Archive for October, 2008
Latest Statistics for Folsom CA real estate
October 29th, 2008 categories: Folsom Lake, Real Estate
Approximately 25% of current inventory pending a closed sale!
There was an interesting question posed on Trulia today that asked for the latest statistics on Folsom CA real estate and that got my little mind working to see exactly where we are at in the overall scheme of things. Last week, at the SAR board meeting in Folsom, we had a speaker from one of the local brokerages talking about the state of real estate in Folsom and what to expect within the coming year. I did a quick search and found that there were approximately 273 homes for sale and about 72 pending sales as of 10/29/08.
That question got my mind going and I wondered what the cheapest home on the market was which turned out to be a home on Market St. for $165,000. A little 3bedroom, 1 bath, across from Theodore Judah school. The next home was much higher at $194,500 and located across from Blanche Sprentz school on Flower Dr. and happened to be a bank owned home listed by one of my fellow REMAX agents. There are great deals to be had while the interest rates stay below 7% (which won’t last long since the election is next week!) I suggest you take advantage of this market.
Even though money is tight I figured that if a family could manage to come up with 3% down payment of $5700.00 they could qualify to live in the 2nd home with a payment of about $1630.00 per month. That’s not much more than the average rent for a 3bedroom 2bath in Folsom. Granted it’s not a home located in the best part of town but you can paint the walls whatever color you want and no one will argue with you except your teenager! Actually, my kids went to Blanche Sprentz and we lived near there for many years and really enjoyed the neighborhood.
Inventory is constantly changing and the market remains volatile so judging what will happen in the next quarter is a guessing game but I do know that statistically the interest rates will rise after an election. That should get you thinking about making your move so if you need to start touring properties please give me a call and by all means please share this information!
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Folsom Soccer Membership exceeds 3000
October 29th, 2008 categories: Folsom Lake, Outdoor Activities, Soccer
Teams available for every level of play including adults!
Soccer is a game taken very seriously in Folsom Ca. thanks to one council member, Ernie Sheldon, who also happens to be running for a city council seat next week. According to the Folsom Soccer Club website there are over 3300 children playing soccer in Folsom every week from August until December depending on which level of play they participate.
There is an adult soccer league as well and if I remember correctly there are men over 50 still playing (go figure!) Matter of fact, the registration deadline for the 2009 adult league ends on Dec. 05, 2008.
This is a game that challenges every child to participate and eliminates most children by the time they reach high school. I know that I was one of “those” parents who would scream from the sidelines for my children to kick the ball…what else would they do? Anyway, my 6 year old son set me straight his very first game. This little guy comes walking off the field, straight up to me and declares for all to hear…”stop yelling my name, it distracts me!” I was effectively barred from ever calling out his name for the entire season. The next year all four of my children started tennis lessons. If I couldn’t scream like a lunatic (and all the parents qualify here) then I would simply require the rest of the parents to behave as well…and they are supposed to behave while watching tennis!
Folsom ranks as one of the largest leagues in northern California and the growth isn’t expected to stop for another 10 years. There are more parks scheduled to be built, and with the expansion of the south of Hwy 50 area, more teams will develop as new subdivisions get built and parks open. The next couple of parks to open will be in the Empire Ranch area and will definitely include soccer fields although most will cater to the youth leagues.
There is one synthetic field located at Kemp Park in the Broadstone area that is the first of it’s kind in northern California. I usually see the adult leagues playing there and have been astonished to see guys playing during their lunch hour…those Intel geeks take their soccer very seriously…seriously!
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Granite Bay CA Autumn Arts Festival
October 28th, 2008 categories: Folsom Lake, Granite Bay, Outdoor Activities, Special Events
Kickoff for new Art & Artist Magazine
Quarry Ponds, the newest shopping center in Granite Bay, hosted a culinary and theatre art festival last weekend that showcased a few artist friends of mine. There was a salsa contest by local chefs, ballroom dance exposition and a raffle for $500 along with the art show featuring local artists from the Folsom Lake area.
