The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is partnering with the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation and other regional partners to complete an updated assessment of the region’s housing needs. We are seeking survey responses from those who live or work in the region.
The survey takes just 5 minutes and will help direct programs and projects to expand housing options in the Tahoe-Truckee region. We appreciate your help forwarding this survey, particularly to employers you know in the region!
In The News – Are short-term rentals harming housing in the basin?
May 31, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 05/31/2025, Written by Eli Ramos
Short-term rentals (STRs) have been hotly contested in recent discussions of Measure T in South Lake Tahoe, but their presence in the Tahoe Basin has existed long before online platforms like VRBO and AirBnB. Are STRs really harming housing in the greater Lake Tahoe area? The nuanced answers to that question are what we’re diving into for this housing series article.
A brief history of short-term rentals
Short-term rentals, also called vacation home rentals (VHRs), have been around since the 1950s, providing a homey and often cheaper alternative to staying in hotels and motels. Currently, STRs are defined in the basin as properties that are rented for 30 days or less. While people used to advertise their own homes in newspaper ads, the establishment of online platforms like VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) in 1995 made listings even easier, boosting the popularity of STRs everywhere, but especially in vacation destinations like Tahoe.
In recognition of Wildfire Awareness Month, a coalition of wildfire experts, technology companies, energy providers, and nonprofits launched a groundbreaking pilot project today aimed at creating the most wildfire-ready community in the Lake Tahoe region.
The Incline Fire Smart Community Pilot is taking place in the Tyrolian Village HOA, a neighborhood encompassing 228 homes across 60 acres in Incline Village, Nevada that has been identified as a high priority wildfire area by the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District.
The pilot is leveraging new technology to identify which mitigations matter the most, while informing insurance outcomes and demonstrating how comprehensive wildfire defense can be implemented and replicated across Tahoe and the West.
“This initiative has the potential to fundamentally change how communities approach wildfire resilience,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “We’re combining cutting-edge modeling and state-of-the-art technology with on-the-ground mitigation on public lands, NV Energy’s utility corridor, and in the neighborhood to create a replicable blueprint that can save lives, protect property, and preserve natural resources, while informing insurance outcomes.”
During a demonstration today, the public was able to see a remote-operated masticator from BurnBot remove hazardous fuels in the neighborhood up to five feet from homes. Attendees also heard from a panel of experts on how the project came together and the science and strategy behind it. You can watch the panel discussion here.
Free First Time Homebuyers Workshop in Incline Village
May 19, 2025 | Member Submitted
May 22 at the Chateau 5:30pm-7:30pm
Published May 19, 2025 – Written by Laura Vitencz PhD IVR CEO
A First Time Homebuyers Workshop, open to the public, will be hosted by Incline Village Realtors on May 22, 2025, from 5:30pm -7:30pm, at the Chateau in Incline Village. The Workshop here will feature speakers from the regional community, including mortgage lenders, credit repair agencies, insurance companies, banks, title companies, and leaders from Incline Village Crystal Bay Association (IVCBA) and Incline General Improvement District (IVGID). Resources and information geared toward breaking down barriers for the first-time homebuyer will be provided to consumers as part of a grant obtained by Incline Village Realtors from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) consumer advocacy grant program.
Spanish translators will be available at the event.
“IVR is excited to work with our local community businesses and leaders to provide consumers information and resources they need to purchase their first home and break down barriers to homeownership,” said the CEO.
The grant will also facilitate an IVR webpage with multiple language options for First Time Homebuyers. The webpage will host video (s) of the event and information that could be helpful to members of the public interested in purchasing their first home.
Dr. Laura Vitencz is the chief executive officer for IVR in Incline Village, NV. Vitencz worked closely with a team of community volunteer business leaders, real estate professionals, Membership Services Director Camryn Murray and Sean McDonald, 2025 President of the IVR board to make this workshop a reality.
Achievable Housing in Action Lunch & Learn “A Deep Dive into Affordable Housing”
May 14, 2025 | Member Submitted
Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation’s Achievable Housing in Action Lunch & Learn “A Deep Dive into Affordable Housing”, was held last Friday, May 9th. Thank you especially to our featured speakers, Denisse Vega Zarate (Housing Coordinator for Sierra Community House) and Cathie Foley (Program Director for North Tahoe Truckee Homeless Services) for addressing the challenges facing families in need of affordable housing and the successes of folks placed in these homes. Slides shared during the Lunch & Learn are attached.
