Elk Grove Market Update for Elk GroveYear in ReviewIt turned out to be a very good year for homeowners and home sellers in Elk Grove this last year.  Median prices went up 30%, year over year. It is interesting to note that in the last seven months preceding December, the median price had not changed that much.  It remained, on average, at $602,000.  The median price took a sizable jump in December to $640,000.  It looks like the spring buying season might be starting early this year.How did each zip code fair in Elk Grove last year?It has been a few months since I have reported on each zip code in Elk Grove.  So which area saw the best price appreciation.  It was close, but 95757 came in number one with 31% growth in the median price of homes.  95758 was second with 30% growth and 9562... 01/14/2022

Sacramento experienced warmer temps and blue skies today. After, a session on the torture machines at my local health club, I took a drive to nearby Old Town Folsom. The quaint shops, restaurants, cafes. brewery and wineries have a little something for everybody. However, today, it was a visit to Snook's Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Shop calling my name! The historic Old Town ice rink which occupies space of the old Railroad Round-About this time of year, found several souls taking advantage of the beautiful day. 01/11/2022

Spring training for Runnin for Rhett has started, but it is not too late to join in the fun.  Runnin for Rhett is a Meetup based group that trains in the greater Sacramento and Elk Grove areas.  This spring we will be training for the Shamrockin Weekend.  You can train for their 5K, 10k or their half marathon.  Our trail running group will also be training for trail races of various lengths too, including the Fourmidable Races, the Way Too Cool 50k and the Knickebocker Canyon races.  We have groups that run, run/walk and walk so there is something for everyone.  We also have groups that meet to ride bikes and play pickleball. Opening Day at McKinley ParkIf you are interested, check out our Meetup group, Runnin for Rhett, Blue Crew Training.  Let's get this year off to a great start! ! ! 01/11/2022

How does time move so quickly?  It is hard to believe that I started posting to ActiveRain in 2010.  It is even more difficult to believe that I have never really gone back to review my older posts.  My friend, Joan Cox, gave me the idea to take a look back with her recent year in review post.  Which posts received the most views? Elk Grove Real Estate Update, 1/11/2021                3,711 Painting Baseboards After Floor Installation     3,283 Sacramento County Real Estate Update             3,256 I Want Some Soup                                                     3,109 All the articles were written in January of 2021.  It makes sense that they have the most views over the year.  They were published early in the year and have had a longer time to gather views.  The other thing that ju... 01/10/2022

After a busy morning, I was looking for something entertaining this afternoon.  For those of you who have Netflix, you might enjoy viewing the flick, "Don't Look Up."The description states the following: "Two astronomers go on a media tour to warn humankind of a planet-killing comet hurtling toward Earth.  The response from a distracted world: Meh."It's satire, but its realistic overtones align and point out problems with present day politicization of major problems, to our detriment!The cast features: Leonard DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep and others.   01/02/2022

On this very special day, I want to take the opportunity to wish you and your family, the most Joyous of Holidays, and a prosperous New Year.Looking back through this past year, I count as one of my most treasured blessings, my connection with the ActiveRain community, and all of you.  The friendships, and the collective knowledge gained, have been beyond what could have been imagined. . . Thank you so very much for that!  12/25/2021

I'm feeling snug as a bug in a rug tonight. The storm door has opened in Sacramento, and it is currently raining hard outside. But, I have all the comforts of home. Moments ago, I was out driving through my neighborhood, soaking in all the holiday sparkle. Puddled rain on the avenue mirrored holiday lights and reminded of twinkling stars from a newly discovered galaxy. So beautiful! 12/23/2021

Tomorrow, a storm door is opening in Sacramento.  The long range forecast has rain each day for the next 7 days.  Today, I took a short drive up to nearby Old Town Folsom.  Snook's Ice Cream Shop has great flavors.  Catty Corner from Snook's is the old train station pictured here.  While enjoying a Pistachio Nut  cone on a bench outside of Snooks, it provided a pleasant sight!Old Town Folsom has delightful shops, cafes, restaurants, etc.  And, during the holiday season the ice rink is open!For more information about Historic Old Town Folsom, you can visit:https://www.historicfolsom.org 12/20/2021

