As is my tradition, when the year comes to an end, I look back at where we’ve been, you and I, at the adventures and misadventures, and pull from my line up of columns moments that stand out, one per month. Last week I shared my favorite highlights from the rst six months of the year. Here are my favorites from the last six.
In JULY, a reader cried: “Help! I want my house back!” When Maureen Rabazinski, a 62-year-old nurse practitioner, thought it was safe to downsize from her large family home, she and her husband moved to their “rightsized” four-bedroom oasis. Then her two adult sons took turns moving into the “guest” room during various life transitions. The three grandkids and their toys took over another bedroom (so much for a home gym) and somehow a crib landed in her home o ce, killing the professional vibe she was trying to
maintain during telehealth appointments. “I want to make our home just ours again and eliminate the feeling of overwhelming chaos,” she told me.
Lesson: The two words of advice I o ered Maureen are ones we all can bene t from: boundaries and purpose. Every home needs boundaries and every room needs one clearly de ned purpose, no more. As nice as it is to o er a port in a storm, limit stays, and don’t become anyone’s storage facility. Eliminate bleed over. The master should not be an exercise room. The o ce should not double as a nursery. The guest room should not become someone’s permanent apartment.
In AUGUST, I was planning my third wedding in eight years. Not all mine, thank goodness. The rst was mine. Two years ago, my older daughter got married in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Now, my younger daughter was getting married. Though we’ve been lucky in love, my girls and I,
it’s been an expensive decade. I’m not the only one dealing with sticker shock. According to The Wedding Report, the price tab for the average U.S. wedding last year was over $30,000.
Lesson: Because no one wants to begrudge a bride of all the trappings that will create a memorable wedding day, I found dozens of ways to save hundreds, even thousands of dollars by cutting costs in imperceptible ways. Here’s a sampling: Keep the guest list tight. Have the ceremony and reception in the same place. Go with large blooms of in-season owers. Pass on the champagne toast; have guests raise the drink they have in hand to cheer the newlyweds. Say no to favors. No one needs more stu . And get your cake from the grocery store.
In SEPTEMBER, thanks to the kindness of strangers, one deserving family achieved the American dream of homeownership. Maynor and Leticia Aldana moved out of their slum-like apartment, which had sewage leaking into the kitchen, and into a newly renovated house in North eld, Minn. Their monthly mortgage payment is now less than they were paying in rent. The Aldanas, who immigrated here — she from Mexico 16 years ago and he from Guatemala 33 years ago — are legal residents and hard workers. He hangs drywall. She’s a seamstress. “Like so many laborers around us who mow our lawns and clean our homes, the Aldanas lived just a notch above homeless,” said Bob Thacker, who spearheaded the project. “These folks don’t have a path to home ownership.” With the help of their local Habitat for Humanity, Thacker and his wife bought a dilapidated 1,200-square-foot townhouse. Then over 100 local residents — framers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, designers and master gardeners — volunteered time and materials and worked alongside Leticia and Maynor to renovate the home.
Lesson: Never underestimate the power of a community that has a goal, or the power of people and how much they want to help.
In OCTOBER, I saw what happens when a world-class design rm, with a so spot for helping those with disabilities, and a leading furniture retailer join forces. The result: Quietly Accessible Furniture. Recognizing that age isn’t easy on us but that the right furniture can make it easi-er, and help prevent falls, Michael Graves Design and Pottery Barn
launched a furniture line that looks like it belongs in a home not a rehab center. Dressers have raised edges to keep items from falling o . Chairs have high-density foam and adjustable seat heights giving a welcome boost to those who struggle getting out of chairs too so or too low.
Lesson: More than three-fourths of those over age 50 say they want to age in place. Thankfully, furniture is becoming available that looks residential, not medical or institutional, allowing them to do just that.
