Northstar Homes for Sale & Real Estate
Lake Tahoe's Premier Ski and Golf Resort Community
Placer County, CA • 96161Quick Answer
Northstar homes for sale range from condos and townhomes in and around the Village and on the mountain to single-family homes in the Highlands, Big Springs and along the golf course. Northstar is a ski-and-golf resort between Truckee and Lake Tahoe's North Shore, in unincorporated Placer County, California: it shares Truckee's 96161 ZIP code but follows Placer County's rules, including its short-term rental permits. Resort-managed rental programs make it popular with investors, and downtown Truckee is about 10 minutes away.
Northstar by the numbers
Real Estate Tahoe brokers Murat Gocmen and Kristina Mattson track the Northstar market from the MLS every day. In the last 12 months, 88 homes sold in Northstar at a median $1.2M ($730 a square foot), 78 days from listing to closing, at 97% of the last list price. Today 65 are for sale and 7 under contract, about 8.9 months of supply.
Murat operates 41 Lake Tahoe vacation rentals through MG Vacation Rentals. Kristina has 25+ years on the North Shore and is the 2026 President of the Incline Village Realtors®. One brokerage, licensed in Nevada and California, at 917 Tahoe Blvd in Incline Village.
Broker-owner Murat Gocmen's advice to any Tahoe seller: judge a listing agent by what their sellers got against the first list price and how long it took, not by sales volume. The three numbers to ask any agent. Sales volume is the wrong number: in our September 2026 study, agents who typically handled one or two listings at a time got their sellers more and sold faster than agents juggling more.
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Homes for Sale in Northstar
65 active and 7 under contract in Northstar, CA · $40K - $8M
Shopping beyond Northstar? Search every Lake Tahoe home for sale across both states and all four MLSs.
Recently Sold in Northstar
88 closed sales in the last 12 months · median $1.2M · $730/sq ft · 78 days list to close · sold at 97% of list
Sale prices and close dates as reported by the listing MLS. See every home Real Estate Tahoe has sold across the basin.
About Northstar
Northstar California Resort is one of Lake Tahoe's most sought-after real estate markets, combining world-class skiing, a walkable pedestrian Village, championship golf, and year-round mountain living just 10 minutes from historic downtown Truckee. Situated in unincorporated Placer County (not under Town of Truckee jurisdiction), Northstar uses the Truckee zip code 96161 but follows Placer County land use and STR regulations.
The real estate market at Northstar spans a wide spectrum. Village condos and hotel-style residences start in the mid-$400,000s, while luxury ski-in/ski-out homes in the Highlands and Big Springs neighborhoods can exceed $5 million. The Ritz-Carlton Residences represent the pinnacle of Northstar ownership, with whole-ownership units ranging from $1.25 million to over $4.5 million. The median price per square foot in the Village area runs between $900 and $1,000, reflecting the premium that ski resort proximity commands.
Northstar's appeal extends well beyond ski season. The 18-hole championship golf course, extensive mountain bike trail network, year-round Village events, and proximity to Lake Tahoe's North Shore beaches create genuine four-season demand. The resort's managed rental programs and Placer County STR permits make Northstar one of the strongest vacation rental markets in the Tahoe region, with properties generating substantial income during both winter and summer peak seasons.
Northstar Home Prices by Area
- Village Condos: $400,000 – $1,200,000 (price/sq ft: $900–$1,000)
- Big Springs & Highlands Homes: $1,200,000 – $5,000,000+
- Ritz-Carlton Residences: $1,250,000 – $4,500,000+
- Golf Course Homes: $900,000 – $2,500,000
Typical ranges by area. Timeshare and fractional shares in the Ritz-Carlton Club and Village buildings sell for far less than whole ownership. The live count of Northstar homes for sale, the median list price and the last 12 months of sales are at the top of this page, straight from the MLS.
Three Things That Catch Northstar Buyers Off Guard
Most buyers walk into Northstar assuming it's a Truckee suburb with resort perks. The reality is layered enough that even experienced second-home buyers get tripped up by the same three issues.
- Northstar uses the Truckee zip code (96161), but is NOT in Truckee jurisdiction: It's unincorporated Placer County. STR permits, building codes, and TOT are all administered by Placer County, not the Town of Truckee. Buyers who assume Truckee STR rules apply often discover too late that their permit timeline is completely different.
- Village condos and Big Springs single-family homes are different markets entirely: Village HOA fees run $1,200–$2,800/month vs. $200–$600/month for Big Springs homes. Property tax assessments, lender requirements, and resale dynamics diverge sharply. Picking the wrong category for your goals wastes weeks of search time.
