Chucker Twining’s

Neighborhood News

SUMMER – FALL 2009

Peter Pam – Cold Springs – Pinecrest – Strawberry and up country to the top of Sonora Pass

Toll Free (888) 686-1107 – Chucker’s Cell (209) 613-1107

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I missed sending out a spring issue of my Neighborhood News and I just don’t know where all the spring time went, but before I know it we were into summer then fall, now it is winter again!  Skiing yesterday was great, not lots of snow but the grooming at Dodge Ridge was fantastic making for a wonderful ski day.  I’m looking forward to many more this winter.  Last January I had an injury to my left shoulder which slowed me down a bit; working in the garage I ripped apart the tendons in my shoulder which, it turned out not to be repairable!  Now I can use my left are just fine except it is still much weaker than the right shoulder, but I’m sure it will get stronger with time and work.  That kept me off skis and snow mobile for most of last winter.  I would love to have a great story that I was skiing hard, did a huge jump off a cliff and landed wrong or some story that is better than just doing it working in the garage for no apparent reason.  Oh well. . .

  Our daughter, Carin, got married last March to the best guy any parents could ask for.  What a great time we all had.  We chartered the Tahoe Queen and they got married in Emerald Bay on a beautiful day between major snow storms, followed by a very fun reception right at the dock in a place call The Reva Gill. It was an amazing & fun time.  She and her husband, Bryan Hermann, decided to have a great party and get married as opposed to getting married and have a party, and that is what they did.  Now they are back at Fort Collins, Co. where they live, Carin was named legal counsel for Colorado State University, and Bryan is working for a company who is working on making bio-diesel out of bacteria.

  David, my 28 year old son who took a year out of Cal’s grad school physic’s  program to spend the year living in Tahoe skiing. He made the year last 5 years living at Tahoe (skiing almost everyday). He moved to San Diego last May. No he never went back to Cal.  David was going to sail off into the western sunset for a 15 month adventure sailing around the world BUT a couple of months ago the skipper of the boat’s wife became very ill and the trip has been postponed for 2 years.  He is now working for a company who makes parts for satellites, checking to be sure all the proposals are right, the math and physics are correct before being submitted, and working on some big projects and is loving the challenge of learning it all.  He may even be given the responsibility of meeting with the clients to present (yes that means sell) what his company can do for them. 

   CALIFORNIA SENIOR WINTER GAMES 2010 will be at Dodge Ridge this year!  March 11^th – 14^th. What an event it will be.  It is expected up to 300 competitors will compete.  If you are 50 or over and would like to compete (or volunteer at any age, please) go towww.californiawintergames.org The events will be; Alpine – Slalom, Giant Slalom, Dual Slalom.  Nordic events – Slalom, Giant Slalom, Dual Slalom.  Cross Country 5k and 10k classic and skating races.  This should be a fun filled 4 days, great dinner and party.

  USFS. The forest service at Summit Ranger Station is trying to work with cabin owners as they appraise the lots for reassessment.  Meeting with the cabin owners and explaining what is required of the appraiser as a group. The cabin owners were allowed to follow them around and ask questions and give suggestions in the process of looking at all the lots and being “user friendly” in the process.  Sommor Moore has been fantastic for most cabin owners to work with in this whole long process and her assistant Jesika Ellis is so helpful to many with just a phone call.  She has emailed things to people within minutes of being asked and works hard at being part of the solution and not adding to the frustration and issues. Everyone is telling me how much nicer it is now that they can communicate with the USFS. The Stanislaus N.F. also has received over a million dollars to rebuild bridges and repair and close forest roads.  I don’t know about the repairs and closing roads but the bridge they plan to replace this fall is the Niagara bridge over Niagara Creek which was closed a couple of years ago and a temporary “Bailey Bridge” was set up.  So far it does not look like it will happen now until next summer. 

