Home Seller: Friday, October 7, 2022

Q: My husband and I are longtime readers, and we have a question we don’t think you’ve ever addressed in all the years we’ve been reading. My brother died almost 10 years ago and left me a small property in Northern California. It’s not much, just about 5 acres and way outside any city limits. But my husband and I always intended to put a trailer on it and use it as a retirement getaway. We hadn’t seen the place since shortly after John died. This week, I was served with a lawsuit in which somebody I never heard of is making a claim that they own the property and not us. Inside the lawsuit it says this other guy has paid all of the property taxes and has been in possession of the property for more than five years. That caused us to think about the taxes and we realized we hadn’t even seen a tax bill since we could remem ber. Do you have any idea what’s going on?

A: Well, you’ve left me without a lot of specific informa tion but I’ll take a swing at it.

I have written, though admit tedly rarely, on a concept called “adverse possession.” Adverse

Tim Jones

possession is an ancient concept that still exists today in Cali fornia law. It allows, under the right conditions, for someone to come in and take ownership of property away from someone who has, essentially, ignored the property for a long enough period of time.

The original purpose of the law was to ensure that title to real estate wasn’t lost for hun dreds of years because those who owned the land either didn’t know they owned it or died without transferring it to someone, rendering the land useless to anyone.

In brief, to take property by adverse possession, the person wanting title has to prove they’ve paid all of the property taxes for five years, have occupied the land for five years, and that their occupation of the land would have been obvious if the true owner had bothered to look.

I’m not justifying this concept, which seems to me to have no real application today.

Nowadays, title to every parcel of land in the state is doc umented and recorded on the public record so there’s really no chance the original purpose of the law would be necessary. And if the true owner doesn’t pay the property taxes, the county tax collector will sell the property to someone who will.

However, during the Great Recession, we saw the rise of professional adverse possessors.

These people would find aban doned properties and try to set up the conditions necessary to file a lawsuit called a “quiet title” action. In it, the adverse pos sessor tries to get a court to make the transfer of ownership official.

That sounds like what you were served with.

Now the part of your email that caught my attention, and the main reason I ran your question this week, is the part where you said you hadn’t received a tax bill in a very long time.

One of the tricks these pro fessionals have used is to record something we call a “wild deed.” A wild deed is typically a quit

claim deed executed from a person working with the adverse possessor, who has no interest to the property, and who deeds it to the adverse possessor.

And it’s perfectly legal!

Anybody can record a quit claim deed even if they don’t believe they have an owner ship interest.

But in this case, the purpose of the wild deed is to get the county assessor to send the tax bills to the guy who eventually wants to sue for quiet title. After that, all the guy has to do is pay the bill for five years. The good news is a recent court decision may have established that the recordation of a wild deed may prevent the adverse possessor from prevailing in court.

Frankly, all the legal techni calities are beyond the scope of this column, but it goes some thing like this.

A quiet title action is a type of lawsuit known as an “equita ble” action. That’s different than a “legal” action. For example, you aren’t entitled to a jury in an equitable action. It also allows the defendant, that’s you, to raise certain defenses you wouldn’t have in any other type of lawsuit.

One of those is known roman tically enough as “unclean hands.” Unclean hands is an apt title. The defendant can claim the adverse possession did something that was wrong or unfair and therefore the court shouldn’t help him out. In this case, he recorded a wild deed for the express purpose of deceiving you, the record owner of the property.

The court case in question, Aguyao v. Amaro, found that the adverse possessor acted deceptively and the court refused to grant him title.

Regardless, you now find yourself in a Superior Court lawsuit. You can’t do nothing or you lose.

You’re going to have to file an answer within 30 days in what ever court the suit was filed in. But it sounds like you may have a great defense.

Tim Jones is a real estate attor ney in Fairfield. If you have any real estate questions you would like to have answered in this column, you can contact him at AllThingsRealEstate@ TJones-Law.com.

TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY

CLEVELAND, Ohio — First, homebuyers were fighting rising prices. Now they’re battling rising interest rates and monthly payments that are almost 50% higher.

Interest rates on both 30-year and 15-year mortgages have more than doubled since Jan.1, and that has a huge effect on monthly payments.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.66% Thursday, up from 3.22% on Jan. 6,

according to Freddie Mac, a gov ernment-sponsored home-loan agency. Rates on a 15-year fixed mortgage were 5.9%, up from 2.43%.

Even compared to April and May, mortgage rates have jumped.

The increased monthly pay ments can costs buyers tens of thousands of dollars over time.

An average 30-year mort gage for $150,000 would have cost $650 a month in January.

How to deal with your leaves

THE WASHINGTON POST

Getting a yard tends to complicate people’s feel ings about fall foliage. Maybe the changing leaves once conjured a child hood of leaping into big piles or weekend drives taking in the autumn colors. Now, what you’re peeping will eventually land on your lawn and consume your weekend.

Plus, leaf cleanup has never been more fraught. Blow those leaves at the wrong time of day or with the wrong kind of equip ment, and you’ll wind up with neighborhood beefs and maybe a fine, thanks to increasingly common local ordinances. So, here’s some guidance to help you choose the right leaf blower – or whether you really need to clean up the leaves at all.

How to choose a leaf blower

First, let’s deal with gas-pow ered leaf blowers, which are viewed about as favorably these days as smoking indoors.

Gas blowers pose serious health and environmental risks. They’re powered by a “twostroke” engine that’s much less efficient than the kind used in cars. According to the California Air Resources Board, operating a gas-powered leaf blower for an hour is equivalent to driving a Toyota Camry for 1,100 miles.

They’re also s0 loud that they can cause hearing damage, plus they emit noise at a low fre quency, which means the sound travels far distances. They release fumes that contain car cinogens and cause headaches and dizziness.

