























SOLANO REAL ESTATE SCENE







Mary and I were very happy raising our four kids over on the South Side of Vacaville, and our family was proud to be Will C. Wood Wildcats. Over the years, I was often teased about how the weather was better on the North Side and the Vacaville High School record for sports was superior to Wood.
Hogwash I say, but for the second- and third-generation Vacavillians, this is what they believe, so let’s go along with this myth. Let’s say a very proud Vacaville alumnus bought her first house in 2011 right around the corner from Will C. Wood High School. She bought a 3-bedroom 2-bathroom 1100 square foot foreclosure. The seller did not have any pride of ownership and the house was a mess, but at $175,000, this was all she could afford.
In 2016, during Brexit, she refinanced down to a 4.5% fixed rate loan for $250,000 and pulled out $100,000 in cash to remodel the small kitchen, bathrooms, replace the roof, and paint the house. She was conservative and careful not to over-improve the home with million-dollar custom-home type appliances, windows, and floors because she knew this was not her forever home.
As her kids are approach-
ing high school age, 2020 rolls around and she is financially ready to move up to her dream home over on the Vacaville High side of town and then the pandemic hit. Her three daughters, 8, 10 and 12, are excited about their oopsy daisy little brother coming in June. Little Joey is born healthy and after 90 days of maternity leave, she postpones moving up because of the lockdowns and her kids all schooling via Zoom.
She jumps on the REFI band wagon and refinances her loan, that is now $235,000, down to 2.75%. Her house payment, including taxes and insurance drops to only $1,190 per month. She is in “fat city” financially but now in June 2023, her parents want her to move over to the North Side, her three daughters, now 11, 13 and 15, are squabbling about the one bathroom they share and are constantly making a mess in mom’s tiny master bathroom, not because they are spoiled rotten brats, but simply because they have outgrown the home.
This woman can easily qualify to sell her remodeled house for $560,000 and move up to an $800,000 house on the Northside or keep the old house as a rental and buy up to a max price of $700,000 but she hasn’t
See Porter, Page 7
Located at the gateway to the beautiful Suisun Valley wine countr y, this rare, level one acre parcel includes two beautiful homes and plenty of room to roam. Built in 1937, the 4BR/3BA main house has been beautifully renovated yet maintains much of its original character and charm including refinished original hardwood floors, art deco trim and built-in cabinetr y. Completely remodeled farmhouse kitchen comes with all of the modern conveniences, spacious walk-in pantry, a butler’s pantr y and laundr y room. The 3BR/2BA second home has just as much charm and endless opportunities such as Airbnb, Rental Income or an ADU for in-laws. Between the two homes is a beautifully landscaped yard with shade trees complete with a tree house, playhouse, and expansive patios with a lush lawn for all to enjoy. In addition, there is an enormous workshop as well as several auxiliary indoor rooms for use as a home office, art studio or exercise area with security camera system. This is truly a rare opportunity for countr y living with space, privacy, and flexibility yet close to town and the historic Rockville Corners
Offered at $1,539,000
METRO GRAPHICS
Certain homes have an undeniable wow factor. That instant appeal tends to be noticeable the moment visitors pull up to the curb, and it might be a byproduct of homeowners’ willingness to embrace the latest exterior design trends. Trends come and go, but recognition of the current fashions can help homeowners create that highly sought-after wow factor. The following are some recent trends in home exteriors that have helped homeowners set their properties apart.
Natural wood has undeniable appeal, and it hasn’t only found newfound devotion among home interior decorators. Natural wood garage doors create a sense of warmth and can set a home apart from others with steel doors, which tend to be the most popular garage door material. In addition to the garage door, natural wood entry doors and wood decks are popular ways to impart this classical, warm look to a home’s exterior.
Like natural wood, brick is a traditional material that’s both sturdy and classical. But homeowners can add character to brick with a coat of paint, which has become a popular trend in recent years. Light tones tend to be most popular when painting bricks. The experts at Better Homes & Gardens note that this could prove a long-term commitment if homeowners so desire, as a properly painted brick exterior could last as long as 20 years.