 Dodge Ridge has been busy with lots of planning for the future this summer. The new Family lodge was a giant success with the fireplace upstairs and tickets etc. downstairs.  Dodge is working with the USFS to build a new fast detachable quad chair from the bottom of chair 5 to the top of chairs 7 & 8.  They also are working on building a new chair to the summit above the shots to the east of chair 8.  Nothing moves quickly with these things but things are in motion.  Now we just need lots of snow, good crowds to pay the bills and cooperation with everyone on the permit process to build more lifts.  Cross you fingers.  Dodge is also the official venue for the California Senior Winter Games from March 11^th to the 14^th 2010..  Discounted Dodge Ridge lift tickets can be purchased at Savemart again this year.  Dodge Ridge has web cams atwww.dodgeridge.com

  HOOVER WILDERNESS HAS EXPANDED.  The Hoover wilderness that sits behind Bridgeport high in the mountains has grown this summer from a bit over 30,000 acres to a little under 100,000 acres which will bring it to or close to the south side of highway 108 at the top of Sonora Pass, excluding Lovett Lake and the access road into Lovett Lake.  This is great news as it will protect the high country on the east side of the sierra’s but may exclude some of the best snow mobile area in the Sierra’s at the same time.  For me it is a double edged sward.  The area is already inaccessible by car or Jeep so it is well protected already in my opinion, but it keeps people away in the winter so it can not be enjoyed by the thousands of those who snow mobile and love to ride and enjoy these high mountains in the winter (you have to remember that snow mobiles ride on top of the snow and do no damage to the ground and leave no trace behind, even we hikers in the summer leave a footprint in the dirt as we walk along the trails). 

 I have just a couple of quick tips if you want to sell real estate in this market, mistakes that many people make that they should think about when listing; Talk to a professional, do your homework, know the market for your home/ cabin/ land is doing today and pay attention to what the experts think the market will be doing over the next several months.  The market where you cabin is very different from the market in Modesto or San Jose or Salinas.  Look where the market is and where it is going; lead the market with pricing your cabin or home.  Many people follow the market down, reducing the price on the cabin or home after the market has fallen and still have it listed for more than the market.  Sure you want top dollar but you may end up getting less by asking more than market will allow is asking more then buyers today are willing to pay.  If you figure where the market is now, list at that price or even a touch under that price. If the cabin or house has not sold in a few weeks quickly review the price again and decide if you were or are still too high for the market and adjust, don’t wait for weeks or months to drop your price.  If you price right the first time your cabin or house may sell right away and you won’t have to reduce the price over and over following the market.  It is tough keeping your house in show condition all the time, but you have to have it looking its best just incase some one walks in with little or no notice.  Okay, think of it this way, if you are going to buy a used car, if it is very clean and shinny you will like it better then if it is dirty, and you will end up paying more for it.  You don’t see dirty cars on the car lot or in the showroom, the same it true with your house, keep it clean and uncluttered.  Take out some furniture, things off the tables and out of the kitchen, make you beds every morning and be sure your windows are so clean they shine! Put a lock box on the cabin so all realtors can show your cabin not just your listing agent, and don’t just leave the key in the listing agent’s office, be proactive, put a lock box on your cabin so buyers can see it easily with any agent.

  Moving on.  This winter is expected to be a wet winter.  After 3 years of drought we are ready for a wet year.  I was talking to Jim Armstrong who has lived in the Long Barn area his whole life and has been a weather forecaster before he started his Christmas Tree Farm in Foresthill a few years ago.  Jim said he expects we are in for several wet winters. Lets hope for lots of snow & rain.

  Money to loan on mountain cabins, I have a source for loans on cabins on USFS land and hard to finance cabins. Call me.

  Kennedy Meadows with its new lodge and several new cabins they had a good year this summer.  There were times it was hard to get dinner reservations and almost impossible to get a cabin unless reserved way in advance, and in this economy that is good news.  I understand why so many people worked so hard to be sure the lodge got rebuild so quickly after the fire, it is a very special place, one that is of a bygone day and if it is every lost it will never be replaced.  If you have never been to Kenney Meadows GO! Try it.

Currently for sale from Peter Pam up the mountain to Kennedy Meadows and Eagle Meadows Road

28831 Snowhite Ridge. The Amabile cabin.  URGENT TO SELL ARAP!!!  Just make any offer, if it can be accepted it will. This is a nice mountain getaway, 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms, 1533 s.f., large rooms, claw foot tub, vaulted ceiling in the bedrooms upstairs, hidden basement, large front deck, paved driveway, tall pines, huge open kitchen.  Asking $275,000 but MAKE ANY OFFER TODAY!

28948 W. Snowhite Ridge, The Runnels log home. Beautiful! 3 spacious bedrooms 2 bathrooms detached 2 car log garage, just 5 years old, it is a very nice 2 story log home.  Almost level corner lot, easy year round access.  Central heat, large windows, tile floors; more. $519,000.

26650 Old Mono Rd. The Hyland’s cabin, 3 bedrooms 2 baths, quiet street, some knotty pine & some view.   $249,950

29720 Kerns Dr. The Sisneros’s cabin. 2 bedrooms 1 1/2 baths, covered porch, vaulted open beam ceilings, some view $249,000.