Gas blowers do have one advantage: They are more pow erful than their battery-powered counterparts. For most home owners, though, that shouldn’t matter, since a typically sized

yard doesn’t require maximum power. (Professional landscape crews, on the other hand, almost all use gas blowers to keep up with maintaining dozens of yards for hours on end.)

According to tool-manufac turer Stanley, Black & Decker, 85 percent of personal-use blowers on the market now are electric. “That’s been pretty steady over the last five years,” says Christine Potter, president of the company’s outdoor business unit.

Electric blowers come in handheld and backpack models, the latter of which is more pow erful. They’re either corded or powered by a rechargeable battery. There are two other key specifications to consider: miles per hour, which is the speed of the air as it blows, and cubic feet per minute (CFM), which refers to the volume of air (and affects the amount of leaves moved).

Here’s how Dale Vogelsanger, senior lawn and garden expert at online retailer Power Equip ment Direct, explains it: “If you

leaves, you really don’t need a lot of miles per hour because you’re not blowing them far. You need a higher CFM because you’re moving a lot of product.”

If you’ve got a larger yard without too many leaves, you should instead prioritize miles per hour because you’ll want to move a small amount of foliage a farther distance. In a big yard with a lot of leaves, you’ll want high numbers for both. (In hand held electric blowers, CFM typically ranges from about 350 to 605, and MPH from about 95 to 250.)

Beyond that, there are lots of extra features available. Some blowers can convert into leaf vacuums, which suck debris into bags. Others have attachments that can shred leaves into mulch or clean your gutters.

Leaf blower bans

There are more than 200 juris dictions across the country that have some law governing leaf

blower use, says Jamie Banks, president of Quiet Communi ties, a nonprofit group focused on reducing noise and pollu tion. In rare cases, communities have banned all blowers, includ ing electric ones. Others have banned the sale or use of gaspowered blowers. The most common regulation puts limits on what time of day or year you can use a leaf blower.

In Washington D.C., where gas blowers were banned in 2018 with a three-year phasein period, people who still use them can face a $500 fine. From January to Aug. 18, 2022, accord ing to data released by the city under a Freedom of Information Act request, D.C.’s consumer regulatory agency received 452 leaf blower complaints. So far, 11 of those have led to fines.

California is the first state to pass a ban on the type of engines primarily found in gas-pow ered lawn equipment, including blowers. That law will phase out the sale of new gas-powered equipment by 2024.

The case for just leaving the leaves

There is another option: “All of us need to [reconsider] this hypermanicured aesthetic expectation that’s been in place,” says Daniel Mabe, president of the American Green Zone Alliance, which cer tifies landscaping companies for sustainable practices.

Mabe suggests using “peoplepowered” machines – a.k.a. rakes and push lawn sweepers – to con solidate some leaves. You can then shred them into mulch with a lawn mower or a leaf blower attachment, and spread them around as fertilizer. This method won’t leave your lawn pristine, but that’s the whole point. It’s part of a broader movement to trade perfect grass for more biodiversity.

“Leaf litter is an astonish ingly rich habitat” for animals, especially insects, which lay their eggs there in winter, says Matthew Shepherd, director of outreach and education at Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. It also improves soil health, which in turn helps sustain plants that attract pollinators.

Xerces Society has a “Leave the Leaves” campaign, encour aging people not to completely tidy up fallen foliage. Shepherd emphasizes that it’s not an allor-nothing proposition: “You don’t have to keep your lawn smothered with them.” (He also stresses that the campaign does not apply to climates prone to wildfires, where collecting leaves is a matter of safety.)

“We’re facing all sorts of issues in our lives: climate change and loss of species and pollution,” Shepherd says. “Often, people are looking for simple things they can do, and what you do in your garden is a really straightfor ward, simple, direct action that people can take.”

METRO SERVICES

Real estate transactions

BENICIA

TOTAL SALES: 3

LOWEST AMOUNT: $554,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $600,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $565,000

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $573,000

16 Hillcrest Avenue – $554,000

08-30-22 [2 Bdrms – 832 SqFt – 1943 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 09-05-14, $330,000

301 East K Street – $565,000

08-29-22 [3 Bdrms – 1870 SqFt – 1913 YrBlt]

1770 Stuart Court – $600,000

09-01-22 [2 Bdrms – 1055 SqFt – 1984

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-23-12, $229,000

DIXON

TOTAL SALES: 2

LOWEST AMOUNT: $234,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $600,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $417,000

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $417,000

219 North Adams Street – $234,000

08-30-22 [3 Bdrms – 1548 SqFt – 1910 YrBlt]

1080 Swarthmore Court – $600,000

08-29-22 [3 Bdrms – 1960 SqFt – 2020

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-03-20, $469,000

FAIRFIELD

TOTAL SALES: 19

LOWEST AMOUNT: $385,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $1,200,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $630,000

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $672,789

2009 Bluebird Way – $520,000

08-30-22 [4 Bdrms – 1584 SqFt – 1967 YrBlt]

5039 Brookdale Circle – $599,000

08-31-22 [3 Bdrms – 1082 SqFt – 1985

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-27-22, $340,000

2584 Canton Lane – $565,000

08-31-22 [3 Bdrms – 1247 SqFt – 1986

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-18-11, $155,000

533 Channel Court – $650,000

09-01-22 [3 Bdrms – 1233 SqFt – 2004 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-10-11, $222,000

5109 Ellis Godfrey Drive – $810,000

08-30-22 [4 Bdrms – 3364 SqFt – 2004

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-30-08, $420,000

330 Hamilton Drive – $630,000

08-29-22 [4 Bdrms – 1707 SqFt – 1952 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-30-13, $255,000

1128 Hartford Place – $499,000

08-29-22 [2 Bdrms – 1591 SqFt – 1979 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-25-20, $389,500

