make it easier for you to find fun and interesting ways to learn more about Tahoe.

Or better yet, as our architect firm in Lake Tahoe, Carson City and Reno has lived and worked throughout the High Sierra for over 30 years, we have some good local insight about where to go and what to do in Tahoe, and then some!

Jim Borelli
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com

775 831 3060

Lake Tahoe Transportation Plan Approved

If there is one topic that is always in the news in Truckee and Lake Tahoe, it’s transportation. And with good reason. As the world continues to discover the magnificence of living and working in the High Sierra, we all are more sensitive everyday to this trend’s impact on our environment.

As an architect firm that serves the Tahoe Basin and all the Counties within the High Sierra, we have seen what a few more cars can do on a busy day.

Thankfully, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and their Bi-State Compact Partners have just approved the new Regional Plan. With the TRPA’s website, they offer a variety of excellent information that explains just what this document covers and the inpact it will have on our future.

Their website has a brief overview of that the Plan is in layman’s terms. It notes:

The Regional Plan is a regulatory framework that includes several initiatives and documents. The Plan is meant to be updated every four years, in conjunction with an environmental evaluation report, so that the plan can adapt to changing needs, circumstances and emerging threats. Click on any of the components of the Plan below to find out more about each one.

To give you a quick overview, I have selected some highlights from their website at TRPA.org. Feel free to click in read more of the specifics.

A new way forward for Lake Tahoe was approved in December, 2012 with an update of the Lake Tahoe Regional Plan. The updates encourage greater private-public partnerships and created incentives for property owners to make Lake-saving improvements to their home or business. Use these fact sheets for an overview of the focused updates that went into effect in February, 2013.

The California State Resources Agency submitted a letter to state leaders affirming that the 2012 Regional Plan Update is consistent with the requirements of the Bi-State Tahoe Regional Planning Compact.

The Bi-State Compact requires TRPA to create a Regional Plan to establish a balance, or equilibrium, between the natural environment and the human-made environment. The Plan emphasizes an improvement in the quality of development in the Region and in the quality of the natural environment. The Compact was written and signed by the states of California and Nevada and ratified by the U.S. Congress. The original compact was signed in 1969 and substantially revised in 1980 to give the Agency more regulatory powers and more specific environmental targets, called Thresholds. In 2013, the states initiated the process to revise the Compact again to solidify the new direction.

For more details, follow these links below.

Regional Plan By-The-Numbers

Regional Plan Fact Sheets

Regional Plan Fact Sheet (Spanish)

Making Tahoe Bikeable/Walkable

For over 30 years, our architect firm that serves Incline Village, Lake Tahoe, Truckee and Carson City has been providing our clients with up-to-date information about the region in all capacities.

Whenever you have questions about building codes, county regulations, environmental codes, and more, please contact me at any time. I am always happy to share our insight.

Jim Borelli
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com

775 831 3060

Lake Tahoe’s Real Estate Market Still Breaking Records

As our architecture firm in Incline Village, NV, continues to experience one of our busiest years on record, the real estate marketing throughout Lake Tahoe is echoing the same.

Within a recent Luxury Market Report published by Chase International, the statistics continue to tell the tale of 2020 and how the world seemed to find our piece of paradise, purchase property, and call the High Sierra “Home Sweet Home.”

When you follow this link you can read the entire Lake Tahoe Real Estate Report at your leisure. To save you time, we have captured some of the report’s highlights:

Now that 2020 is in the books, it’s time to take a closer look at how the luxury real estate market is performed in 2020. WOW, is the response! The market has been explosive in Lake Tahoe properties sold over $1 million for a total of 722 units. Leading the way, South Lake Tahoe, CA witnessed a whopping 121% increase in properties over $1 million, followed by West and North Shore which recorded a staggering 113% with East Shore a close 96% increase. Incline Village was up 83%. These numbers are historic because, as of June 2020, the entire market was down across the board. We have not seen such a vigorous market swing in a short period of time in recent history.

Here are some regional stats about real estate sales in Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and the greater Reno/Carson City area:

The highest home sale within the entire region sold for $38 million and is located on Lake Tahoe’s East Shore.
The North and West Shores led in lakefront sales with 21 closed transactions in 2020 verses 14 the year before.
In Incline Village, where our architecture firm is based, recorded 16 lakefront properties sold verses just four in 2019.
Over in Truckee, where we have designed a considerable amount of mountain estates, that region recorded 503 properties that sold over $1 million each, with the median price stated at $1,650,000. Remarkable to say in the least. The report also noted that Martis Camp, where we have designed several homes for our clients, continues to be the most affluent community in the Northern Region of the Lake Tahoe/Truckee area.

And, just over the eastern crest of Lake Tahoe, our friends at Clear Creek Tahoe Development were all a part of the Carson City’s astounding real estate sales. The Luxury Report published by Chase International quoted:

“Carson Valley has seen the most tremendous growth in 2020 with a 183% increase of units sold over $1 million. 65 homes in 2020 over a million versus 23 in 2019. The highest priced property sold in the Carson Valley was $12 million with the second at $6,950,000.”

