Don’t ignore buyer’s lawsuit, consult a lawyer right away
Q: My husband and I sold our home of 25 years to a young couple this past winter. The house obviously wasn’t new, but it was in good shape. My husband isn’t all that handy with tools so whenever some thing needed to be repaired we always paid a professional to do it. We just got served with a lawsuit from the buyers. They have a long list of problems with the house that they claim we never told them about. Now they want something called “rescis sion” and a whole lot of money. We told them about everything we knew was wrong with the house and tried to be as honest as we could. Now we’re scared and don’t know what to do next. Help!
A: Obviously you’re going to need to take the papers you were served with to an attor ney as soon as possible. You have 30 days from the date you were served to file an answer with the court.
Rescission is a remedy that is only available in certain, limited circumstances.
What the buyers are demanding is that you purchase the property back from them at the price you sold it for, plus pay damages for any repairs or improvements they made, plus the money they are out of pocket, such as moving costs, loan fees, etc.
While you may negotiate some sort of buy-back to avoid having to go to court, there are only two ways a judge will ultimately give them the rescission they seek.
The most common way to get rescission is to prove you told an outright lie and, if you hadn’t lied, they wouldn’t have bought the house. This is usually hard to prove because they have to show
you actually had knowledge of sounds like they can’t even begin
you a quick rundown of the law in this area.
None of this matters very much if the buyers can’t prove you made a false representation or failed to disclose problems in the home which were known to you.
I can’t stress enough that you need an attorney to represent you.
tion doesn’t necessarily involve any evil intent on your part. You may have tried to be as honest and upfront as possible, but just example, the furnace is in great shape only to have it fail as soon as the buyers move in.
Obviously, we all make negligent representations with some regularity.
The reason it’s difficult to have a judge order rescission in this circumstance is because there are usually much less burdensome ways for the court to resolve the problem. In other words, the court can order the seller to pay the buyer enough money to fix the problem.
Before you get too worried, keep in mind that I’m giving
It may seem obvious that when you are sued, especially for a large sum of money, you need an attorney. But, surprisingly, I see an amazing number of defendants who either ignore the papers they were served with or try to figure out how to answer them without a lawyer.
This often leads to the answer being thrown out on technical grounds and a default judgment being taken by the plaintiff.
And finally, remember that getting sued doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. The idea that anybody can sue anybody for anything, at least until the case gets tossed out of court, is absolutely true.
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.
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Tim Jones
We tested five TikTok cleaning hacks
HERE’S WHAT WORKED
KALINA NEWMAN SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON POSTOn TikTok, a subgenre exists for cleaning hacks that promise to easily turn grimy bathrooms, serious spills and piles of dishes into sparkling, organized neatness.
Of course, we know the internet isn’t always the most truthful. As someone who is addicted to watching #CleanTok videos and who could definitely use a few home improvement pointers, I set out to test some of the most viral cleaning advice. Could the tips actually help me tidy my apartment better while also saving me time? Read on for the results, ordered from best to worst and ranked on cleanliness, efficiency and “hackability” –i.e., the likelihood I would try it again or suggest it to a friend.
Dust baseboards and trim with dryer sheets
In a video that was viewed more than 500,000 times, user @ ken.c.long asks: “Have you ever used dryer sheets to clean your baseboards? Well, maybe you should.” Not only will this trick clean the baseboards, he claims, but the film left behind by the sheets will also prevent more dust from accumulating.
Okay, I’ll admit: I was biased going into this hack, because I’ve done it before and can attest that it absolutely works. One sweep with a dryer sheet along the trim of my walls picks up all visible dust and dirt. This time, I ran the sheets along my doors and door frames, because I haven’t been as mindful about dusting there, and I was very satisfied by how much they were able to clean. Two weeks later, I checked the same spots, and, sure enough,
they were still dust-free. So, if you already have a package of dryer sheets, you’ve also got an effective duster – and preventive measure.
Cleanliness: 5/5
Efficiency: 5/5
Hackability: 5/5
Fight pet hair with one rubber glove
Animal rescuer Felicia Wilson shared her secret to keeping her home free of pet hair in April, and it has since gained more than a half-million views. The key? A rubber dish glove. That’s it. Put one on and run it over a surface with a lot of pet hair, and the hair will allegedly cling to the glove and come right off.
