Fair Oaks has it's share of lovely historic homes. Fair Oaks grew as a community at the turn of the century along the American River, 17 miles upstream of Sacramento. As one of the early homes, the Rice Chasko home was built in 1902 by Henry and Phoebe Rice of Minnesota. Between this 5 acre parcel and another east of the Cemetery, the Rices farmed over 100 trees - pears, peach, fig, citrus, 20 almond, 40 olive, and grape vines. After Henry’s and Phoebe’s deaths … (2 comments)
ca: Walking the Komen 3 Day San Diego - 60 miles in 3 days - What a HOOT!
- 01/26/15 09:00 PM
This Thanksgiving, I hope to give thanks for my feet and my friends. I will have just completed walking 20 miles a day, 3 days in a row, through the streets of San Diego. I picture sunny skies, 1800 fellow walkers wearing pink boas, sequined tutus, and men wearing balloon stuffed leopard print bras. I hear it is one big 3 day street party as the San Diegoites come out to cheer on the Susan G. Komen 3 Day walkers with cheerleading squads, pink ribbon stickers, dogs in tiaras, and children holding clever signs - "Save the ta-tas", "Cancer Sucks", and … (6 comments)
ca: Carmichael is Upping Its Game with New Shopping and Improvements
- 01/23/15 10:55 PM
A cruise down Fair Oaks Blvd in Carmichael CA has always been a good time to day dream. There are some pretty ugly billboards, uninspiring block buildings, funky furniture ads, and really not much to look at. I remember it has been voted the ugliest stretch of road in the area recently. Really makes you want to live there right? But big changes are coming. And I'm excited. First is the upcoming Milagro Centre - a 4 acre open air public marketplace with 20 or so unique boutiques and shops, both casual and fine dining, 3,000 sf of covered outdoor seating, fireplaces and … (2 comments)
ca: A bit of Orangevale CA history, and its earliest homes from the 1880s.
- 04/17/14 12:46 PM
A few months ago I sold an historic Vitorian farmhouse in Orangevale built in the late 1880s. Not 19... 18. In California, that is OLD! I know you Easterners scoff at our idea of old, but this was built as one of the first homes of the orchards of Orangevale, since it was split into manageable 10 acres parcels in the 1880s. To prepare for the sale, I did a ton of research, as the current owners knew very little about it. I really hoped to find out who built it, but that's tough to do with old homes. The records are a bit … (3 comments)
ca: Should You Disclose a Bad Neighbor When Selling Your Home?
- 04/14/14 06:59 AM
When you sell your home, should you disclose a bad neighbor? Afterall, you must disclose all problems. But what do you mean by bad? Bad, like he yells at you for playing your music at 11PM? Bad in that he called the cops on your barking dog? Bad in that he is Justin Bieber and he speeds through your neighborhood at night?
Seriously, this question comes up a lot. To sell your home, you must fill out a Transfer Disclosure Statement, answering a gaggle of questions about problems your home has had, or any condition that may materially effect the value of … (6 comments)
ca: How much are my California property taxes, and when do I pay them?
- 02/13/14 06:22 AM
Taxes are very different from one state to another. In California, you are protected from rising taxes by Proposition 13. Because of Prop 13 in 1978, you will pay a maximum of 1-1/4 % of the assessed value in your taxes, with small incremental increases allowed each year if values increase. So, if you buy a home for $400,000, you will pay $5,000 per year, max. Here's a little secret to figuring it out - a short cut to the amount. If you pay $400K for a house, you will pay about $400 per month. Pay $650K, you will pay $650 a … (4 comments)
ca: Steelhead Fishing on the American River in Fair Oaks, CA
- 03/03/13 12:52 PM
I walk. I don’t fish. But even I was impressed by the beauties this fellow in the video below pulled out of the American River in Fair Oaks, just downstream of the Sunrise Bridge, in early March. Turns out, out best steelhead fishing is traditionally upstream– between the Sunrise Bridge and Nimbus Dam, where the fish hatchery is. But lately, efforts at habitat management has smooshed around the gravel beds in the river and fiddled with water flows so the fish are happier and lay more eggs. Lots of fishy shenanigans going on I guess. As a result, we have been … (6 comments)
ca: Don't miss Fair Oaks "Christmas in the Village", Dec 1st.
