The rain totals for January, February and March of 2022 were the lowest in 100 years. These past 30 days of rain and snow was a huge relief for California, however water can be a home’s worst enemy.
Protecting your home from water damage is important because dry rot is not covered by homeowner’s insurance. Dry rot happens when wood gets wet and stays wet and only gets worse over time. I have seen a structural pest inspection where a tiny leak under a sink caused thousands of dollars of damage because the tiny leak was ignored for several years.
Jim Porter
The key to protecting your house is waterproofing your property with paint, maintaining your roof and gutters, and making sure the rainwater drains away from your home. This is especially important when you have a raised foundation and a crawl space.
See Porter, Page 4
A true gem! Homes like this don’t come on the market very often. Pride in ownership shines throughout. The primary bedroom situated on the first level features custom shiplap wall, exterior access through the french doors and adorned with custom shutters for the ultimate privacy, plus has a bathroom ensuite with double vanity, stand alone tub and separate shower. Also downstairs is an additional half bath for convenience. The gorgeous chef ’s kitchen opens up to the family and dining areas and features a large center island, custom tile backsplash and solid wood barn door leading to the spacious backyard. So many additional upgrades and impressive details throughout. Come by the open house this weekend to check out the fine details for yourself, you have to see it to believe it and you will fall in love! Check out the website for more info: www.1234gulf.com
Offered at $699,000
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.
TOTAL SALES: 3
LOWEST AMOUNT: $605,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $1,150,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $850,000 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $868,333
12-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1604 SqFt - 1969 YrBlt]
3293 Formby Lane - $720,000
12-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 2610 SqFt - 1988
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-19-12, $412,000
2103 Larchmont Circle - $680,000
12-19-22 [4 Bdrms - 2077 SqFt - 1986
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-27-20, $585,000
1412 Monroe Street - $415,000
12-20-22 [4 Bdrms - 1100 SqFt - 1954
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1991, $116,000
2956 Orchid Street - $365,000
12-21-22 [5 Bdrms - 2108 SqFt - 1973
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-02-18, $420,000
2786 Peppertree Drive - $540,500
12-19-22 [3 Bdrms - 1400 SqFt - 1989
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-28-18, $394,000
2408 Royal Court - $565,000
TOTAL SALES: 2
LOWEST AMOUNT: $550,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $606,000
12-19-22 [3 Bdrms - 1541 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt]
1812 San Jose Place - $505,000
12-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1261 SqFt - 1961 YrBlt]
5288 Trophy Drive - $300,000
12-22-22 [4 Bdrms - 1786 SqFt - 1996
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-09-10, $265,000
231 East Utah Street - $476,000
12-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1517 SqFt - 1952
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-31-15, $205,000
- 2015
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-25-19, $464,000
TOTAL SALES: 18
LOWEST AMOUNT: $300,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $800,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $490,500
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $530,750
702 Adagio Drive - $800,000
12-22-22 [5 Bdrms - 3461 SqFt - 2006
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-27-07, $896,000
2776 Ambrosia Way - $570,000
12-23-22 [4 Bdrms - 2055 SqFt - 2021
YrBlt]
4596 Avondale Circle - $725,000
12-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 3068 SqFt - 2001
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-08-20, $669,000
204 Camellia Street - $472,000
12-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1403 SqFt - 1964
YrBlt]
415 Chelsea Way - $390,000
12-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1789 SqFt - 1974
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1991, $75,500
4808 Edgestone Court - $800,000
12-19-22 [4 Bdrms - 2481 SqFt - 2000
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-17-00, $329,500
1001 Eisenhower Street - $405,000
12-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1097 SqFt - 1956
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-16-15, $240,000
2813 Elmhurst Circle - $455,000
12-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1290 SqFt - 1976
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1992, $143,000
1073 Flicker Lane - $370,000
TOTAL SALES: 1
LOWEST AMOUNT: $455,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $455,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $455,000
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $455,000