417 Knoll Drive – $1,050,000

08-29-22 [3 Bdrms – 2803 SqFt – 2005

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-13-17, $750,000

351 Lily Street – $545,000

09-01-22 [3 Bdrms – 1391 SqFt – 1966

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-04-16, $300,000

11 Manchester Lane – $385,000

08-31-22 [2 Bdrms – 1029 SqFt – 1992

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-13-11, $87,000

1565 Northwood Drive – $574,000

08-30-22 [3 Bdrms – 1127 SqFt – 1995

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-20-15, $240,000

1395 Northwood Court – $664,000

08-31-22 [3 Bdrms – 1657 SqFt – 1992

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1992, $174,000

747 Pavilion Drive – $1,200,000

08-29-22 [5 Bdrms – 3118 SqFt – 1994 YrBlt]

1037 Peppertree Drive – $630,000

08-31-22 [5 Bdrms – 2233 SqFt – 1989

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-14-12, $215,500

2564 Pinkerton Lane – $585,000

08-30-22 [4 Bdrms – 1714 SqFt – 2003

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-17-03, $330,154

2884 Retreat Way – $690,000

08-30-22 [3 Bdrms – 2254 SqFt – 2021

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-27-21, $661,500

3220 Riviera Court – $775,000 08-31-22 [4 Bdrms – 2125 SqFt – 1988 YrBlt]

4131 Rowland Drive – $835,000 08-30-22 [3 Bdrms – 2421 SqFt – 1999

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-11-09, $427,500

1224 Tanglewood Drive – $577,000 09-01-22 [3 Bdrms – 1603 SqFt – 1989

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-04-22, $580,000

RIO VISTA

TOTAL SALES: 2

LOWEST AMOUNT: $360,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $460,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $410,000 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $410,000

226 Cedar Ridge Drive – $360,000 08-29-22 [2 Bdrms – 970 SqFt – 2001 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 03-06-04, $215,000

497 Twin Lakes Lane – $460,000 08-31-22 [2 Bdrms – 1673 SqFt – 2012

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-02-12, $235,500

SUISUN CITY

TOTAL SALES: 4

LOWEST AMOUNT: $480,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $610,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $525,000 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $535,000

817 Greenhead Way – $525,000 09-01-22 [3 Bdrms – 1088 SqFt – 1976 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-10-19, $365,000

81 Rodondo Avenue – $525,000 08-29-22 [4 Bdrms – 1490 SqFt – 1977 YrBlt]

1766 Stoneman Drive – $610,000 08-29-22 [4 Bdrms – 2136 SqFt – 2016 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-25-16, $440,500

561 East Wigeon Way – $480,000 08-30-22 [3 Bdrms – 1192 SqFt – 1980 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-08-18, $375,000

VACAVILLE

TOTAL SALES: 16

LOWEST AMOUNT: $292,500

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $825,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $571,500

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $570,406

160 Alonzo Court – $575,000

08-31-22 [4 Bdrms – 1513 SqFt – 1980

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-22-15, $330,000

349 Bishop Drive – $568,000

08-29-22 [3 Bdrms – 1557 SqFt – 1981 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-27-98, $155,000

325 Bluebell Court – $690,000

08-29-22 [4 Bdrms – 2258 SqFt – 1988 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-20-05, $481,000

149 Bounty Lane – $602,000

09-01-22 [2 Bdrms – 1597 SqFt – 1997 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-19-98, $173,500

525 Canvasback Court – $555,000

09-01-22 [3 Bdrms – 1388 SqFt – 1995 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-30-19, $424,000

161 Dover Way – $530,000

08-31-22 [3 Bdrms – 1352 SqFt – 1974 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1990, $144,500

1900 Glencrest Drive #4 – $292,500

08-31-22 [2 Bdrms – 1092 SqFt – 1981 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-14-19, $212,500

199 Lassen Circle – $400,000 08-30-22 [2 Bdrms – 918 SqFt – 1964 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-17-20, $305,000

500 Lavender Drive – $600,000 08-31-22 [3 Bdrms – 1827 SqFt – 2018 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-10-18, $455,500

418 Markham Avenue – $535,000 08-29-22 [4 Bdrms – 1628 SqFt – 1967 YrBlt]

719 Raven Drive – $654,000 08-31-22 [4 Bdrms – 1972 SqFt – 1989 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-20-10, $262,000

215 Richard Place – $400,000 08-30-22 [3 Bdrms – 1374 SqFt – 1975 YrBlt]

882 Ruby Drive – $710,000 08-30-22 [4 Bdrms – 2653 SqFt – 1997 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-27-05, $550,000 7013 Sitka Court – $625,000 09-01-22 [3 Bdrms – 1999 SqFt – 2016 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-27-16, $441,500

336 Springvalley Drive – $565,000 08-29-22 [4 Bdrms – 1602 SqFt – 1971 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-18-18, $403,500

113 Vista View Drive – $825,000 08-31-22 [4 Bdrms – 2043 SqFt – 1975 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-04-17, $605,100

VALLEJO

TOTAL SALES: 27

LOWEST AMOUNT: $125,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $860,000 MEDIAN AMOUNT: $520,000 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $538,148

232 B Street – $485,000 08-31-22 [2 Bdrms – 1098 SqFt – 1924 YrBlt] 1333 North Camino Alto #166 –$271,000 09-01-22 [2 Bdrms – 856 SqFt – 1974 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-22-18, $162,000

343 Campbell Avenue – $125,000 08-30-22 [2 Bdrms – 1040 SqFt – 1926 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-06-15, $175,000 122 Carroll Street – $555,000 08-29-22 [2 Bdrms – 990 SqFt – 1934 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-10-11, $138,000 350 Crisp Avenue – $775,000

These

08-30-22 [4 Bdrms – 2599 SqFt – 2005 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-22-05, $727,500

728 Falcon Drive – $620,000

08-30-22 [4 Bdrms – 1536 SqFt – 1966 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-18-22, $450,000

1405 Farrell Street – $500,000

08-29-22 [2 Bdrms – 1273 SqFt – 1932 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-10-14, $179,000