My cat Honey loves to hang out on my velvet couch, leaving behind plenty of hair. Quick backstory: I was once influenced
by TikTok to buy an approximately $30 reusable contraption called the ChomChom pet-hair remover. It’s definitely better than your average lint roller, but the clingy part wore out after about a year. All in all, not worth the money, in my opinion. Would TikTok again steer me to a subpar pet-hair solution?
Not this time! Using a glove I already owned, I followed Wilson’s instructions. It took six or seven firm sweeps to collect all the cat hair, but the glove picked it up and left my couch and my cat’s favorite blanket totally fur-free.
Cleanliness: 4/5
Efficiency: 4/5
Hackability: 4/5
Deodorize your garbage disposal with pantry items
Nearly 100,000 people have
liked a video in which user @ partyideas4you (previously @ homehacksforyou) describes a favorite “kitchen cleaning hack”: Pour about two cups of baking soda into the garbage disposal, let it sit for 30 minutes, add white distilled vinegar until it stops fizzing, then finish with a pot of boiling water to deep-clean your disposal and keep it smelling fresh. Repeat about once a week.
If you’re worried about potentially messing up your disposal like I was, plumbing expert Paul Abrams from Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup assured me via email that baking soda and vinegar make an excellent cleaning combination, though he did offer a few revisions to the TikTok instructions.
Abrams says that two cups of baking soda may be a little heavy for a single application and that you can opt for one cup of baking
soda and one cup of vinegar instead. And he does not recommend using the boiling water unless your sink is made of stainless steel or porcelain over steel, because superhot water can cause cracks “in some of the newer composite sink materials,” such as quartz or granite, and “very hot water from the tap is more than adequate.” Luckily, my sink is stainless steel.
In preparation, I made sure to run plenty of onions and garlic down the disposal. Cleaning it was a simple, if lengthy, process. I gave a few solid shakes of Arm & Hammer to coat the drain, then let it sit for a half-hour. It took a few glugs of vinegar – no more than a cup – until the fizzing stopped. Finally, I tipped in the pot of boiling water. Once everything had drained, I immediately noticed that the sink looked sparkling clean and that any lingering food smells were gone. I plan on incorporating this into my cleaning routine once a month. For a two-person apartment, once a week feels like overkill.
Cleanliness: 5/5
Efficiency: 3/5
Hackability: 3/5
Use a Swiffer for sparkling windows
Jacqueline Stein’s video, viewed more than 65,000 times, assures viewers that cleaning windows with a microfiber towel attached to a Swiffer sweeper “takes less than 5 minutes and your windows will be GORGEOUS!”
I have tall windows that I ordinarily need a step stool to clean, so I thought, “Alright, let’s give it a go.” After dousing a microfiber towel with cleaner, I secured it onto the corners of
See Hacks, Page 10
McNAUGHTON MEDIA — Friday, March 10, 2023 3
JENNIFER CHASE/THE WASHINGTON POST
The author, Kalina Newman, tries out TikTok cleaning hacks in her D.C. apartment.
SOLANO REAL ESTATE SCENE
A smaller home could be your best option
Many people are reaching the point in their lives when they need to decide where they want to live when they retire. If you’re a homeowner approaching this stage, you have several options to explore.
Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at the National Association of Realtors, says: “As we see the transition of the large Baby Boomer generation age into retirement, it will be interesting to see if they move in with their Millennial and Gen Z children or if they stay put in their own homes.”
Lautz lists two options: move into a multigenerational home with loved ones, or stay in your current house. Multigenerational living is rising in popularity, but it isn’t an option for everyone. And staying put may fit fewer and fewer of your needs. There’s a third option, though, and for some, it’s the best one: downsizing.
When you sell your house and purchase a smaller one, it’s known as downsizing. Sometimes smaller homes are more suited to your changing needs, and moving means you can also land in your ideal location.
In addition to the personal benefits, downsizing might be more cost effective, too. The New York Times (NYT) shares: “Many downsizers expect to improve their retirement income stream if their new home costs less than what their old house sells for. Lower utility costs, insurance and property taxes – as well as investment returns on the proceeds – can also improve the bottom line.”
Being in a strong financial position is one of the most
Real estate transactions
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.