- 11/26/12 12:52 AM
20 years ago, I stood on the corner in Fair Oaks Village, as Santa and his sleigh approached in the Christmas parade. My young daughters waved as hard as they could, hoping to catch Santa's eye and maybe a tossed lollipop, as well. As Santa approached - fat, jolly and waving to the crowd - he looked directly at me... "Merry Christmas Sally". That was the moment I became a rock star in my daughter's eyes. For 29 years, Fair Oaks Village has come alive with red hats with white trim, boisterous "Ho, Ho, Ho's", and wandering carolers reveling in the … (3 comments)
ca: History of Cambridge Heights Elementary School How the PTA of the 1990's Shaped the School
- 04/18/12 01:39 AM
I found this the other day - reflections I wrote in 1998 on how the parents banded together at Cambridge Heights Elementary in Citrus Heights, CA, to improve the playgrounds, purchase tech equipment, and even bought a building back in the 1990's. It's awe inspiring for me to remember these days. Many kids went on to Del Campo High School, retaining their friendships and bonds through the years, as you can see by the photo below of the Del Campo class of 2005 Cambridge Kids. Here is the article I wrote for the Cougar News, Spring 1998, at Cambridge heights Elementary School. Reflecting Over The Years, … (3 comments)
ca: Check out my new video trailor...
- 09/23/11 04:49 AM
I LOVE this. i just made this clip with the help of my Lyon Fair Oaks Office, for use at the end of my seller-oriented videos.
Get Listed... Get an Offer... Get Moving is our company slogan which is plastered on billboards all over town. I thought I would make use of that and the fact that our office is so teamwork oriented. We all truly help each other with our businesses, and have a culture of support. It's super short... What do you think? … (14 comments)
ca: How to Sell Your Home - Three Critical Factors
- 09/16/11 02:22 PM
Everyone knows the three most important factors in real estate... LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. But when you sell your home, there are three factors that are even more important. No don't scream at me. Location IS important. But once you own a home, you can't change the location. Or the floorplan. Or the direction if faces on the street. Or interest rates. Or whether there are buyers looking. Nope... you can't change any of those. But there are three factors you DO have control of, and that's where you need to focus your attention.
Price, condition, and marketing. These factors … (18 comments)
ca: The Neighborhoods of Fair Oaks - Video Tour by Realtor Sally Dunbar
- 09/05/11 02:26 AM
Fair Oaks, Ca is a charming community on the banks of the American River, upstream of Sacramento. Over 100 years old, it has one of the few Old Towns in the Sacramento area, plus beautiful neighborhoods composed of craftsman and traditional homes. And chickens?? Yep, we're known for our wandering chickens... a few of whom you will hear in my introduction! I hope you enjoy this tour. Fair Oaks is a great place to live! … (13 comments)
ca: Is the market turning? Or am I a blind guy describing an elephant?
- 09/02/11 03:49 AM
I have always felt that as soon as people gain confidence in the economy, and jobs start becoming available, our housing prices will begin to rise. Today the paper said the US economy is heating up. Hmmm... maybe it's happening. In trying to figure this out, I feel like one of the blind guys describing the elephant. "Long and tubular with a hole in the middle." "Oh no, very flat and thin." "No, you are both wrong... it's big and round and flat on the bottom. and wrinkly." No view tells it all. But here is MY view of this elephant … (12 comments)
ca: Homes of Fair Oaks, Ca - A video tour of the homes south of Winding Way
- 06/05/11 07:55 AM
Fair Oaks is a beautiful town on the banks of the American River on the outskirts of Sacramento, Ca. Eclectic, tradtional, artsy, charming, bucolic, rural, towering oak trees, and lazey chickens all describe Fair Oaks. But nothing says Fair Oaks like its beautiful homes. The homes south of Winding Way are what most people ask for when moving to Fair Oaks for the first time. After taking this little tour, you'll see why. … (4 comments)
ca: Fair Oaks Vernal Pools at Phoenix Park - Getting ready to burst into bloom!
