Home Seller Friday, November 4, 2022

SERVING SOLANO & YOLO COUNTIES FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2022

1013 Trinita Terrace, Davis COURTESY PHOTOS

Offered by Kim Eichorn, Lyon Real Estate, see inside for info

2 Friday, November 4, 2022 — DAILY REPUBLIC

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DAILY REPUBLIC — Friday, November 4, 2022 3

Cover Home

ALL THINGS REAL ESTATE

,IGHT "RIGHT (OMEØ

Private mortgage insurance a matter between bank, insurance company Q: First off, I’d like to tell you will need to contact your lender how much I enjoy reading your for any other questions.” When I column. I’ve learned a lot about asked my lender this same quesreal estate and the mortgage tion, they said my policy was process through it. We refinanced not canceled but just inactive our home loan with a new lender and had to be paid up to date to and closed last March. On our reinstate it.

2011 Annual Tax Statement I I know private mortgage Tim Jones noticed the amount paid for PMI insurance is for the benefit of was $0. Knowing that we do have PMI the lender but since it’s coming out of on our loan, I called the lender and they my pocket, shouldn’t I have the right informed me they would investigate to know if it’s being paid properly and and get back to me, which they never not ending up in someone else’s pocket? did. I called a few days later and they Have you ever heard of anyone else admitted it was an error on their part having this issue and if so, is it standard and they were still working to resolve practice for mortgage insurance compait. In the meantime, I went through my nies to request back payments before the monthly statements and noticed PMI policy can be reinstated? payments had never been deducted from A: Private mortgage insurance (PMI) our escrow account since the loan was is something millions of homeowners established. This, of course, caused an have and aren’t even aware of. overage in our account of over $2,800.

While there are numerous variations Nearly two weeks later I get an on the theme, the purpose of PMI is to escrow analysis statement from the insure your mortgage company against lender showing the $2,800 overage any losses they would incur if you failed was to be deducted from my account to pay back your mortgage loan. as an anticipated payment. I called the Remember the AIG bailout? That was lender again and they informed me in large part because AIG was insurthe $2,800 was to be paid to the PMI ing mortgages that went bad, and the company to reinstate our policy. Turns company was going to go broke trying to out the policy was not processed corpay the insured banks’ claims. rectly at the close of our loan so it was Fortunately for them, though not for never finalized with the PMI company. I us taxpayers, they were simply too big to thought it was a little odd to have to pay fail. But that’s for someone else’s column. back premiums on coverage that never When you signed the paperwork to existed in the first place so I asked the close your loan, you agreed to make the lender if there was a way to know these insurance payments on the bank’s behalf. funds would actually be paid to the PMI Whether or not there was actually any company and not end up in someone’s loan coverage wasn’t, believe it or not, pocket and basically was told there is no any of your business. way for me to know because PMI compaThis process really isn’t any differnies only deal with the lenders. ent than the title insurance policy you I contacted the PMI company and also bought for the bank. You may not be was told the last payments they received aware of it, but you probably paid around were from my former lender back in $1,000 for your title company to give an February 2011 when my policy was caninsurance policy to the bank that guarceled and I have no current policy with anteed the status of title on your house. them. They did verify that my current However, it also offers you, as the homelender had just requested a reinstateowner, a lot of protection. ment on my policy and confirmed that The constant confusion with PMI is the lender had to pay the $2,800 to it would seem that you, the borrower, is “catch me up” and it was totally legitithe PMI company’s customer. You aren’t. mate. When I asked why payment had You’re just footing the bill. And that’s to be made on a policy that didn’t exist, they ended the conversation with, “You See Jones, Page 4

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4 Friday, November 4, 2022 — DAILY REPUBLIC

SOLANO REAL ESTATE SCENE

‘Know before you owe’ mantra remains good advice

S

ince the crash of In 1990, I helped an awesome 2008 there have been tons first-time homebuyer couple buy of new regulations that have their first house for $110,000. My escrow officer called me while been implemented by the govmy clients were signing the final ernment and the Consumer loan documents and told me Mrs. Finance Protection Bureau to Mendoza was crying because protect the public from predatory lenders and Wall Street-backed Jim Porter her cash to close escrow was $400 more than she expected, subprime mortgages. and she didn’t have the $400.

Tens of thousands of California loan Jeanne put my client on the phone with officers left the business in 2008 when me and I assured her we would cover that selling mortgage loans returned to a $400 and not to worry. profession that had always been a chalI immediately drove across the street lenging career choice because nobody to review the loan docs and noticed loves borrowing money, and purchasing a home is always the largest financial my bank had a $1,000 flood insurance premium added to the cash to close, transaction of a person’s life. which was a mistake because the home My readers are probably aware that I was a block away from the flood zone. can be pretty darn critical of the governThe $1,000 was removed and the buyer’s ment, but I and many loan officers and cash to close was $600 lower than she and Realtors who witnessed what happened from 2003 to 2008 celebrated when all the her husband expected and had in their bank. They were joyful, to say the least. unprofessional and unethical competiI had only been on the job in Vacavtors left the business. Credit and income ille for one year after moving here from underwriting returned to normal, and the San Francisco market and I learned a borrowers had to qualify for a mortgage. valuable lesson from the Mendoza family.

Liar loans and horrible adjustable-rate Buying your first home is stressful and mortgages were outlawed. homebuyer education well in advance of These opportunists who got in the even writing an offer to purchase is critibusiness for the easy money selling cal to reducing the stress. loans and homes left markets like Solano I suggest getting prequalified and County in ruins. reviewing some estimates right now at Our market has fully recovered over no cost or obligation even if you are not the past 14 years and home values are going to buy until next year. It’s free edunow approximately 10 to 15% higher than cation and no student loan is required. they were in 2006. Ethical and professional lenders have been practicing the Jim Porter, NMLS No. 276412, is the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau branch manager of Solano Mortgage, theme of “Know Before You Owe” since NMLS No. 1515497, a division of Amerithe Fair Housing Act and the Truth in can Pacific Mortgage Corporation, NMLS Lending Act was passed in 1968, and No. 1850, licensed in California by the the crooks who have creeped in over the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the CRMLA / Equal years never last because they eventually get caught and Realtors will not refer Housing Opportunity. Jim can be reached at 707-449-4777. buyers to lenders they don’t trust.

To advertise here, call 707-427-6927

Jones From Page 3 where the confusion is.

Whether the title policy was ever needed by the bank is the bank and title company’s business.

Think of it this way: If you walk away from your home and mortgage, and the bank forecloses, they may ultimately lose $100,000. If they go to collect insurance on that amount and the insurance policy is somehow invalid, it doesn’t affect you in any way.

Just to be clear, if you did walk away from your mortgage and your mortgage company and you were liable for any

losses, it still doesn’t matter if the insurance was paid or not.

If the insurance was paid, the insurance company will sue you. If not, the bank retains the right to sue.

From everything you told me, the bank has every right to take the money out of your impound account and what they do with it is pretty much their business. You should sleep better at night not worrying about whether the insurance policy is in effect or not. Let the bank’s CEO lose sleep over it.

Tim Jones is a real estate attorney in Fairfield. If you have any real estate questions you would like answered in this column you can send an email to AllThingsRealEstate@TJones-Law.com.

1707 OLYMPIC DRIVE #15, DAVIS $430,000

OPEN SUNDAY 11AM-2PM

2 bedrooms 1 bathroom 804 square feet

62+ senior living community in West Davis. The inside was painted and new appliances purchased (stove, dishwasher, refrigerator) within the past year. This 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home has a carport in back and a covered front porch that faces the common areas. The community is located close to greenbelts, Arroyo Park, a nature preserve and Sutter Regional Hospital. Move in ready. Refrigerator, washer and dryer are included. Small storage unit next to carport.

KEN SHYVERS REALTOR • DRE # 02004881 831.297.2692

Ken.Shyvers@norcalgold.com

DAILY REPUBLIC — Friday, November 4, 2022 5

SOLANO REAL ESTATE SCENE

4 things help determine your mortgage rate

I

f you’re looking to buy a home, you probably want to secure the lowest interest rate possible for your home loan. Over the past couple of years, that was easier to do as the housing market saw record-low mortgage rates, but this year rates have risen dramatically.

If you’re looking for ways to combat today’s higher rates and lock in the lowest one you can, here are a few factors to focus on. Since approval opportunities can vary, connect with a trusted lender for customized advice.

ments. Rates can be significantly different depending on what loan type you choose.”

When working with your real estate adviser, make sure you find out what’s available in your area and which types of loans you may qualify for.

Your credit score

Your loan term

Credit scores can play a big role in your mortgage rate. Freddie Mac explains: “When you build and maintain strong credit, mortgage lenders have greater confidence when qualifying you for a mortgage because they see that you’ve paid back your loans as agreed and used your credit wisely. Strong credit also means your lender is more apt to approve you for a mortgage that has more favorable terms and a lower interest rate.”

That’s why it’s important to maintain a good credit score.