317 Saint Francis Way - $455,000
12-19-22 [3 Bdrms - 1710 SqFt - 1951 YrBlt]
TOTAL SALES: 7
LOWEST AMOUNT: $465,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $625,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $525,000
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $538,929
1300 Bittern Way - $488,000
12-19-22 [3 Bdrms - 1327 SqFt - 1988
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-14-09, $160,000
606 Decoy Lane - $465,000
12-23-22 [3 Bdrms - 1488 SqFt - 1978
YrBlt]
429 Dobbins Court - $625,000
12-23-22 [5 Bdrms - 2338 SqFt - 1989
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-23-11, $240,000
401 Donaldson Court - $608,500
12-23-22 [4 Bdrms - 2206 SqFt - 1989
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-10-21, $600,000
947 Edgewood Circle - $480,000
12-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1280 SqFt - 1989
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-19-15, $305,000
211 Leafwood Court - $525,000
12-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1427 SqFt - 1990
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-18-00, $210,000
1414 Tillman Street - $581,000
12-22-22 [4 Bdrms - 1952 SqFt - 1992 YrBlt]
TOTAL SALES: 18
LOWEST AMOUNT: $235,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $1,100,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $550,000
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $563,333
1910 Aletha Lane #1 - $264,000
12-19-22 [2 Bdrms - 924 SqFt - 1981 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 06-25-21, $245,000
224 Amherst Court - $461,000
12-23-22 [3 Bdrms - 1296 SqFt - 1975 YrBlt]
528 Arcadia Drive - $235,000
12-22-22 [1 Bdrms - 687 SqFt - 1983 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 10-10-12, $56,000
206 Berryessa Drive - $487,500
12-23-22 [4 Bdrms - 1402 SqFt - 1965
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-21-06, $400,000
542 Boone Drive - $725,000
12-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 2702 SqFt - 2001
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-07-17, $548,000
125 Bristol Drive - $550,000
12-20-22 [4 Bdrms - 1905 SqFt - 1973
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-27-20, $447,000
581 Buck Avenue - $635,000
12-20-22 [4 Bdrms - 1841 SqFt - 1974 YrBlt]
104 Carlsbad Circle - $455,000
12-23-22 [3 Bdrms - 1598 SqFt - 1972
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-12-09, $160,000
120 Carlton Avenue - $540,000
12-19-22 [4 Bdrms - 1430 SqFt - 1981
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-27-18, $400,000
723 Chateau Circle - $550,000
12-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1591 SqFt - 2001
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-12-14, $330,000
956 Dawnview Way - $660,000
12-20-22 [4 Bdrms - 2333 SqFt - 1999
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-14-14, $420,000
1025 Fawnglen Court - $725,000
12-20-22 [5 Bdrms - 2792 SqFt - 1999
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-17-03, $500,000
300 Jasmine Drive - $647,500
12-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1827 SqFt - 2019
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-22-19, $479,000
105 Luzena Avenue - $415,000
12-22-22 [1 Bdrms - 840 SqFt - 1927 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-27-08, $58,000
7533 Paddon Road - $1,100,000
12-23-22 [4 Bdrms - 1875 SqFt - 1972
YrBlt]
1052 Parkside Drive - $685,000
12-19-22 [5 Bdrms - 3173 SqFt - 2007
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-07-16, $520,000
332 Plantation Court - $590,000
12-19-22 [4 Bdrms - 2043 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt]
3811 Serenity Hills Road - $415,000
12-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 3170 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt]
TOTAL SALES: 20
LOWEST AMOUNT: $220,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $830,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $522,500
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $538,850
7295 Abbey Drive - $700,000
12-23-22 [4 Bdrms - 2104 SqFt - 2009
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-19-09, $399,590
1261 Arkansas Street - $665,000
12-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 2368 SqFt - 1941 YrBlt]
398 Barcelona Street - $538,000
12-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1701 SqFt - 1981
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-10-09, $190,000
719 Branciforte Street - $515,000
12-23-22 [2 Bdrms - 1158 SqFt - 1900
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-02-17, $365,000
284 Cadloni Lane - $632,000
12-22-22 [4 Bdrms - 1927 SqFt - 1987
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-22-21, $450,000
9102 Cambridge Circle - $760,000
12-20-22 [4 Bdrms - 3053 SqFt - 2004
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-15-15, $493,000
1333 North Camino Alto #124$220,000
12-19-22 [1 Bdrms - 640 SqFt - 1974 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 04-12-05, $149,500
107 Cardinal Lane - $390,000
12-23-22 [3 Bdrms - 984 SqFt - 1961 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 04-27-12, $110,000