I also wanted to share out the resources that were mentioned by housing experts during the call together:
To access Sierra Community House housing services, please call their mainline at (530) 546-0952.
To access the Tahoe Truckee Workforce Housing Agency housing navigation services, visit their website or call their office at (530) 582-6593.
Town of Truckee housing programs include the Truckee Home Access Program, First Time Homebuyer Programs, Lease to Locals and Rooted Renters, Accessory Dwelling Unit Program, Token Program, and Deed Restriction for New Housing Development Program. To learn more, contact Lynn Baumgartner (Housing Program Analyst) at 530-582-2492 or housing@townoftruckee.gov
Rachel Vargas, Regional Manager for Coldstream Commons and Meadowview, can be contacted by email at rvargas@jsco.net or by calling (916) 561-0323 ext. 4084.
Check out this video regarding Brown Bear Studios to demonstrate North Tahoe Truckee Homeless Services and Brown Bear Studios’s work.
I also want to encourage folks to sign up for TTCF’s future Achievable Housing in Action Lunch & Learns! Our lineup includes:
THIS FRIDAY (May 16): Home Hardening, Insurance, & Wildfire Risk
Hosted in partnership with TTCF’s Forest Futures program, this Lunch & Learn will focus on “Home Hardening, Insurance, and Wildfire Risk Housing Solutions”. Join us over Zoom on 5/16 from 12:00 – 1:00PM to learn about these community wildfire mitigation strategies!
Housing experts from Ketchum, Idaho, Vail, Colorado, and Jackson, Wyoming will share what’s working in their towns and how it could help other places too. Join us over Zoom from 12:00 – 1:00PM to learn from these outside experts!
Last but not least, please take some time to complete the 2025 Housing Needs Assessment Survey, hosted by TTCF in partnership with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). This survey data is extremely important for local developers, public agencies, and other community partners. The survey closes May 30th; don’t wait!
Thank you! Maeve Donovan – Program Manager – Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation
TRPA and the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation have prepared a survey to assess the needs of the entire region: SURVEY >
ATTEND THE IVR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS WORKSHOP ON MAY 22, starting at 5:30 at the Chateau. Details in the attached flyer. This is sponsored by the Incline Village Realtors. The Housing Committee is helping to organize it and promote it. It is the second event in the Workforce Housing Series. Please invite anyone who is looking to buy property and would like to hear about overcoming the considerable barriers.
Update on Lease to Locals
This is a vehicle for “unlocking existing housing stock” by giving an incentive to landlords to open up a new rental or convert a short-term rental to a long-term rental. It is funded by Washoe County. Since February, one landlord has been accepted into the program, with three more in application review. Of the 54 property leads, almost half have expressed a strong interest. Learn more at: https://placemate.com/lease-to-locals/
Community Outreach Clare, Linda, and River have made presentations and spoken with several community groups, including the two Rotary clubs, AAUW, St. Vincent group at St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church.
Workforce Housing Series
#1 was the event on Placemate’s Lease to Locals at UNR in January.
#2 is the IVR First Time Homebuyers Workshop
#3 is TBD and tentatively planned for the fall.
TRPA’S Living Communities Working Group
Jim McNamara is the Washoe County representative. Chris Wood is the alternate and will be attending meetings on behalf of Washoe Tahoe. The committee is in the second phase of its efforts to make housing more accessible while maintaining and improving environmental protections. The current phase of policy review and capacity building is called Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin. The Phase 2 amendments for height and density are intended to make deed-restricted multi-family projects more viable. Washoe County has just finished a series of public input meetings to consider the viability of those policies in Washoe Tahoe.
Find resources and information on various housing topics on the housing page!
About IVCBA Housing Committee
The IVCBA Housing committee was formed last year to replace the Washoe Tahoe Housing Partnership that managed the housing study and roadmap funded by Washoe County. Its goal is to be a clearinghouse for housing information in Washoe Tahoe and to work to find housing solutions in the community. It consists of community members with a breadth of experience and knowledge.