Hardscaping isn’t a new trend, but it has been trending in recent years. Hardscaping is an umbrella term that includes everything
from outdoor living rooms to incorporating natural stone into a landscape. Outdoor living rooms are one hardscaping trend that has become increasingly popular of late. These spaces serve as an extension of indoor living spaces. The home improvement experts at HGTV note that recently homeowners have looked to create covered outdoor rooms that can be enjoyed more frequently than patios or decks that are not protected from the elements.
It makes sense that individuals looking to spend more time enjoying their properties out-
doors would want more lighting outside. Ambient outdoor lighting can be utilized throughout a property. Such lighting can light up walkways and driveways and be used to light up landscaping features like trees and gardens. Home design trends tend to be fickle. But recognition of the current trends in exterior home design can set homes apart and turn properties into awe-inspiring places to enjoy the great outdoors.
Hardscaping, above, and outdoor lighting, right, are popular outdoor living space trends that figure to remain sought-after for years to come.
Home trends come and go. Today’s must-have items tend to become tomorrow’s outdated features in the blink of an eye. Homeowners who plan to stay in their current homes for years to come needn’t prioritize modern trends over personal preferences. However, homeowners looking to sell their homes can consider these favored features to increase their properties’ appeal to modern buyers.
According to the National Association of Home Builders’ 2021 What Home Buyers Really Want report, a separate room dedicated to laundry was the most desired feature among prospective home buyers. Though it might not inspire the awe of an outdoor living room or floor-toceiling windows overlooking a wooded backyard, a laundry room fills a direct and universal need. Perhaps that’s why 87 percent of buyers want a room dedicated to laundry in a home.
Drive through a modern suburban neighborhood at night and it won’t take long before you realize the popularity of exterior lighting. And that’s no coincidence, as homeowners everywhere appear to embrace exterior lighting. The NAHB report indicates that exterior lighting is the most sought-after outdoor feature. The good news for prospective sellers is that exterior lighting is an inexpensive and instant way to transform a property at night.
Some solar-powered lighting along walkways and outside the front door can make a home feel more safe, while some uplighting of large trees in the backyard can produce a sight to behold once the sun goes down.
Inflation has driven up the cost of just about everything over the last year-plus, and energy is no exception. So it should come as no surprise that 83 percent of prospective home buyers are looking for energy-efficient windows and appliances in a home. These features save money and benefit the planet, making them a win-win among buyers.
Patio spaces have long been popular, but that popularity reached new heights during the pandemic. When forced to stay at home for long periods of time, millions of people longed for ways to spend more time outdoors without breaking lockdown rules. Patios provide outdoor living spaces, and 82 percent of buyers indicated they wanted a patio with their next property.
A double or side-by-side sink is among the more affordable features buyers are looking for. At less than $1,000 on average, a side-by-sink is an affordable way to make a home more appealing to modern buyers. Modern buyers want a lot out of their homes, and sellers can do their best to meet those desires while getting the most money for their properties.
Q: My girlfriend and I bought a house together in December. It was the first house either of us had ever bought. We each paid half of the down payment and we’re splitting the mort gage and tax payments equally. Several years ago, I read one of your columns where you talked about the different ways you can hold title to a house with somebody else.
I didn’t think much of it at the time, but this past weekend I was trying to clean out some paperwork and came across a copy of our deed. We apparently purchased the property as joint tenants. A Google search made it sound like if one of us dies the other person gets the whole house. We had never discussed this with our escrow officer or real estate agent, but we both have kids from previous marriages and we want them to get our interest if we die.
On the other hand, if one of us dies, we don’t want that person’s adult kids moving in with the survivor or selling the house out from under them. What, if anything, should we do?
A: This is a situation I’ve written about at least once each year in 28-plus years I’ve been writing this column. The reason is simple; there are more and more “blended” families where couples have the same questions you have. The emailed questions like yours have gotten more and more voluminous over the years.
You are correct that, as joint
tenants, the deceased’s one-half interest will automatically pass to the other owner immediately upon their death. At that point, the surviving owner can do with the property as he or she wishes.
To accomplish your goals, in the unfortunate event one of you passes away, you’ll need to
First, you should sever your
The simplest way to do that is to record a new deed stating that your ownership is as “tenants in common.”