8517 Felino Court – $585,000

08-29-22 [5 Bdrms – 2069 SqFt – 2002 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-22-08, $293,000

1105 Flagship Drive – $679,000

08-29-22 [3 Bdrms – 2645 SqFt – 2005

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-06-05, $721,500

707 Foothill Drive – $563,000

08-29-22 [3 Bdrms – 1341 SqFt – 1986 YrBlt]

1025 Heartwood Avenue – $435,000

08-31-22 [2 Bdrms – 897 SqFt – 1953 YrBlt]

616 Henry Street – $520,000

08-30-22 [3 Bdrms – 1132 SqFt – 1942

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-30-12, $123,500

2940 Irwin Street – $200,000

08-30-22 [2 Bdrms – 748 SqFt – 1941 YrBlt]

1011 Madrone Avenue – $730,500

08-30-22 [4 Bdrms – 2746 SqFt – 2005

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-14-10, $325,000

117 Navone Street – $465,000 08-30-22 [2 Bdrms – 1390 SqFt – 1942 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-26-15, $169,000

2832 Olivewood Lane – $860,000 08-29-22 [4 Bdrms – 2518 SqFt – 2001

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-15-01, $426,312

119 Ramsgate Way – $775,000

08-29-22 [5 Bdrms – 2301 SqFt – 1989 YrBlt]

4130 Sheffield Way – $834,000

08-29-22 [3 Bdrms – 2442 SqFt – 2003 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-14-14, $450,000

349 Stageline Drive – $495,000

08-29-22 [3 Bdrms – 1225 SqFt – 1986 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-21-13, $195,000

351 Swan Way – $430,000

08-30-22 [3 Bdrms – 1224 SqFt – 1962 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-03-08, $176,000

1133 Symphony Way – $475,000 09-01-22 [2 Bdrms – 1238 SqFt – 2007 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-02-19, $397,000

1082 Thelma Avenue – $475,000 08-29-22 [3 Bdrms – 1000 SqFt – 1950 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-20-13, $130,500

535 Tregaskis Avenue – $420,000 08-29-22 [2 Bdrms – 768 SqFt – 1930 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-17-10, $89,000

171 Wellington Place – $732,500 08-30-22 [4 Bdrms – 1695 SqFt – 1995 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-10-22, $603,000

64 Werden Street – $200,000 08-29-22 [3 Bdrms – 988 SqFt – 1977 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-31-09, $50,000

306 Whitecliff Drive – $545,000 09-01-22 [3 Bdrms – 1406 SqFt – 1961 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-30-18, $450,000

1255 Wildwing Lane – $780,000 08-29-22 [4 Bdrms – 3821 SqFt – 2001 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-12-01, $525,950

Advertise

Second mortgages attractive as interest rates keep rising

Asecond mortgage is loan secured by a deed of trust on real estate. The second mortgage is a junior lien to the first mortgage and is secured by the equity that exists above the first mortgage balance.

There are many reasons a person may choose to take out a second mortgage, but the primary reason today is that most homeowners have a first mortgage at a much lower rate than today’s rates and they certainly wouldn’t do cash-out first mortgage refi nance to get $100,000 for a home improvement project or a debt consolidation if their $400,000 first mortgage was at

3.5% fixed.

HELOCs, or home equity lines of credit, are popular but a closed end 10- or 15-year fixedrate second mortgage is another alternative when looking for cash out and the homeowner doesn’t want to touch their lowrate first mortgage loan with a 10-foot pole.

HELOCs are adjustable-rate

Amazing opportunity to live/(work) or invest on the Suisun waterfront: Gorgeous, custom, mixed-use residence featuring a luxurious upstairs 3-bedroom, 2-bath home with spectacular waterfront views (2,477 sq.ft) and separate, beautifully finished downstairs commercial office/retail space, currently leased for added income (1,638 sq.ft.). Meticulous and unique finishes throughout including custom cabinetry, romantic built-in breakfast area for two, cozy view seat, double-glass doors leading to office (3rd bedroom), gas fireplace and expansive marina views from the oversized balcony off the great room. Spacious private bedroom suite includes a beautiful walk-in closet with organizers and vanity flanked by primary bathroom boasting a large soaking tub with jets and a nice separate shower stall. Located on the waterfront downtown Suisun, with boat access, bars, shops and restaurants steps away.

Jim

OPEN HOUSE

Open House Saturday 11-1PM

243 Loch Lomond Drive, Vacaville

Great opportunity….Price reflects “quick fixer” plus $20,000 credit. Large home with downstairs bed and bath. Spacious kitchen w/updated stainless steel appliances and large counter bar with seating. Fenced Pool & spa with heater and solar! $640,000

OPEN HOUSE OPEN HOUSE

Angela Moore & Associate

REALTOR® DRE#0087007 (707) 888-1829

Don’t Miss This One!

1536 Michigan Street, Fairfield

Updated 3 bd 2 ba with new interior paint, carpets & laminate flooring, new stainless appliances, painted cabinets & resurfaced counter tops. Home also has dual pane windows, tankless water heater, newer roof and new air condenser. Reduced to $485,000

Open House Sat 1:30-3:30PM Sun 1-3PM

1084 Mission Circle, Fairfield

Sparkling 3bd/2ba in Cordelia Villages!

