Compass, Incline Village, Nevada
How did you get involved with real estate?
I originally moved to Lake Tahoe back in 2013 after high school, and I went to college in Incline Village on the north side of Lake Tahoe at Sierra Nevada College, which is now part of the University of Nevada, Reno, and loved it. I was from Pennsylvania originally and moved to the west coast for better weather and more fun outdoor activities. I grew up having an interest in the development side of real estate, and I pivoted that interest in development into real estate sales. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.
How did you get started in the field?
I started at a RE/MAX office in Incline Village working as an office manager. It was a small office, and I helped the agents by doing marketing campaigns and escrow management on a small team for a little while. I started out with a mentor and a little leadership group that I looked up to, and they helped me learn the market, processes and everything that real estate has to offer. The broker at the RE/MAX office had been in business for probably 25 years when I joined, and he had a wealth of knowledge about our local market and the ins and the outs of helping people buy and sell homes. I transitioned into doing everything myself, and now I have a small team, which I’ve moved over to Compass.
How did you learn about the CRS Designation?
I learned about it from a couple of local agents who were high performers in our market who had the CRS Designation, and they spiked my interest. When I learned what the CRS was and what it had to offer, I realized that this was something I wanted to do and that I was probably only a year away from meeting the requirements. I think that the designation carries great weight in listing presentations and buyer consultations, plus I value the amazing referral network that it offers.
What markets are you serving in the Lake Tahoe area?
I work primarily in Incline Village, but I sell on both sides of the lake—Nevada and California—and down into Reno. I have a Montana license as well, and I’m working on adding a Wyoming license. So, Lake Tahoe is my primary market, and Incline Village is where I do probably 80% of my business.
What is the market like these days?
Looking at both sides of the lake, Nevada and California, prices were at their highest around May and June of 2022. Since then, prices have come down a bit, probably about 5% to 8% for the entire market, and they’ve kind of leveled out. Interestingly enough, our market reports for September showed the median sales price up 14.8% year over year. We still have low inventory, and we have for years. That’s contributing to higher prices. But Incline Village is just so unique because owners get a Nevada address and Nevada residency, which can mean huge tax savings for a whole lot of people who want to leave the Bay Area.
What community activities are you involved in?
I have done beach cleanups on the lake, and I am part of the Sierra Snowmobile Foundation, which works on avalanche safety. Those tie in with my love of outdoor activities. In this area, we are lucky to have a lot of choices: snowmobiling and skiing in the winter. I love mountain biking and hiking in the spring, summer and fall. We have a great trail that goes along the lake called the East Shore Trail. I’m also into fly fishing. When they release water out of Lake Tahoe, it starts the Truckee River, so we can fish year-round, which is awesome.
Cole Mizak, CRS, achieved the CRS Designation in 2022. He can be reached at cole@tahoeluxre.com or 775-225-2549.
