There are only four more days of shopping until Christmas.  Many people in our Reno community are still running around, trying to cross every item off on their Christmas list.  Still others will be making frantic purchases online, desperate to get those gifts here in time to be put under the tree.  You may have heard about a rise in thefts of delivered packages lately.  It is happening all over the United States.  But local authorities are saying that they have seen a rise in reported thefts right here in the Reno-Sparks area.  They are now offering tips on how to prevent Christmas delivery thefts that you would be wise to heed.How to Prevent Christmas Delivery TheftsThe Reno Police Department has put out a list of their advice on how to prevent Christmas delivery thefts this year.  Man... 12/21/2015

We are smack dab in the middle of December right now.  But it is not too late to begin preparing your Reno home for winter weather.  Last night, Old Man Winter decided to pound on our doors.  Many of us woke up to snow here in our Reno community this morning.  If you haven't done it yet, you might want to start looking around at what you need to repair or replace before we get any further into the coldest season of the year.Preparing Your Reno Home for Winter WeatherThe City of Reno has prepared a fantastic Winter Preparedness Guide to help all residents during the winter months.  It offers tips on how to drive safely in snowy weather, how to provide a safe route for kids to get to school and how to winterize your home.  You can download the complete winter guide here.  The following is... 12/14/2015

What was once an area populated by run-down weekly hotels, empty lots, and a municipal fire station has blossomed into an entertainment district jointly managed by a partnership between the City of Reno and private business. While most cities site their stadiums in the seedier section of town to minimize its impact on property values, Reno's Baseball District's designers completed their planning with renewal in mind.The result is an entertainment pavilion populated known as the Ballpark District with arcades, restaurants, and numerous beer gardens that appeal to many people. The primary draw is Nevada's first AAA baseball team, the Reno Aces. With a seating capacity of 10,000 fans, Reno residents get the flavor of professional baseball but on a smaller scale, and for residents of The Bi... 12/12/2015

The Reno Santa Crawl 2015 brings yuletide cheer and money for charity.  Is it possible that you are not in a festive mood yet?  All that can change in just one night.  At least, it can if you participate in the great Reno Santa Crawl 2015!What: Reno Santa Crawl 2015Where: Downtown RenoWhen: December 12, 2015 7:30pm to 1amCost: Free to participate, Beer for purchase at each bar, $5 commemorative cupContact: Reno Santa Crawl Facebook PageReno Santa Crawl 2015Come see the biggest collection of Santas in the country at the Reno Santa Crawl 2015.  Participants are asked to dress up in their festive best.  Don't have a spare Santa suit?  You can buy an Old St Nick costume at several local Reno establishments.  Going in a group?  Designate one Santa and make sure you have several elves to help... 12/08/2015

Entering escrow is only the tip of the iceberg.  A house is not your home until escrow closes.  That can take several weeks.  Many items have to be checked off before a real estate transaction is officially closed.  Things can go off kilter along the way, causing your home to fall out of escrow and out of your hands.  You need to know how to avoid closing mistakes when buying your Reno home.Avoid Closing MistakesHonesty is the best policy.  One way you can avoid closing mistakes is to be totally honest when filling out your mortgage application.  Let's put aside the fact that lying on a mortgage application is a federal crime.  If that doesn't deter you (and it should), then consider this.  Lenders have become incredibly effective in investigating information provided on an application.... 11/02/2015

The September 2015 Reno Home Sale Market Report showed that it continues to be a Seller's market.  That is because there is a 3.4 month inventory supply available.  Reno Buyers will be happy to note that the median price was slightly lower than August.  However, it is up almost 20% from September 2014.  For your convenience, you will find a breakdown of the September 2015 Reno Home Sale Market Report below.September 2015 Reno Home Sale Market ReportAccording to the Reno/Sparks Association of REALTORS®, there were a total of 560 Reno area homes sold in September 2015.  This was 7% higher than the previous month and 10% higher than last year.  That makes this the highest September totals since 2003.The median sale price for a Reno area home came in at $285,000 in September 2015.  That was... 10/26/2015

Everyone who lives in the Reno community knows how hard the construction industry was hit by the real estate bust a few years ago.  In 2006, the Nevada Department of Employment reported 25,900 construction workers in the Reno-Sparks area.  In 2010, there were around 7300.  Those numbers have begun to improve in recent years due to major projects like the Apple data center project and Tesla's gigafactory.  But, it remains to be seen how Tesla affects the Reno construction industry for years to come.How Tesla Affects the Reno Construction IndustryWhile nowhere near the almost 26,000 reported at the last boom in 2006, more and more construction workers are finding employment here in the Reno-Sparks area.  Much of that has been attributed to jobs like the 5,000,000 square foot Tesla gigafac... 10/19/2015