BENICIA
TOTAL SALES: 5
LOWEST AMOUNT: $835,000.00
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $1,300,000.00
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $852,000.00
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $947,400.00
147 Ardmore Way - $900,000
01-31-23 [4 Bdrms - 1853 SqFt - 1969 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 05-23-16, $638,000
503 Bristol Court - $835,000
02-03-23 [4 Bdrms - 2569 SqFt - 1977 YrBlt]
1761 Helane Court - $852,000
important parts of retirement, and downsizing can make a big difference.
A key part of why downsizing is still cost effective today, even when mortgage rates are higher than they were a year ago, is the record-high level of equity homeowners have. Leveraging your equity when you downsize can lower or maybe even eliminate the mortgage payment on your next home.
So, not only is the upkeep of a smaller home likely more affordable, but leveraging your home equity could make a big difference, too. Your local real estate adviser is the best resource to help you understand how much equity you may have in your current home and what options it can provide for your next move.
Bottom line
If you’re a homeowner getting ready for retirement, part of that transition likely includes deciding where you’ll live. Let’s connect so you can understand your options and explore your downsizing opportunities.
Don McDonald (DRE License No. 01436448) is a founding partner of Re/Max Elite Partners (License No. 01215931) in Fairfield. Reach him at 707-495-0774, don@remax elitepartners.com or www. remaxelitepartners.com. Locally Focused-Globally Connected.
01-30-23 [3 Bdrms - 1852 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 07-10-19, $685,000
664 Mcallister Drive - $1,300,000
02-03-23 [5 Bdrms - 4233 SqFt - 2007
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-03-22, $1,400,000
136 Panorama Drive - $850,000
01-31-23 [4 Bdrms - 1874 SqFt - 1979 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-09-20, $90,000
DIXON
TOTAL SALES: 3
LOWEST AMOUNT: $398,500.00
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $744,000.00
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-20-19, $520,000
1508 Hawaii Street - $450,000
02-02-23 [3 Bdrms - 912 SqFt - 1953 YrBlt]
3120 Muse Way - $668,000
01-30-23 [4 Bdrms - 2602 SqFt - 2019 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-02-20, $678,000
2432 Oceanic Drive - $478,000
02-03-23 [3 Bdrms - 1129 SqFt - 1966 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 04-13-04, $285,000
2915 North Texas Street #241 - $270,000
02-03-23 [1 Bdrms - 662 SqFt - 1986 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 07-07-08, $94,000
314 Tulip Street - $546,500
02-02-23 [3 Bdrms - 1489 SqFt - 1966
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-21-22, $425,000
5261 Venus Drive - $727,000
02-03-23 [4 Bdrms - 2389 SqFt - 1996
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-03-22, $766,000
RIO VISTA
TOTAL SALES: 2
LOWEST AMOUNT: $219,000.00
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $420,000.00
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $319,500.00
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $319,500.00
101 Cedar Ridge Drive - $420,000
02-03-23 [2 Bdrms - 1671 SqFt - 2002
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-12-11, $175,000
945 Thereza Way - $219,000
02-02-23 [3 Bdrms - 1200 SqFt - 1951 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 01-14-09, $125,000
SUISUN CITY
TOTAL SALES: 8
LOWEST AMOUNT: $470,000.00
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $600,000.00
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $530,000.00
FAIRFIELD
TOTAL SALES: 14
LOWEST AMOUNT: $110,000.00
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $1,400,000.00
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $489,000.00 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $585,321.00 101 Auld Court - $1,400,000
[5 Bdrms - 4458 SqFt - 1965
Previous Sale: 08-12-19, $1,359,000
876 Bridle Ridge Drive - $1,130,000
[4 Bdrms - 3417 SqFt - 2006 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-10-06, $1,205,500
2373 Cabrillo Drive - $460,000
[4 Bdrms - 1704 SqFt - 1971 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-23-17, $295,000
1100 Candleberry Court - $355,000
02-03-23 [3 Bdrms - 1286 SqFt - 1987 YrBlt]
1331 Canterbury Drive - $460,000
01-31-23 [4 Bdrms - 1780 SqFt - 1961 YrBlt]
2333 Channing Place - $500,000
02-03-23 [4 Bdrms - 1380 SqFt - 1974 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 05-21-15, $275,000
25 El Dorado Court - $110,000