211 Clearpointe Drive - $520,000
12-19-22 [3 Bdrms - 1736 SqFt - 1992 YrBlt]
491 Darley Drive - $729,000
12-22-22 [4 Bdrms - 2627 SqFt - 1986
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-16-08, $340,000
111 Dyer Court - $525,000
12-22-22 [4 Bdrms - 1247 SqFt - 1962 YrBlt]
437 Gonzaga Avenue - $490,000
12-23-22 [3 Bdrms - 1134 SqFt - 1962 YrBlt]
812 Humboldt Street - $275,000
12-19-22 [2 Bdrms - 938 SqFt - 1942 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 01-18-10, $85,000
533 Jade Circle - $595,000
12-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1511 SqFt - 2000 YrBlt]
118 Placer Place - $482,000
12-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1040 SqFt - 1982
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-25-18, $283,500
110 Rincon Way - $830,000
12-20-22 [4 Bdrms - 1760 SqFt - 1974 YrBlt]
549 Russell Street - $444,000
12-21-22 [2 Bdrms - 1160 SqFt - 1941 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 06-20-01, $240,000
119 Seville Street - $622,000
12-22-22 [4 Bdrms - 1608 SqFt - 1966
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-08-22, $500,500
1029 Sheridan Street - $390,000
12-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1075 SqFt - 1949
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-09-05, $319,000
493 Woodrow Avenue - $455,000
12-20-22 [2 Bdrms - 962 SqFt - 1942 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-27-16, $292,500
From Page 3
I guess it might sound silly to mention this and obvious, but correcting leaks under sinks, dishwashers, toilets, bathtubs and washing machines as soon as possible will save you thousands of dollars down the road and protect your family from potential health hazards from mold and mildew.
Most of the time rotted wood on exterior decks and roof rafters is visible and obvious, but just ask any experienced Realtor and they will tell you a story or two about dry rot simply painted over or a roof that looks watertight with plenty of life left in it only to find water damage and rotted wood under the shingles.
One of the benefits of this current market in comparison to the frenzied seller’s market in 2020 and 2021 where buyers were willing to buy houses as-is with no inspections, is today, in most cases, a seller will accept an offer giving the buyer 14 to 21 days to do any inspections the buyer wants to have done.
Great Realtors have lists of reputable inspectors and encourage buyers to have inspections.
Other than probate sales and bank-owned foreclosed properties, sellers and Realtors are obligated by law to disclose any known defects about the property.
Let’s celebrate this muchneeded rain and snow and enjoy our lake levels coming back up for our summertime swimming and boating, but let’s stay out of water trouble by routinely inspecting and maintaining our homes.
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.
Q: Let me start by saying I know you won’t print this, but I had to get it off my chest. I read your column regularly and I’ve seen you write about what you consider to be the evils of people who invest in real estate by buying properties that are into foreclosure. Well, I decided to see what the fuss was about, so I did just what you say not to do: I stayed up late and sent money to -------- for his “how to get rich in real estate with no money out of your pocket” program. I’ve read it and talked to some people about your morality con cerns. You are way off base and you’d think a big-shot real estate attorney would know better. We are actually helping people by getting them out from under mortgages they can’t afford. Apparently, a lot of these home owners are actually grateful that someone would help. I wish you’d stop talking about stuff you apparently don’t know anything about and stop preaching about how evil people are who make money buying “distressed” properties. I am not an evil person.
A: Well, I’m glad you’re not an evil person, but you obviously aren’t that bright, either; for two big reasons.
For starters, good luck finding foreclosures in this economy. I’m sure there’re a few, but for the most part, the economy is still great, unemployment is at a record low and people just aren’t losing their homes.
But all that aside: Mr. LateNight already scored and got money out of your pocket! If you read my column “regularly” you’d know you didn’t have to send $350 to Mr. --------on late night television. I’ve told readers many times for free what he’s charging you $350 to learn (though admittedly I don’t have a
link to download a four-color brochure). I’m happy to share this
First, go down to the County records check (it’s free) for any residential real estate that has a notice of default filed on it. A notice of default is simply a lendthe property is at least 90 days make an appointment to meet with the owner and tell them you’ll get them out of all their problems if they’ll just sign this deed transferring the property to you. They can even stay in the house. Wow, stop the foreclosure and stay in the house. They’ll just love you.
