Achievers Top
A little work now can help ensure your yard looks its best this spring.
5 steps to get your yard ready for spring
Family Features
As the weather begins to warm and days get longer, it’s important to begin preparing your yard for a healthy growing season. While factors like climate, soil type and grass type can all impact how your yard grows, there are a few steps you can take during the spring months to help your lawn thrive.
From dethatching and aerating to fertilizing and mowing, tackling these simple chores can help ensure your yard looks its best and is prepared to ght o seasonal weeds, disease and drought.
Tune your mower
Before it’s time for the rst mowing of the season, inspect your mower and perform any routine maintenance necessary. That goes beyond sharpening, or replacing, the blade, and includes changing the oil, spark plugs and lter as well as lling with a fresh tank of gas.
the rst mow is equally important. Be sure to rake when the soil is dry; if it’s too so or muddy, you may pull up healthy grass crowns.
Combat compacted soil
If your soil has become compacted — likely the e ect of heavy foot tra c — and is too dense for water, air and other nutrients to reach the roots of your grass, aerating can help break it up and reduce thatch. A core, or plug, aerator can introduce tiny holes into your soil by removing plugs of grass and soil, which lets nutrients more easily reach the roots. An added bonus, the plugs can decompose on top of your grass, supplying more nutrients.
Fill in bare spots
Loosen the thatch layer
While it’s important to avoid working on your lawn until a er the nal freeze to avoid damaging the grass, raking your yard with a spring tine rake to loosen thatch — the layer of leaves, roots and dead grass that builds up between live grass and soil — before
If your lawn is looking sparse, overseeding, which involves spreading grass seed over your existing lawn, can help ll in bare spots. Be sure to choose the right type of seed for your climate and soil type to ensure proper growth. Applying a slowrelease nitrogen fertilizer at the same time can provide additional nutrients that are important for promoting healthy growth.
Start seasonal mowing
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
California Association of Realtors News release
LOS ANGELES — California’s housing market rebounded in February as statewide home sales reached the highest level in more than two years amid declining mortgage rates at the start of the year, the California Association of Realtors recently reported.
Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 283,540 in February, according to information collected by CAR from more than 90 local Realtor associations and MLSs statewide. The statewide annualized sales gure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2025 if sales maintained the February pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically in uence home sales.
February’s sales pace surged 11.6% from the 254,110 homes sold in January and was up 2.6% from a year ago, when a revised 276,280 homes were sold on an annualized basis. The February sales level was the highest since October 2022. Although home sales have rebounded strongly, they have remained below the 300,000 mark since September 2022. With uncertainty remaining the theme for at least the rst half of this
year, housing sentiment could be negatively impacted, and home sales, as a result, could remain so in the upcoming months.
Statewide pending sales in February dipped from last year’s level for the third consecutive month, but the drop was much smaller than the decline observed in January. The sales dip of homes in escrow could be due in part to a jump in mortgage rates at the beginning of February, but the public’s growing concern of a recession may also have played a role in the slowdown in housing demand in recent weeks. The ongoing policy and economic uncertainties have been weighing on consumer con dence and have created instability in the nancial market in the past few weeks. With mortgage rates expected to remain volatile in the near term, pending sales could continue to uctuate as the market enters the spring homebuying season.
“California home sales rebounded strongly in February a er a sluggish start to the year, supported by increased buyer activity and more available homes on the market,” said CAR President Heather Ozur, a Palm Springs Realtor. “Lower borrowing costs made homeownership more accessible to buyers who were previously sidelined by a ordability challenges, while the rise in available inventory will help ease some of the competitive pressures that have de ned the market in recent years
California housing market rebounds in February
and set a positive tone for the market for the rest of the year.”
The February statewide median price increased on a year-over-year basis for the 20th straight month, but the gain recorded was the smallest since July 2023. On a month-to-month basis, the February median price dipped from the prior month, and the monthly drop was larger than the 10-year historical average dip of -0.7% recorded between the two months. The downward trend in the statewide median price will likely reverse
When the ground is dry enough and your grass is long enough to require cutting, begin seasonal mowing. Be sure to use proper techniques, including varying your mowing direction each time to avoid creating patterns or ruts, and avoid cutting grass too low, which can make the lawn more susceptible to weeds and drought stress. In general, never remove more than one-third of the grass blade at a time. Find more tips to help get your yard ready for warm weather at eLivingtoday.com.
Housing market
Continued from 3
in the coming months, however, as home prices typically begin rising in March and continue climbing until the end of the homebuying season in August.
“The moderation in mortgage rates that began at the start of the year, coupled with a noticeable increase in homes for sale last month, provided a much-needed boost to California’s housing market in February,” said CAR Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Jordan Levine. “Although sales are still below historical averages, this increase marks an encouraging shi in the market. Despite ongoing economic and policy uncertainties, mortgage rates are expected to stabilize later this year. As a result, the housing market is likely to see continued improvement through the second and third quarters of 2025.”