02-03-23 [2 Bdrms - 850 SqFt - 1971 YrBlt]
665 Greentree Circle - $640,000
02-02-23 [5 Bdrms - 2636 SqFt - 2005
LOWEST AMOUNT: $375,000.00
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $749,000.00
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $539,000.00
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $561,636.00
376 Adobe Drive - $539,000
01-30-23 [3 Bdrms - 1296 SqFt - 1967 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 06-15-22, $475,000
500 Azalea Way - $580,000
02-02-23 [3 Bdrms - 2252 SqFt - 1958
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-14-21, $450,000
236 Bowline Drive - $495,000
02-01-23 [4 Bdrms - 1602 SqFt - 1973 YrBlt]
944 Celestine Circle - $590,000
01-31-23 [3 Bdrms - 1660 SqFt - 1998 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-20-20, $502,500
112 Cheyenne Drive - $725,000
02-02-23 [4 Bdrms - 1940 SqFt - 1974 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-29-22,
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $535,438.00
721 Breakwater Circle - $512,500
02-01-23 [3 Bdrms - 1386 SqFt - 2003
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-17-03, $189,865
719 Capistrano Drive - $541,000
02-01-23 [4 Bdrms - 1620 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 10-07-03, $325,000
1709 Carswell Lane - $600,000
01-31-23 [4 Bdrms - 2061 SqFt - 2017 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 04-07-20, $495,000
914 Javan Way - $535,000
02-01-23 [3 Bdrms - 1532 SqFt - 1985 YrBlt]
228 Redstone Circle - $470,000
02-03-23 [3 Bdrms - 1366 SqFt - 1993
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-05-16, $315,000
606 Tule Goose Drive - $595,000
02-03-23 [4 Bdrms - 2460 SqFt - 1978
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-27-22, $450,000
406 Vinewood Court - $525,000
02-02-23 [3 Bdrms - 1763 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 07-24-19, $419,000
1023 Whistler Drive - $505,000
02-02-23 [3 Bdrms - 1320 SqFt - 1983 YrBlt]
VACAVILLE
TOTAL SALES: 11
VALLEJO
LOWEST AMOUNT: $262,000.00
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $665,000.00
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $540,000.00
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $493,889.00
102 Calhoun Street - $262,000
02-03-23 [3 Bdrms - 988 SqFt - 1977 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 10-27-22, $260,000
2751 Georgia Street - $360,000
02-01-23 [2 Bdrms - 1196 SqFt - 1940 YrBlt]
327 Hermosa Avenue - $478,000
02-03-23 [2 Bdrms - 1030 SqFt - 1955 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-24-22, $412,000
829 Keats Drive - $550,000
02-02-23 [4 Bdrms - 1226 SqFt - 1961 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 05-22-06, $430,000
5451 La Salle Way - $665,000
01-31-23 [3 Bdrms - 1857 SqFt - 1999 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 08-17-99, $239,676
227 Manhattan Drive - $597,000
01-30-23 [6 Bdrms - 2188 SqFt - 1954 YrBlt]
411 Stinson Street #5 - $598,000
01-30-23 [3 Bdrms - 1438 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt]
451 Valle Vista Avenue - $540,000
01-31-23 [3 Bdrms - 1288 SqFt - 1956 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 03-27-14, $270,000
491 Wallace Avenue - $395,000
01-30-23 [3 Bdrms - 1329 SqFt - 1940 YrBlt]
4 Friday, March 10, 2023 — McNAUGHTON MEDIA
South Almond Street
02-03-23 [3 Bdrms
1228 SqFt - 1968 YrBlt] 425 Evans Road - $744,000 02-03-23 [5 Bdrms - 3413 SqFt - 2002 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-13-03, $459,439 1415 Nut Tree Avenue - $738,000 02-02-23, Previous Sale:
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $738,000.00 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $626,833.00 520
- $398,500
-
02-09-21, $4,572,000
02-01-23
YrBlt],
02-01-23
01-31-23
$550,000 967 Dunerose Court - $749,000 02-02-23 [4 Bdrms - 2340 SqFt - 1998 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-20-13, $429,000 107 Edwin Drive - $490,000 02-03-23 [4 Bdrms - 1540 SqFt - 1973 YrBlt] 512 Florence Drive - $580,000 01-30-23 [4 Bdrms - 1785 SqFt - 1977 YrBlt] 312 Folsom Drive - $535,000 01-31-23 [3 Bdrms - 1296 SqFt - 1966 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-08-22, $345,000 135 Maple Street - $375,000 02-03-23 [3 Bdrms - 1040 SqFt - 1948 YrBlt] 124 Randall Avenue - $520,000 02-02-23 [4 Bdrms - 1540 SqFt - 1975 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-28-22, $200,000
TOTAL SALES: 9
Don McDonald
SOLANO REAL ESTATE SCENE
There’s
no gain without pain
Wikipedia gave me this definition below and the origin dates to a Greek poet back around 700 BC.
