Real estate – be it selling, buying or managing rentals – is more than a business for Blane Johnson. It’s a way of life. It’s about community. It’s about bringing people together.
Johnson moved to Incline Village in 1979. For the first 20-plus years, he was in the ski industry – teaching, running ski schools and race departments, and putting on events. Today when he is on the slopes, it’s all about being outside and has nothing to do with work. He gets in at least 50 days a year of vertical fun – mostly at Diamond Peak and Mount Rose ski resorts.
That’s the thing about Incline, he says. No matter the season, a slew of outdoor activities are mere steps from everyone’s front door.
Johnson wanted to figure out a way to keep living the Tahoe life, which meant he needed to find a line of work that paid more money.
For 25 years he has owned Sun Bear Realty and Management. For much of that time, Meredith Mall has been running the office. Together, they make a formidable team.
Johnson has traveled plenty of places, but something about Tahoe keeps him rooted here.
“There’s no place better than Tahoe,” he says. “When I travel, I always compare it to home. There are other places that are very, very nice, but there is nothing that beats Lake Tahoe.”
Vacation Rentals and Property Management Services in Incline Village
While the company represents sellers and buyers in the real estate world, the primary focus is on rentals.
“We have rentals for every budget, from small condos to six-bedroom, six-bath homes with a theater and wine storage,” Johnson says.
As a longtime local, Johnson understands what renters and owners have to deal with living in a tourist destination, what happens when a big snowstorm rolls through town and how to handle living in bear country.
Johnson and his team are definite insiders, which makes managing rentals easy for them and takes away much of the stress for owners living outside of the area. They are up-to-date on all the vacation home rental rules issued by government officials. Washoe County, where Incline Village is located, mandates short-term rental properties have someone available who is within an hour’s drive. Sun Bear can be “that person” even if they are not doing the overall management of the property.
The company also works closely with homeowners’ associations to help them adhere to regulations.
A unique aspect of Sun Bear is providing snowbirds walk-throughs of their homes while they winter elsewhere. This is to make sure the heat is on, pipes have not frozen, a limb has not crashed through a window and animals have not taken up residence.
Sun Bear Realty’s Growth: One-Stop Shop for Rentals, Cleaning, and Maintenance
Through acquisitions and hard work over the last handful of years, Sun Bear has grown to be the largest rental management firm in the area. The company handles long-term and short-term rentals for owners and vacation rentals account for about 25% of their workload.
“We are a one-stop shop because we handle the rental, cleaning and maintenance,” Johnson says. “We have a lot of vendors we work with, from handymen to contractors. We make sure we are sending the right person for the right job.”
That reliability and attention to getting repairs done correctly the first time is something Sun Bear prides itself on.
Marketing through Sun Bear’s website and third-party entities is another aspect of the company’s services. They also send out a newsletter twice a month to keep in touch with their clients.
One of Sun Bear’s priorities is to make the process as easy as possible for owners and renters. This is accomplished through online portals that allow bills to be paid, maintenance requests to be submitted and communication to happen with ease.
Johnson says too many agencies still rely on paper to keep track of things, which slows down the process and can make it easy for requests to fall through the cracks. At Sun Bear, it’s about efficiency, transparency, accountability and making sure all parties are satisfied.
Sun Bear’s purchase of another rental company in 2025 came with a separate cleaning company, an aspect of the business Johnson looks forward to growing. This allows for Sun Bear to have the cleaning operation under the same roof as the rentals.
Johnson expects the cleaning side of the business to grow by 100% within the year.
One does not have to be part of the Sun Bear rental family to tap into its house-cleaning services. They also work with other real estate firms to do cleans before a house is listed and before a new owner moves in.
Serving the Lake Tahoe Community with Expertise and Care
Sun Bear operates solely in Nevada – from each of the state lines in the Lake Tahoe Basin – and also handles some properties in the Reno area.
In a place defined by its beauty and community spirit, Johnson and his Sun Bear team make sure everyone who comes to Tahoe can feel right at home.
(775) 831-9000
811 Tahoe Boulevard, Incline Village
sunbearrealty.com
About the Author Kathryn Reed
Kathryn Reed is an award-winning journalist who has been visiting or living at Lake Tahoe since she was a child. She loves the outdoors – whether it's hiking, biking, snowshoeing, skiing or playing tennis. She is the author of Sleeping with Strangers: An Airbnb Host's Life in Lake Tahoe and Mexico; The Dirt Around Lake Tahoe: Must-Do Scenic Hikes; Snowshoeing Around Lake Tahoe: Must-Do Scenic Treks; and Lake Tahoe Trails for All Seasons: Must-Do Hiking and Snowshoe Treks.