The weather was perfect for outdoor activity and I heard that this event will be the first of many for this local center. Since the seasons are changing perhaps the owners would consider a wine tasting dinner or hosting a ZAP dinner but that’s another blog.
Sierra Style Magazine was there promoting their “Saving with Style” program which features local businesses who participate by offering discounts on their products or services. This is a entertainment type card exclusive to local businesses who advertise in the magazine. My artist friends do advertise in Sierra Style so were on hand to promote the festival and offer their support.
I was having so much fun looking at the art and watching the dancing that I forgot to look for a copy of the much anticipated Art & Artist Magazine The art world is expanding in our region and once this magazine hits the stands I think we might have a shot at losing our cow town reputation.
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Gold River CA Home to Rowing Teams at CSUS
October 20th, 2008 categories: American River, Gold River, Outdoor Activities, Rancho Cordova, Water Sports
The Ultimate Team Sport
Gold River is an appropriate name for this town along the Amerian River just south of Folsom. Home to the CSUS outdoor campus for water sports this microcosm of activity hosts lots of fun in a very small area. Lessons abound for sailing, rowing, & scuba diving and you can’t beat the excitement of Capital Crew during competition.
Known for it’s structured environment (read Homeowners Assoc.) Gold River has many villages with a variety of home sizes available all within 5 min of the freeway and less than 30 min from Sacramento. Well manicured lawns and picture perfect parks offer lots of walking trails and bike paths close to the river and the Gold River racket club with tennis (both indoor and out) and all the usual workout equipment.
Rancho Cordova is the adjacent community that Gold River seceded from but shares the same zip code and has a mixture of young families and retired military. This community began as an extension of Mather Air Field, which was decommissioned in the early 1990’s when the government decided to retire a number of Air Force bases in California. Aerojet is the primary generator of jobs and has been doing their part to take responsibility for the environmental cleanup due to some previous damage they caused the water table.
Peppered with small ranch style homes on either side of the freeway, the county is working on renovating shopping centers and community areas that have deteriorated as a result of people moving to the newer suburbs further down the freeway. Now is a great time to find starter homes that are older but well built and offer a great value for the dollar.
This is one of the last towns in the valley before you climb the foothills of the Sierra and offers the opportunity to purchase in Sacramento county at a reasonable price. Rancho Cordova just recently incorporated and is going through a growth period but seems to be doing well and hasn’t experienced any major shifts due to the change in government. There were a number of investor homes that are starting to be picked up by first time buyers which bodes well for the future.
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Michael Godard in Folsom CA
October 16th, 2008 categories: Folsom Lake, Special Events
American Visions Gallery Hosts Show
With his affable personality and relaxed style, Michael Godard delieverd a great show this past weekend at American Visions Gallery on Sutter Street in Historic Folsom, CA. Gallery owner, Giovanna Stark was the perfect hostess as usual, and the guests were treated to an intimate experience watching this artist during his creative process as he created a piece to be auctioned off at the gallery.
Godard is famous for his animated olives and martini glasses, a very distinct style that appeals to a variety of collectors. He has been commissioned to create famous people as an olive and has done several from inspiration, most recently Michael Phelps the Olympic gold medal winner. Apparently Mr. Godard got caught up in the games and created Phillips (a la olive) while he was still in the process of acquiring more golds. In addition to the great time, Mr. Godard donated the proceeds from the auction to a charity that focuses on cancer research, something he has intimate experience with.
American Visions Gallery hosts a variety of shows throughout the year and although they focus on artists with an international following, they also support the local art community by donating the use of the gallery. Next Saturday, Oct. 25th they will be hosting the Folsom Arts Associations 3rd Annual show complete with wine & cheese. This is a great way to meet & greet local artists and get involved on a local level if you so desire.
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Granite Bay CA Is A Great Place to Play
October 14th, 2008 categories: Folsom Lake, Golf, Granite Bay, Outdoor Activities, Water Sports
New Recreation Association Started
Granite Bay is ideally located next to Folsom Lake and has two entrances for boats and campers. Since the lake is surrounded mostly by federal lands, private property that touches the lake is rare and Granite Bay is home to those lucky homeowners. There are also a few neighborhoods where you can walk to the lake or enjoy a bike ride along the shore. There are special events ranging from boat shows to art festivals and camping is available with reservations through the national park service.