If you want to focus on improving your score, your trusted adviser can give you expert advice to help.

Another factor to consider is the term of your loan. Just like with location and loan types, you have options. Freddie Mac says: “When choosing the right home loan for you, it’s important to consider the loan term, which is the length of time it will take you to repay your loan before you fully own your home. Your loan term will affect your interest rate, monthly payment and the total amount of interest you will pay over the life of the loan.”

Depending on your situation, the length of your loan can also change your mortgage rate.

Your loan type There are many types of loans, each offering different terms for qualified buyers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says: “There are several broad categories of mortgage loans, such as conventional, FHA, USDA and VA loans. Lenders decide which products to offer, and loan types have different eligibility require-

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Your down payment If you’re a current homeowner looking to sell and make a move, you can use the home equity you’ve built over time toward the down payment on your next home. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains: “In general, a larger down payment means a lower interest rate, because lenders see a lower level of risk when you have more stake in the property. So if you See McDonald, Page 8

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6 Friday, November 4, 2022 — DAILY REPUBLIC

Real estate transactions BENICIA

TOTAL SALES: 8 LOWEST AMOUNT: $355,000 HIGHEST AMOUNT: $1,100,000 MEDIAN AMOUNT: $899,500 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $822,375

835 Clifton Court - $949,000

09-26-22 [4 Bdrms - 2040 SqFt - 1984 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-28-03, $492,000

537 East I Street - $720,000

09-28-22 [3 Bdrms - 1056 SqFt - 1983 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-22-02, $300,000

469 West J Street - $505,000

09-30-22 [1 Bdrms - 1039 SqFt - 1900 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-29-22, $500,000

653 Kearney Street - $1,100,000

09-26-22 [5 Bdrms - 3210 SqFt - 1998 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-04-98, $370,900

107 Riverview Terrace - $850,000

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-29-05, $570,680

FAIRFIELD TOTAL SALES: 26 LOWEST AMOUNT: $275,000 HIGHEST AMOUNT: $1,250,000 MEDIAN AMOUNT: $589,500 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $652,904

1747 Autumn Meadow Drive - $589,000 09-30-22 [4 Bdrms - 1402 SqFt - 1997 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-07-17, $429,000

1783 Barton Drive - $618,000

09-29-22 [4 Bdrms - 1929 SqFt - 1972 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-21-05, $377,500

1411 Couples Circle - $927,500

09-30-22 [4 Bdrms - 3477 SqFt - 2013 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-04-13, $536,500

509 Diamond Creek Court - $630,000

09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 1328 SqFt - 2002 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-22-17, $415,000

09-29-22 [4 Bdrms - 1608 SqFt - 1971 YrBlt]

801 Cosmos Drive - $750,000

63 Willotta Drive - $1,250,000

130 Deerglen Circle - $730,000

09-29-22 [4 Bdrms - 2068 SqFt - 1973 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1990, $175,000 09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 3845 SqFt - 1971 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-22-98, $245,000

2863 Woods Court - $590,000

09-29-22 [3 Bdrms - 1638 SqFt - 1977 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-31-14, $313,000

757 Wren Court - $423,000

09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 1280 SqFt - 1964 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-03-07, $327,000

RIO VISTA TOTAL SALES: 4 LOWEST AMOUNT: $455,000 HIGHEST AMOUNT: $495,000 MEDIAN AMOUNT: $482,500 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $478,750

5345 Gramercy Circle - $610,000

741 Allender Way - $495,000

09-28-22 [1 Bdrms - 641 SqFt - 1982 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-12-21, $319,000

2456 Hanson Drive - $645,000

1004 Flores Way - $480,000

09-27-22 [4 Bdrms - 2569 SqFt - 1979 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-04-19, $799,000

1042 Hayes Street - $275,000

220 Magnolia Drive - $485,000

1380 Horizon Circle - $851,000

225 Sierra Avenue - $455,000

129 Tustin Court - $1,000,000

688 Windsor Drive - $1,100,000

09-30-22 [4 Bdrms - 2479 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-03-11, $450,000

DIXON

09-29-22 [4 Bdrms - 2070 SqFt - 2017 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-22-21, $588,000 09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 1999 SqFt - 2005 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-11-20, $525,000 09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 980 SqFt - 1954 YrBlt] 09-29-22 [4 Bdrms - 2578 SqFt - 2021 YrBlt]

1378 James Street - $452,000

09-27-22 [3 Bdrms - 1150 SqFt - 1963 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-01-10, $158,000

TOTAL SALES: 11 LOWEST AMOUNT: $480,000 HIGHEST AMOUNT: $870,500 MEDIAN AMOUNT: $595,000 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $625,545

534 Julmar Circle - $530,000

09-29-22 [4 Bdrms - 2426 SqFt - 1998 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-17-15, $419,000

5051 Lakeshore Drive - $535,000

09-29-22 [2 Bdrms - 1092 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-28-15, $270,000

920 Marietta Court - $570,000

1580 Austin Drive - $870,500

885 Camelia Drive - $480,000

1130 Dawson Drive - $574,000

09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 1596 SqFt - 1985 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-10-18, $420,000

1440 Goldfield Lane - $649,500 09-26-22

1435 Goldfield Lane - $689,500

09-26-22 [2 Bdrms - 1223 SqFt - 2005 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-31-16, $350,000

1856 Kolob Drive - $795,000

09-30-22 [5 Bdrms - 2557 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-16-15, $525,000 09-26-22 [3 Bdrms - 1223 SqFt - 2004 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-24-09, $220,000 09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 1305 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt]

1043 Meadow Glen Court - $570,000

09-30-22 [4 Bdrms - 1813 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-21-18, $405,000

1320 Meadowlark Drive - $545,000

09-29-22 [3 Bdrms - 1438 SqFt - 1976 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-02-22, $425,000

09-26-22

2941 Miller Drive - $530,000

09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 1917 SqFt - 2015 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-21-22, $578,000

2148 Montclair Court - $565,000

210 Heritage Lane - $600,000

09-30-22 [5 Bdrms - 2378 SqFt - 1987 YrBlt] 09-26-22 [4 Bdrms - 1405 SqFt - 1984 YrBlt]

09-28-22 [3 Bdrms - 1346 SqFt - 1999 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-21-17, $310,000 09-28-22 [3 Bdrms - 1542 SqFt - 1959 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-05-19, $340,000 09-30-22 [2 Bdrms - 1767 SqFt - 2007 YrBlt] 09-27-22 [3 Bdrms - 1358 SqFt - 1965 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-06-21, $413,500

SUISUN CITY TOTAL SALES: 3 LOWEST AMOUNT: $307,000 HIGHEST AMOUNT: $580,000 MEDIAN AMOUNT: $400,000 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $429,000

814 Tulare Circle - $580,000

09-28-22 [4 Bdrms - 1934 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-02-20, $444,000

701 Whispering Bay Lane - $307,000

09-26-22 [4 Bdrms - 1846 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt]

703 Wigeon Way - $400,000

09-27-22 [3 Bdrms - 1320 SqFt - 1976 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1990, $127,000

VACAVILLE TOTAL SALES: 20 LOWEST AMOUNT: $260,000 HIGHEST AMOUNT: $965,000 MEDIAN AMOUNT: $595,000 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $617,050

465 Kings Court - $675,000

5230 Pavilion Court - $1,000,000

1930 Aletha Lane #1 - $260,000

525 Morgan Lane - $580,000

2970 Pebble Beach Circle - $1,250,000

125 Amberwood Court - $685,000

09-29-22 [4 Bdrms - 2659 SqFt - 2004 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-21-14, $410,000 09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 1890 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-03-18, $487,000

09-28-22 [4 Bdrms - 2897 SqFt - 1996 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-28-15, $620,000

09-29-22 [5 Bdrms - 3060 SqFt - 2006 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-15-21, $1,075,000

09-30-22 [2 Bdrms - 924 SqFt - 1981 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-24-12, $67,000 09-28-22 [4 Bdrms - 2174 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-03-17, $525,000

1107 Roosevelt Street - $465,000

125 Andover Drive - $569,000

09-26-22 [3 Bdrms - 2254 SqFt - 2005 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-15-22, $644,000

4773 Stonewood Drive - $720,000

236 Berryessa Drive - $435,000

09-26-22 [2 Bdrms - 2254 SqFt - 2004

2336 Tern Court - $450,000

1445 Stonecrop Lane - $582,500 09-30-22

1305 Valley Glen Drive - $595,000 1105 Valley Glen Drive - $585,000

09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 1221 SqFt - 1954 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-27-98, $114,000 09-26-22 [4 Bdrms - 2027 SqFt - 1992 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-04-15, $410,000

Previous Sale: 05-04-17, $573,500

2805 Toland Drive - $590,000

09-26-22 [3 Bdrms - 2045 SqFt - 1992 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1992, $262,600

1821 Shirley Drive - $355,000

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.