Other key points from CAR’s February 2025 resale housing report include:
At the regional level, raw sales in two of the ve major regions in California improved from a year ago while the others declined mildly. The San Francisco Bay Area recorded the largest gain from last year at an increase of 3.5% in sales, followed by the Central Coast (1.6%). Meanwhile, sales of existing single-family homes declined from a year ago in the Far North region (-4.9%), Central Valley (-3.5%) and Southern California (-3%). One less transaction day this February compared to last year was a factor in the year-over-year decline in those counties, as sales at the county level are not seasonally adjusted.
Twenty-three of the 53 counties tracked by CAR posted sales increases from a year ago, with nearly half of them (11 counties) posting sales surges of more than 10% on a year-over-year basis. Calaveras (35.5%) registered the biggest sales jump from February 2023, followed by Imperial (33.3%), and Amador (21.9%). Home sales decreased from last year in 27 counties, with 14 of them posting declines of more than 10% and ve counties of more than 20%.
Tehama (-43.5%) registered the biggest sales drop in February, followed by Trinity (-28.6%) and Tuolumne (-24.1%). With spring storms hitting hard in some of these counties in February, weather conditions could be a reason for the drop in home sales last month for those areas.
At the regional level, all major regions in California, except for one, registered a year-over-year median price increase in February. The Central Coast region posted the largest price growth from a year ago with a jump of 9.4%, followed by Southern California (4.8%), the Central Valley (3.5%) and the Far North region (1.8%). The San Francisco Bay Area (-0.5%) was the only region to record an annual price decline in February. While the dip was fairly marginal, February was the rst time in ve months that the region’s median price experienced a decline year-over-year. Strong sales increases in Solano and Sonoma — two of the most a ordable markets in the region — likely shi ed the mix of sales towards lower-priced home sales, resulting in a more moderate median price for the Bay Area as a whole last month.
Home prices increased on a yearover-year basis in three-fourths of the counties in California, with February’s median sales prices rising from their year-ago levels in 40 of the 53 counties tracked by CAR Santa Barbara (55.2%) registered the biggest price growth of all counties last month, due primarily to a sales surge in Santa Barbara’s South Coast. Mono (23%) and Del Norte (19.3%) came in second and third respectively, and seven other counties in the state also registered double digit price increases. Eleven counties recorded a drop in their median price from a year ago, with Trinity falling the most at 58.9%, followed by Siskiyou (-16.2%), and Calaveras (-12.6%).
The statewide Unsold Inventory Index (UII), which measures the number of months needed to sell the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate, dipped month
over month but grew solidly from its year-ago level as more new listings hit the market. The index was 4 months in February, down from 4.1 months in January and up from 2.9 months in February 2024.
Total active listings in February, in fact, grew at the fastest pace in two years. The level of active listings last month was at a 4-month-high and marked the 13th consecutive month of annual gains in housing supply. The strong year-over-year growth continues to be an encouraging sign for the market, especially for buyers.
New active listings at the state level rose year-over-year by doubledigits for the second consecutive month, as more sellers decided to list their homes for sale. While the number of newly added properties remained below the pre-pandemic level, the latest gure recorded last month was nearly on par with the level of newly added listings recorded in 2022. New active listings, however, also recorded their rst January-to-February decline in the last ve years. The unusual dip could either be just a temporary hiccup due to the recent nancial market volatility, or it could be a signal of the concern of the economy’s well-being, which could in turn have a lingering e ect on supply in the upcoming spring homebuying season.
The median number of days it took to sell a California single-family home was 26 days in February, up from 22 days in February 2024.
CAR’s statewide sales-priceto-list-price ratio was 99.9% in February 2025 and 100% in February 2024.
The statewide median price per square foot for an existing singlefamily home was $421, up from $407 in February a year ago.
The 30-year, xed-mortgage interest rate averaged 6.84% in February, up from 6.78% in February 2024, according to CAR’s calculations based on Freddie Mac’s weekly mortgage survey data.
Find out how much your home is really worth in today’s market!
sparkling pool, horse pastures and owned solar. 4 large bedrooms, 3 full baths. Great room views to private backyard setting. Library with handsome cherrywood built-ins. Spacious appliances, island w/ chef’s sink, double ovens, gas stove w/ pot- ller, pantry, solid granite
Breakfast nook has French doors to outdoor entertaining area. Formal dining room. complete with gas replace and French doors to patio and pool. Luxurious master bath. upstairs, over-garage retreat with skylight and windows. Private backyard with fenced covered patio. Water-resistant luxury plank ooring and wood-cased Anderson windows. Concrete siding. Horse lovers will enjoy the 4-stall barn with center-aisle, tack room, hay paddocks. Cross-fenced pastures. Close proximity to riding trails and community equine ers many miles of trails, 3 lakes, tennis and pickleball courts, clubhouse, volleyball, social events. Welcome home!
