Home Source, June 21, 2024

When my daughter and son-in-law bought their rst home together two years ago, the young couple had three dreams: a new kitchen, a nicer bathroom and a baby.

Last month they got all three.

Young couple remodel: She wanted a new shower. It came

with a new kitchen and bath

Except for the outdated kitchen and tired main bath, the 15-year-old Cra sman-style house had everything Paige and Adam wanted for what they hoped would be their growing family — great location, good schools and enough bedrooms. They decided they would either learn to live with the home’s shortcomings, remodel or, if those plans failed, eventually move.

The worst part of the home was the shower, which Paige, who gets her patience from her mother, wanted to replace the second she moved in. “My college dorm had a better shower,” I

remember her saying on day one. Indeed, the small cubicle smelled like a mushroom farm, had a calci ed door and would have t right in at a campground.

How quickly could they x that? The answer came two years later.

From that rst day, Paige heard from not just me, whose opinion ranks just below her neighbor’s cat’s, but also from an interior designer and a contractor, that if they wanted to replace the shower, they would need to replace the adjoining bathtub. If they replaced the bathtub, they would need to replace the oor and might as well update the vanity.

Anyone who has ever remodeled knows how a small change leads to a big change, which leads to a total gut, which bleeds into at least one more

■ See JAMESON, page 3

Marni Jameson At Home

Pandora’s bathroom — What started as the desire for a nicer shower, turned into a completely renovated bathroom.

Photo by Kate Saige Interiors

Continued from 2

room.

See, even if they did remodel the whole bath, in the Denver area where they live, between the labor shortage and the building boom, most contractors would not want a job that small. Though the project did not seem small to them. If they remodeled the kitchen, too, then they had a better shot at attracting a contractor and they would “save” money, because the trades — carpenters, electricians, plumbers and tilers — could do both jobs at once. In other words, do it all or not at all.

Welcome to the world of home remodeling.

Disheartened, Paige and Adam pressed pause. They lived in and with the house as it was and continued to imagine what having a nice shower and upgraded kitchen might be like.

That was not wasted time. Over the next two years they envisioned what they really wanted in these rooms. They separated the must-haves (an eat-in kitchen with room for counter stools and a gas cooktop) from the nice-to haves (more counter space). They created a Pinterest board. They dreamed. They planned. They got pregnant. They hired a designer.

A er “a discovery call” to get a sense of the project’s scope, time frame and budget, interior designer Kate Clapp, owner of Kate Saige Interiors, met with Paige and Adam at their home. She shared her ideas and assured them they could get what they wanted. Knowing that Clapp works on many high-end projects, Paige and Adam made clear that this was a starter home and they had a nite budget.

“She got it,” Paige said. The decision to move forward was easy. “By this point, we were just so happy that someone knew what we wanted and had a hand on the wheel, especially with a baby on the way.”

“I appreciated that they trusted me and the process,” Clapp said. “Not every client can do that, but it’s important.”

Clapp replaced the door between the primary bedroom and bath with a classic arch, then added a larger glass shower featuring Spanish ivory subway tile, a soaker undermount tub surrounded by a quartz deck and an updated vanity with the same quartz countertop over cabinets repainted in Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige. The remodeled bathroom also has slate plank ooring and new light xtures, mirrors,

faucets and sinks. (I’ll share the kitchen improvements next week.)

The change, using Adam’s word, was “existential.”

“It all started because of the shower,” Paige said, shaking her head over the odyssey, as she sat in her new kitchen holding her newborn. “At rst, I just wanted to replace the shower glass. I’ve since learned to be cautious of what you think are simple xes. They’re not so simple. They unravel.”

Here’s what else they learned:

• Paint a picture. Paige made a Pinterest board, largely inspired by Studio McGee, which Clapp used as a jumping o point. “I love a client Pinterest board,” Clapp said. “It helps me see inside their brain.” She could see that Paige leans toward classic clean design with neutral foundations, wood and accents of blues and greens. “When I saw her Pinterest, I thought, ‘I can work with this.’ I call her look modern organic, with a classic umbrella.”

• Dial in design and price. Clapp followed with her own design board for each room, including nishes and lighting, a detailed budget, a timeline and contractor recommendations, so the couple could proceed with nancial certainty.

• Save here, splurge there. You can get beautiful design without breaking the bank, if you allocate money in the right spots, Clapp said. One of those spots is lighting, which is worth a splurge. Less expensive but also critical to the nished look are cabinet knobs and pulls. Keeping the same footprint will save.