26493 Inyo. Another Hyland cabin.  Cozy 1 bedroom 1 bath backing to forested land, cozy and cute.  $265,000

29612 Lassen Dr. The Ramirez’s cabin. 2 bedrooms 1 bath, 1 car garage, 741 vs., very cute log sided cabin, pine inside, $279,000.

29378 Shasta. The Ruffner’s cabin. 3 bedrooms 2 bath, 1778 s.f. Nice. Great views, good floor plan, sky light, comfortable. $325,000.

29847 Mono Trail. The Hough’s log cabin. 2 bedrooms 1 ½ bathrooms, open and bright log cabin on a quiet view lot. $250,000.

29480 Alpine Dr. The Curry’s cabin. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage, 1592 s.f. all knotty pine inside, room over garage, $349,000.

29444 Old Mono Rd. The Kelly/Lewrence cabin. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1684 s.f. This is a very nice getaway, but lots of stairs, awesome view looking toward Dodge Ridge, large rooms, vaulted ceiling, worth a look.  Asking 349,000.

Lot 209 Old Mono Rd View lot on the quiet area of Old Mono Rd down slope so it is easy to build on to make level access $110,000

29715 Kerns Dr. The Lucero’s cabin. 2 bedrooms 2 bath, 1536 s.f. Nice cabin with good floor plan, vaulted pine ceiling. $375,000.

153 Rustic Ave. The McClaskey cabin.  About the newest cabin in Pinecrest. 4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms, all knotty pine, log open beam ceiling, stone fireplace, very high vaulted ceiling, giant living room, the best of everything is in this cabin!! A must see.  $875,000

159 Rustic Ave. The Inch cabin.  Like new inside!!  3 spacious bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, open kitchen living room, knotty pine throughout, one level, great deck and grounds, back up to the privacy of the meadow, so cool!  SELLER FINANCING! $499,000

302 Sugar Pine Ave. The Aronson cabin. 3 bedrooms 2 bath 960 sq. ft. lots of deck space, some pine inside, cute.  Just $470,000.

248 Meadowview Drive. The Kraft cabin.  All knotty pine inside, newer stone fireplace in the living room with a high vaulted pine ceiling, 2 bedrooms that could sleep a large crowd. 2 car garage! Yep even a 2 car garage which is so unique to Pinecrest, it has an area to add a loft over the garage.  Walk to the lake and store, you may even be able to crawl home from the Steam Donkey at night in necessary $525,000!

188 Sugarpine Ave. The Hoovers cabin.  Level lot, large front deck and back patio, all knotty pine floor to ceiling, new stuff throughout, new double pane window, new kitchen, new bathroom. Huge living room, open kitchen, so nice!!  Asking $475,000

98 Pinecrest Ave. The Johnson’s cabin. The lease expensive cabin in Pinecrest today. 2 bedrooms 1 bathroom, one level. $369,000.

173 Cliff Lane. The Croasdale’s cabin. 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 car garage. Close to the lake, just a few minutes walk, level lot, huge front deck, bon fire pit, very comfortable.  Many upgrades in plumbing and electrical, new roof, stone fireplace, and priced to sell. 399,000.

226 Sugarpine Ave. The Sullivan’s mountain getaway.  3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, open floor plan, lots of knotty pine, extra large kitchen, all the charm you can ever ask for in Pinecrest.  It seems to be in just about perfect condition throughout.  The giant front

deck is awesome, lots of room for everything, horse shoe pit and bon fire pit in the back yard.  The lot is about as level as they come in the mountains.  $425,000.

28086 Strawberry Drive. The Smith’s cabin. 4 bedrooms 1 bath, open floor plan, pine ceilings, wrap around deck, backs to forest service land.  Good year round access.  Just a couple of minutes walk to the river.  This is a good deal for a 4 bedroom cabin, just $299,000.

28213 Pine St. The Ligsey’s cabin.  Interesting setup, cute, lots of wood inside, 2 bedroom 1 bath, small cut cute.  $285,000

28305 Tanager Dr. The Bennett cabin. 2 bedrooms 1 bath, seasonal creek in the back yard. Good rental history. $319,000

28567 Georges Dr. The Malone’s cabin.  I think this will be the next cabin sold in the area.  4 nice bedrooms 2 large bathrooms, very large living room, game room, good floor plan.  This cabin needs some updating but it has a good floor plan. $269,000.