09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 1318 SqFt - 1975 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-29-16, $355,000 09-29-22 [3 Bdrms - 1296 SqFt - 1971 YrBlt]

136 Carmel Court - $757,000

09-30-22 [5 Bdrms - 2125 SqFt - 1976 YrBlt],

09-28-22, Previous Sale: 05-29-19, $4,255,000 09-26-22 [5 Bdrms - 2906 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1992, $263,000

VALLEJO TOTAL SALES: 33 LOWEST AMOUNT: $280,000 HIGHEST AMOUNT: $730,000 MEDIAN AMOUNT: $500,000 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $506,485

536 Edenderry Drive - $560,000

7324 Abbey Drive - $730,000

312 Folsom Drive - $345,000

339 Amelia Street - $494,000

09-29-22 [3 Bdrms - 1182 SqFt - 1999 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-23-20, $455,000

09-28-22 [5 Bdrms - 2261 SqFt - 2010 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-24-17, $528,000 09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 1230 SqFt - 1960 YrBlt]

09-27-22 [3 Bdrms - 1296 SqFt - 1966 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-01-12, $141,000

308 Aragon Street - $529,000

09-26-22 [2 Bdrms - 918 SqFt - 1964 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-09-16, $234,000

104 Baxter Street - $480,000

09-27-22 [4 Bdrms - 2100 SqFt - 2018 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-08-18, $470,000

182 Baxter Street - $695,000

09-27-22 [3 Bdrms - 2859 SqFt - 2007 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-12-07, $569,000

393 Brunswick Drive - $670,000

09-26-22 [4 Bdrms - 2519 SqFt - 2017 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-14-17, $488,500

422 Carlson Street - $310,000

123 Isle Royale Circle - $400,000 524 Lavender Drive - $705,000

526 Longwood Place - $950,000 312 Marigold Drive - $735,000

444 Oak Valley Drive - $585,000

09-28-22 [4 Bdrms - 1782 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-08-18, $445,000

160 Ravenswood Court - $600,000

09-30-22 [4 Bdrms - 2058 SqFt - 1964 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-06-15, $420,000

840 Rich Circle - $965,000

09-27-22 [4 Bdrms - 2820 SqFt - 2021 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-03-21, $801,000

4031 Rose Court - $585,000

09-27-22 [3 Bdrms - 1746 SqFt - 2020 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-09-20, $513,000

309 Saybrook Avenue - $590,000

09-29-22 [3 Bdrms - 1033 SqFt - 1966 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-22-15, $320,000 09-29-22 [2 Bdrms - 1040 SqFt - 1910 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-07-10, $120,000 09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 1455 SqFt - 1958 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-04-04, $389,000 09-26-22 [4 Bdrms - 2492 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1991, $225,000 09-27-22 [2 Bdrms - 660 SqFt - 1942 YrBlt]

202 Cottonwood Drive - $415,000

09-27-22 [3 Bdrms - 1132 SqFt - 1954 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-09-22, $260,000

348 Cottonwood Drive - $280,000

09-29-22 [3 Bdrms - 1008 SqFt - 1954 YrBlt]

519 Cypress Avenue - $500,000

09-28-22 [3 Bdrms - 1392 SqFt - 2004 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-25-11, $115,000

127 Daniels Avenue - $550,000

09-26-22 [3 Bdrms - 1239 SqFt - 1924 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-11-13, $193,000

443 Diana Drive - $450,000

09-28-22 [3 Bdrms - 1080 SqFt - 1955 YrBlt]

09-26-22 [4 Bdrms - 1767 SqFt - 1985 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-09-19, $470,000

135 Erin Drive - $611,000

09-29-22 [3 Bdrms - 1656 SqFt - 2010 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-16-15, $375,000

1714 Fern Place - $436,000

542 Vega Way - $610,000

468 Zachary Drive - $525,000

09-26-22 [3 Bdrms - 1278 SqFt - 1997 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-26-11, $176,000

The Law Offices of

09-29-22 [4 Bdrms - 1922 SqFt - 1979 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-30-19, $475,000 09-28-22 [2 Bdrms - 1166 SqFt - 1931 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-29-11, $85,000

See Transactions, Page 8

Timothy Jones

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DAILY REPUBLIC — Friday, November 4, 2022 7

What it’s like to buy and sell in the new, weird housing market

W

MART PRODUCTION/PEXELS

In this new, weird housing market, nobody really feels like a winner.

THE WASHINGTON POST

What it’s like to be a buyer

hen Larry Frum listed his townhouse in Laurel, Md., this past August, his real estate agent assured him it would sell in three or four days.

But that’s not what happened for the communications professional, who needed to relocate to Seattle by the end of September for a new job.

“Three to four days became a week, and then it became two weeks, and then it became a month,” he says. At two months, Frum reduced the price by $20,000.

Such a move would’ve been unusual only weeks earlier. In July, the average home in Frum’s area was selling for over asking in about 12 days. He’d entered the market, it turns out, during the final gasp of the nationwide seller’s bonanza that finally stalled once interest rates started to climb. By the time Frum’s townhouse was for sale, they’d risen from the historic lows of a couple years prior to about 5%.

In October, they hit 7%, or more than double what they’d been at the beginning of 2022, putting mortgage payments out of reach for many buyers.

As a result, the rhythms of buying and selling have significantly slowed. For sellers who, a year ago, watched their neighbors field multiple, contingency-free offers, the idea of having to negotiate can be tough to accept. Buyers, meanwhile, may not have to compete, but their money won’t go nearly as far.

In this new, weird housing market, nobody really feels like a winner.

For starters, many buyers have given up, at least temporarily, thanks to soaring rates.

Emma Aarnes and her husband began hunting for a two-bedroom apartment in their Manhattan neighborhood last spring after finding out they were expecting a baby. In June, when the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by the largest amount since 1994, the couple’s search took on more urgency. By July, they’d found an ideal co-op, but the very same day they made an offer, the Fed hiked rates again.

“We were like, okay, we’re stretched as is. And if the interest rates keep going up, our confidence in being able to sell our current apartment [will go] way down,” Aarnes says. The couple decided to pull their offer.

“So we are still in our one-bedroom, which we have rearranged so that there is a nursery for our incoming arrival.”

For buyers still in the hunt despite the rates, the decreased competition means they can actually negotiate and take a night (or two or three) to consider their See Market, Page 10

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8 Friday, November 4, 2022 — DAILY REPUBLIC

First-time US home buyers oldest on record, least diverse since 1997 BLOOMBERG Both first-time and repeat U.S. home buyers are now the oldest on record, and the proportion of purchases by Black, Asian and Pacific Island Americans is the lowest since 1997, the latest evidence that it’s increasingly difficult to buy a home.

A typical first-time buyer was 36 this year, three years older than in 2021, data from the National Association of Realtors released Thursday showed. For repeat purchasers, it rose to 59, the NAR said.

The share of first-time home buyers declined to 26% this year – the lowest since NAR records started in 1981 – and has been under the historical norm of 40% since 2011 “as buyers face tight inventory, rising home prices, rising rents, and high student debt loads,” the NAR said.

Mortgage rates have more than doubled this year, with the affordability crunch sidelining potential buyers, curbing the number of home sales and triggering a decline in residential real-estate prices from their

Covid-era peaks.

About 88% of all buyers were White/Caucasian, 6 percentage points more than in 2021.

Just 3% of purchasers were Black – half the figure of 2021 – while the proportion of Asian/Pacific Islander home buyers fell to 2% from 6% last year, the lowest for both since the earliest data collection of race and ethnicity in 1997.

Similar trends are present for first-time buyers, with the proportion of Black and Asian/ Pacific Islander purchasers shrinking relative to 2017.

McDonald

Transactions: Homes

From Page 5

From Page 6

can comfortably put 20% or more down, do it – you’ll usually get a lower interest rate.”

To learn more, connect with a lender to find out the difference a higher down payment can make for your new mortgage.

214 Fieldstone Court - $585,000

1450 Ohio Street - $417,000

140 Franklin Street - $440,000

4155 Penny Lane - $670,000

Bottom line These are just few factors that can help determine your mortgage rate if you’re buying a home. The best thing you can do is have a team of professionals on your side. Connect with a local real estate professional and a trusted lender so you have the expert advice you need in each step of the process.

Don McDonald (DRE License No. 01436448) is a founding partner of Re/Max Elite Partners (License No. 01215931) in Fairfield. Reach him at 707-4950774, don@remaxelitepartners. com or www.remaxelitepartners. com. Locally Focused-Globally Connected.