No pain, no gain (or “No gain without pain”) is a proverb, used since the 1980s as an exercise motto that promises greater value rewards for the price of hard and even painful work. Under this conception, competitive professionals, such as athletes and artists, are required to endure pain (physical suffering) and stress (mental/ emotional suffering) to achieve professional excellence.
I played competitive sports when I was a kid and still compete in golf tournaments today. I have been lucky to have many great coaches in my life. I played basketball and golf at
Jim Porter
Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco and for a couple of years and had retired Green Bay Packers coach Mike Holmgren as our golf coach. As an adult, I coached kids’ basketball for 15 years and tried to pass on what I learned from my athletic mentors as well as what I have learned from my business coaches over the years.
The one thing great coaches have in common is they all
See Porter, Page 10
McNAUGHTON MEDIA — Friday, March 10, 2023 5 Thank you for voting Jim Porter “Best Mortgage Broker” & Solano Mortgage voted “Best Mortgage Company” 2014-2023! 707-449-4777 • www.SolanoMortgage.com Jim Porter Office: 785 Alamo Drive, Suite 120, Vacaville A Division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation NMLS#1850 Solano Mortgage NMLS #1515497 is a division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation NMLS #1850 is licensed in California by the Dept. of Financial Protection and Innovation under the CRMLA / Equal Housing Opportunity Jim Porter, Sr. Loan Advisor & Branch Manager NMLS# 276412
6 Friday, March 10, 2023 — McNAUGHTON MEDIA Need to Sell Your Home? Looking For A New Home? Call one of these Real Estate Professionals to help you with your housing needs today! Randie Boardman REALTOR® Cell (707) 688-2864 RandieBoardman@sbcglobal.net www.RandieBoardman.RemaxGold.com Serving Your Real Estate Needs for 28 Years 1411 Oliver Road, Suite 180 Fairfield, CA 94534 GRI Each Office Independently Owned and Operated 2280 ROCKVILLE ROAD GREEN VALLEY-FAIRFIELD, CA 94534 LIC#01035560 LONEY & WORLEY TEAM T “Your Real Estate Team committed to getting you e Highest return on your investment.” TOP PRODUCERS WITH OVER 30 YEARS EACH IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRYLUXURY ESTATES, WINERIES, VINEYARDS, COMMERCIAL, DEVELOPMENTS AND RESIDENTIAL SALES. OUR FAMILY ESTABLISHED COUNTRY ESTATES, INC IN 1982 Alicia N. Worley REALTOR® BRE# 01322884 (707) 344-1300 Scott C. L oney BROKER ASSOCIATE BRE# 01146887 (707) 290-0556 5071 Business Center Drive Fair eld, CA 94534 DAVE FRANZONI REALTOR® Executive Council Cal BRE #1748267 (707) 410-9003 Choosing the Right REALTOR® Does Make A Di erence ➤ I live and work in Solano County ➤ REALTOR® for over 15 years ➤ Top Producer ➤ Smart Home Specialist ➤ Executive Council of REALTORS® ➤ #1 Company in the Nation ➤ 6 O ces for your convenience DaveFranzoni.com (707) 688-3697 (707) 425-5314 JD Real Estate Judy Davis Broker/Owner NMLS #268646 1351 Oliver Road | Fairfield, CA 94534 wjd8604@aol.com Your Needs are our Priority! Free Consultation 39 Years Experience in Real Estate Industry LISTING, SELLING AND ARRANGING MORTGAGE LOANS REAL ESTATE
ON GARDENING
Superbena’s imperial performance has begun
Right now, it is a verbena world at The Garden Guy’s house. It is super excit ing, as I forgot I had so many, and which containers had what. The growth since the Decem ber arctic blast has been simply amazing. One in particular, Superbena Imperial Blue, almost looks like a mini-hydrangea.