The newly created Granite Bay Recreation Association has a new website to connect with other sports fans and is long overdue. This area was once a part of Roseville but the need to separate the paperwork has become crucial for continued growth and Granite Bay officially seceded in 1987. There is every sport a young athlete could hope to play and the parent participation is every soccer mom’s dream come true.
Golf is huge in this part of Placer County and the private course in Granite Bay has lots of challenge and participates in many charity events where you can catch a glimpse of some famous locals. Boaters and water sports abound when the lake is full and then there is the usual biking clubs who can be seen every weekend along Folsom-Auburn Rd.
Real estate is a bit pricey in this part of town but equally important is the impact Bayside Church has had on the local population. This congregation hosts up to 15,000 people each Sunday and has expanded out to various towns in the valley. This has been a positive for the community and many of the local businesses enthusiastically offer support. Overall Granite Bay is a very family friendly town with lots to offer.
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Cameron Park CA Home to Small Aircraft
October 14th, 2008 categories: Cameron Park, Golf, Outdoor Activities, Special Events
An airstrip in the middle of the country
Cameron Park is home to the Cameron Park Airport, a private airstrip with homes that offer airplane hangers for garages. It’s not unusual to see antique planes or private jets flying overhead and on the weekends you’ll hear and see a variety of different aircraft taking off & landing along Cameron Park Rd.
Located along Hwy 50 between El Dorado Hills and Placerville this small town has been renovating it’s image over the past few years. The old Sam’s Railroad Junction has expanded and a lot of new retail has gone in to replace the vacancies. Across the street is a new Applebee’s and Food 4 Less which makes it the 3rd grocery store in this town. As far as services go it has the essentials and major shopping is only 10 minutes down the road in Folsom. The small town feeling lingers but you know that suburbia is encroaching.
What Cameron Park really offers is vast open spaces close to an urban environment. There are a couple of great places to eat but most people move here to get a little space around them. Most of the subdivisions have a minimum of 1/3 acre lots, some have valley views and the really nice properties have views of the Sierra. There are a couple of gated communities and a Cameron Pk. Country Club with homes but mostly regular homes on larger lots with plenty of space to have a garden.
Cameron Park Lake has a few community events during the year and the local 4H is very active supported by a thriving home schooling community. Occasionally this area will be referred to as Shingle Springs but that’s located south of Hwy 50 and is much more rural with larger ranches.
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Rocklin CA Rocks at Rock Climbing!
October 13th, 2008 categories: Folsom Lake, Golf, Outdoor Activities, Rocklin, Soccer
Great Lifestyle and Amenities
The name Rocklin translates to “rock pool” which is a very accurate term used to describe this area as granite outcroppings seem to dominate the landscape. Rocklin CA got it’s humble start as a quarry town and as is typical of small towns the local streets are named after the town fathers who settled here and got things rolling. Most of the city sits on the very land that George Whitney owned (Whitney Oaks Golf Course) and passed to his heirs. The Rocklin History Museum offers lots of interesting facts about this area and it’s worth the read especially if you are interested in Native American History and the Transcontinental Railroad.
Rocklin is home to Sierra College which is nestled in the Sierra foothills and has a solid reputation preparing students to continue at the university level offering three campus’ stretching from Rocklin to Lake Tahoe. On the weekends the college hosts a used car sales lot which I have found to be handy for selling and buying used vehicles, both land & water. There also is a private college, William Jessup University, that just opened and is located at Hwy 65 & Sunset.
Recreational activities in Rocklin range from baseball to rock climbing and the park & rec offers leagues for children and adults in addition to the local sports stores and athletic clubs. The hills prove an acceptable challenge for bicycle clubs and the Quarry Classic is a must see for soccer fans. Sunset Whitney County Club has been a fixture here since the 1964 and is a private country club offering golf, swimming and the usual amenities and currently open to the public for golf.