09-27-22 [3 Bdrms - 1622 SqFt - 1981 YrBlt] 09-27-22 [2 Bdrms - 912 SqFt - 1942 YrBlt]

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09-26-22 [3 Bdrms - 1436 SqFt - 1939 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-11-10, $135,000

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554 Russell Street - $465,500

09-26-22 [2 Bdrms - 1191 SqFt - 1930 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-14-22, $260,000

2417 Sonoma Boulevard - $547,000

09-27-22 [1 Bdrms - 698 SqFt - 1938 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-14-20, $245,000

1231 Symphony Way #119 - $570,000

09-28-22 [2 Bdrms - 840 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-18-16, $169,000

261 Woodridge Drive - $585,000

09-28-22 [3 Bdrms - 1250 SqFt - 1961 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-08-19, $225,000

181 Woodvale Court - $640,000

1004 Lewis Avenue - $515,500

1132 Lewis Avenue - $484,000

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09-29-22 [2 Bdrms - 1039 SqFt - 1929 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-31-19, $350,000

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A home for sale in Aurora, Colorado, Oct. 10.

09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 1806 SqFt - 1942 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-08-16, $256,000 09-30-22 [3 Bdrms - 1144 SqFt - 1962 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-17-20, $370,000 09-26-22 [2 Bdrms - 840 SqFt - 1941 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-17-06, $355,000 09-27-22 [4 Bdrms - 1856 SqFt - 1907 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-27-03, $230,000 09-27-22 [2 Bdrms - 1513 SqFt - 2010 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-07-22, $520,000 09-26-22 [4 Bdrms - 1480 SqFt - 1980 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-26-09, $175,000 09-30-22 [4 Bdrms - 1656 SqFt - 1985 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-11-21, $650,000

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What makes Market paint bubble and peel, how can I fix it?

From Page 7

JEANNE HUBER

SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON POST

Q: I am trying to figure out why paint is bubbling on a ceiling in my home. Could it be from sweating on the HVAC duct, which sits above the area where the paint is cracking and peeling? If so, what is the solution?

A: Moisture is probably the most common reason paint bubbles and peels, and it’s also the one possible cause that can lead to long-term structural and air-quality problems. So when paint peels and you’re trying to determine why, begin by asking: Could moisture be causing this?

In your case, you have a good idea that the problem might be moisture, and you know where it might be coming from. To confirm your hunch – or as a first step when there is no obvious explanation – use a moisture meter, such as General Tools’ pin-type digital model ($36.97 at Home Depot). Or get a pinless meter or one that switches between pin and pinless, such as General Tools’ combo model ($54.97). (Pinless operation is easiest for checking a general area; pins excel at pinpointing a problem.)

First take a reading where the paint is intact; it will probably be between 5% and 15%, depending on the relative humidity in your home that day. Then check the drywall where the paint is peeling. If that reading is significantly higher, check surrounding areas to map out where the ceiling or wall is moist and where it is dry. You might discover a trail of moisture that leads to a plumbing leak, a roofing issue or even a drainage problem outside your house.

Whatever the scenario, fix the moisture issue before you deal with the paint.

Condensation forms on heating and air-conditioning ducts when warm, See Paint, Page 20

purchase. “They don’t have to make a buying decision within a couple of hours, which is what it was like a year ago,” says Seth Neal, an agent with Silvercreek Realty Group in Boise. What’s more, they can conduct a proper home inspection; there’s no pressure to waive appraisal or financing contingencies either.

Offers using nonconventional financing, such as Federal Housing Administration and Veterans Affairs loans, or first-time home buyer assistance programs, now stand a chance in a way they didn’t during the buying frenzy (when sellers had their pick of all-cash offers or offers with conventional financing).

Nonetheless, buyers must still contend with high prices because sellers have one major bargaining chip left: The number of homes for sale remains excruciatingly low. The same economic uncertainty keeping a lot of buyers on the sidelines is also discouraging many would-be sellers from listing. The scarce supply of houses on the market is the reason that prices haven’t declined more dramatically.

(Fannie Mae predicts an average home price decline of 1.5% in 2023).

One additional twist for buyers: Even with 7% interest rates, some are finding that renting isn’t any better. As of August, rents nationally had risen more than 12% over the past year, according to data from Zillow.

Middle-school teacher Binh Thai started looking to buy after his Brooklyn landlord raised his rent last summer by nearly 80%, from $3,100 a month to $5,500.

When Thai began his search in August, lenders were quoting him rates of 4.9%.

Now that he’s found a place, he’s looking at nearly 6.9%. But that monthly payment still comes out to less than his new rent.

“I have had moments where I was like, ‘Am I making a mistake?’ ” he says.

“Ultimately, this is my one opportunity. I’ve always wanted to own a home.

With a teacher’s salary, it’s been really challenging.”

What it’s like to be a seller Sellers today have to hustle to make deals happen. “Listing agents and sellers are having to work a lot harder than they did in the last couple of years,” says Erika Levack, an agent with Compass in Austin.

Sellers are now assisting with closing

costs and offering to make repairs. Many are helping their buyers cover the cost of “buying down” their mortgage rates (when you pay a fee at closing to knock down the rate).

Peter Anderson is getting ready to sell his home in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. “We needed a new roof, which we went and did this summer, and we had to buy a new heat pump in the spring,” he says. “A year ago, we probably could have sold the house as-is and not had to do that.”

Levack worked with buyers who put contracts on new-construction homes last December, when rates were about 3%. The buyers who didn’t pay extra to lock in those rates long-term are now looking at monthly payments that may be unaffordable.

For one set of clients, Levack says she approached the builder to say her buyers would have to back out “unless you guys do something.” In return, the builder gave them $46,000 to buy down their rate. A year or two ago, Levack says the reaction would’ve been more along the lines of: “ ‘Fine, walk away. We’re going to sell this house for more money anyway.’ And now they are struggling to move their inventory and they’re offering all kinds of incentives.”

Some sellers have started advertis-

ing these sweeteners right out of the gate, including offers to help with closing costs in the listings themselves. Others need more convincing.

“I’ve seen a lot of people who have listed a little high based on prices from the summer, early spring, and [the listings are] just kind of sitting there,” says Mackenzie Grate, an agent with the Machree Group in New York. “They’re not quite willing to accept that the market has shifted.”

Levack has been warning sellers that the market is changing every few weeks.

To arrive at a realistic listing price, she says, “We have to look at the data very closely.” What it reveals can be painful.

Levack currently has a listing in Austin with the same floor plan and finishes of a nearby home that sold for over $1 million last November. “We are in contract [for] way below that, and that’s just the nature of where things are,” she says.

Larry Frum, the Maryland seller who listed in August so he could move for a new job, finally got an offer on his townhouse in October. As part of the terms, Frum will have to pay the buyer’s closing costs.

When he gets to Seattle, he plans to rent.

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DAILY REPUBLIC — Friday, November 4, 2022 11

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12 Friday, November 4, 2022 — DAILY REPUBLIC

DAILY REPUBLIC — Friday, November 4, 2022 13

14 Friday, November 4, 2022 — DAILY REPUBLIC

ON GARDENING

Superbells Double calibrachoas varieties racking up awards S

Superbells Double Blue calibrachoa shows out in this smoke stackshaped container with Truffula Pink gomphrena, Goldilocks creeping Jenny and Whirlwind Blue scaevola.

ince 2018, Superbells Double calibrachoa varieties have won 67 awards, yet in my travels, gardeners seem to rarely venture off the single-petaled path. I admit that I have a flaming passion for the punch varieties like Superbells Grape Punch, Pomegranate Punch and Black Currant Punch. The last four years, however, I have gotten to try some double selections, and they have all blown away any misconceptions I might have had – and probably yours too.

I am assuming you haven’t tried Superbells Double varieties. They look like miniature roses except they have no thorns, no black spot and no powdery mildew, and they don’t need

Norman Winter

deadheading. They will also just keep up this performance of nonstop blooming. Now you are beginning to get the picture of why the trophy case is chock-full of Top Performer and Perfect Score awards.

One of the Garden Guy’s two biggest surprises with all Superbells calibrachoas is their ability to bring in butterflies and hummingbirds. This was so See Winter, Page 22

NORMAN WINTER/TNS PHOTOS

ABOVE: This designer recipe from Proven Winners is called Surfin Safari. It features the award-winning Superbells Double Amber calibrachoa, Supertunia Royal Magenta and Safari Dawn James Britannia or South African phlox.

LEFT: This Spicebush Swallowtail is one of several species that have been seen feeding on the Superbells Double Blue calibrachoa.

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DAILY REPUBLIC — Friday, November 4, 2022 15

50 years after their commercial crash,

UFO-like Futuro houses still fly with fans

T

TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY

ALLISON HESS/THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT/TNS FILE (2017)

The Outer Banks Futuro House in North Carolina, July 10, 2017.

BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED

OPEN SAT 12-2

he Futuro of Willingboro, New Jersey, arrived in 1973 with a helicopter lowering a modular house that looked like a UFO onto a shopping center site where it would soon open as a bank.

“We used to call it the little spaceship,” said Dionne Bolden, who grew up in Willingboro and is the township’s acting director of recreation and parks.

Designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen in the 1960s and built by a Philadelphia company at an Atlantic County factory, Futuro houses were intended for use as ski chalets or second homes. They never really took off for residential or commer-

cial use in the 1970s; about a third of the nearly 100 believed to have been built have been lost or destroyed – among them a beloved Outer Banks, N.C. landmark ruined by fire Oct. 20.