To see all the statistics about how real estate faired over the past year, dive deeper into Chase International’s Spring/Summer Real Estate Report right here.

And for more information about the neighborhoods, home developments in Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and Carson City, feel free to reach out to Borelli Architecture at any time. We have designed a significant amount of homes in the region and have the personal insight to share with you.

Jim Borelli
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com

775 831 3060

TRPA Unveils Lake Tahoe Restoration Act Plans

Over the years we have continued to keep you up to date on what is new and trending with regard to the environmental policies that come with building or remodeling a home in the Lake Tahoe Basin. As one of the region’s more established architectural firms in Lake Tahoe and Truckee, Borelli Architecture has its pulse on any and all activities underway with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the counties that wrap the Tahoe Basin.

Just this week, the TRPA unveiled its priorities that have been approved and are a part of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Plan for 2022 and beyond.

Within the document on the TRPA.org website it highlights this significant program:

The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2016 authorized up to $415 million over 7 years for the Environmental Improvement Program. The Act requires that the EIP maintain a priority list of projects for the program areas of Forest Health, Aquatic Invasive Species, Watershed Restoration, Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, and Accountability.

Specifically, here are their top priorities:

Federal Fiscal Year 2022

Forest Health & Fire Protection $40,350,000 ~ Decrease the threat of catastrophic wildfire through forest fuels treatments and upgrades to water infrastructure

Aquatic Invasive Species $7,200,000 ~ Decrease the threat of catastrophic wildfire through forest fuels treatments and upgrades to water infrastructure

Watershed Restoration $48,368,000 ~ Improve water quality with innovative stormwater treatment projects and restoration of rivers and meadows. Transform communities through implementation of multiple-benefit projects

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout $7,720,000 ~ Continue to build a sustainable population of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout in the basin through habitat restoration.

Accountability $2,300,000 ~ Continue to build out the LT INFO online public platform that tracks all EIP funding and accomplishments and incorporate EIP monitoring results

TOTAL $105,938,000

You can see the full report by following this link.

As we have noted before in many of our news reports, in addition to our architectural design services in Lake Tahoe, Carson City, and Truckee, we offer an extensive list of services to help our clients navigate through the intricate environmental policies and county building codes. If you ever have any questions about the varied proeceures, please reach out to me at anytime.

Jim Borelli
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com

775 831 3060

Architectural Design Trends for Today’s Work at Home Environment

Living in Lake Tahoe, NV, we have seen a surge of new residents and second home owners deciding that if they need to be at home, they might as well live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

At our architecture firm that designs homes in Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and Carson City, NV, we have been approached by new clients throughout the West who have purchased land and are ready to build. From the prestigious Gray’s Crossing in Truckee, CA, to one of our favorite ski and golf home developments in Nevada – Clear Creek Tahoe, there are more homes being designed and built than we have seen in many years. And with good reason.

For those of us who have yet to retire, we are all well aware of the new “work, live, play’ lifestyle that has become the norm. And with this new world is a whole new appreciation for our homes which have become the cocoon that wraps around our every day life. So what does today’s ‘work at home’ design look like? Here are some highlights that our team at Borelli Architecture in Incline Village, NV are recommending to our clients who have selected our firm to design their mountain estate and golf course homes in Nevada.

Architectural Design Trends for Today’s “Work at Home” Environment

“Zoom”Room – Never before has the space behind and around our desk been so important. With the world having every opportunity to see what your office looks like, and possibly hearing everything going on in your home, the life in which you live most of your life is wide-open for all to see and hear. With this trend there is a high demand to either design a room or two that insures privacy as well as plenty of space to conduct business, or remodel a home to include a brand new office environment.

“Stay-Cation” Concepts – Earlier in this news piece we referred to the live, work, play world that most of us have become very accustomed to this past year. Now, it’s the norm. As such, our architect firm in North Lake Tahoe is designing elements throughout the home that accent the lifestyle that mirror our clients’ preferences – be it work or play. From expansive kitchens where one can entertain while enjoying their family’s company, to ‘great rooms’ which are truly a great escape. i.e. floor to ceiling windows, large fireplaces and pizza ovens, room for a new Pool Table, and then some.

Outdoor is Always “In” at Lake Tahoe – We couldn’t leave this one out of our list. Most of the home designs throughout the High Sierra accent the benefits that come with buying property and building a home in Truckee and Lake Tahoe. No matter where one builds, Mother Nature is at our beckoning call. Think: sliding glass windows that bring the outdoor in, state-of-the-art outdoor kitchens, mud rooms and large storage areas for all our toys, and down in the valley of Carson City, pools are back and one of the hottest features of 2021.

Romper Room – For Boomers, this term may bring back memories of the morning TV show that we were all glued to while the parents enjoyed some peace and quiet. Today, it’s kind of the same concept yet today’s Romper Room is right home and usually down the hall or above the garage. Within this ‘hide-away’ for the kids, we are seeing all sorts of additions that include a full bath, small kitchen, basketball hoops, padded flooring for gymnastics, comfy couches and large screen TV’s. Within this ‘arena’ is an area that depicts a high tech school room with plenty of technology, exceptional lighting, and comfortably-sized desks and chairs.