- The Highlands "ski-in/ski-out" claim varies dramatically by property: Some Highlands homes have direct ski trail access; others require a short shuttle ride. The marketing label is broader than the on-ground reality. Verifying actual lift access for any specific Highlands address matters before writing an offer.
Placer County Tax Information
| Tax Type | Northstar (Placer County, CA) |
|---|---|
| Property Tax Rate | 1.0544% of the purchase price, plus direct charges (Placer County, 2025-26) |
| Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) | 10% on short-term rentals (Placer County), plus a 1% North Lake Tahoe TBID assessment |
| State Income Tax | Up to 13.3% (California) |
| Mello-Roos / Special Assessments | Some areas carry CFD assessments — verify per parcel |
Northstar is in unincorporated Placer County, not under Town of Truckee jurisdiction. STR permits and TOT are administered by Placer County, not the Town of Truckee. For buyers seeking Nevada tax advantages (no state income tax), Incline Village is about 30 minutes east.
Short-Term Rental Investment
Northstar is one of the strongest STR markets in the Tahoe region, driven by ski resort access, the Village, and summer recreation. Properties can be self-managed with a Placer County STR permit or placed into Northstar's resort-managed rental program. Placer County lists the Village lodges (Iron Horse, Great Bear, Big Horn, Catamount, One Village Place and Northstar Lodge) and Constellation Residences as approved condo-hotels, so their units need no county STR permit. Placer County caps permits at 3,900 across eastern Placer County; our Placer County short-term rental permit page shows how many are left today. A sale ends the seller's permit, so a buyer applies for a new one. View our Northstar STR Investment Guide →
Explore Northstar Neighborhoods
The Village & Ski Condos
Ski-in/ski-out condos, Ritz-Carlton Residences, and Village living with resort amenities. $400K–$4.5M+
Big Springs & Highlands
Luxury single-family homes, golf course setting, quiet mountain neighborhoods. $1.2M–$5M+
STR Investment Guide
Placer County permit rules, resort rental programs, revenue data, and ROI analysis for Northstar properties.
Northstar Neighborhoods & Areas
The Village at Northstar — Pedestrian resort core with dining, shopping, and slope-side condos
Big Springs — Northstar's premier single-family neighborhood
The Highlands — Ski-in/ski-out homes and townhomes on the mountain
Golf Course & Basque Drive — Fairway-adjacent homes near the clubhouse
Ritz-Carlton Residences — Ultra-luxury ski-in/ski-out at 7,000 feet
Explore more of Lake Tahoe
See Lake Tahoe golf & resort costs and rental income by property type. Browse all Lake Tahoe listings, nearby Truckee homes for sale and Olympic Valley homes for sale, or Northstar Village condos.
Why Northstar?
- Ski-in/ski-out properties at a world-class resort
- Pedestrian Village with dining, shopping, and ice rink
- Ritz-Carlton Residences — ultra-luxury mountain living
- 18-hole championship golf course
- Strong resort-managed rental programs
- 10 minutes to historic downtown Truckee
- Placer County STR permits, not the Town of Truckee's rules
Short-Term Rental Investment in Northstar
Everything you need to know about vacation rental regulations and tax rates
STR Regulations
Placer County STR permit required; resort-managed rentals common
Tax Information
Northstar Resources & Guides
Explore in-depth guides for Northstar real estate
STR Investment Guide: Northstar
Explore vacation rental investment data, estimated revenue, and ROI analysis for Northstar properties.
Placer County Short-Term Rental Permit Rules
View the full short-term rental permit requirements, occupancy limits, and tax rates for Placer County.
Sell Your Home in Northstar
Get a data-driven pricing strategy and expert guidance to sell your Northstar property for top dollar.
Northstar Market Analysis
View current pricing trends, comparable sales, and market data for Northstar real estate.
Your Northstar Agent
Work with a local Northstar real estate specialist for buying, selling, or investing.
Northstar Real Estate FAQs
How many homes are for sale in Northstar right now?
What is the difference between buying at Northstar vs. in Truckee?
Can I rent my Northstar property as a vacation rental?
How much do Northstar condos cost?
Is Northstar part of the Town of Truckee?
What are the HOA fees at Northstar?
Explore Northstar Neighborhoods
Browse homes and area guides by subdivision within Northstar
Nearby Communities
Explore more Lake Tahoe real estate in these neighboring areas
Work with a Northstar Expert
Get personalized guidance on buying or selling in Northstar. Call Murat Gocmen at (530) 317-0373 or send a message.
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