But these fanciful, prefabricated structures of reinforced plastic – featuring built-in furniture and porthole windows – are finding new fans on social media, as well as new life as travel accommodations.

“We get calls from people who want to buy it,” Bolden said. “But it’s part of our history. We don’t want to lose it, and we definitely don’t want to sell it.”

Meanwhile, two Midwestern entrepreneurs are See Futuro, Page 18

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16 Friday, November 4, 2022 — DAILY REPUBLIC

Solano County Listings: Homes for sale PRICE

ADDRESS

Price $452,000 $484,900 $519,700 $530,000 $565,000 $595,000 $665,000 $749,000 $785,000 $4,500,000 $425,000 $445,000 $475,000 $485,900 $489,000 $499,000 $522,000 $549,000 $549,000 $559,950 $565,000 $575,000 $575,000 $580,000 $599,000 $640,000 $650,000 $695,000 $799,000 $799,000 $799,000 $824,950 $824,999 $918,888 $1,297,500 $1,495,000 $2,125,000 $2,300,000 $430,000 $499,000 $500,000 $525,000 $525,500 $608,899 $639,997 $650,000 $399,000 $399,995 $434,000 $457,000 $460,000 $478,000 $495,000 $519,000 $525,000 $529,000 $539,000 $545,000 $549,900 $567,500 $574,999 $575,000

Residential Address 1340 Blackberry Ct 1320 Blackberry Ct 710 Priddy Dr 1000 West F Street 160 Victoria Ct 1410 Cornell Dr 1950 Dailey Ct 705 Wiegand Way 515 West Cherry St 6156 Clark Rd 318 E Utah St 56 Del Prado Cir 1655 Hemlock St 231 E Utah St 2330 Baldwin Ct 2373 Cabrillo Dr 204 Camelia Street 2836 Candleberry Way 1180 Dana Dr 4831 Silver Creek Rd 832 Tulare Circle 2523 Freitas Way 2737 Almondwood Wy 782 Ash Ct 4825 Stoneridge Ct 4756 Canyon Hills Dr 2018 Windsor Pl 4480 Rolling Meadows Ln 3132 Muse Wy 505 East Meadows Lane 4627 Green Valley Rd 5080 Pyramid Way 3032 Muse Wy 5181 Palace Ct 4427 Glencannon Dr 1106 Skywest Ct 1604 Amaral Ct 853 Bridle Ridge Dr 101 Cedar Ridge Dr 635 Klamath Wy 420 Canvasback Dr 411 Avalon Wy 601 Whipporwill Way 1709 Carswell Ln 429 Dobbins Ct 330 Engell Ct 116 Mckinley Cir 167 Mckinley Cir 101 Isle Royale Cir 105 Rainier Cir 125 Christine Dr 135 Maple St 107 Edwin Dr 407 Deodara St 484 Manchester Wy 424 Mandarin Cir 686 Mashall Rd 600 Fox Pointe Rd 137 Primivito Court 801 S Orchard Ave 296 Plantation Way 107 Colony Way

CITY

City Dixon Dixon Dixon Dixon Dixon Dixon Dixon Dixon Dixon Dixon Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Fairfield Rio Vista Suisun City Suisun City Suisun City Suisun City Suisun City Suisun City Suisun City Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville

BEDS

Beds 4 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 5 3 4 3 4 4 3 4 3 4 4 5 2 4 4 5 3 5 3 4 2 3 4 3 3 4 5 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 4 4

BA (F/H) SQ. FT.

Ba (F/H) 2/0 2/0 1/1 2/0 2/0 3/0 2/0 2/0 3/0 4/0 1/0 2/1 2/0 2/0 2/0 2/0 2/0 2/1 2/0 2/0 2/1 2/0 2/1 2/0 2/0 3/0 2/1 2/1 3/0 3/0 2/1 3/0 3/0 3/0 3/0 3/0 2/0 6/0 2/0 2/0 2/0 2/0 2/0 3/0 3/0 2/1 2/0 2/0 2/0 2/0 2/0 1/0 2/0 2/0 2/0 2/0 2/0 2/0 2/1 2/0 2/1 3/0

Sq. Ft. 1969 1487 1036 1771 1688 1,917 2021 1850 2755 5906 985 1234 1,274 1517 1204 1704 1,403 1666 1,650 1082 1934 1,665 1512 1773 1,108 1,816 1862 2210 2602 2,549 1821 2,912 2841 3007 2,409 3414 2,319 3,937 1671 1492 1440 2152 1,480 2,061 2,338 2206 1,043 1,043 1152 1152 1,062 1040 1540 1168 1602 1323 1402 1320 1497 1230 1840 1,887

LOT/AC MLS #

Lot/Ac 0.07 0.073 6969sf 0.15 0.132 0.07 0.248 0.23 0.124 78.98 0.12 0.038 0.16 0.12 0.18 0.13 0.17 0.16 0.16 0.185 6006 0.11 0.08 0.13 0.14 0.12 0.26 0.169 0.115 0.14 2.56 0.13 0.135 0.168 2.5 0.804 2.5 0.97 0.129 0.14 0.13 0.23 0.18 0.08 0.14 0.160 0.13 0.13 0.15 0.13 0.11 0.11 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.116 0.18 0.160 0.08 0.12 0.13 0.07

MLS# 322073001 322062507 322080176 322071225 322082941 322085404 322084370 322055685 322083817 322047718 322095893 322081681 322082879 322083815 322087210 322086472 322078544 322090618 322070975 322077342 322080552 322086195 322080695 322090911 322092327 322076136 322078194 322086454 322095827 322092262 322089935 322087738 322078149 322082111 322092157 322068078 322074329 322075479 322064595 322079444 322096457 322067943 322072584 322095129 322079187 322070250 322086513 322089026 322080839 322078018 322080818 322093532 322096304 322059937 322083162 322066345 322059279 322089563 322094034 322073187 322062209 322068608

PRICE

ADDRESS

CITY

BEDS

BA (F/H) SQ. FT.

LOT/AC MLS #

$579,000 $595,000 $610,000 $610,000 $615,000 $619,000 $625,000 $629,999 $648,000 $649,000 $675,000 $675,000 $689,900 $719,000 $759,000 $775,000 $780,000 $839,000 $899,000 $899,000 $989,000 $460,000 $519,000 $570,000 $575,000 $650,000 $1,100,000 $659,900 $875,000

312 Woodhaven Dr 454 Royal Oaks Ct 148 Shefield Dr 512 Florence Dr 231 Kildare Ln 857 Monaghan Cir 667 Laurelwood Cir 332 Plantation Court 636 Silver Star Ct 107 Diablo Creek Way 263 Bantry Dr 643 Dahlia Dr 596 Dunsmuir St 307 Epic St 901 Cedarcrest Dr 754 Arabian Cir 8024 Claret Court 606 Hillcrest Cir 1000 Brighton Ct 5845 Cherry Glen Road 7885 N Locke Rd 2940 Georgia St 815 Valle Vista Ave 815 Valle Vista Ave 184 Smokey Hills Dr 701 Keats Dr 3024 Overlook Dr 3931 Central Ln 8457 Plesants Valley Rd

Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vacaville Vallejo Vallejo Vallejo Vallejo Vallejo Vallejo Winters Winters

4 3 4 4 3 3 3 5 4 3 4 3 3 5 5 3 4 4 5 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 2

2/1 1840 2/0 1,544 2/1 1799 2/0 1785 2/1 1988 2/0 1708 2/0 1,750 2/1 2043 2/0 1661 2/0 1728 2/1 2143 3/0 1,728 3/0 1,950 3/0 2,219 3/0 3014 2/0 2,066 3/1 2941 2/0 2202 3/0 3,431 2/0 2,250 2/0 1,493 2/0 876 2/0 1,829 2/0 1,829 2/0 1532 2/0 10500 3/0 3,368 2/0 1782 1/0

0.14 0.20 0.14 0.21 0.209 0.201 0.14 0.16 0.134 0.15 0.184 0.08 0.18 0.11 0.207 0.26 0.16 0.233 0.21 19.98 3.95 0.13 0.13 0.13 10890sf 10018sf 0.25 5.52 22.16

CITY

LOT/AC

LOTS & LAND

PRICE

$550,000 $850,000 $4,500,000 $500,000 $1,250,000 $1,870,000 $265,000 $359,950 $399,000 $399,500 $549,000 $875,000 $875,000 $15,000,000

ADDRESS

Liberty Ln Gaddini Road 6156 Clark Rd 360 Butcher Rd 8362 Auction Ln 2300-11 E Monte Vista Ave 2060 Pinecrest Ct Gibson Canyon English Hills Rd 3757 Wild Oak Trl 3745 Wild Oak Trl Oakridge and Lopes Rd 8457 Plesants Valley Rd Mankas

