$1,157,670Average Value$574Average Price per Sq Ft57Homes For Sale
Year-round vacation in this mountainside community
In the hills above Truckee’s tourist hub, Tahoe Donner has grown into the town’s largest neighborhood. “It started in the 1970s when a fire cleared a lot of the timber,” says Ross Collins with Diamante Realty, who moved to the area in 2000 and has over 35 years of real estate experience. “Developers took that opportunity to build, and now we have about 6,500 homes here. It’s one of the largest homeowners associations in America, with full-time locals and vacationers from the Bay Area. People come from across the world to live here, really.” This wooded, resort-style community has the highest concentration of recreation centers in Truckee, and activities range from downhill skiing to pickleball. It’s common to meet friends for a round of golf or grab a bite at the clubhouse; despite the neighborhood’s size, the community feels small and intimate. “You wouldn’t know how big it is when you drive up there,” says Christy Morrison with Home & Slate, a Truckee resident since 1988 and a Realtor since 2006. “All the streets go in circles, connected, and everyone has their own open space. You can have this peaceful, serene experience and then go have more fun in downtown Truckee.” The reflective waters of Donner Lake are at the base of Tahoe Donner’s hills, and toward the top, the Carson Range spans the southern horizon. Its alpenglow is sometimes visible in the afternoon, says Collins: the sun hits the snow on the top of Mount Rose and surrounding peaks, giving off a reddish color. Lake Tahoe, a big draw for many residents, is about 15 miles south, and Reno is about 30 miles east.
Hilly trails and rec centers in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
As the biggest neighborhood in Truckee, Tahoe Donner has over 60 miles of hiking and biking trails across its 7,300 acres. These trails connect to each subdivision and lead to the area’s seven recreation centers. Alder Creek Adventure Center, on the neighborhood’s north side, is often the most talked about. “If I were to buy in this neighborhood,” says Collins, “I’d want to be close to the Adventure Center for cross-country skiing and mountain biking. You could walk there, right out of your back door.” Its Equestrian Center also offers pony rides, private lessons and even a monthly horse lease. The Downhill Ski Resort is only a couple of miles away, and its slopes have catered to beginners for roughly 50 years. Its new ski lodge is estimated to be up and running for the 2024-2025 season; in response to increased membership, the facility now features sizable dining spaces, direct lift access and other improvements. The Trout Creek Recreation Center is a popular spot for golfers, with a driving range and the Tahoe Donner Golf Course. This 18-hole, semiprivate course was voted the best course for North Lake Tahoe and Truckee by the Sierra Sun in 2021. The Northwoods Clubhouse is a favorite for families with children, says Christy Morrison, because its pool has slides and a beach-like entry. For an even bigger body of water, Donner Lake is at the base of the neighborhood, and Tahoe Donner residents have a private beach and marina. They can store kayaks and paddleboards here, provided they win the yearly lottery. All these recreation spaces are owned and operated by the Tahoe Donner Homeowners Association, and they’re funded by its 25,000-plus members. On top of the $2,900 association fee every year, members can pay a $400 recreation fee for family access.
HOA residents of Tahoe Donner can swim laps in the heated pool during winter months.
Tahoe Donner has many paved trails throughout for walks away from the car traffic.
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Traditional cabins and A-Frames, seasonal market
Departing from the “mountain modern” look of newer neighborhoods, homes in Tahoe Donner still have that classic cabin feel: exposed wood, metal roofs and sizeable porches. They’re set back on sloping, forested lots that provide space between neighbors, and their abundant windows have views of the pines. A-frames are occasional, especially in the Gambrel style, and Collins says they’ve had a renaissance in the 2020s. These homes have roofs that also serve as the exterior walls. While square footage and build dates can influence prices, proximity to major thoroughfares is an even bigger determinant. Northwoods Boulevard and Alder Creek Road, for instance, get more traffic and noise; homes along these corridors are usually cheaper than ones tucked into subdivisions. Often near these busier streets, smaller one- and two-stories might need some updates, and they’re between $540,000 and $750,000. Midsized homes usually have some distance from these streets, and they’re between $750,000 and $1 million. Bigger, chalet-like homes are farthest away, and they might have a view of the Carson Range; they’re between $1 million and $2.3 million. Three condominium complexes are scattered throughout the neighborhood, and since they vary wildly in square footage, units range from $275,000 to $1.2 million. These prices are constantly changing, though, as the market shifts with the seasons. “There’s a lot of turnover,” says JB Benna, a Compass real estate agent who grew up in these Sierra Nevada Mountains. “You get a lot of second homeowners and people that want to rent out their cabin. Plus, the snow can get pretty intense up here, so a lot of properties will change hands after a big snow year.”