Then you try to quickly sell the house for more than the debts that are currently owed on it. If you find a buyer, you close on the property, pay off the debt, evict the owner-now-tenant from the property and keep the profit.
If you can’t quickly find a buyer, you walk away. In a couple of months the house is sold in foreclosure and the ex-owner is evicted from the property. You, on the other hand, come up smelling like roses since you never recorded the deed or paid money out of your pocket. You just screwed the “happy” homeowner out of his equity by giving him false hope and preventing him from talking to a Realtor who could have sold the
house and preserved the equity.
See. You didn’t need to drop the $350 after all.
Oh, but here’s a really small little detail Mr. ------- (who doesn’t live in California) forgot to tell you about. What I’ve just described is illegal in California. Yup, it’s against the law and you can be sued, found liable for punitive damages and tossed in jail.
Section 1695 of the California Civil Code makes it a crime in most instances to be the buyer in a home equity sales contract (which is the method Mr. Late-Night tells you to use) on a residential property when that property is in default.
The very first sentence of the rather lengthy Civil Code section reads, “The Legislature finds and declares that homeowners whose residences are in foreclosure have been subjected to fraud, deception, and unfair dealing by home equity purchasers.” (That’s you).
So, if it makes you feel any better, it’s not just me, but the entire state of California who thinks you’re evil.
Let’s be clear on this: I am not against buying properties in foreclosure, but there is a right (legal) and wrong (illegal) way of going about it.
So, if I were you, I wouldn’t spend your time lambasting me for my “preaching.” Instead, I’d try to petition my legislators to change the Civil Code, or if that’s too much work, try to find a really good criminal attorney.
Tim Jones is a real estate attorney in Fairfield. If you have any real estate questions you would like to have answered in this column, you can send an email to AllThingsRealEstate@ TJones-Law.com.
Contractors work on a new home under construction in Tucson, Arizona, Feb. 22, 2022. Sales of new U.S. homes retreated in January after a flurry of purchases at the end of 2021, indicating a jump in mortgage rates may be starting to restrain demand.
Sales of new U.S. homes rose for a third month in December, wrapping up an otherwise disappointing year in which soaring borrowing costs stifled demand and weighed on the economy.
Purchases of new single-family homes increased 2.3% to an annualized 616,000 pace after a downward revision to the prior month, government data showed Thursday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a 612,000 rate.
Some 644,000 houses were bought in 2022, the smallest annual total in four years, as aggressive monetary policy tightening by the Federal Reserve pushed mortgage rates up sharply. Combined with prices that were slow to decline, home-buying conditions late last year were the worst in a generation.
Still, the residential real estate market is starting to stabilize. Mortgage rates continue to retreat and are back below 6%
while prices are cooling. Builder sentiment rose this month for the first time since 2021. D.R. Horton, one of the largest U.S. builders, reported quarterly results this week that beat expectations while expressing optimism about future demand.
The government’s report showed sales climbed in two of four regions, led by a more than 35% jump in the Midwest. Sales dropped in the Northeast and West.
The report, produced by the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, showed the median sales price of a new home rose 7.8% from a year earlier to $442,100.
There were 461,000 new homes for sale as of the end of last month, though the majority remain under construction or not yet started. The number of homes sold in December and awaiting the start of construction – a measure
See Sales, Page 12
It wasn’t until the summer of 2019 that I realized I lived in a Hydrangea paniculata forest. If you have read my columns, then you know The Garden Guy can exaggerate a little. So, to be more succinct: My neighbors all down both sides of the street have the most glorious monster hydrangeas. I, on the other hand, have the more refined Lime light Prime, the 2023 Hydrangea of the Year, as so designated by Proven Winners. When I planted it in 2020 to join the neighborhood Hydran gea Society, I had no idea it would be the hydrangea of the year three years later. In fact, I
This corner of the bed was showing out in September with Limelight Prime hydrangea, Color Coded One in a Melon coneflower, Sunstar Red Pentas, Truffula Pink gomphrena and Rockin Playin the Blues salvia.
Bring your loan to us so we can get you locked at a GREAT RATE and Finish it up QUICKLY! We don’t mess around, We Get it DONE, We are Local and we DELIVER!
When we write your Pre-Approval Letter to present to the seller, You WILL Close the Deal with us! George
was part of the testing process, as it wasn’t released until 2021. To me the differences with Limelight, the all-time granddaddy of hydrangeas, are huge. Well, maybe the big truth here is
that they are not huge.