Recently updated w/new kitchen & appliances, new floors throughout. Backyard w/new deck. Close to schools, shops, I-80/680. $633,000

Open House Sat & Sun 1-3PM

431 Carema Court, Vacaville

4bd/2.5ba+loft, just under 2,200sf. Oversized windows with plantation shutters. Kitchen with neutral cabinets, SS appliances, granite counters. Upstairs laundr y. $589,950

Lisa Imhoff & Assciate

REALTORS® DRE#01790343 (707) 333-1057

Water View Home

275 Har vest Hills Lane Rio Vista

Entering you see tile floors, large windows framing the spectacular view of the backyard & lake. Chef’s kitchen w/soft closing cabinets/doors, stainless appliances, 5 burner gas stove top. Extended patio/all weather cover & fenced. $599,000

Renee Neuman & Sylvia Cole

REALTOR® DRE#01231287 or 01386900 (707) 249-2702 or 330-8923

Ralene Nelson

BRE#01503588

334-0699

Ralene Nelson

REALTOR® BRE#01503588

334-0699

Custom Craftsman Cottage

147 Gardiner Way Rio Vista

Custom Craftsman Cottage, 1952, w/ detached carport, 70 ft driveway, workshop & studio/she shed, sunroom on a shy 1/4 acre lot. 3 bedroom, possibly 4, w/2 baths, laminate floors & white blinds. Space for your RV/boat etc. Solar. $499,500

Ralene Nelson

REALTOR® BRE#01503588

334-0699

OPEN HOUSE OPEN OHOUSE PEN HOUSE

Open House Sunday 1-3PM

782 Ash Court, Fairfield

This beautifully updated 4bd, 2ba home is move-in ready. It boasts new flooring, interior paint, newer windows, updated kitchen and bathrooms. You will want to make this house your new home. $595,000

Open House Saturday 12-3PM

1413 Jamboree Drive, Fairfield

4 bedrooms, 3 full baths (one bdrm/bath downstairs). Explosive kitchen island w/sink. Energy efficient appliances, eat-in dining area. Window coverings, Washer/Dryer, Refrig. TV’s, Pd. SOLAR, Ring cameras all conveys. Extensive paver backyard. $695,000

Open House Sun 12-3PM & Tues 6-8PM

899 New Bedford Place, Fairfield

NEW PRICE! Mechanics DREAM! RV Parking, 10,000 lb two post car lift. Convenient location at the end of a private street. Fresh exterior paint, Granite kitchen counters, updated primary bathroom, refurbished flooring, Views 2% Seller Credit! $630,000

Holly Bellamy & Associate REALTOR® DRE#01870308 (707) 330-8400

OPEN HOUSE

Cindi Robbins & Associate

DRE#01507120 (707) 592-5952

OPEN HOUSE

Open House Sunday 12-2PM

4831 Silver Creek Road, Fairfield 3 bedroom, 2 bath. Simulated wood, tile & carpet. Kitchen with granite counters, SS appliances. Newer dual pane windows. Private 8,071 oversized lot. Outdoor BBQ+. $588,888

Renee Neuman & Deanna Million

REALTOR® DRE#01231287 & #02173443

249-2702 or 469-3346

Open House Saturday 12:30-2:30PM

2737 Almondwood Way, Fairfield

Lovely 4BR 2.5BA w/updated & reconfigured Kitchen w/granite counters, updated bathrooms, newer dual paned windows, central heat/air, great room w/fireplace, tile floors in living areas, 1st floor bedroom. Detached garage w/laundry area. $575,000

Sandy Stewart & Associate

REALTOR® DRE#01038978

(707) 696-7063

Cindi Robbins & Associate

DRE#01507120

592-5952

OPEN HOUSE

Open House Sunday 1-3PM

842 Elderberry Loop, Vacaville

New price for this great property! 4BR plus office, 3.5BA main home with huge kitchen & 1BR 1BA apartment over the detached 3 car garage. $1 ,199,000

Sandy Stewart & Associate

REALTOR® DRE#01038978

696-7063

Soprano impatiens made their debut this year and I can truthfully say I wish every flower I planted was this easy to grow. They arrived in 2022 with four colors: Orange, Bright Red, Violet Shades and White. In 2023, Salmon and Rose will be added to the Soprano series.

If you have read any of my previous columns, you understand The Garden Guy is sun-chal lenged. It makes for great butterfly, hummingbird and pol linator photography, as I am always shooting to a backdrop of shade. The Soprano series has become a superstar to me, giving dazzling partnerships with hydrangeas, camellias, azaleas, hostas and ferns.

I suspect a generation of gar deners out there hasn’t tried the shadier impatiens. Proven Winners has elected to refer ence the Sopranos as bedding impatiens. That certainly is appropriate, as according to the famed Missouri Botani cal Garden, they are the most popular bedding plant today. In past generations the name "Busy Lizzy" was commonly associated with the flowers.

The Soprano impatiens, according to the tag, reach 10 to 15 inches tall with a spread of 12 to 14. I have several beds, and most of mine are pushing 24 inches. This is absolutely wonderful, as they have almost an uncountable number of flowers. The Sopranos have def initely put the fun back into growing impatiens.

In my area of West Georgia, hydrangeas are most often a shade of blue and look their best if given protection from hot afternoon sun. I absolutely

love Soprano impatiens grown in partnership with the big mop head hydrangeas and especially in areas where I have also incor porated hostas. The Salmon and Orange Sopranos are like, "holy wow," with the blue hydran

gea blossoms. In another area I alternated Salmon, Deep Red and Orange to create a Southwest or Santa Fe mix. This mix is in a bed up

Financing the AMERICAN DREAM

Purchase

Norman Winter

Porter

From

loans that can change monthly, and most are based on The Wall

Journal prime rate plus a margin based on FICO score. A bridge loan is usually secured by a second mortgage, and the purpose of this type of loan is for people who are selling soon but need the money required now so they can buy the new home first and sell the departing residence after they move into their new home.

Second mortgage loans are now very popular, but every homeowner’s case is different and should be reviewed by a qualified mortgage professional.

Credit card debt, student loans, personal loans and auto loans can overwhelm people with monthly payments and inter est costs. If a homeowner has $120,000 worth of this type of debt, they may have a total of $2,000 per month in payments. If this homeowner has enough equity in their home and can obtain a $120,000 fixed-rate loan at a lower rate than they are paying on all this other debt, it might save them $1,000 to $1,200 per month.