28508 Georges Dr. The Kisst cabin.  5 huge bedrooms 3 bathrooms, 2900 sq. ft. it is nice, as it should be for the price.  Open floor plan, pine ceilings, game room, nice decks, southern sun exposure.  If you are looking for large and nice check it out. $599,000

28635 Herring Creek Lane The Rivers Resort office / Strawberry post office building including a small apartment. $320,000

33843 Upper Leland Road The Holman cabin.  Very private location on the side of the hill looking out onto the forest. 3 bedrooms 2 bathroom on 3 levels.  Close to all Leland Meadows has to offer but tucked away from all of it. Almost a half acre.    Classic ‘A’ frame, lots of windows and light, large living room, this is just one of those cabins you must see to appreciate.  $289,000.

33976 Leland Meadow Rd. The Bacon cabin. 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms, 2 car garage. Just across the street from the lake, tennis courts, etc. Vaulted ceiling, open floor plan, open kitchen area.  Take a look.  $309,000.

7 Riverside Tract. The Tippets cabin.  The Tippest own 50% of the cabin and are selling their half ownership for just $69,900.  It the whole cabin was to be sold it would sell for lots more than twice this amount but buying into a partnership has a much reduced value hence the low low price.  2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, extra huge living room with beautiful stone fireplace at the end. Open kitchen. Just $69,900 WOW!

54 Brightman Flat. Again a 50% interest in this cabin.  1 bedroom right on the river, almost fish from the deck. Very cute. $229,000.

59 Leland Creek The Cortney cabin. 2 bedrooms 1 bath, USFS land, year round access. Needs some work $314,000

5 Cow Creek. The Moore cabin. 2 bedrooms 1 bathroom, knotty pine, cute, needs some TLC. USFS land, Asking $309,000.

Sold since January 1, 2009 to November 1, 2009

29471 Modoc Dr. 3 bedrooms, 3 bath, 2 car garage, 2390 sq ft. A nice euro style cabin, on market for 73 days. Sold 5/28/09 $380,000

29017 W. Snowhite Ridge. 3 bedrooms 2 bath, 1440 sq. ft. The Uliana’s cabin. Cute, open floor plan, a bit dated but easy to fix. On the market for over a year total.  Price kept following the down market until they got ahead of price and it sold for $249,950.

28997 West Snowhite Ridge, Peter Pam. BANK FORECLOSURE! 2 bedrooms 2 baths, 2 car garage, 1900 sq. ft. Large open floor plan, fireplace in the living room, large kitchen. Asking $199,000. Sold 7/2/09 after just 34 days for $199,000.

service land.  Asking $299,000 sold on 8/31/09 for $280,000 after being on the market of 108 days.

28961 Snowhite Ridge the Neito’s cabin.  They priced it right from day 1 and it sold in just 1 month!  It is a very nice cabin, 3 bedrooms 2 ½ baths, 2 garages total of 3 cars parking, level lot.  Ultra clean and well taken care of.  Sold 6/22/09 for 370,000.

25550 Bambi. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage. 1950 sq. ft., Lots of knotty pine, french doors, Asking 279,000, sold on 6/4/09 after 138 days on the market for $269,000.

29471 Modoc The Nance cabin.  Lots of updates to this cabin in the past couple of years. 3 bedrooms 3 baths, 2 car garage. Quiet area of Modoc, private deck of each bedroom, nice inside and out.  Priced right and sold in 42 days!  for $380,000, just $19k under asking.

29663 Lassen The Beoris cabin 4 bedrooms 2 bath, a classic ‘A’ frame cabin on 2 lots making an extra large almost level lot. Knotty pine, lots of windows. Priced to sell & sold in about 50 days from listing! Priced right from the start at just $289,000 & sold $275,000.

26179 Lassen Ct. The Navone’s cabin. 3 bedrooms 2 bath, 2 car garage under the cabin. Good condition, vaulted ceiling, backs to forest land.

29399 Lassen Dr. 3 bedroom + loft 2 ½ baths 2 car garage. Log sided mountain home with large rooms, vaulted ceilings, on the market for 54 days, asking $395,000, sold 6/17/09 for $380,000.

29434 Kerns Dr. 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, 2 car garage, this is a new home, beautifully built and a great floor plan, views across the canyon. Asking $499,000, Sold 2/3/09 just after 74 days on the market. It sold for $450,000.