And that is just the beginning of the new trends for home design. When you are ready to build your new home, or want to chat with us about remodeling your home, we always appreciate the opportunity to share our design ideas that include the new trends for home design in Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and beyond.

Jim Borelli
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com

775 831 3060

Top Tips on How to Decide What Kind of Home You Want to Build (Part Two)

Within my most recent news posts, I started to share some top tips on how to decide what kind of home you want to build. And within that story I promised I would continue to share additional idea on how to get started to build a home. So here are more tips from our architecture firm in Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and North Lake Tahoe, CA.

What is your budget? Depending on where you have purchased your property, the costs per square foot will vary – a lot! Check with your real estate agent for comps on home building prices. With the recent pandemic, we have seen a tremendous rise in interest in building a home in Nevada (Carson City in particular). Construction costs are increasing with the demand.

Who will finance the project? If you need to secure a loan you certainly need to research a lender before the shovel goes into the ground. Be sure to shop around and when you have made your decision, be sure to have your lender offer a pre-approval so you can get started sooner than later.

What is your timing? Mirroring my last statement, as the world discovers the benefits that come with living in Nevada, and/or the High Sierra, our general contractors have not been this busy in a long time. The sooner you can work with an architectural firm like ours that services Nevada and California, the better.

How familiar is your home designer to your home’s environment? Just because you have a final drawing does not mean you are done. Within our firm that designs mountain and golf course homes in Lake Tahoe, we offer a list of additional services that come with the pleasure of living in a resort area. Those services include:

Site Planning
Space Planning

How familiar is your architect to local building regulations? When one has selected to build or remodel a home within the High Sierra and its surrounding counties, there is a lot more to the building process that meets the eye. For over 30 years,our Borelli Architecture team has remained on-top of the environmental and county regulations. Within our services, we also offer professional assistance with the following projects:

Permit Processing Assistance
TRPA Feasibility Studies
Contractor Selection and Bidding Assistance
Construction Administration Services

Will you need an interior designer to help you design the inside of your home? Our team offers the professional assistance of Kelly Borelli Interiors located in Incline Village, NV on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore. Kelly Borelli Interiors has been providing exceptional design services for resort homes and commercial clients in for over 20 years. From practical design for the Lake Tahoe Lifestyle to the most contemporary California seaside estate, Kelly works with each of her clients in conjunction with our own design team, to discover that perfect, personal touch that each client should expect and every home deserves.

In closing, if you have any questions whatsoever about how to get started, please feel free to reach out to us at any time. We look forward to helping you design your dream home.

Jim and Kelly Borelli
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com

775 831 3060

Top Tips on How to Decide What Kind of Home You Want to Build (Part One)

One of my friends has recently purchased a lot at Gray’s Crossing in Truckee. And throughout the entire process, he continued to reach out to our architecture firm that designs homes in Truckee and Lake Tahoe for advice on the ‘next steps.’ I thought you might appreciate this blog about the “Top Tips on How to Decide What Kind of Home You Want to Build” as the subject is fresh in my mind.

Research first. Designing and building a home is more than how many bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. that you want or need within this significant investment. As the old saying goes: Your Home is Where Your Heart Is. This classic statement identifies the fact that in addition to yourself, there may be others that have input as to what their desires may be. When all is said and done, it should reflect the lifestyle that works for all involved.

What style do you like? For this particular property, Borelli Architecture certainly will recommend that the home takes advantage of its golf course setting. And with that said, we’ll be sure there is plenty of room for the golf cart in the garage! As Gray’s Crossing is also within a mountain community at a higher elevation, we will include the appropriate standards for heavy and take the weather into consideration as well to take advantage of the sunshine at the same time.

What key attributes does your ‘dream home’ really need? Lots of windows to take in those golf course views? And expanded porch for summertime entertaining? How about ‘open space,’ privacy, and in today’s virtual world, how many ‘office spaces’ or ‘small classroom areas’ do you need? A mud room? We say ‘yes’ to that all the time as when one lives in Truckee, the community just begs for all to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

Think about the ‘not so obvious.’ What kind and how much storage area do you really need? Does every bathroom need at tub? How about all those skis, snowboards, snowshoes, and golf clubs … do you want a special place within the home or garage to store your year-round toys? And what about boat storage?

Think about the future, a lot! Our friends are just about to retire and plan on living the rest of their life here in the High Sierra. One of their main goals is to build a split-level home that has a lower level that includes a guest suite, small kitchen, and recreation/living area. This concept works well today for extended company and will be ideal when and if they ever choose to have live-in help.

So that is a start. In my next news post I’ll be providing more advice about the steps one needs to take when deciding to build a home. In the meantime, if you are interested in buying a lot at Gray’s Crossing, here are a few nice options. And be sure to click back into my last posts in January to learn more about land and property for sale in Truckee, Lake Tahoe, Carson City and beyond.

Jim and Kelly Borelli
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com

775 831 3060