It's been an interesting week! Monday, family came to celebrate my son's birthday. I cooked. On Tuesday, my cellphone died. I had hoped to limp it along until the first of the year, but alas, it wasn't to be. I hoped to replace it with a Pixel 6 Pro, but supply line issues kept one from being available via my carrier, Target, or Best Buy. I ended up procuring a Samsung N20. I can live with it. However, I spent the rest of Tuesday and part of Wednesday figuring out how to set up my voice mail. YouTube videos on how to do it with my model phone, conflicted with each other. But, I finally found a video that worked. Yesterday, I licked my wounds a bit, and vegged out. Today, I woke wide-eyed and bushy tailed - ready to take on the world. The plan was to drive up highway 50 to Apple Hill. I... 12/17/2021

I'm busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest today.  Family is coming home for Thanksgiving dinner.  Today, it's all about chopping, baking, devilling, etc.  However, I'm sharing an ancient memory that came to mind. The year was 1966.  The year, I cooked my first turkey.  I was young and not yet adept at kitchen arts.  This photo was shot shortly before the bird was carved.  I had lamented while preparing the bird for the oven that it had no neck.  Only a bag of giblets in the main cavity.  However, once carving began, the neck was found in the neck cavity.  Heck, I didn't even know a turkey had that part of its anatomy!Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! 11/24/2021

There are special autumn days when I feel fortunate to live in close proximity to the American River Parkway.  The leaves turning golden coupled with activity on the river adds to the warm spirit of the season.While Salmon fishing is closed from November 1st through December 31st along many areas of the American River.  It continues to remain open on the section of The American River below the SMUD power-line at the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park in Carmichael, across the river from Rancho Cordova’s Hagan Community Park.These scenes were taken along that stretch of The American River Parkway.For more information about Salmon fishing in the Greater Sacramento region, you can visit: www.fishsniffer.com. 11/19/2021

Elk Grove Market, October 2021(Headlines should read Oct. 2020 to Oct. 2021)It was such a beautiful day yesterday that I had to stop and create a short video showing the lake at Laguna West.  Elk Grove really comes alive in the fall, especially in the Laguna West-Lakeside area. It really was a gorgeous day on our lake, but how has the market changed year over year.  You can see that we had a nice rise in prices, but look what has been going on over the last few months. May        $600,000 June       $600,000 July         $605,000 Aug.        $598,000 Sept.       $605,000 Oct.         $610,000 The market has leveled off over the last few months, but there was a .8% rise in prices from September to October.There are 72 homes available to purchase now in the Elk Grove area, still a very lo... 11/19/2021

Many of my friends from Runnin for Rhett and I had the opportunity to play in the Rusch Park Fall Classic Pickleball Tournament this weekend.  It was a blast and our friend and pickleball mentor, Brian, started one of the days off right with an incredible coffee bar.  Brian gave us a definite edge!  More about Brian later.The competitions was very stiff and we had some great matches.  My partners in mixed doubles and men's doubles played fantastic and helped carry our teams to second place finishes in our 3.0 division.      My partner in men's doubles and my good friend, Tami, won first place.  All in all, it is not bad to lose to such wonderful friends.  They beat us four straight games and played very well.It was a really good day and great preparation for Randy and I.  We will be com... 11/14/2021

Today, as the noon hour began to approach, I decided to visit an old haunt in nearby Old Fair Oaks Village.  The Village is a small quaint community that features a small park with little shops, cafes, and a brew house, among its other businesses.  However, it is the chickens that inhabit the park and village which add delightful ambiance.  After parking my car, and ordering up a sandwich and tea at the Coffee House, I found a seat in the park directly across the road.  But on this day, I found it wasn't only chickens occupying the park; but also strange beings dwelling in the trees.The Fair Oaks Coffee House and Deli offers up great sandwiches, soup, coffee and ice cream.  They are located at: 10223 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Fair Oaks, California 95628.This little lady is all decked out for... 10/30/2021