- 04/28/11 05:45 AM
The Vernal Pools at Phoenix Field in Fair Oaks are starting to come alive. Not quite in their full glory, they are getting there. Here they are in April 2011. You can still see the pooled water which is the key to the amazing proliferation of wildflowers to come as the water evaporates. Then scan down to see the pic I took in the same spot May last year.
Vernal pools are a vanishing rarity. They are little pockets of temporary wetlands created by rainwater trapped on the surface by hardpan which prevents percolation. So the rainwater sits until it … (3 comments)
ca: Gold River, A great place to live - Video Tour by Sally Dunbar, Lyon Real Estate
- 11/07/10 01:43 AM
Come take a video tour of Gold River, a stunning planned community on the banks of the American River, near Sacramento, CA. Over 3000 homes are set in separate "villages", each with it's own personality. Miles of bike trails meander through the wooded greenbelts, connecting to the world-class American River Bike Trail along the adjoinging river parkway. Gold River has some of the best schools in Sacramento. Gold River Discovery Center is an award winning K-6 school, tucked into a wooded village, bordering a park. With access to the American River, science projects take on a new meaning! Rio Americano is … (5 comments)
ca: Gold River Home Sales Staying Strong
- 11/06/10 03:16 AM
2010 has remained a strong year for Gold River Homes for sale, despite the sluggish economy. While sellers may not be shouting "Yoo Hoo" with the current prices, buyers are loving it. There are tremendous values to be found in Gold River, coupled with stunningly low interest rates. Gold River is a beautiful planned community of over 3,000 homes nestled into the banks of the American River, just South of Fair Oaks. With miles of walking trails, stunningly textured landscape, interwoven greenbelts, and beautiful homes, Gold River has become one of the premier communities of the Sacramento area. Schools? They have … (1 comments)
ca: Fresco Valley Cafe - Great Food, Great Prices for Lunch and Dinner in Solvang, CA
- 10/19/10 03:54 AM
If you are ever near Solvang, the darling Danish community midway between Santa Barbara and Pismo Beach, make a detour to their newest restaurant - Fresco Valley Cafe. Only opened one month, they already have lines out the door for lunch. We ate there Saturday and it was awesome. Really good. Really fresh. And really well priced. Their menu is great - California Mediterranean with a full range of salads, sandwiches, soups, burgers, wraps, and pizzas. Seared Ahi Over Mixed Greens... Caprese... Roasted Eggplant... Warm goat cheese Salad... Gorgonzola Walnut Salad... Fillet Mignon... Blackened Halibut... Flourless Brownies... MMMmmmmm....... Their food is … (4 comments)
Fair Oaks homes for sale by Realtor Sally Dunbar, who's been hoofin' it through the homes of Fair Oaks and the surrounding areas, matching up eager buyers with ready-to-move sellers, since 1979.
While I sell homes in Fair Oaks, I venture in Sacramento, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Orangevale, Rancho Cordova, Gold River, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Roseville, Rocklin and Granite Bay...(and Chevron loves me!)
How have I survived for so long?... By always doing what's right for my people.... Always!
Now check out my video about why I love Fair Oaks...
Short Sale, REO, foresclosures??? ... find out the difference below...
How do you pick a listing price? See below...
What price should you offer when you've found the home of your dreams??? Find out below...
Prepping your home for sale??? Don't miss the video below...
Fair Oaks, California, Old Homes Review, by Sally Dunbar, Old Homes Editor
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