Vacaville 25.01 Vacaville 14.89 Dixon 78.98 Vacaville 1.10 Dixon 2.16 Vacaville 3.66 Vacaville 1.15 Vacaville 1.55 Vacaville 6.09 Vacaville 4.96 Vacaville 5 Benicia 20 Winters 22.16 Fairfield

MOBILE/FLOATING

PRICE

$170,000 $198,000 $75,000 $260,000 $180,000

ADDRESS

10 Del Rey Ct 140 Calle Chapultepec 2500 Springs Rd #252 54 Kay Dr 161 Lemon Tree Cir

MULTI UNIT 2-4

PRICE

$735,900

ADDRESS

549-551 Pacific Avenue

COMMERCIAL

PRICE

$849,000 $350,000

ADDRESS

120 E Tabor Ave 424 Davis St

CITY

Vacaville Vacaville Vallejo Vallejo Vacaville CITY

Fairfield CITY

Fairfield Vacaville

BEDS

2 3 1 2 3

UNITS

2

SUB TYPE

MLS#

AGRI AGRI AGRI COMM COMM COMM RESA RESA RESA RESA RESA RESA RESA RESA

BA(F/H)

1 2/0 1/0 2/0 2/0

BLDGS

1

322088768 322082581 322089957 322090024 322091198 322093123 322080908 322094970 322071775 322092111 322086137 322095268 322053861 322094278 322061115 322067856 322074811 322054244 322090634 322092749 322095123 322087029 322068195 322068195 322084742 322091636 322071681 322032322 321006700

322061524 322085720 322049465 321098151 322014651 321102156 322048328 22029146 322096839 322061715 322061705 322061922 321000406 21825708 SQ. FT.

1000 1300 360 1400 1440

SQ. FT.

2479

TYPE

Retail Mixed

MLS #

322065331 322072141 322065332 322091550 322093675 MLS

321043438 MLS #

322088826 322095434

DAILY REPUBLIC — Friday, November 4, 2022 17

Housing market predictions for 2023 ERIK J. MARTIN

will continue into 2023. Sharga believes existing home sales in 2023 will slow, likely hovering in the 4.5 million range, with newhome sales at around 600,000.

Listings may no longer go at a lightning-fast pace, either. “Days on the market have been climbing back toward more normal levels recently, and we could see them approach 30 days or more in 2023 as the market continues to cool down,” he says.

Shirshikov is sympatico with those sentiments. “The average days on the market will increase somewhere between two and three times the current levels,” he notes.

W

BANKR ATE.COM

e’re rounding the corner on 2022 and quickly heading toward a new year. That makes this a perfect time to prognosticate real estate matters for 2023.

With mortgage rates escalating higher, home sales – and, in some areas, home prices – hitting the brakes, and increased uncertainty felt throughout the market, many homeowners, prospective sellers and prospective buyers are nervous about next year.

And for good reason. Consider that, at the time of this writing, the average 30-year fixed-mortgage rate is 7.04%. The inflation rate is an alarming 8.2%. And sales of previously owned homes dropped 1.5% in September from August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.71 million units, per the National Association of Realtors, which means that existing homes are selling at the slowest pace observed in 10 years.

We reached out to several industry experts, each of whom offered interesting forecasts and projections about where mortgage rates, home prices, buyer competition, housing supply, sales activity and home affordability are headed in 2023.

Curious what the pros think?

Read on for their evaluations and predictions.

Will mortgage rates continue to climb?

With interest rates roughly doubling from their lows in early 2022, it’s a fair assumption that the cost of financing a home won’t be coming down this year.

But how about across 2023? Is there any light at the end of this dark tunnel?

Some say no. “Continued inflation, overall higher interest rates, a potential recession, and

What will happen to home values?

CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES/TNS FILE (2020)

A real estate sign is seen in front of a house for sale in West Los Angeles, Nov. 19, 2020. geopolitical tensions will force 30-year and 15-year mortgage rates up throughout 2023 and will bring the two rates closer together as short-term risks rise,” cautions Dennis Shirshikov, a strategist at Awning.com and a professor of economics and finance at City University of New York, who foresees the 30-year and 15-year benchmark mortgage loans averaging 8.75% and 8.25%, respectively, across 2023.

Robert Johnson, a professor of finance at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business, shares some of those sentiments.

“By the end of 2023, financial market participants expect that the Fed will have increased the target Fed funds rate by 175 to 200 basis points from current levels. That would translate into 30-year and 15-year mortgage rates at roughly 8.50 and 7.70%,” he says.

Rick Sharga, executive vice president of Market Intelligence for ATTOM Data Solutions, which analyzes real estate and

property data, is more hopeful.

He posits that rates peak at about 8% and 7.25% for 30-year and 15-year loans in early 2023, “then gradually come down over the course of the year somewhat to hang in the range of 6.0% and 5.25%, respectively.

This is entirely dependent on the Federal Reserve’s ability to get inflation under control and ease up on its aggressive rate increases.”

Three different roads for interest rates Nadia Evangelou, senior economist and director of Real Estate Research for the National Association of Realtors, meanwhile, envisions three different rate scenarios occurring next year.

“In scenario #1, inflation continues to remain high, forcing the Fed to raise interest rates repeatedly. That means mortgage rates will keep climbing, possibly near 8.5%. In scenario #2, the consumer price index responds

more to the Fed’s rate hikes, and there is a gradual deceleration of inflation, causing mortgage rates to stabilize near 7% to 7.5% for 2023. In scenario #3, the Fed raises rates repeatedly to curb inflation and the economy falls into a recession. This could cause rates to likely drop to 5%,” she explains.

Will housing sales decline?

Each of Evangelou’s three scenarios for mortgage rates would have a major impact on home sales. In each case, sales will be down – it’s just a question of how much.

“Higher rates under scenario #1 could cause home sales to drop by more than 10% next year,” she continues. “In scenario #2, home sales drop by 7% to 8%. And in the third scenario, home activity may also drop further by more than 15%.”

Our other experts agree: The slowdown in home sales that’s been occurring all year

Interestingly, due to low inventory, “home prices won’t drop in 2023,” Evangelou predicts. “I expect pricing to be relatively flat, increasing by only 1 percentage point.”

Johnson, though, feels that higher interest rates will undoubtedly hurt home values and pricing. “A soft real estate market with prices at levels lower than current levels will result,” Johnson says.

That’s not great news for sellers, but welcome news for house-hunters.

“There are plenty of potential buyers still patiently waiting to enter the market. Assuming home prices ease, you’ll start to see some of these buyers emerge, especially the all-cash or lower loan-to-value purchasers who are less impacted by any interest rate concerns,” explains Scott Krinsky, a partner in the Residential Banking Department of Romer Debbas, a Manhattan real estate law firm.

Home values on a national level are almost certain to decline at least modestly, perhaps between 5% and 10%, See Housing, Page 20

18 Friday, November 4, 2022 — DAILY REPUBLIC

Futuro From Page 15 separately preparing to launch new iterations of these midcentury modern artifacts.

In Euclid, Ohio, Futuro Houses LLC is developing a prototype for new models aimed at the market for sustainable, compact living. The firm expects to have basic, “shell kit” models available for purchase within three months, said CEO Anthony Corpora. The price of a shell kit is listed at $179,500 and a “‘full loaded” model for $279,500.

Last year, Kris Swain, owner of Atomic Specialties in Oxford, Ohio, purchased a vintage Futuro that had sat for years in a Cumberland County boatyard and is using it to create molds for a new generation of the houses.

The boatyard Futuro had once been part of an outer spacethemed attraction at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, with which Swain has long done work.

“We’re popping one out for Morey’s Piers next spring,” he said. “We’ve got 100 of them on order for Airbnbs.”

An Airbnb Futuro in Joshua Tree, California, already is booked months in advance, said Simon Robson, a self-taught researcher and historian who oversees the website thefuturohouse.com.

Robson posts documents, press clippings, and fan photos of glowingly restored Futuros in states such as Texas, as well as in New Zealand, Japan, and other countries across the globe. The site also provides updates on the latest sightings of the long-elusive or endangered Futuros he calls “Lost Souls.”

“I get really happy when I hear that one of them is getting the love and care it deserves,” Robson said from his home in Dallas. “It’s sad that some of the Futuros are allowed to deteriorate. There’s maybe 65 of the nearly 100 that were made still left on the planet. And that’s not very many.”

The original houses were fabricated in Pleasantville, Atlantic County, by the Futuro Corp. of Philadelphia. The firm hoped to sell 10,000 units nationwide and built virtually all of the Futuros that still exist in the United States, said Robson.

According to a copy of the corporation’s 1971 retail price list posted on Robson’s website, the cost of a new Futuro ranged from $12,500 for a shell to $23,400 for a two-bedroom, two-bath, completely furnished model.

Promotional materials and vintage photographs showcased in a story on the Society for Gentlemen Explorers website include shots of models in miniskirts and bikinis posing with Futuros on ski slopes and against other scenic backdrops. And no less an authority than Playboy magazine raved about Futuros in 1970, describing them as perfect “playpens’ for spaceage swingers.