• Focus on kitchens and baths. “I felt good knowing we improved what builders and Realtors know are the two most important areas of a home in terms of value: The kitchen and primary bath. Not only will Paige and Adam enjoy their upgraded home, but they will also get their money back whenever they sell.” But for now, they’re home.

Join me next week to nd out which came rst, the baby or the nished kitchen, and more lessons learned.

Marni Jameson is the author of seven books including the newly released “Rightsize Today to Create Your Best Life Tomorrow,” “What to Do With Everything You Own to Leave the Legacy You Want” and “Downsizing the Family Home.” You may reach her at marnijameson.com.

Hal ime report for today’s real estate market

When I was playing college football, I never looked forward to the hal ime break. It gave players a short rest, but it was mentally stressful. The coaching sta pointed out mistakes players made and had new plays we had a few minutes to learn for the second half. When it was time to leave the locker room the coaches patted us on the shoulders, said we could do better and that the school depended on us. I learned more about life in high school and college via sports than I ever did in the classroom. Buying and selling a home isn’t a contact sport but it’s a high-stakes game. The goal for sellers is obtaining the highest score for their home without any injuries. Buyers can only score when they get the ball. Both buyers and sellers should know the eld condition and understand the strengths and vulnerabilities of the players against whom they are competing. With nearly half the year behind us, sellers are still in control of the housing game, although there are more scoring opportunities for buyers in the second half.

The hal ime statistics for El Dorado County — 900 residential sales with a median selling price of $660,000 or $325 a square foot. About 60% of those sales had an acceptable o er within 30 days of the time they were listed and escrows closed at 100% of the listing price. That’s a solid rst-half performance for sellers but there are signs that sellers will not be able to maintain that momentum going into the second half.

First-half home prices have increased only 4% over last year and sales are at. Not as many homes are selling above listed price, there are fewer multiple o ers and homes are taking longer to sell. Sellers still control the playing eld but there are signs their home- eld advantage is weakening.

According to Glen Kelman, CEO for Red n, ”House prices will drop this

summer as homeowners trying to wait out high mortgage rates are realizing they can’t postpone moving any longer.”

Most homeowners with a mortgage have a rate below 4%, and many below 3%. Despite wanting to hold on to their historically low mortgage rates, more homeowners are discovering they have compelling reasons to sell. They have decided there are more important life choices than sitting on a low mortgage rate. The increase in inventory will be healthy for the market and hold the line on further price increases this year.

Nationally, listings are up 1.6 million from last year and locally listings are up 40%. While listing inventory is increasing, sales are stuck in neutral. The increase in supply has not translated into increased sales. According to Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist for Fannie Mae, “The increase in listings suggests to us that a rising number of homeowners can no longer put o moving. However, we believe the ongoing a ordability challenges are likely to weigh on how quickly these new listings convert to sales.”

The market irony is that for the past few years, sales have been below historical averages simply because we didn’t have available inventory. Now we have inventory and buyers have an attitude. Last month, Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index dropped to a historical low with 86% of consumers saying, “It was a bad time to buy a home.”

Homebuyers have a lousy attitude about buying because mortgage rates are above 7%, home prices are up and yearly ownership costs are increasing faster than in ation. El Dorado County home prices have increased 32% from the beginning of the pandemic in 2019. The typical

mortgage rate for that year was 3.9%; now rates are above 7%. There is another cost of owning a home that has been o en overlooked. It’s ongoing ownership cost, including property taxes, insurance, utilities and general maintenance.

According to Bankrate, yearly ownership costs on a single-family home are $18,118 — an increase of 26% over the past four years. California homeowners are paying more. A general rule of thumb is yearly ownership costs will run 3%-4% of a home’s value depending on insurance.

Based upon current eld conditions and rst half performance, my coaching strategy for buyers during the second half would be more aggressive in getting the ball. Make some o ers. When an opportunity develops, buyers need to

pounce. Don’t hesitate to make an o er slightly less than the listing price. Ask sellers to buy-down the interest rate. Buyers will nd fewer players on the eld this summer and sellers will be more receptive to a reasonable o er.

Sellers need to be more realistic on their initial listing price. Last month, nearly one third of sellers reduced their listing prices. On a crowded eld, a home must stand out to get a buyer’s attention. This is not the market we had two years ago. Sellers should not be quick in turning down an o er slightly less than listed price. The market this summer will likely be better than this fall.