Superbena Imperial Blue made its debut in 2022, and I was part of the testing process in
2021. I’ve loved it for its intense color, which screams deep blue. I say that full well knowing some of you will correct me and say you see purple tones. That’s OK. This verbena has been a champ
each year with butterflies like the eastern tiger swallowtail, spicebush swallowtail and the treasured pipevine swallowtail. I have had the American lady, Gulf fritillary and ruby-throated hummingbird, too.
I put my containers in the garage during the cold wave and then put them back on my wall. The old guy couldn’t remember
See Winter, Page 11
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McNAUGHTON MEDIA — Friday, March 10, 2023 7 REAL ESTATE Let My Experience Make Your Home Buying or Selling Experience Your Best Experience! 301 Dickson Hill Rd., Fairfield, CA 94533 Nancy Price-Branson REALTOR® CPDE, SFR, ABR, MRP, SRES Cal DRE Lic #01426977 (707) 71 8-1989 NancyPriceBransonSellsHomes1@gmail.com Chris Bommarito Broker DRE# 01962245 (707) 249-5843 bommaritorealestate@gmail.com Jessica Bommarito REALTOR® DRE# 01983582 (707) 803-8655 bommaritojcr@yahoo.com NapaSol anoRE.com Use A BROKER/REALTOR® That Will Help You Make The Right Choice Based On Your Individual Needs! Jim & Darla Stever BROKER/REALTOR /Owner Cal BRE#01085687 Having been in business since 1978 we are one of the few remaining Independent Real Estate Companies in Fairfield. Born and raised in Solano County... we know the area. We strive to meet the specialized needs of each client, using the highest ethical standards. BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! 690 E. Tabor Ave., Ste. F, Fairfield www.JimSteverRealty.com (707) 421-1000 Jim & Darla are both past Presidents of the Northern Solano County Association of REALTORS.® Serving Solano County Since 1978! JIM STEVER REALTY STEVER & ASSOCIATES Successfully moving mobiles to mansions. Contact me for current market conditions. 1111 WEBST ER STRE ET , FA IR FI EL D ( 7 0 7 ) 3 7 3vogelpohl real estate consulting & sales Annie@AnnieVogelpohl.com Annie Vogelpohl BROKER, CAL BRE #00705450 Financing
1300 Oliver Rd., Ste. 140 • Fairfield • George@NIMBLoan.com NMLS #270402 • DRE#02077932 • NMLS #1859425
WHOLESALE MORTGAGE BROKER
Norman Winter
Open House Sunday 1-3:30PM
2900 Burbank Drive, Fairfield
Single story home. 4bd, 2ba, 1738sf on almost quarter acre lot. Large great room! Kitchen w/island, SS appliances. Remodeled baths! Newer roof! Spacious backyard. $600,000
ON THE M ARKET
FOR THIS WEEKEND March 11th & 12th
Pam Sigel & Frank Panuco
REALTORS® DRE#01251907 or 02156045 (707) 372-2208 or 71 2-9987
Open House Sat & Sun 1-3PM 2818 Watson Court, Fairfield
Beautiful 5bd/3ba w/1st floor bd/ba, 3000sf. Newer laminate floors thruout most of home.
Recent inside paint. Large lot in court with private backyard. $860,000
Sylvia Cole & Holly Bellamy REALTORS® DRE#01386900 & 01870308 707-330-8923 or 330-8400
Open House Sat 12-2PM & Sun 1-3PM 374 Santa Maria Dr, Fairfield
First Open! 4Bed/2Ba 1,468sf, attached 2 car garage. Central heat & A/C. Big great room. Fireplace. Breakfast area & bar. Extra wide driveway. RV strips
$450,000
Pam Watson & Bobby Schultze Broker Associate & REALTOR® DRE#00748546, 02059665 (707) 290-3235 or 389-9331
Open House Sat & Sun 1-3PM
3334 Bingham Place, Fairfield
Move in Ready 3bd/2ba w/ Park like backyard! Formal living & separate FR w/ fireplace. New interior paint, beautiful floors, inside laundry, boat parking.