America got its first look at a Futuro when a Finnishmade house was put on exhibit at Philadelphia International Airport in 1969.

But an American model displayed on Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway to raise money for a children’s charity became an object of derision in 1970. One Inquirer story referred to “that egg-shaped thing with the portholes” ruining the landscape near the Franklin Institute.

“Philly reacted to them with sheer hatred,” said Michael Bixler, managing editor of the Hidden City Philadelphia website. “People didn’t take the Futuro seriously. They thought of it as foreign, or a gimmick – not a house to live in.”

What might have been the Parkway Futuro later racked up $750 in overdue fees while being stored at a Center City parking lot. And one of the two Futuros known to have existed in Philly was set on fire, said Bixler.

He and his wife, Kate, stumbled upon the Willingboro Futuro in 2018 and ever since have been seeking out and documenting the houses, including those in the

TOM HART/FLICKR

A surviving Futuro home near Milton, Delaware.

Philadelphia region.

The couple have visited two intact Futuros in southern Delaware, including one that has been used as a residence for 50 years.

They’ve also chronicled a sincedemolished Futuro in Delaware County, and the one Swain purchased and moved to Ohio from Cumberland County last year.

Futuros “remind me of the futuristic concept designs of the ‘Atomic Age,’ like the buildings and exhibits at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair,” Kate Bixler, who works in publishing, said in an email.

The homes “are actually very spacious (no pun intended),” she said. “They feel like a place where one could feel free to absorb themselves in their thoughts and dreams.”

Corpora, whose company plans to produce an updated variation on the Futuro, said the original houses “were a big success that fell short,” in part due to limitations in the design and the materials used to make them.

The major flaw: The porthole-like windows of the original Futuros did not open; the new ones will. The supporting structure of original Futuros also contained wood, which the new ones won’t.

“Futuros have a huge follow-

ing, and they are iconic across the world,” said Corpora, whose primary business is designing, building, and fitting out campers. The same composite materials that go into the camper bodies will produce the new Futuros, he said.

The latest iteration also will be divided into sections that can easily be shipped to a buyer’s home or chosen construction site, much like the Sears “kit” houses of the 20th century.

“It will be a complete plugand-play assembly,” Corpora said. “A couple of people with a basic set of tools and a few helpers can do it in a weekend.”

Atomic Specialties has long been in the business of “creating custom sculptures and fiberglass parts for theme park rides,” said Swain, whose company is producing the new Futuros – a basic model is expected to retail for $80,000 – in partnership with Brainchild Creative, in Sevierville, Tennessee.

“I’m a fan of Futuros, and I wanted one,” Brainchild owner Steve Brauch said. “They have a retro vibe to them [about] the future 50 years ago.”

Both men said the interest in tiny homes is creating a market.

And the association with an earlier era is part of the appeal.

The design of the Futuro “is

like a pinnacle of the midcentury modern era,” Swain said. “There were other shapes. But there’s something about this one.”

Itself a space-age suburb – Willingboro was built by William Levitt, of Levittown fame – the township hopes to see its Futuro restored. After serving as a branch of a New Jersey-based savings bank and as an office for Willingboro’s Police Athletic League, the structure has in recent decades been used only for storage.

“We have to figure out what we should do with the building in order to preserve and reuse it,” Bolden said. “There are people in the community who want to be a part of that process.”

In 2020, the advocacy group Preservation New Jersey named the Willingboro and Greenwich Futuros to its list of the most endangered places in the state.

“We would like to see [the Futuro] rehabilitated for public use, and for benefit of the community,” said Rikki Massand, a member of the organization’s board.

“The structure is representative of an era, It was designed by a master architect,” he said.

“There’s a lot of nostalgia for the idea of space exploration. And there’s a special feeling when you see the Futuro.”

DAILY REPUBLIC — Friday, November 4, 2022 19

How to get the most value out of your

BATHROOM RENOVATION A

THE WASHINGTON POST

n outdated bath with leaky plumbing and yellowing grout is just the place to start and end the day – said no one ever. If there’s one room in the house where the glossy sheen of newness is appreciated, it’s the bathroom, which is why bath remodels tend to offer a high return on investment.

Still, if getting the most money back out of your reno is your goal, it helps to think strategically before you schedule demo day. Herewith, tips from the experts.

Look at other bathroom remodels in your neighborhood “One of the most important things to keep in mind for [return on investment]

is the comps,” says Sarabeth Asaff South, home expert for Fixr.com, a remodeling resource website. Her advice: Look to renovations done nearby for guidance (try scanning Zillow or Redfin for recent sales).

For instance, a renovation in a high-end area might feature a stand-alone soaking tub and heated floors. “If you include those things in a non-luxury setting, someone might be happy to find them, but they won’t necessarily want to pay more money for them,” she says.

Prioritize cosmetic upgrades Generally, spending on cosmetic improvements will yield more bang for your buck than a gut renovation, See Bathroom, Page 21

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20 Friday, November 4, 2022 — DAILY REPUBLIC

Housing From Page 17 according to Sharga.

“Some of the more expensive markets will potentially see larger declines. Limited inventory, strong credit quality among current mortgage holders, and demand from young adults looking to become homeowners should help prevent prices from falling even further,” continues Sharga.

Will 2023 be a buyer’s market or a seller’s market?

For two years, it’s been a seller’s market. Will 2023 favor buyers or sellers more in most markets? Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate, says “affordability issues and economic worries will depress home buyer demand, and inventory of homes available for sale will remain limited. So it’ll continue to be more of a balanced market than tilting one way or the other.”

Krinsky expects leverage to

Paint From Page 10 moist air hits a cold surface. If the condensation is forming only in one place, perhaps there is a gap in insulation around the ducts or a leak between duct sections. If you feel comfortable crawling around your attic, you can try to locate the cause by looking for dirty insulation, which shows where mildew is growing because of the moisture.

Replace any missing insulation.

If a duct seam is leaking, apply duct sealant ($8.67 for 10.5 ounces from Master Flow at Home Depot), which will work better in attic conditions than foil tape made for sealing ducts.

Apply the mastic with a caulk

vary nationally, depending on the type of market.

“With the pandemic, we saw a new spike of bidding wars in suburban and smaller markets, likely because of the desire for more space and the increased flexibility of remote working across the country,” says Krinsky. “Now that many offices and businesses are back near full capacity and fully operational, the hope is that larger markets can revert back toward pre-pandemic levels and we will see increased demand there.”

Johnson, on the other hand, anticipates sellers holding fewer cards. “It will be a buyer’s market next year, as many reluctant sellers – those waiting for the market to turn around – will likely capitulate, adding to more housing supply,” he says.

Will housing inventory increase?

13-month supply – twice what we would see in a healthy market,” Sharga says. “Today, we have about a three-month supply, which is about half of what we need. Current homeowners are unlikely to trade in their 3% mortgage for a new home with a 7% loan unless they absolutely have to, so existing home inventory should remain low. And builders have scaled back on housing starts for the past three months. That means we are not likely to see a huge boost in supply from new construction anytime soon, either.”

But others foresee increased supply next year. “Housing inventory will rise throughout 2023 as homes become more unaffordable due to high rates,” Shirshikov thinks.

Will homes be more affordable?

strain on buyers – but only a bit,” explains McBride. “Prices will remain fairly steady, and in a lot of markets that’s a price that is 40% or more higher than pre-pandemic.”

“Home prices will not fall proportionally,” Shirshikov thinks.

Any “fall in prices will not be enough to offset the rising interest rate and its contribution to the monthly [mortgage] payment.” As a result, homes may even seem less affordable, he says.

The impact of higher mortgage rates and lower home prices in 2023 will likely cancel each other out to a great extent, Johnson agrees. His take: “Overall home affordability won’t change dramatically.”

The bottom line on the 2023 housing market

A shortage of homes has helped fuel the frenzied market of the last few years. But experts differ on housing inventory projections for 2023.

“Before the housing crash of 2008, inventory peaked at about a

Will homes continue to remain financially out of reach for many purchasers next year, or will matters be better for buyers?

“If inflation pressures ease and we see a meaningful pullback in mortgage rates next year, this will ease some of the

Taking a big-picture look at the possible real estate market next year, most pros are in consensus: something of a transitional year, characterized by uncertainty.

“The housing market will be tepid in 2023, with only lukewarm demand and a limited

gun, but smooth over the bead with a gloved hand, a brush or a putty knife to ensure the material fills the gap.

If attic DIY jobs aren’t your thing, hire an HVAC company to check and repair the ducts.

Also ask the company to ensure the system is calibrated properly, without clogged vents or a dirty filter. A company that provides air-sealing and insulation services can address overall attic conditions that may be making condensation worse by plugging gaps where indoor air is leaking into the attic and where insulation is too thin to be effective.

If you rule out moisture as the reason your paint is peeling, there are numerous other possible explanations. Scrape off a bubble or two to see whether just the last layer of paint is peeling or whether the failure

goes all the way to the beginning. You might even find a layer of drywall mud between two layers of paint, a sign of an earlier repair.