In NOVEMBER, we met the Heirloomist. Shana Novak is a talented photographer who makes it her business to capture special keepsakes on lm and “make something seemingly ordinary feel magical.” Ticket stubs, keys, pregnancy sticks, a faded airline boarding pass, Teddy bears, worn-out work boots, and muddy slobbered-on tennis balls are among the ordinary but dear items Novak has digni ed through photography and in her new book “The Heirloomist — 100 Treasures and the Stories They Tell,” (Chronicle Books, April 2024).
Lesson: Most of us think an heirloom is a cherished valuable relic from an ancient relative, but an heirloom can be anything, expensive or humble, as long as it tells your story, a story you want to keep alive for generations.
In DECEMBER, I started breathing easier and sneezing less a er I investigated ways to bust the fur ying around my home and other unwelcome evidence of our two dogs — including their, ahem, aroma. Initially skeptical of home air puri ers, because you have to believe in what you can’t see, namely that they eliminate 99.7% of invisible toxins in our air, such as pollen, dust, dander, mold, viruses, bacteria, and odors from cooking, tobacco smoke and pets, I was dubious. But as I saw independent studies, including ones from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, supporting the claims, I got a portable air puri er and became a believer.
Lesson: Take care of your air. While this and many other home design columns focus on how homes look, just as —or even more— important, may be how our homes smell. Here’s to clearing the air and cleaner living in 2025!
Marni Jameson is the award-winning author of seven books, including “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.
$502,000
Amazing investment opportunity! Two adorable 2-bedroom homes with detached tandem garage. The seller has been getting everything ready for you to take over. New roofs and exterior paint along with ongoing work in the rear unit including new ooring, appliances, counters and deck, making this property ready for new owners. It’s perfect for an owner occupant looking to start investing as the front unit is rented and tenant hopes to stay. Or great as straight rental investment. The current owner states usually less than a week to ll any vacancy due to great location in town close to Highway 50. The beautiful city of Placerville is conveniently located along Highway 50 in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Less than an hour from Sacramento and a little over an hour from South Lake Tahoe. You’re just across the highway from desirable Apple Hill. You can’t go wrong with this one. Submit your offer with con dence!!
CENTURY 21 SELECT • JANET GAUT (530)306-0075
With the increased use of digital tools, the mortgage process looks quite di erent today than it did for previous generations. These new technologies can make the home loan process more e cient for both those buying a home and those re nancing their mortgage. However, it’s important to understand how your information is being used.
To help ensure you’re a savvy loan applicant, Freddie Mac is providing answers to some commonly asked questions about digital mortgage tools: Why do lenders use digital mortgage tools? Lenders have traditionally relied on printed documentation that requires them to manually review your application before deciding if you qualify for a loan, including for how much and on what terms. This can be a time-consuming process for both the homebuyer and the lender. Digital mortgage underwriting tools allow lenders to expedite the process by using electronic documents and automation to more e ciently evaluate your loan application. Freddie Mac research has found that these tools can decrease the loan origination timeline and may also save you
money in closing costs.
In addition, the digital tools mortgage lenders use may help you qualify for a loan if you have a limited credit pro le by looking at factors such as your history of on-time rent payments or the amount of money coming into and out of your bank account each month. This helps demonstrate your ability to pay your mortgage each month.
What information will my lender ask for? Not only will the way you provide documentation change, but in some instances the information your lender evaluates will change as well. For instance, you may be asked to provide access to digital accounts, such as your bank account, instead of providing printed bank statements. By using digital tools, lenders can get a more detailed view of your nances, which helps them lend to you if you are a harder-to-underwrite buyer. Speci c requirements may vary by lender — some may prefer a fully-digital process while others may use a combination of printed and electronic documents. Talk to your lender to get a better understanding of their loan application process.
What if I’m not comfortable providing my information? Though your lender will have a more
detailed look at your nances through a fullydigital process, keep in mind that digital documents o en provide a higher level of security than printed documents. If you still prefer not to share digital access to your personal information, your lender should understand your concerns and be willing to work with you on an alternative solution. If not, you can nd a di erent lender who is willing to accommodate a loan application process that is not digital. In either scenario, you should always take steps to ensure your personal information is protected and remain vigilant against potential fraud. You can help mitigate your risk of fraud and identity the by researching lenders and working only with reputable companies that take steps to protect their customers’ information.