You see, my neighbor’s wonderful hydrangeas push 8 feet tall, maybe more, and some of their clusters actually block the view of traffic. Others are so large they even screen the front of the house. So a smaller version like Limelight Prime, which gets only 4 to 6 feet tall, is just what the doctor ordered.
$649,000 SUISUN. Super sized lot plus 2 story home with Primary Bedroom and en-suite Bathroom on ground level! 1,841 sqft of living spaces with 3
The Garden Guy then started adding pollinator plants like Truffula Pink gomphrena.
Open House Saturday 1-3PM
424 Mandarin Circle, Vacaville
Senior living at its BEST in beautiful Diamond Grove. 2bd/2ba+den, 1323sf. Gas fireplace between LR & dining area. Eat in kitchen. Large covered patio runs width of home. Easy care garden w/fruit trees & roses. Community pool. $509,000
Omar Hampton & Associate REALTOR® DRE#01242723
(707) 529-7545
January 28th & 29th
Open House Sunday, 12-2:30 PM
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
PRICED TO SELL
623 California St., Rio Vista
Adorable cottage/bungalow, 2 bedroom, 1 bath and has been updated. Larger back yard with patio & raised garden beds for your vegetables. Kitchen has been remodeled & there is an inside laundry & single car garage. Walk to town! $315,000
Open House Sat & Sun 11-1PM
764 Shannon Drive, Vacaville
New listing! Browns Valley
3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, over 2200 sq ft & 6420 sq ft lot.
Updated kitchen & baths, Laminate & tile flooring. Separate living & family rooms. $675,000
Janet Ryden & Dean Harrison
REALTORS® DRE#01002670 or 01982678
(707) 372-2950 or 365-4880
Open House Saturday 1:30-3:30PM
71 8 Allender Way, Rio Vista
Gorgeous 3bd/2ba home, look no further!! Renovated w/new flooring/baseboards, exterior/interior paint, painted kitchen cabinets, quartz counters & new fixtures. New front hardscape/drought resistant landscape. Extended driveway & solar. $514,999
(707) 696-7063
(707) 334-0699
(707) 334-0699
Those who garden look forward to the season of seed packets and plantings, careful tending and abundant harvests. But research indicates another reason to eagerly anticipate gardening: improving your health.
A study in the journal the Lancet Planetary Health found that people who participate in
community gardening programs eat more fiber and get more physical activity than their counterparts who don’t garden. Both of these factors are associated with better health.
Though research on gardening abounds, the researchers wrote that they were able to find only three other studies that tested gardening’s effects on disease risk factors by assigning
participants randomly to groups who did and didn’t garden, then comparing their health.
In this case, the researchers ran a study at 37 community gardens in Denver and Aurora, Colo. After raising awareness of the program in a variety of neighborhoods, they recruited those on the waiting lists for the
See Health, Page 13
From Page 6
of backlogs – increased to the highest since March.
The number of completed homes that were sold in December declined.
The weakening in housing last year weighed on the economy. The government’s initial estimate of fourth-quarter gross domestic product showed residential
investment subtracted 1.29 percentage points from growth.
New-home purchases account for about 10% of the market and are calculated when contracts are signed. They are considered a timelier barometer than purchases of previously-owned homes, which are calculated when contracts close.
Still, the new-homes data are volatile. The report showed 90% of confidence the change in sales ranged from a 16.2% decline to a 20.8% increase.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home soon, you probably want to know what you can expect from the housing market this year. The market underwent a major shift in 2022 as economic uncertainty and higher mortgage rates reduced buyer demand, slowed the pace of home sales and moderated home prices. But what about 2023?
An article from HousingWire offers this perspective: “The red-hot housing market of the past 2 ½ years was characterized by sub-3% mortgage rates, fast-paced bidding wars and record-low inventory. But more recently, market conditions have done an about-face. . . . now is the opportunity for everyone to become re-educated about what a ‘typical’ housing market looks like.”
This year, experts agree we may see the return of greater
From Page 12
study. All 291 participants were adults and had not gardened within the past two years. More than half were from low-income households.
