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Can condo culture and loft living thrive in Sacramento? In a word: Yes.

By
Real Estate Agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate

"Can condo culture and loft living thrive in Sacramento? In a word: Yes."
by Rob McQuade, ABR, Sacramento REALTOR®
Downtown & Midtown Sacramento Real Estate

If you've picked up the latest issue of Sacramento Magazine you may have noticed the question asked on the cover:

LOFT LIVING, CONDO CULTURE: Can it thrive here?

Yes. In fact, in order for Sacramento to continue to grow in a healthy way, lofts and condos need to be a part of that mix of well-executed housing options. Large single-family homes on quarter-acre lots aren't a practical option in a dense urban core and smarter use of space means sharing: walls, walkways, common amenities, and a belief in a sense of place.

And the "well-executed" part is the key, as some Downtown and Midtown projects have demonstrated.

Among the more successful projects: the Sutter Brownstones have done well in this market because they have the hip, thoughtfully designed styling people want while giving owners a sense of community; the L Street Lofts may not be selling as quickly as investor Resmark Equity Partners may want, but the top-notch location and solid design mean they're selling—unlike recent projects like the Whiskey Hill Lofts (they've been turned into rentals) and Alchemy @ R Street (on the market as short sales as of this writing).

So what are the markings of a well-executed project? In the central city where buyers are more demanding, it means a mix of striking design (this isn't the 'burbs), quality materials and finishes, smart pricing, and convenience (neighborhood amenities, parking). Missing any one of these can make for a real challenge when it comes time to sell, missing more than one can be disastrous. People buying in these urban neighborhoods are doing so because they're unwilling to compromise on what they want—having multiple urban projects to choose from means they shouldn't have to.

Oh, by the way... Flip to page 127 and you'll see my nearly-life-sized head staring back at you (you coulda warned us, SacMag)! Of course I'm sporting a beard right now, maybe looking a little "Pacific Northwest" in honor of west coast cities like Portland and Seattle that have shown us how to execute on that need for urban infill. But I WAS FEATURED IN SACRAMENTO MAGAZINE!

Okay, maybe "spotlighted" is a better word. But still.

Too cheap to pick up your own copy? You can check out the article... View the rest of the post here.

Show All Comments Sort:
Paula Swayne
Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA
Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hey Rob!
Really great post...I learned a bunch I didn't know about midtown..thanks!

Sep 21, 2008 04:28 PM
Bobby Uppal
Uppal Insurance Agency 916.669.0601 - Citrus Heights, CA
Your Insurance Expert

I meant to tell you that I saw your "spotlight" in SacMag. Congrats!

Nov 26, 2008 05:40 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

We are certainly working up here in Portland on more condo projects and right now I'm working on gettting another 499 unit project approved in Portland. You can't create more land, so you have to create other ways to make more housing and Condo and Townhomes are it!

I'm glad to see that you are following in our footsteps and the beard looks great by the way, almost had us fooled. Thought maybe you grew it to sneak up here and try to blend in to learn our secrets.

Just found you when I was doing my 22 in 22 and saw that today was your 2nd anniversary of being a member on Activerain and just decided to stop off and say hi after reading your post on condos and had talked about us great folks up north.

So HI,

Todd Clark, Helping Families Home - www.IFoundYourNewHome.com

Dec 08, 2008 12:00 AM