On a pleasant drive, in the Greater Sacramento region is a mysterious place in nearby Ione.   We really can’t say Preston Castle comes “alive” this time of year, because many folks claim ghosts of the dead remain there still.  The purpose for building the Castle was to accommodate the Preston School of Industry (reform school), in an attempt to rehabilitate juvenile offenders.  The Castle was completed in June 1894, and in 1960 the Castle closed, when a new building was constructed. Preston Castle is a California State Historic Landmark.The castle’s sandstone was quarried a few miles from Ione, and the bricks were created at Folsom and San Quentin prisons.  The cornerstone was set with pomp and ceremony, in late 1890. The Castle is now empty, with some action being made to restore it.As... 10/29/2021

My listing on Cork Tree Lane closed yesterday.  When we first put the home on the market, we thought a developer might end up purchasing the home.  The land to the South of it and to the East of it is owned by a developer.  He did express interest in the home, but only with an option to buy the home.  My clients could not wait for that long so we kept the home on the market.A few other potential buyers came forward and we received an offer from a multi-generational family who would like to renovate the home, grow some of their food and have a few animals.  They are so excited and my client is very happy.  My client grew up in the home and loves the idea that the current family will enjoy the same experience.I was at the house yesterday to get a couple of last minute items done and to ha... 10/23/2021

While chatting with an old friend a couple weeks ago, we decided to calendar a day trip to Apple Hill.  Marcia and I have known each other since 1950.  Yep, that's a little over 70 years.  We went all through school together beginning in the 2nd grade.Apple Hill is a community of more than 50 farms that grow an array of apples, pumpkins and Christmas trees, in addition to there being a few wineries.  Apple Hill is a community that comes alive each autumn.So today, Marcia and I visited several favorite farms, and enjoyed looking at the jams, jellies, crafts and other products, while drinking hot spiced cider and nibbling on apple walnut donuts. For those who live in the Greater Sacramento region, Apple Hill is about 40 miles east of Sacramento, along highway 50.  It's a delightful way to... 10/19/2021

Our last Capitol Beer Fest was held the week before California was locked down due to the pandemic and we had to postpone it this spring, but we are back.  It is the number one fundraiser for Runnin for Rhett, the local charity that I support.  We are dedicated to getting our community to Move Into Life.  Twice a year we send coaches to local schools to train kids to run, what for many, is their first 5k.  It is all free; the training, the race, a t-shirt and their medal.  We also fund raise to give one thousand kids that need them, a pair of running shoes.Capitol Beer Fest will be a fun event with over 100 different brewers offering selections of their different beers and hard ciders.  Make sure to visit our local Elk Grove brewer, Dreaming Dog.  They have been a big supporter of our l... 10/15/2021

Thirty one years of marriage and all my wife wanted was a trip to Apple Hill and a new toilet.  I did not know that porcelain was the preferred gift for thirty one years of marriage, but who am I to argue. Apple Hill is about an hour's drive up Highway 50 from Elk Grove.  It is a perfect place to visit for the day.  It is open year around, but really comes alive during apple season with all kinds of fun things to do.  There are pumpkin patches, mazes, craft shops, bake shops, wine and hard cider tastings, you pick farms and, a little later in the year, perfect farms to get your fresh cut Christmas Tree.  All in an area with a beautiful backdrop.  Here are a few of the ranches that we visited on our day trip.Boa Vista-We stop here every time we go to apple hill.  This was are starting po... 10/11/2021

While out and about over the weekend, I had an opportunity to drive by a place that’s special this time of year - The Nimbus Fish Hatchery, near Hazel Avenue and Highway 50, near the Greater Sacramento Communities of Gold River and Rancho Cordova.In October and November each year, the hatchery becomes brisk with activity.  The Salmon, native to the American River, return home from the ocean, to spawn.  When Nimbus Dam was built generations ago, it impaired the Salmon journey.  So a “California” solution was found to the problem.  A fish rack, or weir was constructed, and a fish ladder with over 20 steps was built, to aid the fish in their destiny of reproduction, and then, ultimately death.  The rack assists in guiding fish to the ladder entrance.  The ladder guides the fish up more tha... 10/11/2021