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.