$599,962
Pam Sigel & Jessie Kelly
REALTORS® DRE#01251907 or 02201727 (707) 372-2208 or 344-5004
8 Friday, March 10, 2023 — McNAUGHTON MEDIA
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Solano County Listings: Homes for sale
LOTS & LAND
MOBILE/FLOATING
COMMERCIAL
McNAUGHTON MEDIA — Friday, March 10, 2023 9
$575,000 370 Heritage Ln Dixon 3 2 /0 2,100 0.12 323011589 $790,000 855 Griffith Dr Dixon 5 3/1 3824 0.1625 23011292 $4,500,000 6156 Clark Rd Dixon 4a 4 /0 5906 78.98 322047718 $450,000 749 Wren Court Fairfield 3 2 /0 1,952 0.2 322098917 $475,000 374 Santa Maria Dr Fairfield 4 2 /0 1468 0.14 23005656 $489,585 2001 Bluebird Way Fairfield 4 2 /0 1,285 0.17 322096754 $600,000 2900 Burbank Dr Fairfield 4 2 /0 1738 0.22 23010181 $664,500 2013 Fieldstone Court Fairfield 4 2 /1 2041 0.2387 323011825 $675,000 223 Madison Street Fairfield 4 1/0 1020 0.17 322105113 $789,000 3032 Muse Wy Fairfield 4 3/0 2841 0.1346 322078149 $860,000 2818 Watson Ct Fairfield 5 3/0 3000 0.1977 322104028 $1,099,900 2990 Pebble Beach Cir Fairfield 7 5/1 4048 0.212 23006361 $1,350,000 1106 Skywest Ct Fairfield 5 3/0 3414 0.8038 23012664 $1,497,500 4 476 Green Valley Road Fairfield 2 3/0 2,409 2.85 323011143 $1,499,000 5270 Oakridge Dr Fairfield 4 3/0 4,034 0.3 322069250 $499,900 604 Ring Neck Ln Suisun City 4 2 /0 1,440 0.13 323009600 $620,000 1648 Hickam Cir Suisun City 3 2 /1 1841 0.18 323001341 $668,000 472 Yarrow Dr Vacavile 4 3/0 2,014 0.08 323012167 $350,000 114 Bryce Wy Vacaville 2 2 /0 1484 0.1 23012715 $499,000 718 Arbor Oaks Dr Vacaville 3 2 /0 1,293 0.15 323008330 $512,000 278 Plum St Vacaville 3 2 /0 1,160 0.12 323007297 $549,500 245 Christine Dr Vacaville 3 2 /0 1533 0.1484 23012113 $589,900 1116 Amber Ridge Ln Vacaville 3 2 /1 1990 0.1002 32209946 $595,000 549 Amanda Ct Vacaville 3 2 /1 1634 0.1839 23011887 $650,000 245 Wykoff Dr Vacaville 2 2 /1 1566 0.4332 322103932 $669,000 250 Wisteria Cir Vacaville 3 3/0 1,860 0.11 323009957 $673,000 637 Tralee Ct Vacaville 4 3/0 2,351 0.18 323011997 $708,000 8 34 Ruby Dr Vacaville 4 3/0 2792 0.1837 23011624 $797,000 878 Daffodil Dr Vacaville 4 3/1 2762 0.1377 322102280 $894,000 161 Hillview Dr Vacaville 3 2 /1 2052 0.2 323002074 $899,000 1000 Brighton Ct Vacaville 5 3/0 3,431 0.21 322090634 $549,000 1541 Severus Dr Vallejo 4 2 /0 1,428 0.12 322103845 $575,000 40 Sandy Beach Vallejo 2 1/0 1,124 0.19 322093840 $650,000 10 Sereno Pl Vallejo 4 3/0 1775 0.11 323002089 $629,000 3931 Central Ln Winters 3 2 /0 1782 5.52 322102413 $875,000 8 457 Plesants Valley Rd Winters 2 1/0 22.16 321006700 $1,370,000 9211 Boyce Road Winters 3 1/1 1500 31 322099831
PRICE A DDRESS CITY LOT/AC SUB TYPE MLS# $850,000 Gaddini Road Vacaville 14.89 AGRI 322085720 $4,500,000 6156 Clark Rd Dixon 78.98 AGRI 322049465 $500,000 360 Butcher Rd Vacaville 1.1 COMM 321098151 $1,250,000 8 362 Auction Ln Dixon 2.16 COMM 322014651 $1,600,000 2300-11 E Monte Vista Ave Vacaville 3.66 COMM 321102156 $225,000 2060 Pinecrest Ct Vacaville 1.15 RESA 322048328 $359,950 Gibson Canyon Vacaville 1.55 RESA 22029146 $399,000 English Hills Rd Vacaville 6.09 RESA 322096839 $399,000 3872 Ciarlo Ln Vacaville 8.96 RESA 322102308 $699,000 3874 Ciarlo Ln Vacaville 19 RESA 322102228 $875,000 8 457 Plesants Valley Rd Winters 22.16 RESA 321000406 $15,000,000 Mankas Fairfield RESA 21825708
