Median Listing Price
$689k
25th–75th pct varies. Comparable to other ski / lake STR markets in the Top 50.
Median Land Ratio
30%
Range 25%–35%. Leaves the rest of purchase price as depreciable basis.
Bonus-Eligible %
21.3%
Median % of purchase price classifiable as 5-yr or 15-yr property. Range 18–25%.
Federal Savings @ 37%
$54.3k
Median federal tax savings on a $689k purchase. Range $45.9k–$63.6k.
Why South Lake Tahoe matters for STR bonus depreciation
South Lake Tahoe's score reflects three compounding factors driving its bonus depreciation outcome:
1. Dual-season market = year-round STR demand
South Lake Tahoe is one of the few US markets that delivers both winter ski demand and summer lake demand — and that drives amenity density. Hot tubs, decks, fire pits, and game rooms are practically standard, and all of these push 5-year or 15-year basis.
2. Sub-Sierra land ratios beat coastal CA peers
Despite being in California, Lake Tahoe's land ratios stay in the 25–35% range — well below coastal CA markets (55–70%) and even below Joshua Tree (15%). On a $689k purchase, that's roughly $207k of land versus $482k of depreciable basis.
3. California decoupled — federal benefit dominates
California is decoupled from federal §168(k). Federal Year 1 deduction flows through fully (~$54k median federal savings); California return uses 27.5-year MACRS. The federal benefit is the larger of the two for nearly all investors. CA-resident investors should model the state-federal split with their CPA before purchase.
Common bonus-eligible amenities in South Lake Tahoe STRs
Prevalence of 15-year land improvements we typically see across South Lake Tahoe short-term rentals — all 100% bonus-eligible in Year 1 under IRS §168(k):
Stone fireplace / wood stove
76%
Outdoor deck or patio
82%
Game room or bunk room
51%
Ski storage / boot room
47%
Fire pit / fire feature
39%
See live South Lake Tahoe listings ranked by bonus depreciation
Every active South Lake Tahoe short-term rental scored by Year 1 bonus depreciation potential — filtered by your price range and amenity preferences. Free market search shows every listing. Run a $99 detailed AI property report on any specific listing for line-item 5-year / 15-year / 39-year classification, closely calibrated to a formal cost seg study.
How DepreciMax scores South Lake Tahoe STRs for §168(k) eligibility
South Lake Tahoe's DepreciMax Score is the aggregate score across 100 active listings run through our proprietary algorithm. We use multiple inputs — including land values and AI photo recognition — calibrated over time against a completed cost segregation study on a benchmark short-term rental, with a target accuracy of closely calibrated on bonus-eligible % of purchase price.
More detail in the Top 50 Markets methodology section.
Version: 2026. Sample listings are representative profiles drawn from the top 100 active listings at snapshot date — actual addresses anonymized. Bonus depreciation outcomes vary by individual property; this report estimates ranges for typical purchases. Not tax advice — consult your CPA before making investment decisions.
Data sources & references
Score live South Lake Tahoe properties — for your specific deal
Run any active South Lake Tahoe listing through the DepreciMax property scorer. Free market search shows you every listing ranked by bonus depreciation potential. $99 per detailed AI report on a specific property — closely calibrated to a formal cost seg study.
Score South Lake Tahoe Properties →
Want the full Top 50 report?
All 50 markets ranked by bonus depreciation score, with category filters and the full methodology.
View Full Report →
South Lake Tahoe bonus depreciation calculator (by zip code)
South Lake Tahoe spans 3 primary zip codes with materially different land value ratios from FHFA assessor data. The calculator below has a zip dropdown — switch it to update the land ratio for your area. The bonus-eligible percentage (South Lake Tahoe's market-typical 21%) stays constant across zips because it reflects the property type, not the location. California decoupled from §168(k) — federal benefit only.
South Lake Tahoe zip code comparison
| Zip |
Sub-market |
Land ratio |
Typical price |
Typical Year-1 deduction |
| 96150 | South Lake Tahoe proper (highest land ratio) | 30% | $689k | $145k |
| 96142 | Tahoma (west shore) | 26% | $720k | $151k |
| 96155 | Stateline area (lowest land ratio) | 22% | $640k | $134k |
Sample calculation: $689k South Lake Tahoe STR (zip 96150)
- Purchase price: $689,000
- Land value (30% land ratio per FHFA): $206,700
- Depreciable basis: $482,300
- Bonus-eligible portion (5-yr + 15-yr property at South Lake Tahoe's market-typical 21%): $144,690
- Year-1 §168(k) deduction: $145k
- Federal tax savings at 37% bracket: $53.5k
See IRS Publication 946 for §168(k) rules. Use the interactive calculator below to model your specific deal.
Looking for a deeper read on your specific property, not just the market median? Run the $99 South Lake Tahoe property report — Claude Opus analyzes 7–9 listing photos against the IRS classification rules and returns a line-item §168(k) estimate closely calibrated to a formal $5K–$8K cost seg study.
How to calculate South Lake Tahoe bonus depreciation
Sample calculation: $689k South Lake Tahoe STR
- Purchase price: $689,000
- Land value (31% land ratio per FHFA): $213,590
- Depreciable basis: $475,410
- Bonus-eligible portion (5-yr + 15-yr property at South Lake Tahoe's market-typical 21%): $144,690
- Year-1 §168(k) deduction: $145k
- Federal tax savings at 37% bracket: $53.5k
See IRS Publication 946 for §168(k) rules. Run the interactive calculator to model your specific deal.
Related reading: STR bonus depreciation