30547 Old Strawberry Road. The cowan’s cabin.  5 bedrooms 2 baths, high vaulted ceiling, wrap around deck, view, open floor plan, a good rental history. It sold on 6/28/09 after 652 days on the market! Original price was $559,000, when they dropped the price to $419,000 it sold very quickly. Shows that you need to be proactive in pricing your cabin to make it sell, for these guys it took almost 2 years.

30667 Old Strawberry Rd. The Taake’s home.  This is a nice place!  Huge living room with vaulted pine ceiling, view to the southwest, nice deck, backs to acreage & just 4 years old. 3 bedrooms 2 bath, 1 car garage. Listed $489,000 sold $460,000 on 8/5/09.

121 Rustic Avenue, Pinecrest. The Dascomb’s cabin on the corner of Rustic and Pinecrest Lake Rd. Large level lot, great access year round, 2 huge bedrooms 1 ½ baths, tile kitchen, stone fireplace, lots of upgrades. Asking $350,000! Sold for $330,000. Best deal in Pinecrest!!

28010 Strawberry Dr. This is the log sided cabin I sold a couple of years ago that burned down the day it was to close escrow. The buyers did a very nice job rebuilding and resold the cabin.  The cabin was perfect in every detail.  The listed the cabin in Feb. for $465,000 and sold it for $460,000 on 8/6/09.  It was perfect and they got a very good price because of it. 

28280 Tanager, Strawberry. 3 bedrooms 1 bathroom. Log sided cabin with lots of pine inside. 1400 sq. ft. Asking $350,000 sold on 3/16/09 after 199 days on the market for $330,000.

28295 Tanager. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a fantastic mountain home that is in perfect condition.  The best and nicest of everything throughout. Stone fireplace in the huge living room, open floor 33321 Bumblebee. Lot 16. No bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 472 sq. ft., Knotty pine and log interior. Asking $199,000, Sold on 11/17/08 after 516 days on the market for $190,000

1 Baker Station. This cabin is almost across from the turn off highway 108 into Kennedy Meadows.  A very cute 1 bedroom 1 bath cabin, all knotty pine floor to ceiling, new everything inside, kitchen, bath, heat, etc.  Upgrades by the seller while listed.  Sold for $185,000.

plan with the kitchen / dining area / living room.  Open beam ceiling, trex style decking, level access. 1975 sq. ft. of nice cabin! Asking $499,900, Sold 2/18/09 after just 50 days on the market for $485,000.

30600 Old Strawberry Road, Strawberry Ridge.  3 bedrooms 2 baths, 1296 sq. ft., backing up to forested land.  Sold on 1/22/09 after 152 days on the market.  Asking 356,000, sold for $320,000.

33370 Bumblebee. Brereton’s cabin. The was built by Tom Brick who built boats which require lots more angles and cuts to make perfect so you can imagine the quality of craftsmanship in this cabin.  3 bedrooms 1 ½ baths, 1400 sq. ft, all done in pine, floors, walls and ceilings.  Asking $285,000 and sold on 8/14/09 after 80 days on the market for $235,000

REAL ESTATE STATS   January 1 ’08 to November 1 ‘08 vs. January 1 ’09 to November 1 ‘09

OKAY, THE SALES PITCH.  I am looking for anyone who is willing to sell their cabin and people who are looking to buy a cabin or home.  I, like most of the realtors on the mountain, have buyers looking for that perfect piece of paradise to buy, but it has to be priced right for what & where it is. To get top dollar put your cabin into the MLS right away and let everyone know your cabin is for sale. Don’t forget to have a lock box put on the house for realtors to use.   I see some real estate agents list a cabin or lot and “keep it in-house for awhile” and no other real estate agents can help you or your agent get it sold, or not put a lock box on it for whatever reason. A lock box makes it easier for realtors to show your cabin without having to go to the listing agent and get the key then drive the key back to the listing agent when done, all while we have our clients in the car, think about it, buyers want to look at cabins not drive around to other real estate offices.

Have a great winter and feel free to call me anytime, I’m a great source to find someone to help you fix something, get a job done or just check on the weather or chat about the mountains.  Toll free to my cell phone 888-686-1107. 

Speaking of looking at the Pinecrest area weather, on my web page toward the bottom is a link to the Pinecrest area weather, check it out online it will take you to the National Weather Service in Pinecrest, weather maps, forecasts for up to 10 days and more.  The zip code for Pinecrest is 95364 if you are ever looking at the weather 

JEANE ROLFE. I am sad to tell anyone who has not heard that my very good friend and co-worker, Jeane Rolfe passed away in Jan.