Community Engagement and Outreach – Clare Novak and River Coyote Finance – Laura Levine Kalisch Redevelopment and Development – Jim Clark and Mike Young Policy and Strategy – Chris Wood and Kathie Julian Programs – Laura Levine Kalisch and Christina Fahad Organization – Linda Offerdahl
Sponsors: Rotary Club of Tahoe-Incline and Rotary Club of Incline Village
In The News – Long waitlists, low turnover, and high demand: Lake Tahoe’s affordable housing
May 2, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 5/2/2025, Written by Eli Ramos
As prices for housing continue to climb, with non-equivalent wage increases, finding affordable housing is becoming increasingly difficult, even for those earning above 80% of the area median income. What does “affordable housing” actually refer to? Here in the basin, who is it meant to serve? And is there enough of it to help those who need it?
Defining affordable housing
Affordable is a tricky term to nail down in the housing sphere, since it’s often used to refer to something that anyone, regardless of income bracket, can pay for. It’s also been used to address the undue burden for most people renting and owning a home—that the combined cost for the housing payment and utilities shouldn’t make up more than 30% of the income for those paying (an uptick from the 1980s, where that number was 20%.)
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is partnering with the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation (TTCF) and other regional partners to complete an updated assessment of the region’s housing needs. Partners request survey responses from those who live and work in the region, including local residents, seasonal workers, in-commuters, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
In The News – A closer look at housing around the Basin
April 4, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 04/04/2025, Written by Eli Ramos
With limited land, varying policies between counties, and environmental regulations to consider, it’s no wonder that housing development has been a challenge in the Basin. And after the COVID-19 pandemic increased the number of remote workers who flocked to tourist destinations, housing issues for local workers were further exacerbated.
Though there are many similarities to housing issues around the Basin, each area faces its own set of challenges, from policies to land use to attitudes. In this next article of the Tribune’s housing series, we’re taking a magnifying glass to each of the areas around the lake. Because the greater Lake Tahoe area spans different cities, counties, and states, their specific housing challenges and solutions tie into where they fall geographically.
Written and submitted by Linda Offerdahl and Chris Wood
HOUSING COMMITTEE SPONSORS
A big thank you to both Rotary Clubs, Incline Village and Tahoe-Incline, for funding this program. Reach out to Linda@IVCBA.org if you are a potential sponsor.
IVCBA is helping to put on this exciting event for prospective homeowners.. This presentation will identify banking programs, financing and options to help new buyers purchase a residence in Incline Village/Crystal Bay. It will be presented in Spanish as well as English. This program is aimed at housing ownership for the “missing middle” in the community – teachers, police, firefighters small business owners and managers.
UPDATE ON LEASE TO LOCALS
The January presentation featured Chase Janvrin from Placemate. “Lease to Locals” is a program to incentivize residential property owners with a one-time cash payment to rent for at minimum a season or a year to persons working in the area. The program calls for capped rents for income-qualified persons. Lease to Locals matches potential tenants with the owner. This program is already yielding results. After just over a month of operation in the area there have been 22 inquiries from residential owners about renting through the program. Three of these owners are now actively looking for tenants to enter the Lease to Locals program.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
A team from the Housing Committee has met with or presented to community groups including Rotary clubs,, AAUW, IVR and MLS, St. Vincent de Paul chapter, and St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church Sunday service.
ORGANIZATIONS WITH HOUSING PROGRAMS
We are identifying “partner” organizations that offer housing assistance.
TRPA Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin Committee: Phase 2 on redevelopment policies hosts webinars and public workshops.
CONSIDERATION
Presentation by Tahoe-Truckee Workforce Housing Agency and the Housing Hub
Presentation by Reno Housing Authority about their voucher program
The survey we gave last spring identified these presentation topics as well:
A community-member panel discussing how the community views workforce housing needs and potential solutions.
What is the potential for development/redevelopment in IV/CB, with a look at zoning and regulations?
Can accessory dwelling units (ADUs) play a role in lessening the workforce housing shortage?
One task ahead of the Housing Committee is to gather data about the supply and demand for housing in the IVCB area. Also, the Housing Committee is looking to add participants to the Committee to assist in its ongoing work.
If you would like to get involved please contact Linda Offerdahl: linda@ivcba.org
