The scene is playing out throughout the Bay Area. People are selling their houses at the peak of the market and doing whatever it takes to get out of the over-priced, over-populated and over-trafficked region.
But where are they going?
Nevada is certainly one state benefiting from the exodus of many long-time Northern California residents and it is easy to see why.
From a personal viewpoint, there is no state income tax, low property taxes and no inheritance tax. From a business perspective, there is no corporate income tax, no tax on corporate shares issued while living in Nevada and no tax on sale or transfer of shares.
Sounds enticing, doesnāt it?
If you are considering a move, take a long look at the Montreux Country Club at the southern end of Reno. Located right off the Mt. Rose Highway, Montreux is a gated community that opened in 1996
Itās no secret that Reno is growing as companies such as Tesla, Apple, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble, have recently decided to take advantage of the tax breaks and open large facilities in Reno.
Make no mistake about it, people are leaving California.
āIt has been huge,ā said Brooke Sullivan, a broker on site and our tour guide on the property, about the influx of people from California. āIād say between 60-70 percent of the people buying here are from California.ā
There are a number of neighborhoods at Montreux, with Parc Foret being the last. There are currently 30 lots either developed or under construction. It is also the most remote of the developments, meaning you will always the most peaceful setting, as the property nestles up against the Tahoe National Forest.
After taking an extensive tour of all the developments, Parc Foret really does look like the place to be.
And compared to the Bay Area, stunningly affordable. We had the absolute pleasure to stay in one of the models on site. The 4,239 square-foot home we stayed in was designed to maximize your ability to accommodate the way you live.
There were two bedrooms on the entrance level, including the master suite. There is a great room, kitchen, dining area and large laundry room as well. There is a bottom level that features two more bedrooms, a family room, covered patio and fire pit.
There is also a three-car garage, allowing to get your vehicles inside during the winter months.
Ideally built for a family, at no time do you feel cramped or crowded. Ā In the day and age when everything in the Bay Area seems to be in seven figures, Montreux is a deal.
The first stage of Parc Foret involves the 30 homes, with another 60 set after that. Unlike other golf communities in the High Sierra, Montreux is a primary residence for most of the owners. Places such as Old Greenwood, Martis Camp and Schafferās Mill (all in the Truckee area) are primarily second or third homes.
āThis a home community,ā said Sullivan. āThere are great schools here, there is the nightlife of Reno and the culture of the area. You get the Tahoe amenities with everything that a city has to offer.ā
And if you are thirsting for Lake Tahoe and all it has to offer, Montreux is about 25 minutes from North Lake Tahoe.
Golf
The course is host to a PGA Tour event each season. The tournament started as the Reno-Tahoe Open and is currently under the banner of the Barracuda Championship.
The Jack Nicklaus Signature design that opened in 1997, plays to 7,472 yards and is among the best in the High Sierra region. It is the only Nicklaus Signature course in Northern Nevada and has been said to be one Nicklausā favorite designs.
The course features a number of drops in elevation as it meanders through the community, sharing the landscape with towering pines and quietly running creeks. There are lakes in play on seven holes and waterfalls on four holes.
The course plays like many Nicklaus designs, meaning ample landing spots for your tee shot, but from there it gets tougher. The greens were rolling at 12 when we played, but were pure and rolling perfectly.
There were great holes throughout, such as the par 3, 7th hole, a tasty little 163-yard hole that demands carry over the lake. There is room to bail out to the right, but come on, you have got to go for the green!
While each hole affords views of either overseeing the valley or of Mt. Rose, I feel the final two holes are one of the best two closing holes in the region, perhaps falling only behind Edgewood.
The 17th is a 464-yard par 4, but before worrying about the distance, keep in mind it is an elevated tee shot from a tee complex 100 feet about the fairway. In fact, many of the professionals will hit an iron off the tee so as not to challenge the creek that cuts through the fairway about 340 yards from the tee. Given the drop and the added distance you get at the altitude, the creek can be easily reachable from the tee.
The 18th is another downhill hole, this one playing 616 yards. A big tee shot does bring the chance to get home in two, but bunkers and a lake guard the right side, making a lay-up the prudent play.
The practice facilities are top notch as well.
When the golf season ends at some point October or November, residents are just 10-15 minutes from the Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe resort.
Other
Additional amenities include the 5,000 square-foot fitness center with a swimming pool, tennis courts and childrenās playground. In addition, there are miles of trails for walking, jogging or biking. All trials work through the forest or along creeks providing for the idyllic natural setting.
The Clubhouse resembles a French Country Manor. Ā With more than 34,000 square feet inside, it has three separate dining rooms, a member’s grill and lounge, elegant, luxurious locker rooms, a wine cellar, and a pro shop.
The dining options feature fine dining at the clubhouse or the casual Jackās Den, a popular place for the members to unwind.
Montreux is a must look location for anyone thinking of getting out of California. The property and facility offer everything a family could want in luxury living at a fraction of the cost at comparable locations in California.
You get the natural beauty of the High Sierra with the amenities needed to live with everything you choose.
For more information, go to www.montreuxgolf.com or to contact the real estate department, you can get Sullivan either by e-mail at [email protected] or the office at (775) 849-9444.
By Dennis Miller