Discover a true masterpiece of design and luxury with this stunning custom estate, perfectly positioned to showcase breathtaking panoramic views of Folsom Lake and the Sacramento Valley. Every detail of this home exudes elegance and refined singlestory living, with the main level seamlessly encompassing the primary suite, a secondary guest suite, a chef’s kitchen, a spacious great room, a formal dining room, a sophisticated living room, a home office, and a three-car garage. From the moment you step inside, a grand wall of windows draws your gaze to sweeping vistas of rolling hills, shimmering Folsom Lake, and the sprawling Sacramento Valley, creating an unparalleled sense of connection to the surrounding beauty. The outdoor living spaces are equally remarkable, featuring an expansive deck that leads to your private oasis. Here, a custom-designed pool, spa, and state-of-the-art outdoor kitchen await, ideal for hosting grand gatherings or enjoying peaceful evenings under the stars. Updated with meticulous attention to detail, this 4-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom residence embodies modern luxury and timeless charm, with finishes and renovations worthy of a luxury home magazine spread.
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$1,575,000 8077 Benevento Dr 4 4 (3 1) 3279 0.39 225024967
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$1,650,000 3420 Diablo Trl 3 2 (2 0) 3436 10 225021878
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$1,680,000 683 Encina Dr 5 6 (3 3) 4168 0.33 224130673
$1,685,000 1514 Elmores Way 5 5 (4 1) 4510 0.89 225026119
$1,695,000 4101 Hawk View Rd 4 3 (3 0) 3512 9.36 225022879
$1,699,000 2040 W Green Springs Rd 4 4 (4 0) 9167 4.43 224152783
$1,750,000 4040 Hawk View Rd 2 2 (2 0) 1200 9.24 223082075
$1,825,000 4181 Hawk View Rd 3 2 (2 0) 1430 9.37 225024669
$1,899,000 3350 Greenview 5 5 (4 1) 4889 0.45 224037717
$1,925,000 5531 Sur Mer Dr 4 4 (3 1) 4222 0.5 225004262
$2,195,000 6009 Aldea Dr 4 4 (3 1) 3835 0.56 225003890
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$2,248,000 5320 Greyson Creek Ct 4 4 (3 1) 4052 0.48 225021660
$2,275,000 280 Powers Dr 4 5 (4 1) 5300 0.46 225004035
$2,350,000 4033 Raphael Dr 5 5 (5 0) 4213 0.48 225024321
$2,400,000 5280 Breese Cir 5 4 (4 0) 4975 0.35 225021933
$2,479,000 3944 Errante Dr 4 6 (4 2) 5272 0.55 224126838
$2,495,000 4185 Greenview Dr 5 5 (4 1) 5250 0.61 225003593
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$2,500,000 1520 Barcelona Dr 4 6 (4 2) 6033 0.59 225025132
$2,550,000 2561 Capetanios Dr 4 5 (4 1) 3468 0.59 225027530
$2,589,000 5186 Breese Cir 4 6 (3 3) 5721 0.36 224088487
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$3,398,000 1401 Fredlena Way 4 4 (3 1) 5020 3 225015384
$3,399,000 295 St Regis Ct 5 5 (4 1) 5071 0.59 225023117
$3,499,000 6325 Western Sierra Way 5 6 (5 1) 4369 0.69 225001057
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$939,000 5176 Little Brush Ridge Rd 4 3 (2 1) 2700 5 225000253
$975,000 4026 Bonner Ln 4 2 (2 0) 2599 2.62 225026755
$1,199,000 3001 Essurep Ct 3 3 (2 1) 2359 2 225022639
$1,200,000 3940 Welker Ln 3 4 (3 1) 2910 5.22 225028519
$1,250,000 4100 Black Oak Dr 5 6 (6 0) 5188 5 225006994
$1,299,000 5121 Old French Town 4 3 (3 0) 2532 10 225000928
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$1,375,000 5700 Semor Dr 1 1 (1 0) 744 120 225002985
$1,600,000 3621 Breezy Branch Ct 3 3 (2 1) 2808 5.02 225024659
$1,775,000 8109 Bridger Ln 4 4 (4 0) 3998 1.16 225000477
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$1,374,999 4675 D Agostini Dr 4 4 (3 1) 4287 10.29 225005722
$1,495,000 7201 Happy Valley Rd 3 3 (2 1) 2460 39.85 225015170
$1,495,000 8221 Stoney Creek Rd 1 1 (1 0) 990 39.61 222080803
$1,549,000 5150 Dagostini 3 4 (4 0) 3851 12.33 225003331
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BEAUTIFUL BRAND NEW 4 BEDROOM HOME IN LONG VIEW ESTATES Single story one one half acre, Chef’s kitchen with commercial 8 burner range, built in refrigerator and wet bar.
$398,500
Only a Five minute walk to the historic town of Placerville. If you work at Marshall hospital it is only a 2 minute commute. This 3 bedroom 2 bath home, has been freshly updated. The owners have installed a mini/split ductless HVAC system in all rooms, they have replaced the windows with energy efficient dual pane windows, Replaced the flooring, remodeled the hall bathroom, repainted the interior, and added a retaining wall to the front of the home. Warm yourself by the cozy brick fireplace with a wood burning insert. There is plenty of parking in the drive way and in the detached 2 car garage. Rear yard is fully fenced. Hurry, this may not last.
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