The group assigned to garden was provided with a garden plot, seeds, seedlings and an introduction to gardening course. Those assigned to the non-gardening group were offered the same deal during the next gardening season. Participants were all given health surveys that looked at such factors as body weight, waist circumference, physical activity and diet.
During the study, researchers found, those who gardened ate more fruit and vegetables than their counterparts, increasing their consumption by about
place over the past few years.”
stability and predictability in the housing market if inflation continues to ease and mortgage rates stabilize. Here’s what they have to say.
The 2023 forecast from the National Association of Realtors says: “While 2022 may be remembered as a year of housing volatility, 2023 likely will become a year of longlost normalcy returning to the market, . . . mortgage rates are expected to stabilize while home sales and prices moderate after recent highs, . . .”
Danielle Hale, chief economist at realtor.com, adds: “. . . buyers will not face the extreme competition that was common-
1.13 servings per day. They consumed 1.4 grams more fiber a day than the control group, and increased their fiber intake by 7% over the course of the program. They were slightly more active, too, increasing their moderate to vigorous physical activity during the study period. Gardeners also reported less stress and anxiety than their non-gardening counterparts.
Though the gains were modest, researchers said that they are the types of small changes recommended by experts as a way to prevent the risk of chronic diseases. Smoking, poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle all contribute to that risk.
“These findings provide concrete evidence that community gardening could play an important role in preventing cancer, chronic diseases and mental health disorders,” said Jill Litt, a
Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors, explains home prices will vary by local area, but will net neutral nationwide as the market continues to adjust: “After a big boom over the past two years, there will essentially be no change nationally . . . . Half of the country may experience small price gains, while the other half may see slight price declines.”
Mark Fleming, chief economist at First American, says: “The housing market, once adjusted to the new normal of higher mortgage rates, will benefit from continued strong demographic-driven demand relative to an overall, long-run shortage of supply.”
If you’re looking to buy or sell
professor of environmental health at the University of Colorado, Boulder and the paper’s senior author, in a news release. The researchers, who received funding from the American Cancer Society, said it’s worth looking further into community gardening as a potential health intervention in urban areas.
a home this year, the best way to ensure you’re up to date on the latest market insights is to partner with a trusted real estate adviser. Let’s connect.
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.
To advertise here, call 707-427-6927
From Page 7
They are easier to work into small yards, or even smaller beds like I am doing. They also boast sturdier stems able to hold those huge blooms upright. It has a better foliage cover and starts blooming earlier.
I have had great fun developing this bed and making changes over the last three years. Whether you grow the original Limelight or Limelight Prime, I hope you are giving them com-
panions in the landscape. I have always believed that if you saw these giant white blooms in the islands, say Martinique or St. Thomas, you would think they were the most beautiful tropical flowers you had ever seen. This points out the tropical style garden can be a bit of an attitude or illusion.
Since I am a tropical nut, I have combined my three Limelight Prime hydrangeas with exotic foliage like the Red Abyssinian banana, Ensete maurelii, and two giant Alocasia Portora elephant ears that reached 10 feet tall last season. I can
truthfully say the Limelight Prime blooms looked like the most gorgeous tropical flowers on my street.
If you have read my columns in the past, you know that butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators stoke a flaming passion in The Garden Guy as well. So the quest for the third growing season was to transform this bed into a full partnership of hydrangeas, tropical foliage and the best of pollinator plants.
I added dwarf Pugster and the taller Miss Molly butterfly bushes. Then toward the front of the border, I planted Truffula
Pink gomphrena, Sunstar Red pentas, Rockin Playin the Blue salvias, Meant to Bee agastaches and Color Coded coneflowers. The best surprise of all is that not only are there butterflies and hummingbirds on the butterfly bushes and perennials, but I have also photographed the spicebush swallowtail, great purple hairstreak and the exquisite question mark butterfly on the Limelight Prime hydrangea. This one bed that started as an end-of-driveway eyesore has now become my favorite hangout place. The impetus for all this fun came about from the
opportunity to test three Limelight Prime hydrangeas, then creating their combinations.
Since this is the Proven Winners’ hydrangea of the year for 2023, the supply should be up for you to be able to purchase. They are recommended for zones 3-8, which is a huge geographic area. In my three years, I have had blooms from June through November, and two of the years I had better rose coloration than I ever dreamed possible in the South.
I hope you will join in the celebration of Limelight Prime, the Hydrangea of the Year.
