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.

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. 
• All local affordable housing projects can be found on the Mountain Housing Council of Tahoe Truckee’s resource page. 
• 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 
• Find information on East Placer County housing resources here on affordable housing, home ownership programs, and information for developing workforce housing. Folks can also reach out directly to housing@placer.ca.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! 
  • You can register here directly or through the QR code on the flyer attached. 
• June 13: Lessons from Other Mountain Communities 
  • 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! 
  • Register here! 

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

TAKE THE HOUSING SURVEY!

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. 

IVCBA.org/Programs/Housing

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

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%.)

READ MORE >

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. 

The survey takes approximately 5-10 minutes.

TAKE SURVEY HERE >

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.

READ MORE >

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.

UPCOMING WORKFORCE HOUSING SERIES

May 22: First-Time Homebuyers Workshop presented by Incline Village Realtors

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.

• Sierra Community House: Housing assistance services
• Tahoe Family Solutions: Rental and utility assistance
• St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church is working to establish a fund for housing assistance.
• St. Francis/St. Vincent de Paul chapter has a program to help those in need
• Reno Housing Authority has a voucher program
• Tahoe-Truckee Homeless Services works with those in need throughout the area
• Rotary Club of Tahoe-Incline has a Geno Emergency Fund for rental 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

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is accepting applications for a new scholarship program that empowers Lake Tahoe community members to engage in the planning process as part of the Tahoe Living initiative to update affordable and workforce housing policies, the agency announced today.

Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin is a multi-year project to modernize land use policies and the regional growth management system to make housing more accessible while maintaining and improving environmental protections. A core focus of the program is to establish long-term, two-way engagement between communities and agencies, with a particular focus on underrepresented groups, according to TRPA.

“We want to ensure that many voices help shape solutions to affordable housing that improve safety and continue to protect Lake Tahoe,” TRPA Executive Director Julie Regan said. “These scholarships and new training opportunities can help community members most affected by housing challenges gain the knowledge and skills needed to engage in decision-making.”

Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin scholarships will award up to $25,000 to help individual community members participate in training courses that provide background knowledge on subjects like planning, environmental regulations, growth management, public safety, and zoning. Most awards will be up to up to $1,600, with one $3,000 scholarship to assist an individual in attending a conference. The scholarships are a companion to TRPA’s Community Academy webinar series and allow for education, discussion, and hands-on learning experiences, according to the agency.

Participants will also be asked to provide feedback on how the agency can improve the training program. The Community Academy webinar series is open to the public and recordings can be viewed at www.tahoeliving.org.

Anyone who is a full-time resident of the Tahoe Basin, a seasonal resident, or works in the Basin is welcome to apply. Scholarship recipients should represent a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, interests, and communities. Applications and more information on eligibility are available at www.tahoeliving.org/engagement-approach.

Funding for the scholarships is provided through a grant from the State of California grant. TRPA has also provided mini-grant assistance to community-based organizations. 

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The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency leads the cooperative effort to preserve, restore, and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe Region, while improving local communities, and people’s interactions with our irreplaceable environment.

Jeff W. Cowen, APR (he/him)
Public Information Officer
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
775-589-5278 | jcowen@trpa.gov

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Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 1/28/2025, Written by Eli Ramos

Last Thursday, the Incline Village and Crystal Bay Community and Business Association, also known as IVCBA, hosted an informational meeting on unlocking housing stock in the area. That meeting coincided with the soon-to-launch Placemate Lease to Locals program, which will open in February.

Linda Offerdahl, executive director of the IVCBA, started off the first presentation of the series by discussing the importance of workforce housing. “The IVCBA has been working to create positive interaction and common ground on issues that can be controversial… Workforce housing includes not just service work, but teachers, nurses, doctors, and firefighters in our community.”

In spring 2024, the IVCBA also conducted a workforce housing series survey, where nearly 70% of people expressed their interest in unlocking existing housing stock for workforce housing.

READ MORE >

Submitted by Placemate, Chase Janvrin, 01/22/2025

Thanks to funding provided by Washoe County, Placemate, Inc. is pleased to launch the Lease to Locals pilot program, an innovative initiative aimed at addressing the lack of long-term housing options in the Incline Village / Crystal Bay area for local workers. 

IVCBA is helping to spread the word of this new program in the area, and build on the efforts already implemented by Placemate in neighboring communities of East Placer County, The Town of Truckee, and South Lake Tahoe. IVCBA is hosting an event on Thursday, January 23rd to highlight the program. 

This new program will provide up to $18,000 in incentive payments to property owners who convert their housing units from short-term rentals or from sitting largely vacant, into year-round or seasonal rentals for the local workforce. 

“Our community has struggled with housing for our workforce. Unlocking housing stock through Lease to Locals offers some relief to landlords willing to provide new rentals and some relief to workers who struggle with the lack of available rentals.” commented Linda Offerdahl, IVCBA Community and Business Association Executive Director.

Placemate brings a proven track record and operational capacity to Incline Village / Crystal Bay. They have run similar Lease to Locals incentive programs not just in the Tahoe area, but across the country in resort communities in Ketchum, Idaho; Eagle and Summit Counties, Colorado; and Nantucket and Provincetown, Massachusetts. The programs incentivize long term rentals to full time workers, as an alternative to short term renting or sitting vacant. Across the various markets Placemate operates, they’ve unlocked 688 units and housed 1,561 locals, as of January, 2025.

Program Details: 

To qualify, properties must be located in Incline Village / Crystal Bay, and not have been rented full-time in the past 12 months, and are subject to a maximum rental rate of $4,500/mo. 

Property owners who rent their property to “qualified tenants” for a minimum five month period are eligible for a one-time financial incentive ranging from $2,000 to $18,000, based on the number of qualified tenants they rent to, and the length and type of lease. 

Local workers searching for a property can create a Renter Profile on the Placemate website. Creating a renter profile is fast, free, and easy, and allows Placemate to match renters to potential homes that fit their criteria.

Tenants and property owners can learn more about the program, and get started by creating their tenant or property owner profiles, by visiting https://placemate.com, calling Placemate at (775) 415-9172, or emailing lori@placemate.com.