The key thing to remember when doing a consolidation loan is to make sure the $1,000 per month in savings is spent wisely by paying down the mortgage or, better yet, investing the savings monthly so the next time some thing is needed, credit cards are not used because credit cards should always be paid in full monthly.

Jim Porter, NMLS No. 276412, is the branch manager of Solano Mortgage, NMLS No. 1515497, a division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation, NMLS No. 1850, licensed in California by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the CRMLA / Equal Housing Opportunity. Jim can be reached at 707-449-4777.

Report: Home prices decelerating by record amount

TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY

Could housing prices finally be coming back down to earth? Yearover-year home-price growth decelerated at a recordsetting pace in July 2022. S&P CoreLogic’s latest Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index, released Sept. 27, reports that price growth dropped by 2.3% from June to July – from 18.1% to 15.8%.

‘A forceful deceleration’

While prices are still growing compared with a year ago, that’s the largest one-month decline in the history of the index. Prices fell in 15 of the top 20 U.S. cities from June to July, however.

“Although U.S. housing prices remain substantially above their year-ago levels, July’s report reflects a force ful deceleration,” said Craig J. Lazzara, managing director at S&P DJI, in a statement. “As the Federal Reserve continues to move interest rates upward, mortgage financing has become more expensive, a process that continues to this day. Given the prospects for a more challenging macroeconomic environment, home prices may well continue to decelerate.”

The Fed and the housing market

The Federal Reserve’s aggressive moves to combat inflation have put upward pres sure on mortgage rates. In September, the Fed issued its third consecutive rate hike of three-quarters of a percent age point. While the Fed doesn’t directly set mortgage rates, the mortgage market’s interpreta tions of the central bank’s moves will influence how much you pay for your home loan.

The long period of low mort

gage rates following the Great Recession came to an end earlier this year. This June, rates topped 6% for the first time since 2008. The upward trend continued in September, when rates reached 6.73%.

Steve Reich, Finance of America Mortgage’s chief oper ations officer, highlights the impacts that these trends have on the housing market. “Home price appreciation has contin ued to slow as the Fed works to get inflation under control,” he said in a statement. “The gradual slowdown can be attributed to higher inter est rates, which has tempered what many homebuyers can afford and, in turn, has soft ened home sales.”

Amid these conditions, Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell has stressed the need for a “reset” in the housing market to better align the supply of homes with demand. While Powell called deceleration of home prices “a good thing,” homeowners may feel differently.

“The remarkable rise in mortgage rates is acting as a kind of golden handcuffs, lim iting the desire and some of the ability of people to move out of the homes they currently own,” says Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate. “That will further pressure housing inventory, adding insult to supply injury.”

What it means for homebuyers and sellers

Both buyers and sellers will need to go with the flow in the current market. “For prospec tive sellers, the new status quo dictates they remain flexible on price, given the extraordinary challenges posed by the sharp increase in mortgage rates,” Hamrick says. “Those who are very motivated to purchase a

home should be prepared for the sticker shock associated with the increased expense of financing the purchase. Part of the flexibility that may be required of buyers includes seeking a possible downgrade of footprint or quality of home, along with the neighborhood, in order to achieve an afford able purchase.”

Reich emphasizes that buying a home in today’s market is still possible: “As we head into the fall season and home prices continue to moderate, the average time active listings stay on the market is getting longer, resulting in a slightly less com petitive market,” he says. “And that’s good news for homebuy ers who are still in the game.”