If only the most recent layer of paint is peeling, the surface might have been dirty, which kept the new paint from gripping well, or too hot, which caused it to dry too fast. Indoors, high temperatures are most likely to cause paint problems where the sun shines onto a wall; the overall room temperature might be okay, but the surface might be well above the 85 – to 90-degree maximum listed on the paint label. Paint can also bubble when someone paints directly over new drywall, or a drywall patch, without priming first. The drywall absorbs so much of the first paint layer that the next coat can’t grip well.

Whatever the cause, preparing for new paint begins by scraping off the bubbles and wiping down the surface. If it might have been dirty before the last paint job, use soapy water, then clear water, to clean it.

Greasy walls and ceilings can be huge issues in kitchens. Let the surface dry, then inspect it. If it isn’t smooth enough to repaint, apply a skim coat of lightweight drywall mud, allow it to dry, then smooth it with 100 – or 120-grit sandpaper. Or, to avoid creating dust, you can use a damp, stiff sponge that you rinse frequently in a bucket of water and wring out well. Clean off all the sanding dust, or wait for the wall to dry.

Then prime the surface, wait the time recommended on the label and repaint.

If moisture was the culprit and you’ve fixed that problem,

amount of inventory available for sale,” McBride predicts.

However, “mortgage rates could pull back meaningfully next year if inflation pressures ease.”

“The hope is that, as supply and demand within the housing market normalizes, interest rates can start to come back down to earth,” Krinsky agrees. “Until this happens, those who simply cannot afford the costs of borrowed money will have to continue to wait. For those waiting on the sidelines holding out hope that rates may soon drop, they might have to accept the fact that the lower-rate financing windows open in 2020 and 2021 have closed.”

But if mortgage rates don’t move much, “that means borrowers will pursue fewer purchase loans and we will see a continuing decline in rate-based refinance activity,” Sharga reiterates. “With more homeowners staying in place, we also might see an uptick in home equity loans and home equity lines of credit over the course of the year.” In other words, if moving will be out, remodeling may well be in. follow the same procedure for prepping the surface for paint.

But use a stain-blocking primer to make sure any stains from the previous leak don’t migrate into your new paint.

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DAILY REPUBLIC — Friday, November 4, 2022 21

Bathroom

shaving or putting on makeup, you want the light to be coming from both sides because it illuminates your face better and eliminates the shadows from overhead lighting.”

From Page 19 especially if you’re planning to move in the near future.

According to Zillow, a midrange bathroom remodel can yield a return of $1.71 for every dollar spent, especially if the bathroom is over 25 years old. Such a remodel might include updating the plumbing fixtures, tile and lighting.

Choose soothing colors Experts almost always say homeowners prefer spalike shades in the bathroom, such as pale grays and blues. “White remains the most popular color for baths, but it tends to look a little stark, so people might add a pop of color whether it’s an accent tile, or even just the wall color to give it a little personality,” says Kadwell.

Avoid changing the layout If budget is an issue, think twice before deciding to rearrange the room. “The best option is going to be when you don’t have to move plumbing lines, waste lines and relocate electrical circuits for lights or outlets,” says Dean Turner, owner and CEO of Evolution Design Build in Reston, Virginia. Remodeling within the same configuration is called “a pull and replace, and it’s going to be the most cost-effective.”

Replace the tub with a spa shower More homeowners are replacing tubs in the primary bath with larger, high-tech showers with multiple heads, says Shannon Kadwell, of Anthony Wilder Design/Build in Cabin John, Md. “If a family has younger children or a pet, they still want to keep one tub in the house somewhere,” she says, “but otherwise we are seeing the majority of tubs being switched out.”

Install a vanity with storage According to the Houzz 2022 bath trend survey, simple Shaker-style cabinet fronts are chosen by 51% of homeowners, followed by modern flat-panel styles, which appeal to 27% of homeowners. Turner is an advocate of vanity styles with built-in drawers underneath, which

Coordinate metal finishes TERRY-MAGALLANES/PEXELS

More homeowners are replacing tubs in the primary bath with larger, high-tech showers. tend to pack in more storage than doors alone. For countertops, Kadwell recommends solid surface materials, such as quartz, that are easy to clean.

Replace the toilet If the toilet already looks less than pristine, it will look even worse once everything else is new. Consider replacing it with a model that has an elongated bowl, which has a slimmer profile and makes cleaning the floor around the toilet much easier.

Choose a classic tile “Tile is the driving force in the overall aesthetic of a bathroom, and people tend to love marble, especially in primary baths,” says Nadia Subaran of Aidan Design in Silver Spring, Maryland. But marble can be pricey and start to look dingy if you aren’t careful about sealing and maintaining it. Turner recommends sealing marble tile at least

twice a year. For an alternative, Asaff South suggests a simple porcelain option such as a basket-weave pattern or penny tile.

“It has a similar classic appeal and is easy to care for if you’re a mop-and-go kind of person.”

Replace the grout On the subject of tile, one of the cheapest things you can do to add value to your bath is to refresh your grout, says Skylar Olsen, chief economist for Zillow.

A word of caution: Turner says following instructions is key when reapplying grout, and if it’s in the shower, the space must be completely dry for 48 hours before you start the job. Don’t be tempted to use a grout pen in the shower, either. “They’re a non-wet application,” he says, adding that the pens are fine for quick touch-ups behind the vanity or along the baseboard, but they’re not meant to be a permanent fix. “If you start down that road, you’ll be constantly reapplying.”

Lighting is key In the one room where you’re supposed to stare at yourself in the mirror, good lighting can make or break a remodel. Dated lights, such as over-the-mirror linear sconces popular in the 1970s and ’80s, are a turnoff to potential buyers and should be replaced with side sconces, advises John Martinek, partner at Modern Roots Design Build in Iowa City. “When you’re

Replacing cabinet hardware with new knobs and pulls is an easy way to give a vanity a new look. Just be sure they complement or coordinate with the plumbing fixtures. Nickel, oilrubbed bronze and matte black remain popular choices, though brass – both lacquered and unlacquered – will add warmth.

The designers we interviewed all said it’s fine to mix metals, as long as you strike the right balance: “Some folks make the mistake of overdoing one finish,” says Subaran. If you’re unsure, the safest bet is to choose the same finish for all hardware and fixtures.

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22 Friday, November 4, 2022 — DAILY REPUBLIC

Winter

This container features Superbells Double Yellow that makes it debut next spring, Superbells Tangerine Punch calibrachoas along with Unplugged Pink salvia.

From Page 14 unexpected and is a real visual treat. I know what you are thinking: Yes, but double-flowered selections? It is the same with them: cloudless sulphur butterflies, swallowtails and hummingbirds.

The second surprise is their cold hardiness. I love planting Superbells in October and November when I can get them, but even my Superbells Double Blue planted in the spring performed through the summer and winter. (I am in zone 8a, so your cold hardiness may be different.)

Nine different varieties of Superbells Double

NORMAN WINTER/TNS

See Winter, Page 23

REAL ESTATE

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DAILY REPUBLIC — Friday, November 4, 2022 23

Winter From Page 22 calibrachoas are now available to choose from. You might be muttering to yourself, what would you do with a double? This is a perfect example of that old saying, majoring in the minors.

Any partnership or combination you can do with a single-petaled variety, you do with a double.

The first combo I created was in what I consider a smokestack-shaped pot, kind of narrow

but taller. I used Truffula Pink gomphrena as the thriller and used Whirlwind Blue scaevola, Goldilocks Creeping Jenny and Superbells Double Blue calibrachoa. I loved it.

Son James used the new Superbells Double Yellow with Superbells Tangerine Punch and Unplugged Pink salvia.

While this stretched Dad’s color comfort zone a bit, it was really quite magical, especially considering there were almost an uncountable number of double yellow blooms. James is totally sold on the Superbells Double Yellow calibrachoa, which

makes its debut in 2023.

Then the Young’s Plant Farm Annual Garden Tour this year blew us away with a new Proven Winners recipe called Surfin Safari. This container featured the award-winning Superbells Double Amber calibrachoa, Safari Dawn James Britannia (also called South African Phlox) and Supertunia Royal Magenta. This beautiful mix showing out in June broke barriers both against doubles and our ability to grow James Britannia in the South.

Almost all my Superbells planted both in the spring and

last fall are flush with growth and blooms, making me think I am going to hit the proverbial grand slam going into winter. But as we all know, time will tell.

Planting in containers with a very good potting soil is the way to go with Superbells, though if you can duplicate in your garden bed, you will garner the green thumb there, too. Feeding with a diluted water-soluble fertilizer will keep you in good shape.

I try to do this every two to three weeks. But by all means keep a pair of sharp scissors or pruners handy and trim back as needed at the end of summer or anytime

REAL ESTATE 4

a bare or tired, unproductive branch develops.

Superbells calibrachoas, whether single-petaled or double bloomers, rank among the best choices for your garden dollar.

Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy. He receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.

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