Ken Calhoon is a real estate broker in El Dorado County. He can be reached for questions and comments at ken@kencalhoon. com.

Hills Drive, Camino

neighborhood of Camino Hills, where stories intertwine and memories bloom, nestles this iconic gated elegance & sophistication. Spanning 3,430 sq on a sprawling 0.75-acre at lot, this home o ers Beautifully landscaped grounds, expansive garden area with mature grapevines, serene lounge charming workshop, expansive carport, and like-new storage shed cater to all your practical needs. welcomes you with its soaring ceilings, replace, and beautiful doors. Enjoy beautiful kitchen with appliances & a spacious island! An additional bonus room lends versatility as a library or study room. the main level! Extra-large owner’s suite, complete with a balcony and walk-in closet will sure area with its own balcony, or retreat to the covered patio overlooking the private backyard bathroom in the garage with an easy access from the backyard. Located just minutes to acclaimed farms & bakeries. Welcome home to Camino Hills, where every day is a story waiting to be told.

www.SellingPlacerville.com O ered at $799,999 MLS#224064440

OPEN HOUSE DIRECTORY

$874,900

This Gorgeous 4 bd/3 ba, home is on 10 scenic acres in the heart of Gold Hill. Light & airy is the best way to describe this well crafted home, with an indoor atrium, Vaulted Ceiling. Skylights & Walls of windows. Cool off in the summer in an inground pool. There are 3 separate living areas, with a walkin basement, that has a wet bar and a full bath. This area could easily be converted to in-law quarters. First time on the market.

RE/MAX Gold • Jim Aldrich 530-919-2555

12-3 4342 SAVAGE

ROAD, PLACERVILLE

$849,000

BEAUTIFUL CRAFTMAN STYLE CONSTRUCTION, built with pride of ownership! Tahoe Style Home on 5 acres, 2/2 WITH detached garage. Beautiful kitchen, solid surface quartz counters, beautiful rustic wood oors. All season covered deck looking out to open space. Garage is extra deep on one side, perfect for boat storage. Close to great schools. Rural living at it’s best! Shopping, skiing, Jenkinson Lake about 15 minutes away. Minutes to downtown Placerville, Sly Park Recreation Area, and local wineries. About 1 hour to snow skiing at Sierra at Tahoe. Beautiful South Lake Tahoe just a short drive away!

RE/MAX Gold • Julie Dunn 530-409-8374

4045 sq ft. commercially zoned Historical Building. Construction has started and permitted with the city to convert the shop to retail and access upgrades. The upstairs addition shares the 721 Main Street address, and this part of the building has current remodel plans and a permit that can be assumed by new owners. Rough framed, plumbing and electric are finished, but insulation is not completed. Heat and air system also in. Main building could be anything you want with residential at the second floor with a deck and stairs leading down to a fully fenced 40x49’ private parking lot and year round creek.