In addition to amenity management, the Tahoe Donner HOA conducts yearly inspections of each home’s architecture, and any changes must be reported to them. They also enforce rules about on-street parking, vegetation removal and other aspects. Supplemented with California FAIR or similar fire insurance, trees must be trimmed to provide "defensible space" around each property.
Large four bedroom mountain moderns can be found throughout Tahoe Donner.
Large contemporary custom builds are beginning to pop up throughout the Tahoe Donner area.
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Neighborhood spots, restaurants and shops in Historic Truckee
For a postworkout meal, three recreation centers have full-service restaurants. Pizza on the Hill serves fresh pies and draft beer in the Northwoods Clubhouse; kids can jump around the neighboring playground while the order comes out. The Lodge Restaurant & Pub is right on the Tahoe Donner Golf Course, and its New American fare includes grilled mahi-mahi and elk. Alder Creek Café is in the Adventure Center, and its healthy dishes use organic and seasonal ingredients.
Historic Truckee — which is also the downtown area — is about 3 miles east of Tahoe Donner. Its restaurants and shops are packed with tourists in the summer, when Lake Tahoe water sports are at their most popular. Centered on Donner Pass Road, this district is busy in winter, too, when the area’s seven ski resorts open their slopes. Shoulder seasons saw a spike in popularity after COVID-19, but as some remote workers return to the Bay Area, months like September and April are returning back to the locals. Some restaurants won’t be as crowded year-round, like the ironically named Tourist Club. With a sign for “Free Beer Tomorrow,” this dim-lighted bar has been a local favorite for more than 80 years, and regulars call it T-Club. Coffee And is two doors down for homestyle breakfast.
The Lodge is always full with Tahoe Donner locals at the bar and dining rooms.
Pizza on the hill is a family oriented restaurant in the heart of Tahoe Donner.
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High marks for Tahoe-Truckee Unified Schools
Most schools are just south of the neighborhood, at the base of the mountains. Sierra Expeditionary Learning School is a public charter for kindergarten through eighth grade, and it was a California Distinguished School in 2023. Niche gives it an A and ranks it as the No. 1 public elementary school in the Reno area, ahead of 100-plus others. Truckee Elementary provides a B-plus-rated alternative for kindergarten through fifth grade, and students don’t need a charter application. About 2 miles north of Historic Truckee, Alder Creek Middle gets an A-minus from Niche. Truckee High is next to the elementary school of the same name, and it receives an A. Its career technical education courses are different from the other two high schools in the area; offerings include Engineering Technology and Product Innovation & Design.
The front entrance to Alder Creek Middle School accessible from Tahoe Donner in ten minutes
Tahoe Truckee High School is located at the base of Northwooods close to Tahoe Donner.
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Biking into town, driving through the mountains
Tahoe Donner ranges from 6,750 feet to 7,350 feet in elevation, but its hilly trail system encourages walking and biking. People can use these trails to bike into downtown Truckee, for instance, as it’s only about a 3-mile trip from the base of the hill. However, this distance can increase with elevation, and cars are the more common option. “In lower Tahoe Donner, proximity to Donner Pass Road gives you more convenience,” says Morrison. “If you’re way up top on Ski Slope Road, you can get incredible views, but it can take you roughly a half-hour to get down there on a snowy day.” Roads often freeze, so snow chains are a must-have; police can check tires for these in the winter. Moreover, snow season damages roads, and construction season — as JB Benna puts it — follows the rest of the year. Tourist traffic can often clog up roads during winter and summer, but the addition of roundabouts has attempted to decrease backups in the 2000s. Interstate 80’s exit ramps often have a line of cars, but this freeway leads 30 miles east to Reno International Airport. Another option to Reno, Downtown Truckee has an AmTrak station.
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On average, homes in Tahoe Donner, Truckee sell after 50 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Tahoe Donner, Truckee over the last 12 months is $987,500, down 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Outstanding updated Tahoe Donner classic3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with views and storage for all of your toys, summer and winter! Bike tuning/Ski tuning workshop, built ins in the upstairs loft and bedroom, 2 updated bathrooms, updated kitchen with pantry, soft close cabinets with slide outs and a new refrigerator! Assessor lists 3 car garage, it is a two car garage with an additional storage
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