New Snow in McCall

New snow has fallen in the high country with about 12 inches of snow at the summit of Brundage Mountain. While we wait for more snow, here are some winter sports updates.

The McCall Area Pass (MAP) has always been a bargain, offering year-round cross country skiing at Jug Mountain Ranch, Little Bear Basin, Ponderosa State Park and The Activity Barn for the low price of $135.00 for a single pass and $250.00 for a family pass. This year, McCall Nordic is also offering three clinics that will be FREE for MAP pass holders while being available to the public for a charge.

The first clinic will be Saturday, December 4 starting at 10:00 AM at Bear Basin: beginner and intermediate clinics with the focus on early season skiing and conditioning. Advance sign up is required: call Ed Roper at 208-634-9417. Cost for the general public is $20.00 — FREE for McCall Area Pass Holders. Other clinics will be offered throughout the year, visit the McCall Nordic Website for the schedule and where to buy the pass.

Payette Powder Guides besides providing the best back county ski guiding and lodging in the area, will be offering a full range of clinics this year for Avalanche safety and rescue, and other back country topics. Visit the website Payettepowderguides for a full schedule and information on their trips.

Tamarack Resort will be opening on December 15 with the main lifts to the summit and some smaller lifts. They will be operating from Thursday to Sunday and holidays visit the website for more info Tamarack resort

Thanksgiving Activities in McCall

Roadhouse Java in New Meadows will host a Holiday Artist Bazaar from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. The bazaar is a chance for residents to shop local for the holidays and enjoy complimentary coffee and treats.

Featured will be DeMoss Glass Art, Deck the Halls with Boughs by Hollys, Dale James metal art, jewelry and scarves by Darcy Williamson and Momma’s Hats by Chris Patrick. Also featured will be dogwood and huckleberry wreaths, Leap Year Designs jewelry and linen, wool crafts by Gitte DuPont and handcrafted greeting Cards.

Tickets are still available for the St. Luke’s McCall’s Auxiliary Holiday Happening, a traditional kickoff to the holiday season. The event will take place Saturday, Dec. 3, at 11 a.m. at Shore Lodge and will have the theme “Christmas around the World.”

The event centers on a luncheon featuring a style show with international attire, live auction for dessert, and raffle prizes.

Tickets cost $25 and are available at the auxiliary Thrift Shop and St. Luke’s McCall Marketing Office. Tickets will not be sold at the door the day of the event.

Proceeds from Holiday Happening go toward scholarships for local students studying for health care professions. For more information, call St. Luke’s McCall, 634-4061, ext. 271

There are many other events, visit the McCall Chamber Website for more info at McCall Chamber

Home Prices to Fall Nationally, Vacation Home Markets Expected to Rebound First

The besieged housing market has even further to fall before home prices really hit rock bottom.

According to Fiserv (FISV), a financial analytics company, home values are expected to fall another 3.6% by next June, pushing them to a new low of 35% below the peak reached in early 2006 and marking a triple dip in prices. Several factors will be working against the housing market in the upcoming months, including an increase in foreclosure activity and sustained high unemployment, explained David Stiff, Fiserv’s chief economist.

Should home values meet Fiserv’s expectations, it would make it the third (and lowest) trough for home prices since the housing bubble burst.

However the article goes on to say that many of the markets that will record the biggest increases or the first to stabilize are vacation or retirement communities, like McCall, that had taken some of the biggest hits during the bust. Already vacation home areas in Florida, Colorado have seen a price increase for vacation homes. The biggest “winner” will be Ocala, Fla., with a 22.4% spike for the 12 months ending June 30, 2013. Ocala was one of the hardest hit communities in the U.S. over the past several years, with home prices falling some 50%.

New Listings

Many new listings are still coming on the market with a variety of properties offering great deals. We have a comfortable modern and rustic cabin close to downtown and only two blocks from Payette Lake with lake views, 3 bedrooms 3 bath for $359,000 here is the link to our

video tour Also listed is a hard to find Tamarack Bay Condo, includes dock slip, beach, pool, tennis courts, 3 bedroom and 2 bath on the ground floor opening to the lake for $695,000, here is the link to our video tour