Your Home Improvement Specialists

Solano County Listings: Homes for sale

$472,000 1340 Blackberry Ct Dixon 4 2 /0 1969 0.07 322073001

$479,000 1019 Parkgreen Dr Dixon 2 2 /0 1257 0.130 322063429

$484,900 1320 Blackberry Ct Dixon 3 2 /0 1487 0.073 322062507

$519,700 710 Priddy Dr Dixon 3 1/1 1036 6969sf 322080176

$530,000 1000 West F Street Dixon 4 2 /0 1771 0.15 322071225

$565,000 160 Victoria Ct Dixon 4 2 /0 1688 0.132 322082941

$633,000 1410 Cornell Dr Dixon 3 3/0 1,917 0.07 322085404

$645,000 1405 Bello Dr Dixon 4 2 /0 2,036 0.19 322084561

$679,000 1950 Dailey Ct Dixon 4 2 /0 2021 0.248 322084370

$749,000 705 Wiegand Way Dixon 4 2 /0 1850 0.23 322055685

$765,000 500 Kings Ct Dixon 5 3/1 3200 0.195 322070538

$785,000 515 West Cherry St Dixon 4 3/0 2755 0.124 322083817

$4,500,000 6156 Clark Rd Dixon 4 4 /0 5906 78.98 322047718

$367,000 225 Pennsylvania Ave #42 Fairfield 3 2 /0 1084 0.026 322065570

$469,287 3031 Roadrunner Dr Fairfield 3 2 /1 1717 0.058 322073804

$480,000 1655 Hemlock St Fairfield 3 2 /0 1,274 0.16 322082879

$499,000 2373 Cabrillo Dr Fairfield 4 2 /0 1704 0.13 322086472

$499,900 231 E Utah St Fairfield 3 2 /0 1517 0.12 322083815

$499,900 2330 Baldwin Ct Fairfield 3 2 /0 1204 0.18 322087210

$524,500 175 Santa Barbara Way Fairfield 3 2 /0 1,213 0.14 322079516

$534,000 8 49 Finch Wy Fairfield 3 2 /0 1300 0.13 322053377

$535,000 2723 Marigod Dr Fairfield 3 2 /0 1300 0.14 322086301

$535,000 618 E Colorado St Fairfield 4 2 /0 1261 0.13 322081431

$539,900 178 Santa Barbara Way Fairfield 3 2 /0 1,335 0.14 322079600

$549,000 1180 Dana Dr Fairfield 5 2 /0 1,650 0.16 322070975

$565,000 8 32 Tulare Circle Fairfield 4 2 /1 1934 6006 322080552

$588,888 4 831 Silver Creek Rd Fairfield 3 2 /0 1082 0.185 322077342

$589,000 2737 Almondwood Wy Fairfield 4 2 /1 1512 0.08 322080695

$599,000 2759 Parkview Terrace Fairfiled 3 2 /0 1,332 0.16 322072682

$633,000 1084 Mission Cir Fairfield 3 2 /0 1305 0.114 322082699

$675,000 3116 Clydesdale W Fairfield 4 2 /1 2253 8 302 322044501

$679,997 4756 Canyon Hills Dr Fairfield 4 3/0 1,816 0.12 322076136

$695,000 4 480 Rolling Meadows Ln Fairfield 4 2 /1 2210 0.169 322086454

$799,999 5224 Tuscany Drive Fairfield 3 3/0 2,308 0.12 322067123

$824,999 3032 Muse Wy Fairfield 4 3/0 2841 0.135 322078149

$960,000 5181 Palace Ct Fairfield 5 3/0 3007 0.168 322082111

$975,000 417 Knoll Dr Fairfield 4 2 /1 2803 0.257 322070191

$1,425,000 3279 Congressional Cir Fairfield 5 5/0 3948 0.292 322086975

$1,495,000 1106 Skywest Ct Fairfield 5 3/0 3414 0.804 322068078

$1,599,000 5270 Oakridge Drive Fairfield 4 3/0 4,034 0.3 332069250

$2,300,000 853 Bridle Ridge Dr Fairfield 4 6/0 3,937 0.97 322075479

$2,350,000 1604 Amaral Ct Fairfield 3 2 /0 2,319 2.5 322074329

$430,000 101 Cedar Ridge Dr Rio Vista 2 2 /0 1671 0.129 322064595

$535,000 1973 Garden Ln Rio Vista 3 2 /0 1635 0.146 322085292

$480,000 1313 Philip Wy Suisun City 3 1/0 1020 322085230

$515,000 635 Klamath Wy Suisun City 3 2 /0 1492 0.14 322079444

$525,500 601 Whipporwill Way Suisun City 3 2 /0 1,480 0.18 322072584

$550,000 411 Avalon Wy Suisun City 3 2 /0 2152 0.23 322067943

$665,000 330 Engell Ct Suisun City 3 2 /1 2206 0.160 322070250

$679,997 429 Dobbins Ct Suisun City 5 3/0 2,338 0.14 322079187

$418,950 167 Mckinley Cir Vacaville 2 2 /0 1,043 0.13 322089026

$420,000 116 Mckinley Cir Vacaville 2 2 /0 1,043 0.13 322086513

$439,000 101 Isle Royale Cir Vacaville 2 2 /0 1152 0.15 322080839

$457,000 105 Rainier Cir Vacaville 2 2 /0 1152 0.13 322078018

$460,000 125 Christine Dr Vacaville 3 2 /0 1,062 0.11 322080818

$465,000 112 Manzanita Dr Vacaville 3 2 /0 1472 0.12 322075477

$479,500 173 Cambridge Dr Vacaville 2 2 /0 1,212 0.05 322087011

$485,000 106 Longview Dr Vacaville 3 2 /0 1284 0.13 322087578

$529,000 424 Mandarin Cir Vacaville 2 2 /0 1323 1163 322066345

$547,900 407 Deodara St Vacaville 3 2 /0 1168 0.13 322059937

$549,000 686 Mashall Rd Vacaville 3 2 /0 1402 0.18 322059279

$549,999 118 Oakmeade Ct Vacaville 4 3/0 1799 0.13 322086318

$567,500 801 S Orchard Ave Vacaville 3 2 /0 1230 0.12 322073187

$570,000 4 84 Manchester Wy Vacaville 3 2 /0 1602 0.13 322083162

$584,888 116 American Wy Vacaville 3 2 /1 1734 3404sf 322084469

$589,950 4 31 Carema Ct Vacaville 4 2 /1 2197 0.068 322088672

$590,000 107 Colony Way Vacaville 4 3/0 1,887 0.07 322068608 $599,000 312 Woodhaven Dr Vacaville 4 2 /1 1840 0.14 322088768 $599,999 296 Plantation Way Vacaville 4 2 /1 1840 0.13 322062209

$610,000 512 Florence Dr Vacaville 4 2 /0 1785 0.21 322090024 $612,000 773 Calico Trl Vacaville 3 2 /0 1633 0.152 322078867 $619,900 219 Larkspur Dr Vacaville 3 2 /1 2040 0.138 322073197 $625,000 667 Laurelwood Cir Vacaville 3 2 /0 1,750 0.14 322080908 $635,000 454 Royal Oaks Ct Vacaville 3 2 /0 1,544 0.20 322082581 $639,000 519 Parkridge Ct Vacaville 4 2 /1 1950 0.16 322088423 $639,900 784 Calico Trl Vacaville 3 3/0 1,951 0.15 322072800 $640,000 243 Loch Lomond Dr Vacaville 4 3/0 2308 6251sf 322088592 $645,000 272 San Leon Dr Vacaville 4 3/0 1,843 0.15 322084746 $648,000 636 Silver Star Ct Vacaville 4 2 /0 1661 0.134 322071775 $650,000 148 Monte Verde Dr Vacaville 5 2 /1 2196 0.43 322080601 $675,000 263 Bantry Dr Vacaville 4 2 /1 2143 0.184 322086137 $699,950 112 Salinas Dr Vacaville 3 2 /0 1567 0.19 322075118 $770,000 901 Cedarcrest Dr Vacaville 5 3/0 3014 0.207 322061115 $775,000 200 Ginger St Vacaville 4 3/0 2482 0.135 322085207 $775,000 754 Arabian Cir Vacaville 3 2 /0 2,066 0.26 322067856 $790,000 8024 Claret Court Vacaville 4 3/1 2941 0.16 322074811 $839,000 606 Hillcrest Cir Vacaville 4 2 /0 2202 0.233 322054244 $899,500 155 Foothill Dr Vacaville 3 3/0 1,919 0.60 322068886 $959,000 7396 Paddon Rd Vacaville 3 2 /0 1500 2.43 322071057 $1,249,000 8 42 Elderberry Loop Vacaville 5 4 /1 4058 0.295 322043728 $2,200,000 4150 Shelly Ln Vacaville 6 4 /0 4,800 20.00 322060664 $300,000 150 Calhoun St Vallejo 3 1/0 988 0.010 322079969 $475,000 2940 Georgia St Vallejo 3 2 /0 876 0.13 322087029 $519,000 721 Rosewood Ave Vallejo 3 1/0 1020 0.11 322086482 $595,000 1543 Granada Street Vallejo 3 2 /0 1350 6534 322072731 $595,000 184 Smokey Hills Dr Vallejo 3 2 /0 1532 10890sf 322084742 $599,000 815 Valle Vista Ave Vallejo 3 2 /0 1,829 0.13 322068195 $615,000 118 Fairmont Ave Vallejo 4 3/0 2,107 0.16 322069781 $1,130,000 3024 Overlook Dr Vallejo 4 3/0 3,368 0.25 322071681 $659,900 3931 Central Ln Winters 3 2 /0 1782 5.52 322032322 $875,000 8 457 Plesants Valley Rd Winters 2 1/0 22.16 321006700

