Roseville, CA · NMLS 281056 · Licensed CA, TN, TX (916) 705-2557 adebusk@loandepot.com
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Lake life. Mountain life. Your next chapter.

Living, Buying & Owning a Home in South Lake Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe is a place to slow down, look up and build a life with more room for the things that matter. A thoughtful mortgage plan can help make the move feel possible.

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Lake Tahoe shoreline, pines and snow-dusted Sierra Nevada mountains
Amy DeBusk, mortgage advisor for South Lake Tahoe homebuyers

Hi, I’m Amy DeBusk

Your Tahoe Mortgage Plan Starts With the Life You Want Here

South Lake Tahoe is wonderfully different from most California markets. A primary home, second home or future retirement place can each come with their own questions about the property, intended use, insurance, access and the payment that feels right for your life.

I’ll help you look at the full picture early, so you can shop with clarity and make room for the Tahoe chapter you are imagining.

Start a conversation with Amy

Find the setting that feels like you

Four South Lake Tahoe Areas to Start Exploring

Every Tahoe property deserves an address-specific conversation. These four areas are a helpful place to begin imagining the kind of daily life you want, then narrowing the search with your local real estate team.

Tahoe Keys & Tahoe Island

For buyers drawn to water, neighborhood channels and an outdoor-centered lifestyle. We can plan early for the property type, insurance and the full cost of owning near the lake.

Al Tahoe & Bijou

Central, established areas close to beaches, schools, dining and the routines of year-round life. They are a natural fit for buyers who want Tahoe character with everyday convenience.

Heavenly & Stateline

Near skiing, restaurants, entertainment and the energy of the state line. Condos, townhomes and homes in this area each bring distinct questions about occupancy, HOA details and long-term plans.

Meyers & Christmas Valley

A little more meadow, forest and breathing room south of town. Buyers often appreciate the trail access and mountain setting, while paying close attention to winter access, utilities and property-specific insurance.

Financing that fits the way you will use the home

Home Loan Options for Your Tahoe Chapter

Couple and their dog arriving at a sunny home

Primary Home & Relocation Loans

Build a plan around your income, down payment and the home you intend to make your everyday base.

Explore purchase loan options
Lakefront vacation home with a peaceful water view

Second-Home Loans

Talk through a place your family returns to now, a future retirement home or a change of pace you can enjoy often.

Explore second-home options
Light-filled home interior for jumbo loan planning

Jumbo Home Loans

For higher-priced Tahoe properties, we can compare a strategy that reflects your assets, income and full financial picture.

Explore jumbo home loans
Investor and property manager reviewing a duplex rental property

Investment Property Loans

Bring your rental or investment questions to a clear financing conversation before you make an offer.

Explore investment loan options

Available options depend on the property, occupancy, income, credit, assets and program guidelines. We will compare the full payment before you decide what fits.

A place unlike the valley

Tahoe Has Its Own Rhythm

South Lake Tahoe sits along the southern shore of Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada. It brings together beaches, skiing, hiking, boating, local schools, small businesses and a true four-season lifestyle.

It is also a market where the surrounding environment matters to daily life. Snow, insurance, access, property type, utilities and how you plan to use a home can all shape the decision alongside its price.

More than a resort town

A Tourism Economy With a Year-Round Community

Tourism, recreation, lodging, restaurants and outdoor businesses are part of Tahoe’s story. So are the people who live and work here all year: healthcare professionals, educators, local-government teams, tradespeople, utility workers, real estate professionals and small-business owners.

That blend is part of what makes South Lake Tahoe feel alive well beyond a vacation weekend. It is a town with its own routines, services and community connections beneath the lake-and-mountain postcard.

Buying in the mountains

A Tahoe Home Purchase Deserves an Early Conversation

Insurance & wildfire

Homeowners insurance and wildfire exposure can affect affordability, so they are worth investigating early with the property address in hand.

Snow & access

Winter access, snow removal, driveway configuration and ongoing maintenance can be part of how a property works in real life.

How you will use the home

Primary-home, second-home and investment plans can lead to different financing conversations. Let’s begin with your actual goals.

There are cabins, condos and homes with details that deserve a little more homework before you decide on the right loan. I’ll help you understand the numbers and financing considerations without reducing the conversation to an interest rate alone.

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Bring your team, or let me help you build one

A Local Team Matters in Tahoe

Buying in South Lake Tahoe is one of those times when people who understand the local market can make a real difference. I work with experienced Tahoe-area real estate professionals and have helped clients finance homes here for years.

If you already have a Realtor you trust, I’ll work right alongside them. If you need a local professional who knows the area, I can help you connect with one.

Confirm the exact address

Schools & Districts in South Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe Unified School District serves South Lake Tahoe, with elementary, middle, high school and additional programs. Check school assignment and current enrollment details directly with the district for the specific address you are considering.

Lake Tahoe Unified School District

1021 Al Tahoe Blvd.
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
(530) 541-2850

Visit the District

Attendance, enrollment and school-year details can change. Use the district as the source of truth before you make a housing decision based on a school assignment.

Moving to South Lake Tahoe? Start here

Utilities, Homeowner Contacts & Local Services

Service providers can vary by property in the Tahoe Basin. Before you schedule a move, verify each utility with the exact address and confirm the provider, start date and any account requirements directly with the service company.

Verify Your Water Provider

Some addresses may be served by a different local provider, including Lukins Brothers Water Company or Lakeside Park Mutual Water Company.

Check the City’s utility list

Building & Permits

For permits, inspections and building questions, start with the City’s Development Services Department and confirm the agency that serves the property.

(530) 542-6010

City development services

Local Services

South Lake Tahoe Police Department
1352 Johnson Blvd.
(530) 542-6100 non-emergency

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue
2101 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
(530) 542-6160

South Lake Tahoe Library
1000 Rufus Allen Blvd.
(530) 573-3185

Library hours & services

Mountain homeowner resources

Things Tahoe Homeowners Learn to Plan For

Wildfire & Defensible Space

Use the City’s fire-prevention resources for defensible-space inspections, home-hardening information and seasonal preparedness.

City fire-prevention resources

Trees & Property Improvements

Tree removal and some property improvements in the Tahoe Basin can involve requirements homeowners from outside the area may not expect.

Visit TRPA

Bear & Wildlife Resources

Learn how to protect your home and live responsibly with Tahoe wildlife through the City’s resident resources.

City resident resources