It's that time of year again, folks.  Time for the 2015 Reno Bites Restaurant Week.  That's when local restaurants in our Reno community offer fixed menus of delicious Fall fare at fantastic prices.  Everyone's a winner here!What: 2015 Reno Bites Restaurant Week Where: Various Reno Restaurants When: October 12-18, 2015 Contact: Reno Bites Week (775) 772-8447 or via email2015 Reno Bites Restaurant WeekYou don't have to live in Reno to enjoy the 2015 Reno Bites Restaurant Week.  Just visit any of the more than two dozen Reno restaurants participating in Reno Bites between now and Sunday, October 18th.  Each restaurant offers its very own pre-fixed menu at different price points ($10, $20 or $30).  This gives everyone the opportunity to visit their favorite local Reno restaurant or try som... 10/12/2015

We are getting towards the end of the year which is the time when many people change out the batteries in theier smoke alarms. Dead battieries are a major cause of people not being warned of fire in the home. Worst yet many homes lack the proper amount of detectors and many home don't even have one working smoke alarm. As a Home Inspector I've seen this time after time here in the Reno area. They are relativley cheap and simple to install. No there are even ones that the batteries last the life on the unit. Most people don't realize smoke deterctors have a lifespan of about 10 years. Again this year the Reno fire department is giving away 600 free smoke alarms during the 2015 Fire Prevention week. Some protect your home and family by checking and installling your own smoke alarms.  10/04/2015

For the last year, I've been talking about all of the great businesses that have set up shop here in our Reno community.  Apple, Amazon and Zulily are taking advantage of great Nevada tax breaks.  Tesla officially announced their move to Reno with their Gigafactory last year.  High tech security company Ghost Systems formally proclaimed their move to Incline Village in January 2015.  Now, Reno SuperNAP is set to build the largest data center ever right here in Northern Nevada.Reno SuperNAPSuperNAP is a Switch company.  The Las Vegas-based Switch is a major computing hub.  The new SuperNAP campus to be housed in the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center will eventually encompass 6.5 million square feet.  That is 200,000 square feet larger than the next largest data center in the world located in ... 09/28/2015

The 2015 Reno Street Vibrations Fall Rally starts soon.  And by "soon", I mean in two days!  The rumbling you hear is our Reno community transforming into "hog heaven".  Motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the world will be headed to the Biggest Little City in the World for five days of motorcycle mania.What: 2015 Reno Street Vibrations Fall Rally Where: Various Locations Around Downtown Reno When: September 23-27, 2015 Admission: FREE Contact: Reno Roadshows (775) 329-74692015 Reno Street Vibrations Fall RallyThe 2015 Reno Street Vibrations Fall Rally takes place all over Downtown Reno.  Live entertainment has been set up on six different stages throughout the city.  Stars like Paul Sr from "American Chopper" and Danny Koker from "Counting Cars" will make appearances at the rally.  Th... 09/21/2015

Keeping track of home prices in the Midtown District? This post contains important information about the real estate market in the heart of Reno, which features historic buildings and unique small businesses within walking distance of Reno's most iconic locations.Midtown Housing Market Summary Reno - Midtown 1st Half - 2014 1st Half - 2015 % Change Number of Homes Sold 10 8 -20% Average Days on Market 82 154 88% Highest Price $ 320,000 $ 345,000 8% Lowest Price $ 140,000 $ 156,000 11% Average Home Price $ 192,950 $ 249,312 29% Median Home Price $ 176,000 $ 260,750 48% Sold Price / List Price % 98.0% 98.6% 1% Summary of Market Statistics Number of homes sold - From the first half of 2014 to the first half of 2015, the number of homes sold dropped from 10 to eight.  Median Home Price - Th... 09/15/2015

The proposed Reno Ice Arena needs your support.  As you know, our Reno community is a great place for winter activities like skiing and snowboarding.  But there is currently no ice rink available for the public.  That means no indoor skating, hockey games, curling or even the opportunity for an NHL franchise.  The Greater Reno Ice Skating Association (GRISA) wants to change this by building the Reno Ice center.  It will also bring a little taste of winter to our area all year round.Proposed Reno Ice ArenaGRISA was created specifically to bring ice-skating activities to the greater Reno area.  They have launched a $10 million dollar fundraiser to facilitate the creation of their proposed Reno Ice arena: the Jennifer M O'Neal Community Center.  Some of the advantages to the proposed Reno ... 09/14/2015

The Great Reno Balloon Race 2015 hits town this weekend!  The skies above our Reno community will be filled with beautifully ornate hot air balloons all weekend long.  This is one event you absolutely will NOT want to miss!What: Great Reno Balloon Race 2015 Where: Rancho San Rafael Park (1595 N Sierra) When: September 11-13, 2015 5am to 10am Admission: FREE Contact: Great Reno Balloon Race emailWhat Happens at the Great Reno Balloon Race 2015?Did you ever release your helium-filled balloon as a kid?  Did you watch in wonder as it went up and up into the atmosphere?  The Great Balloon Race 2015 is like that...but on steroids!  The wonderment remains but the balloons have greatly improved.  These balloons aren't filled with helium, either.  Just good old plain hot air.  And lots of it!The... 09/08/2015