$1,385,995 5085 Glacier Peak Dr 5 5 (4 1) 4022 0.4528 224040518

$1,390,000 3180 Warren Ln 4 3 (3 0) 3782 0.32 224061642

$1,450,000 5326 Florentino Loop 5 5 (4 1) 3741 0.49 224043910

$1,450,000 1014 Via Treviso #Lot 1 6 5 (5 0) 3788 0.52 224027004

$1,469,999 3185 Warren Ln 4 3 (3 0) 3138 0.25 224051692

$1,475,000 5036 Crail Way 4 4 (3 1) 3284 0.22 224063986

$1,485,000 7062 Via Barlogio #Lot 3 5 5 (5 0) 3788 0.46 224023948

$1,490,000 3340 Beatty Dr 5 4 (4 0) 3547 0.44 224061393

$1,517,806 3295 Beatty Dr 4 5 (4 1) 3984 0.3781 224062872

$1,549,900 750 Wyeth Ct 4 5 (4 1) 4038 0.22 224035488

$1,649,000 3119 Lennox Dr 5 4 (3 1) 3838 1 224064331

$1,650,000 2781 Via Fiori 4 5 (4 1) 3617 0.43 224061037

$1,650,000 391 Esatto Pl 4 3 (3 0) 4097 0.48 224050362

$1,694,000 5006 Coronado Dr 4 4 (3 1) 4081 0.39 224057017

$1,699,000 1102 Lomond Dr 4 6 (5 1) 5527 0.8 224041564

$1,799,900 1807 Barcelona Ct 5 7 (5 2) 6011 0.7 224009629

$1,899,000 3350 Greenview 5 5 (4 1) 4889 0.45 224037717

$1,899,000 1272 Van Gogh Dr 5 6 (5 1) 4382 0.2 224010522

$1,950,000 2525 Via Fiori 4 4 (3 1) 3650 0.96 224054858

$1,970,000 683 Encina Dr 5 5 (3 2) 4200 0.33 224045049

$1,995,000 4121 Greenview Dr 3 4 (3 1) 4509 0.48 223113721

$1,998,800 4101 Hawk View Rd 4 3 (3 0) 3512 9.36 224043058

$2,195,000 2954 Capetanios Dr 4 4 (4 0) 3338 1 224062476

$2,195,000 5000 Piazza Pl 6 4 (4 0) 4244 0.79 224051040

$2,249,000 4103 Aristotle Dr 5 6 (5 1) 4720 1.14 224045400

$2,299,900 4940 Greyson Creek Dr 3 5 (4 1) 3615 0.58 224042384

$2,550,000 4033 Raphael Dr 5 5 (5 0) 4213 0.48 223118525

$2,624,900 4950 Greyson Creek Dr 4 6 (5 1) 4163 0.48 224040493

$2,698,000 5047 Da Vinci Dr 5 5 (4 1) 6182 0.51 224029151

$2,699,000 7517 Sangiovese Dr 5 5 (4 1) 4943 0.73 224058161

$2,800,000 236 Socrates Pl 5 6 (5 1) 5017 0.71 224055775

$2,850,000 5263 Da Vinci Drive 4 5 (4 1) 4561 0.62 224055931

$2,997,000 10 Powers Dr 4 7 (4 3) 5378 0.6 224060048

$2,999,999 4991 Greyson Creek Dr 5 5 (5 0) 4013 0.9 224027860

$3,099,000 5011 Greyson Creek Drive 4 6 (5 1) 4865 0.46 223105112

$3,200,000 4901 Greyson Creek Dr 4 5 (4 1) 4398 0.49 223094679

$3,229,000 890

$3,389,000 4240 Raphael Dr 5 6 (5 1) 5319 0.54 224006620

$3,400,000 1401 Fredlena Ln 3 4 (3

Homes

$1,099,000

$1,195,000

$1,375,000 4410 Fremonts

$1,485,000

$1,554,630

3 2 (2 0) 1872 1.18 224028816

$700,000 4425 Sunnyside Dr 3 3 (2 1) 2048 1.29 224063244

$749,000 4041 Spectrum Way 3 2 (2 0) 1547 6.97 224054218

$769,000 3251 Grandview Cir 3 3 (3 0) 2606 5.3 224010058

$775,000 2931 Ponderosa Rd 3 2 (2 0) 1679 5.09 224062305

5513 Milton Ranch Rd 3

12605 Residential Homes latrobe/sHinGle sPrinGs soutH

12701 Residential Homes

Greater PlaCerville

$659,000

$669,000

$649,000 6745 Slug Gulch Rd 3 3 (2 1) 2243 5.24 224051623

$749,000 7903 Mount Aukum Rd 3 2 (2 0) 1989 12.45 224057764

$849,900 3200 Horseshoe Bend Rd 3 2 (2 0) 1740 10 224043248

$869,000 3137 Squirrel Hollow 2 2 (2 0) 2067 10.06 224056661

$1,090,000 5021 D Agostini Dr 3 4 (3 1) 3453 19.49 224005969

$1,100,000 7081 Somerset Drive 3 4 (3 1) 3301 10 224012773

$1,125,000 6148 Happy Valley Rd 2 2 (2 0) 1156 41.58 224041704

$1,299,000 3000 Springhill Rd 3 3 (2 1) 2500 10.16 224019890

$1,425,000 7351 Fairplay Road 2 3 (2

$2,499,999 7531 Fairplay Rd 4 3 (3 0) 3468 30.25 224012248

$2,900,000 7402 Perry Creek Rd

12705

Residential Homes Cwoloma, lotus

12706 Residential Homes Greenstone, GolD Hill west

12802 Residential Homes PolloCk Pines

PLACERVILLE

$874,900

This Gorgeous 4 bd/3 ba, home is on 10 scenic acres in the heart of Gold Hill. Light & airy is the best way to describe this well crafted home, with an indoor atrium, Vaulted Ceiling. Skylights & Walls of windows. Cool off in the summer in an inground pool. There are 3 separate living areas, with a walkin basement, that has a wet bar and a full bath. This area could easily be converted to in-law quarters. First time on the market.