Learn more about the mortgage application process with Freddie Mac’s step-by-step guides to homebuying and re nancing, which are available at myhome. freddiemac.com.
As the housing nance industry continues to modernize, you can expect a faster, easier home loan process. Staying knowledgeable about these new tools can ensure there are no surprises when it comes time to secure a loan.
$850,000 4601 El Caminito Rd 3 5 (4 1) 1908 1 224122028
$1,089,000 5085 Deerwood Dr 4 3 (2 1) 2743 3.24 224120653
$1,899,000 6275 Chablis Dr 5 5 (4 1) 4010 10.07 224121599
$2,425,000 5700 Semor Dr 1 1 (1 0) 744 200 224112503
LISTING# $375,000 1354 Lila Ln 2 1 (1
$489,900 5320 Andrews Ln
3 (3 0) 2214 1.01 224126807 $499,000 2682 Cresta Verde Dr 4 2 (2 0) 1560 1.41 224083425
$549,000 3080 Carson Rd 3 2 (2 0) 2068 1.06 224075385
$585,000 3188 Verde Robles Dr 3 2 (2 0) 2246
$745,000 2345 Dutchman Dr 4 4 (4 0) 3089 5 224092917
$775,000 3287 Vista Del Mundo 4 4 (2 2) 2612 0.63 224133622
$775,000 4387 Moss Ln 5 4 (4 0) 4605 3 224090630
$925,000 4686 Pinta Ct 3 5 (3 2) 2845 12.28 224118572 $999,000 4301 N Canyon Rd 3 4 (3 1) 3892 6.4 224087673
$1,350,000 3765 N Canyon Rd 3 3 (3 0) 3560 3.08 224103861 $2,850,000 2581-2601
$290,000 2880 Polaris St 4 2 (2 0) 1774 0.27 224120977
$299,000 777 Off Forebay Ln 2 1 (1 0) 600 0.6 224095148
$309,000 6521 Topaz Dr 2 2 (2 0) 1176 0.42 224053310
$319,000 5015 Shooting Star Rd 2 2 (2 0) 1179 2.25 224120536
(2 0) 1350 0.34 224152384 $344,000 2845 Pine Ct 2 2 (2 0) 1173 0.31 224131587
$350,000 6550 Onyx Trl 3 3 (3 0) 1785 0.32 224128900
$354,000 5578 Johnny Tuck Ct 3 2 (2 0) 1490 2.08 224103377 $359,000 6332 Greyling
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apply. Not a commitment to lend. Land Home only conducts business in states we are approved to. Land Home Financial Services 3420 Coach Lane, Suite 15, Cameron Park, CA 95682. NMLS #705400. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Finance Lenders law - #6073455. CA Department of Business Oversight - 866-275-2677. California - Bureau of Real Estate Branch Office License Endorsement #00988341 1-2024
160± acres in 5 separate parcels
PLACERVILLE $3,490,000
Once in a lifetime opportunity to own all or a part of the historic Shinn Ranch. Awesome Estate quality Land, 160 acres +- in 5 separate parcels are being sold as one. Sellers are in the middle of a boundary line adjustment and will soon list the land in 5 separate large parcels. Gorgeous large Country Homes surround this property. Minutes to Highway 50, and the Historic towns of Diamond Springs and Placerville. Fish in your own private stocked pond and be amazed at the wildlife that surrounds you. It currently has an approved tentative map for 141 parcels that expires in June 2024. It would be fantastic as an equestrian ranch, family compound, or a vineyard with Ranch Marketing. 1880’s Home is included in the purchase price. There is also a 3 inch Ag. meter. Locked gates, please do not trespass. Don’t miss out on this remarkable property.