West Rocklin borders Hwy 65 and the hills are covered with homes as far as you can see offering the complete suburban lifestyle. East Rocklin borders Loomis and Granite Bay along Sierra College Blvd and is home to more rural living on larger acreages and close proximity to Folsom Lake. There are farm stands selling local produce and orchards growing everything from olives to persimmons. Variety in lifestyle is the constant in this community and Rocklin is ever changing to meet the needs of the community.
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El Dorado Hills CA New Town Center
October 11th, 2008 categories: El Dorado Hills, Folsom Lake, Outdoor Activities
Serious fun any day of the week
On a clear day you can see the Sierra from the hills of El Dorado Hills and when Folsom Lake is full the view is breathtaking. Sports abound and on any given day you’ll see bicycle riders along Green Valley Rd. or Para-sailors flying near the lake. The weekends bring out the various clubs:bicycles, motorcycles, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, golf, etc and the lines at the local coffee shops prove just how seriously people in this town take their sports.
Within the past 3 years the El Dorado Hills Town Center has developed into one of the best shopping and night life venues. The boutiques remind me of Europe with the designer labels beckoning you inside. There are movie theaters, real estate offices and car dealerships all within walking distance from each other and yet only 10 minutes away from rural acreages, Folsom Lake and a golf course.
There are a variety of gated communities that began with Serrano and the expansion of the industrial area has come about as small businesses moved here to enjoy the affordable housing and friendly atmosphere. Blue Cross built and moved their offices here in the early 2000’s and the local arts scene has expanded to accommodate the growing interests of the community. All this and a school district that rivals the best in the country and did I mention sports?
The neighborhoods vary as you have older subdivisions of smaller ranch style homes next to gated new ones with custom homes on larger lots. One of the best features is that you can still find homes where you can take a walk to the lake. There are large acreages where farm animals and horses graze and condominium complexes close to shopping. The overall feel is country with mature landscaping predominating throughout most of the area.
El Dorado Hills is still growing and south of Hwy 50 there are new neighborhoods springing up from family friendly to adult only subdivisions. Once the new Connector highway from Elk Grove to the El Dorado County border is complete traffic congestion along the freeway should ease during the peak hours. This will add to the population and certainly bring about a change of character for this bedroom community which I hope manages to keep its small town charm.
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Fair Oaks CA Protects Its Birds
October 10th, 2008 categories: Fair Oaks, Folsom Lake
Roosters Rule the Streets
Fair Oaks is a quaint village located on the shores of the American River just east of Sacramento CA. The historic district has the usual antique shops, local diners and central park but it’s the free range chickens and roosters that steal the show…and I’m not talking about tonight’s dinner.
There is a law in Fair Oaks, CA that if a rooster cuts in front of you while driving that you must stop and give the bird the right of way. It’s well known that those creatures get away with stopping traffic all the time but not so well known is the Fair Oaks Village Neighborhood Preservation Act requiring that you stop and cause no harm since 2006. It would be too easy to start with the cliche’s but the locals are serious about preserving this part of their history and have backed it up with an official ordinance.
One of the main attractions of Fair Oaks is that it is an established town with mature landscaping and classic architecture throughout. You almost feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. There are still large acreages available, homes on the bluffs overlooking the American River, small cottages and newer in-fill projects. Hwy 50 is the main traffic artery with bridges connecting the various communities and Fair Oaks has managed to have three within her borders. This is no “master planned” community and some neighborhoods still don’t have sidewalks and as a realtor I would say that this is the charm of Fair Oaks.
The bike trails along the river is what attracts tourists but it’s the local restaurants like the Slocum House and Mikuni’s that keep people around into the wee hours. There are some very exclusive neighborhoods with direct access to the American River Parkway and since it borders on the University of California commands a higher value in the real estate dept. Some of the older neighborhoods are starting to experience the same situation as many bay area neighborhoods in that they do not have any available land to build so are starting to demolish the existing homes and re-built newer estates. The zoning laws do not allow for subdividing so this will only continue to increase property values. If you would like to know more please email me with your questions and I’ll be happy to give you my opinion of this lovely town.
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