Tenants in common is the most common way for people to hold property and is even the legal default if no other method is mentioned on a deed. It means that the two of you will each own 50-percent of the property and are free to do whatever you want with it upon your death.
Now the problem gets a little more complicated.
If you want to put restrictions on each other’s children you can do it in one of two ways.
You can go to an estate planning attorney and have them draw up a will or trust that outlines the restrictions, giving the surviving owner the right to live in the property, alone if he wants, and restricting anyone else.
The problem with this method is either of you, maybe years down the road, can change that estate plan without telling the other owner.
I think a better way to go about it is to have a real estate
attorney draft what’s known as a tenants-in-common agreement. Longtime readers have heard me speak about TiC agreements many times over the decades.
A TiC agreement is a contract between co-owners providing rules for how the property will be handled, who can live there, who pays for what, what to do if one partner wants to sell but the other doesn’t, etc.
In fact, that agreement can have almost anything in it. Plus, in your case, can be made enforceable against your heirs.
All of this comes with the guarantee that neither party can change the agreement without the consent of the other one.
It’s amazing how many times people invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in co-owned property with no written commitment regarding how the property will be handled.
Ultimately, somebody wants to sell, or thinks the owners can get more rent, or some other concern and a lawsuit results.
A good tenants-in-common agreement will address anticipated disputes before they happen and dictate what actions will be taken. Particularly in your case, if someone else takes over a co-owner’s interest.
Tim Jones is a real estate attorney in Fairfield. If you have real estate questions you’d like to have answered in this column you can contact him at AllThingsRealEstate@TJones-Law.com.
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From Page 2
because she is now addicted to the $1,190 per month. She also remembers 2020 and 2021, when she heard sellers would never accept an offer contingent upon the sale of a buyer’s departing residence and this makes the move sound stressful.
Mortgage rates are higher than her once-in-a-lifetime
2.75% and this makes her pause, too.
Things have changed, some
sellers will accept a contingent offer and give a buyer 21 days to get their home sold and we have no shortage of bridge loan money and creative financing options available also. Hey, you Bulldog, get tough, call a local REALTOR and a local loan originator and at zero cost, have your goals and dreams analyzed and look at your options. If you don’t you will all be Wildcats for life.
Marry your forever home and only date the rate because all the experts say another REFI mania will be coming in the next year or two and even
if it didn’t come, you can afford it and you need a bigger house because the kids will only get bigger and louder.
Jim Porter, NMLS No. 276412, is the branch manager and senior loan adviser of Solano Mortgage, NMLS No. 1515497, a division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation, NMLS No. 1850, licensed in California by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the CRMLA / Equal Housing Opportunity. Jim can be reached at 707-449-4777.
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Presenting this beautiful home at The Cottages of Fairfield. This home still has that new home smell and is in immaculate condition with an open-concept floor plan. The kitchen features beautiful cabinets and accompanied with a generous granite island looking into the family room, perfect for entertaining. Upgraded stainless steel Whirlpool appliances with refrigerator included. Upstairs you will find a convenient laundry room and a huge loft to convert to your entertainment area. The spacious master bedroom features a walk-in closet. All of this Located just 15 minutes from the Travis Air Force Base. $620,000
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METRO GRAPHICS
The home improvement industry has been booming for years, but forecasters are projecting a deceleration in 2023 and perhaps beyond. Estimates from the Home Improvement Research Institute, which is the leading market research resource for the home and building products industry, indicate that growth in the home improvement products market is expected to decelerate from 7.2 percent in 2022 to 1.5 percent in 2023. Inflation continues to affect consumer spending, and homeowners may be looking to spend less on renovations in the year ahead.
Minor upgrades that aren’t as costly as larger projects can still make a big difference, especially among prospective buyers. When looking for minor upgrades that can help sell a home, homeowners can rely on Remodeling magazine’s annual “Cost vs. Value Report.” That report analyzes costs for an assortment of remodeling projects and determines the value of those projects at resale. Though resale value depends on a host of variables, including location, the following are some relatively minor exterior upgrades that impress buyers and provide a strong return for homeowners.
