It’s that time of year when property owners in Incline Village and Crystal Bay start to think about whether they want to continue using their place at Lake Tahoe or explore other options. With our local real estate market in a steady uptrend it’s an excellent time to contemplate whether to trade up, trade down, hold on or cash out.

Owners of single-family homes that have appreciated significantly in the past few years who have been thinking about downsizing into a condo could find themselves enjoying the best of both worlds. This is especially true if you have a property with a lake view or a low elevation house in the Millcreek or Lakeview subdivisions. With a relatively small supply and very good demand for these types of places you could likely sell your property rather easily in 2018, purchase a condo in a desirable location and put a substantial amount of money in your pocket after completing both transactions.

The reason this opportunity exists is because condo prices for the most part have not appreciated as quickly as prices for a good percentage of single-family homes in Incline Village and Crystal Bay. Since coming out of the Great Recession, condo prices have rebounded but are still below the pre-recession peak.

As of this writing, you can still find condos in highly desirable locations with asking prices that are between 15 percent and 20 percent below their all-time highs. Consequently, owners of single-family homes find themselves in a rare position where they can sell their property, which has appreciated quite a bit during the past few years, and trade down with favorable economic results.

With the condo inventory at a very low level this time of year, there also is the opportunity for condo owners to consider selling in the spring time and trade up to a larger property before they have to compete with the usual summer crowds.

While you will normally have to come out of pocket a few dollars to make a trade up purchase, not having to compete with throngs of buyers in the summertime provides you with a better opportunity to negotiate your best deal.

Some property owners will make the decision to simply hold on and enjoy their house, condo or freestanding condo for the next few years. It appears that properties in all classes in our market will continue to appreciate in 2018 at a steady rate.

Considering that Incline Village and Crystal Bay provide a fabulous quality of life along with superb recreational amenities, holding onto your property and living the dream on the Nevada side of North Lake Tahoe is a darn good alternative.

For some folks the nice levels of appreciation we have seen since the end of the Great Recession provide the ideal time to cash out. Considering the low inventory levels, 2018 could be the right time to sell your property and ride off into the sunset.

Property owners at Lake Tahoe have some interesting things to contemplate and a wide variety of options to consider in a real estate market that offers opportunities for everyone.

Sabrina Belleci and Don Kanare are the owners of RE/MAX North Lake. Read their blog and find weekly stats on their website at http://www.InsideIncline.com.