Trinkie Watson

Q: 1. What advice would you give a buyer trying to purchase a home?

First, know your true budget by getting pre-approved and calculating your "all-in" monthly cost, including taxes, insurance, and a savings fund for repairs—not just the mortgage payment. Second, protect yourself by hiring your own real estate agent who represents your interests, and never skip the professional home inspection, as it is your only safety net against expensive hidden damage.

Q: 2. What advice would you give a seller trying to sell their home?

First, price it competitively from day one based on recent sales data rather than emotional attachment, as overpricing usually causes a home to sit on the market and eventually sell for less. Second, maximize your curb appeal and online presence by decluttering, deep cleaning, and insisting on professional photography, since the vast majority of buyers will judge your home instantly based on its internet listing. Finally, detach yourself emotionally and treat this as a business transaction; remove personal photos so buyers can envision themselves living there, and be flexible with showing times to get as much foot traffic as possible.

Q: 3. What types of clients have you worked with?

Essentially, I work with anyone seeking information or clarity, adapting my expertise instantly to help them solve problems, learn new skills, or make complex decisions.

Chase International

56 Years of Experience

(9)

$4M

Total Sales Last Year

Years of Experience

Recent TransactionsTransactions from the last 3 years

$4.6M

Average Price Point

Service Areas

Carnelian Bay, CA Crystal Bay, NV Glenbrook, NV Homewood, CA Incline Village, NV Olympic Valley, CA Tahoe City, CA Tahoe Vista, CA

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About Trinkie Watson

Trinkie Watson is a top-producing Lake Tahoe real estate broker and Tahoe Lakefront Specialist, recognized as one of the leading agents in the North West Tahoe / Truckee market. In 2025, Trinkie ranked #16 out of 651 agents in the North West Tahoe/Truckee MLS, placing her in the top 2.5% of all agents. She also achieved the highest sale in the MLS for 2025, in addition to representing the highest lakefront sale in both 2024 and 2025 -- a rare distinction that underscores her expertise in Tahoe's most competitive and prestigious segment. With approximately 100 Lake Tahoe lakefront properties sold over her career, Trinkie brings unmatched experience in valuation, negotiation, and discretion for high-net-worth buyers and sellers. Her clients benefit from deep local knowledge, trusted relationships, and a proven ability to navigate complex luxury transactions, including legacy family properties and off-market opportunities. Trinkie is known for a strategic, calm, and client-first approach, earning repeat business and referrals from discerning clients across California and beyond.

Credentials

LICENSE

Real Estate - California - # 00326518

Designation

CLHMS (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist)

CRS (Certified Residential Specialist)

Seniors Real Estate Specialist

Top Producer

Seller Representative Specialist

Licensed Realtor

Certified Negotiation Expert

Real Estate Broker

Broker / Associate Broker

REALTOR

Specialties

Buyer's Agent
Lakefront Properties
Listing Agent
Luxury Specialist
Property Management
Rentals

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Trinkie Watson's Reviews & Ratings

9 Reviews

(5/5)

Note: Reviews may include other agents on their team

What clients say about this agent....

Professional
Responsive
Communicative
Knowledgeable
Attentive
Excellent negotiator
Trustworthy

David B.

Review for Member: Trinkie Watson

May 16, 2022

Local Knowledge

Process Expertise

Responsiveness

Negotiation skills

ZillowVERIFIED

My wife and I worked with Trinkie and Cheryl to sell our family vacation home in Truckee. We told them at the outset we were more interested in a hassle free experience than getting top dollar. She and Cheryl got both a great price and low/no hassle. Our home was "vintage", 23 years old with no major updates. The buyer's were not up front about their ability to close on time. In the end, we got an offer the sixth day on market. We successfully closed 4 days after original date. I wish they handled Palo Alto real estate, I'd use them again.

Zuser20170416131152358

Review for Member: Trinkie Watson

April 18, 2022

Local Knowledge

Process Expertise

Responsiveness

Negotiation skills

ZillowVERIFIED

Trinkie was amazing. When I decided to purchase a Tahoe place, she made immediate arrangements to take me around based on my schedule coming from the Bay Area. She understood what I was looking for, we found 'the place', she wrote up the offer, and it was immediately accepted. Could not have been an easier process. She's a true professional.