Garage doors matter more than sellers may recognize, as various real estate professionals note that buyers appreciate homes with updated garage doors. That’s good news for homeowners, as the “2022 Cost vs. Value Report” indicated homeowners recoup roughly 93 percent of their garage
door replacement investment at resale. The average cost of such a job is right around $4,000, making this a budgetfriendly remodeling project.
The cost of new windows will depend on just how many windows must be replaced. But there’s no denying buyers like the idea of low emissivity (low-E) windows, which can cut energy bills by a sig-
nificant amount over time.
The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy estimates that heat gain and heat loss through windows is responsible for between 25 and 30 percent of residential heating and cooling energy use, so sellers who can tell buyers they have new low-E windows can emphasize those savings in home listings. The “2022 Cost vs. Value Report”
indicates that homeowners recoup roughly two-thirds of their investment in new windows at resale.
Well-maintained landscaping is another home exterior component that can make a strong first impression on buyers.
A recent survey of nearly 7,000 realtors conducted by the National Association of Realtors found that upgrading
a landscape recouped roughly 83 percent of homeowners’ initial investment at resale. In addition, 11 percent of realtors surveyed indicated that an upgraded landscape was the decisive factor that closed the deal for the house.
Updating a home’s exterior doesn’t have to bust homeowners’ budgets. Many affordable projects also provide a substantial return at resale.
BENICIA
TOTAL SALES: 8
LOWEST AMOUNT: $506,000.00
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $925,000.00
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $653,500.00
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $682,875.00
328 Columbia Circle - $715,000
05-05-23 [3 Bdrms - 1540 SqFt - 1993 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 02-27-98, $165,000
9 El Bonito Way - $610,000
05-04-23 [3 Bdrms - 900 SqFt - 1943 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 05-16-16, $396,000
108 Gill Way - $820,000
05-01-23 [3 Bdrms - 1365 SqFt - 1972 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 11-10-22, $585,000
1229 Grove Circle - $585,000
05-01-23 [2 Bdrms - 1130 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 09-16-04, $350,000
565 Lori Drive #14 - $506,000 05-05-23 [2 Bdrms - 939 SqFt - 1983 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 07-22-19, $365,000 638 East N Street - $697,000 05-04-23 [3 Bdrms - 1718 SqFt - 2006 YrBlt]
849 Oxford Way - $925,000 05-03-23 [4 Bdrms - 2040 SqFt - 1985 YrBlt]
68 Vista Grande Avenue - $605,000
SqFt - 1987 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 01-27-23, $355,000
1707 Catlin Drive - $510,000
05-02-23 [4 Bdrms - 1904 SqFt - 1977 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 05-02-08, $230,000
119 Del Norte Court - $189,500
05-03-23 [2 Bdrms - 805 SqFt - 1974 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 10-31-17, $120,000
2230 Flicker Lane - $533,000
05-03-23 [3 Bdrms - 1764 SqFt - 1969 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 11-30-99, $165,000
5286 Gramercy Circle - $635,000
05-05-23 [4 Bdrms - 2070 SqFt - 2013 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 04-09-21, $602,000
2356 Hanson Drive - $665,000
05-02-23 [4 Bdrms - 2214 SqFt - 2020 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-18-19, $500,000
1813 Idaho Street - $430,000
05-05-23 [2 Bdrms - 1128 SqFt - 1952 YrBlt]
768 Isabella Way - $680,000
05-02-23 [4 Bdrms - 2253 SqFt - 1987 YrBlt]
3500 Larchmont Drive - $527,000
05-04-23 [2 Bdrms - 1327 SqFt - 1985 YrBlt]
2116 Lusitano Drive - $785,000
05-02-23 [5 Bdrms - 2802 SqFt - 2010 YrBlt],
Northwood Drive - $620,000
[5 Bdrms - 1638 SqFt - 1994 YrBlt]
Palace Court - $855,000
[5 Bdrms - 3007 SqFt - 2005 YrBlt],
These are the local homes sold recently, provided by California Resource of Lodi. The company can be reached at 209.365.6663 or CalResource@aol.com.
