With 100 feet of sandy beach on Crystal Bay, a private pier and two buoys, the luxury estate known as Stone Gate is a true Tahoe retreat.

The perfect positioning on the lakefront is matched by the magnificence of the home itself. A stunning wood and stone exterior is an introduction to a wealth of fine finishes including Douglas fir beams, stone masonry, reclaimed hardwood, hand-crafted European ironworks and much more. Modern-day conveniences such as a Crestron home automation system blend with the architectural beauty.

Recently added to LuxuryPortfolio.com, Stone Gate is currently listed at $19,950,000 by Chase International.

See more photos and detail.

Ebby Halliday, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Luxury Portfolio member Ebby Halliday Realtors, made an amazing appearance on The Mike Huckabee show this past Saturday.

Ebby’s segment was the highest rated of Saturday’s show, but if you missed it you can watch the video below. You can also read more, including some great viewer feedback, on the Ebby Blog.

Featured in a previous post on the Luxury Portfolio blog, an innovative home in Boulder, Colorado has recently sold. Known as The Next West Home, the residence blends luxurious and sustainable living with features that include solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling, gray water and direct plumbing systems. One of the first LEED platinum certified, Net Zero Carbon residence in America, it marks exciting progress in luxury home construction.

Joel Ripmaster, President and Owner of Luxury Portfolio member Colorado Landmark, Realtors, successfully closed on the home. “With this house, we are really building for the future,” says Ripmaster. “The quality and workmanship, the ability for the house to take care of itself off the grid, appropriate size and livability, the Next West House is truly a look into the future. In 50-100 years, people will look back at this house as the beginning of a new age of building, and as evidence that our generation finally ‘got it’.”

See more photos and details of The Next West Home on Luxury Portfolio here.

The new LuxeTrends^® newsletter highlights some simple home updates for the New Year. Suggestions include kitchen accessories, light fixtures and unique mirrors to hang on the wall – uncomplicated alterations that can make a big difference. Perhaps seeing these examples will help inspire your own personal home design changes.

See the latest version and subscribe to the monthly e-newsletter here.

Year-end statistics recently released by Luxury Portfolio member Chase International show that single-family home sales are up dramatically in the Reno/Tahoe area. Home sales have increased in all distinct communities measured in the region, including a 38-percent increase in Tahoe City. Read more details.