LOTS & LAND

PRICE A DDRESS CITY LOT/AC SUB TYPE MLS#

$550,000 Liberty Ln Vacaville 25.01 AGRI 322061524 $699,000 Liberty Ln Vacaville 29.9 AGRI 322061700 $850,000 Gaddini Road Vacaville 14.89 AGRI 322085720 $2,300,000 5663 Dally Rd Vacaville 76.09 AGRI 322070665 $4,500,000 6156 Clark Rd Dixon 78.98 AGRI 322049465 $500,000 360 Butcher Rd Vacaville 1.10 Comm 321098151 $1,250,000 8 362 Auction Ln Dixon 2.16 Comm 322014651 $1,870,000 2300-11 E Monte Vista Ave Vacaville 3.66 Comm 321102156 $265,000 2060 Pinecrest Ct Vacaville 1.15 RESA 322048328 $359,950 Gibson Canyon Vacaville 1.55 RESA 22029146 $399,500 3757 Wild Oak Trl Vacaville 4.96 RESA 322061715 $549,000 3745 Wild Oak Trl Vacaville 5 RESA 322061705 $875,000 Oakridge and Lopes Rd Benicia 20 RESA 322061922 $875,000 8 457 Plesants Valley Rd Winters 22.16 RESA 321000406 $15,000,000 Mankas Fairfield RESA 21825708 $498,000 English Hills Rd Vacaville 2.5 RESL 322065164

MOBILE/FLOATING

PRICE

$187,000

322065331 $209,000

322072141 $75,000

MULTI UNIT 2-4

322065332

Payments

The first week in April, when rates were 4.72%, the same house would come with a $780 monthly payment.

But now that same $150,000 mortgage would cost $964 a month.

Over 30 years, the homebuyer who bought in January would pay $84,000 in interest. The homebuyer who buys this week

would pay $197,000.

A buyer who borrowed $150,000 on a 15-year mortgage would have paid $995 a month in January and would pay $1,258 a month using this week’s rates.

Whether you borrow $150,000 or $500,000, a payment on a 30-year mortgage has increased by 48% on average. Payments are up 26% on 15-year payments.

These calculations don’t include property taxes, home insurance or private mort gage insurance.

REAL

Home prices are up about 6% year over year in Ohio, but the rise in prices is slowing down.

Mortgage rates fluctuate but they’ve been over 6% for 30-year mortgages for four weeks.

“Mortgage rates decreased slightly this week due to ongoing economic uncertainty,” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist, said in a statement. “However, rates remain quite high compared to just one year ago, meaning housing continues to be more expensive for poten tial homebuyers.”

LISTING, SELLING AND

MORTGAGE LOANS

against a brick wall and also repeated nearby as a border in front of camellia sasanqua and fine fern leaf textured mahonia.

The Garden Guy has fallen head over heels with Crested Surf, a variety of Crested Japa nese Painted Fern. I created an informal drift or sweep of the fern, then repeated the same

shape with Soprano Rose in on one side and Soprano white on the other. I feel that one of the most exquisite ferns we can grow needs a beautiful partner too, and the Soprano impatiens are perfect.

I don’t think I have ever read that impatiens attract pollina tors, but over the past two years I have photographed eastern tiger swallowtail, spicebush swal lowtail and cloudless sulphur butterflies.

When you consider that the impatiens blooms from the time

you plant it in the spring until the first hard frost, you are talking about an extremely good value for your landscape dollar. In my area of West Georgia, that is nor mally 210 days. What other plant can you name that will bloom for that long?

Soprano impatiens do best in part shade or full shade in a soil that is organic rich, fertile and well drained. Not everyone has such wonderful soil, so incor porate 3 to 4 inches of compost or humus to loosen the soil to provide a good home for your

new plants. In most of my beds I have a good soil that was actually combined with pea gravel and surprisingly, the Soprano impa tiens are loving it.

While working the soil, incor porate a slow-release fertilizer like a 12-6-6 blend with minor nutrients at a rate of two pounds per 100 square feet of planting area. Space them 8 to 12 inches apart, planting at the same depth they are growing in the con tainer. Keep them watered and fed with light applications of fer tilizer every four to six weeks

and by fall you will have a look that just may rival the spring azalea bloom.

Norman Winter is a horticultur ist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Com binations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Face book @NormanWinterThe GardenGuy. He receives compli mentary plants to review from the companies he covers.

Annie Vogelpohl