$534,141
302 Hoyt Court - $593,500
05-01-23 [3 Bdrms - 1759 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 00/1991, $167,000
1017 Pintail Drive - $530,000
05-01-23 [4 Bdrms - 1844 SqFt - 1985 YrBlt]
1020 Westwind Way - $580,000
05-03-23 [4 Bdrms - 1532 SqFt - 1987 YrBlt]
TOTAL SALES: 20
LOWEST AMOUNT: $340,000.00
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $790,000.00
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $632,000.00
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $611,100.00
136 Bristol Drive - $596,000
05-03-23 [4 Bdrms - 1799 SqFt - 1974 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 02-24-23, $380,000
184 Brookdale Drive - $565,000
05-02-23 [3 Bdrms - 1576 SqFt - 1979 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 06-28-11, $168,000
831 Chateau Circle - $575,000
05-05-23 [3 Bdrms - 1637 SqFt - 1996 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 07-15-20, $469,000
05-05-23 [4 Bdrms - 2014 SqFt - 2019 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 11-20-19, $492,500
TOTAL SALES: 19
LOWEST AMOUNT: $235,000.00
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $828,500.00
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $515,000.00
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $516,868.00
630 Alabama Street - $645,000
05-04-23 [3 Bdrms - 1879 SqFt - 1905 YrBlt]
1121 Azuar Avenue - $549,000
05-03-23 [3 Bdrms - 1676 SqFt - 2006 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-14-07, $441,000
1455 North Camino Alto #331 - $235,000
05-01-23 [1 Bdrms - 744 SqFt - 1973 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 07-11-17, $130,000
104 Denio Street - $455,000
05-04-23 [3 Bdrms - 1080 SqFt - 1918 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 06-26-18, $315,000
247 Glenview Circle - $675,000
05-01-23 [4 Bdrms - 1846 SqFt - 1982 YrBlt]
210 Hampshire Street - $550,000
05-03-23 [3 Bdrms - 1892 SqFt - 1939 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 10-11-08, $170,000
330 Moorland Street - $500,000
05-05-23 [2 Bdrms - 949 SqFt - 1940 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-18-14, $199,000
4060 Nottingham Court - $828,500
05-02-23 [4 Bdrms - 2652 SqFt - 2002 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 10-25-11, $349,000
733 Oakwood Avenue - $463,000
05-03-23 [3 Bdrms - 1020 SqFt - 1951 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 06-23-14, $227,500
340 Pecan Street - $515,000
05-05-23 [2 Bdrms - 950 SqFt - 1949 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 11-14-16, $255,000
200 Pinto Drive - $645,000
05-04-23 [4 Bdrms - 1927 SqFt - 1987 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 09-26-17, $500,000
2890 Redwood Parkway #62 - $295,000
05-01-23 [2 Bdrms - 1095 SqFt - 1981 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 07-19-18, $259,000
1421 Ryder Street - $450,000
05-03-23 [2 Bdrms - 1128 SqFt - 1932 YrBlt] 1541 Severus Drive - $525,000
LOWEST AMOUNT: $189,500.00
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $940,000.00
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $580,500.00
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $615,375.00 1049 1st Street - $459,000
[3 Bdrms - 1000 SqFt - 1954 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-10-13, $210,000 5309 Antiquity Circle - $935,000
[5 Bdrms - 3005 SqFt - 2006 YrBlt],
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $593,500.00
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $557,500.00
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $559,625.00
1005 Barrows Drive - $535,000
05-02-23 [4 Bdrms - 1308 SqFt - 1982 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 08-12-08, $205,000
05-03-23 [5 Bdrms - 2405 SqFt - 2010 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 03-24-22, $755,000
385 Ponderosa Drive - $415,000
05-03-23 [4 Bdrms - 1360 SqFt - 1973 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 09-27-12, $205,000
561 Rolling Oak Court - $655,000
05-04-23 [3 Bdrms - 1859 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 11-17-22, $610,000
834 Ruby Drive - $705,000
05-05-23 [4 Bdrms - 2792 SqFt - 1997 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 09-20-99, $301,950
335 Sage Sparrow Circle - $759,000
05-02-23 [4 Bdrms - 3268 SqFt - 2004 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 07-23-04, $585,000
125 Sequoia Drive - $340,000
05-03-23 [2 Bdrms - 1083 SqFt -