Need something to do this weekend?  Not feeling the Burning Man vibe?  That's OK.  Sign up for one of the 2015 Reno Provisions Mark Estee Family Tours instead.  You get to stay inside.  You don't have to pitch a tent.  You stay clean.  You get to learn how to cook something new.  And it won't cost you a cent.  You can't say THAT about Burning Man!What: 2015 Reno Provisions Mark Estee Family ToursWhere: Reno Provisions (100 N Sierra St)When: Last Saturday of the Month, Every hour from 9am to 12pmCost: FREEContact: Jessica Pauletto, Reno Provisions (775) 336-1091 or via email2015 Reno Provisions Mark Estee Family ToursAt the 2015 Reno Provisions Mark Estee Family Tours, you will learn what "farm to table" really means.  Chef Mark Estee will take visitors both young and old on a culinary t... 08/24/2015

According to the Reno/Sparks Association of REALTORS®, we haven’t seen total July unit sales this high since 2005.  Since the beginning of 2012, the Reno/Sparks community has seen a steady increase in year-over-year sales and median prices.  Looks like that trend is holding steady. July 2015 Reno Sparks Market ReportSellers will be happy to hear the numbers in the July 2015 Reno Sparks Market Report.  There were a total of 593 Reno/Sparks homes sold in July 2015.  This was 8.9% less than the previous month.  However, it was 11.9% higher than the total in July 2014.  The amount of new listings on the market was down only a slight 0.1% from last year.  Almost one-third of these new listings were under $250,000.  Short sales and REOs made up 5% of the total Reno Sparks listings in July. Th... 08/17/2015

Semi-custom Reno home for sale in the Reserve at Monte Rosa ~3810 Nature Trail Reno, NV 89511 ~ MLS #150009899~  Located in a gated community along the Mount Rose Highway, The Reserve at Monte Vista. Built  and designed by HomeCrafters, an award winning builder known for their high-end, quality homes. The community offers incredible views of the city, valley and mountains situated amidst walking paths, private roads and common area maintenance.  Features Found in Monte Rosa Homes Distinguished Tuscan, Mountain, & Prairie Architecture 10ft and vaulted ceilings throughout Gourmet over sized kitchens Luxurious Master Suites Bedrooms with En-Suite Baths Front Courtyards Casistas   3810 Nature Trail  ~ $999,500 ~ Stunning. Exceptional. Luxurious. ~ Impeccable quality ~ exceptional private lo... 08/10/2015

The 2015 Reno RGJ Water Savers Club helps you conserve water.  California isn't the only place experiencing drought conditions.  Nevada is currently in its fourth year of a drought.  Any way you can help cut your water usage in our Reno community is always appreciated.  And that's where the 2015 Reno RGJ Water Savers Club can come in handy.What is the 2015 Reno RGJ Water Savers Club?The 2015 Reno RGJ Water Savers Club was created by the Reno Gazette Journal.  You can track your usage through their simple online form here.  The goal is to help Reno residents lower their water usage by five million gallons during the summer months.  Even though we are in August, it is never too late to sign up.The average Reno-Sparks resident uses around 120,000 gallons of water annually.  Approximately h... 08/10/2015

The Reno/Sparks Association of REALTORS® released their Second Quarter 2015 Reno Home Sales Report earlier this month.  The Reno community saw increases in both existing home sales and median prices.  This continues the year-over-year increases we have been experiencing this year.Second Quarter 2015 Reno Home Sales Report BreakdownA total of 1182 existing Reno homes were sold during the second quarter of 2015.  That was 67% of the total Washoe County home sales during this time.  This showed an increase of 9% from the same time last year and 43% more than the first quarter of 2015.  The median sale price for an existing single-family Reno home was $287,250.  That is 17% higher than the second quarter of 2014 and 4% higher than the first quarter of this year.  It is also 3.3% higher than... 07/27/2015

2015 Reno Sparks Hot August Nights are almost here.  The entire event spans 10 days and three cities.  One trip here and you will have no doubt as to why this is one of the biggest events held in our Reno community each year.  Classic cars.  Classic music.  Classic fun.  It's all here at the 2015 Reno Sparks Hot August Nights.  Don't miss a minute of it!What: 2015 Reno Sparks Hot August Nights Where: Throughout the Reno/Sparks Area When: July 31st through August 9th Contact: Hot August Nights (775) 356-1956 or via email2015 Reno Sparks Hot August NightsThe 2015 Reno Sparks Hot August Nights kicks things off with a cavalcade of classic cars all day long in Virginia City on July 31st and August 1st.  You can participate in a Poker Walk from 10am to 5pm.  Visit the classic cars and their o... 07/20/2015