Shendrickson071

Review for Member: Trinkie Watson

April 18, 2022

Local Knowledge

Process Expertise

Responsiveness

Negotiation skills

ZillowVERIFIED

Trinkie and her incredibly capable Assistant Cheryl were so attentive and really understood seller (us) and buyer. They structured the deal thoughtfully and spent much time and effort on several custom terms the buyer requested that required patience and back and forth between parties. Not a cookie cutter deal, but Cheryl and Trinkie stayed focused and were so efficient in accomplishing a successful and on time closing.

Martyspitsen

Review for Member: Trinkie Watson

April 18, 2022

Local Knowledge

Process Expertise

Responsiveness

Negotiation skills

ZillowVERIFIED

Trinkie Watson and Cheryl Luther are a great team. We had a large property that was a difficult sell at the price we wanted. Trinkie and Cheryl worked with us all the way to the close. It was not an easy sell, and they never gave up. Their work on advertising was professional, the pandemic made their job harder than ever, but their concern for us and for a successful sale was paramount. I recommend both of them as professionals and as friends.

Flodebretagne

Review for Member: Trinkie Watson

April 18, 2022

Local Knowledge

Process Expertise

Responsiveness

Negotiation skills

ZillowVERIFIED

Trinkie helped us to find our dream cabin in Tahoe. I would recommend her 100% or even 200% if that was possible. She was knowledgeable, always available (even for last minute visits), good at negotiating, and just a really great person to know. She has her client in mind first and will do everything she can to help. We have ended up with a dream place that is even better than our wildest dreams would be.

Hslewis2

Review for Member: Trinkie Watson

April 18, 2022

Local Knowledge

Process Expertise

Responsiveness

Negotiation skills

ZillowVERIFIED

Trinkie is the ultimate real-estate broker. She has a wealth of experience, knows the market, has a huge marketing platform, and guided us through the process seamlessly. Most importantly she maximized our sales outcome, far above expectations, so of which was due to market conditions, but we were positioned well and hit the market at just the right time.

Zuser20140618092620440

Review for Member: Trinkie Watson

February 23, 2015

Local Knowledge

Process Expertise

Responsiveness

Negotiation skills

ZillowVERIFIED

Trinkie helped sell our long time vacation home in Tahoma along with her great team of associates. She was very patient and calm during the long process and kept me advised during what I saw as a very stressful process having never sold a home on my own.

Leah T.

Review for Member: Trinkie Watson

November 14, 2013

Local Knowledge

Process Expertise

Responsiveness

Negotiation skills

ZillowVERIFIED

Trinkie helped us purchase our vacation home in Tahoe Donner and we recommend her without hesitation. She reworked her calendar to be available when most convenient for us. After showing us 8 properties on a Saturday, we emailed her in the middle of the night asking if we could see an additional few properties the next day (our preferences changed somewhat based on what we saw the first day). She researched the properties and was ready to go 9am the very next day. Wow! Her advice and suggestions were all right on, and showed that she had really taken to heart our preferences and was working to make sure we could find the home that would make us happy long term. Her steady guidance through the buying process was also very appreciated.

Rdoltonsr

Review for Member: Trinkie Watson

October 25, 2013

Local Knowledge

Process Expertise

Responsiveness

Negotiation skills

ZillowVERIFIED

Trinkie listed our vacation / investment home in 2012; and due to market conditions and the quality of the home in relation to the location , the final sale was completed in the summer of 2013. Thus, both my wife and I had a long period of time to work with Trinkie and her team. Trinkie was chosen for her knowledge of the market and the respect given to her by the other Realtors in the area. Second home markets are difficult unless the property is a forced sale or has a stronger location than ours. Still, Trinkie helped us and the property sale with good suggestions and ideas. The home to this day is and was considered to be one of the best values for sale at the time. We are sure our beliefs about Trinkie would be shared by all of her clients.Our previous experience with Trinkie was again a listing for sale of a home and acreage located on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. Her suggestions on price and the method of marketing brought a favorable transaction in a relatively short period of time considering the location and limited number of qualified purchasers. The property has not been resold or marketed since the purchase eight years ago.In summary both my wife and I would definitely recommend Trinkie for others or in the case we should ever consider a real estate purchase in the Truckee / Lake Tahoe Basin..