PRICE ADDRESS CITY BEDS BA(F/H) SQ. FT. MLS # $35,000 9 Dali Ct Fairfield 0 0 800 322100984 $140,000 94 Lemon Tree Cir Vacaville 2 /2 2 /0 1000 323008254 $230,000 168 Avenida Hidalgo Vacaville 4 /2 2 /0 1377 323001287
PRICE ADDRESS CITY T YPE MLS # $350,000 424 Davis St Vacaville Mixed 322095434 $990,000 400 Cernon Street Vacaville OFFC 322105766 PRICE A DDRESS CITY BEDS BA (F/H) SQ. FT. LOT/AC MLS #
Porter
From Page 5
believe in the idea that practice makes perfect and there is no free lunch. Coach Holmgren was a terrible golfer and only coached alongside our head football coach Steve Ellison so they could play free golf with our team at the greatest courses in Northern California.
Holmgren never taught us anything about how to swing a golf club and as a matter of fact, our team rarely won matches because we were all middleclass city boys playing against teams made up of wealthier country club kids who had been professionally trained and golfing since they were in diapers. What we did learn from Holmgren was success requires consistent hard work and time. Holmgren played quarterback
Hacks
From Page 3
the Swiffer pad. (I used Safeway brand glass cleaner; in the video, Stein uses a mixture of vinegar, water and dish soap.)
The Swiffer immediately felt very clumsy and awkward to use; there was little control or glide, and it kept flopping around. Looking back, Stein had suggested dunking the Swiffer into a bucket of cleaning solution. I figured my own materials would be fine, but it took a lot of sprays to soak the towel, and even then, not much was transferred onto the windows.
In the end, I had to ask my 6-foot-3 fiance to directly spray the windows for me. The consensus? A step stool, rag and spray (or actual window-cleaning kit) would have done a better job.
Cleanliness: 3/5
Efficiency: 1/5
Hackability: 1/5
at Lincoln High in San Francisco and at USC for college. He coached football from 1971 to 2008, including a stint as offensive coordinator for his hometown Niners and then won a Super Bowl as head coach of the Packers in 1996. Holmgren was head coach for 296 NFL games, which if we count overtime was approximately 320 hours of official NFL game time. He spent 75,000 hours studying, training and practicing for these 320 hours and much of this painful practice was in 100degree heat and below freezing temperatures.
Successful Realtors and loan officers do the things the average competitors don’t do because of the pain. The fun part of doing mortgage loans and selling real estate is the unbelievably rewarding feeling we get when a happy homebuyer is handed the keys to the house. Helping and coaching people to win the American Dream game is cool.
Clean your disposal with ice
Maybe I did something wrong, but this hack simply did not work for me. Professional organizer Jamie Hayes went viral over the summer for running lots of ice and water through her garbage disposal until it essentially vomited up a disgusting, brown liquid.
Not only did nothing happen when I tried, but ice also got stuck and came close to breaking my disposal. I consulted Abrams, who said readers shouldn’t feel totally dissuaded by my failure. Next time, he suggested adding a bit of ice with the aforementioned baking soda and vinegar, or with a degreasing dishwashing liquid, such as Dawn.
“We think adding ice cubes helps with the cleaning process, and it helps to knock off stuck-on food particles,” Abrams says.
Nonetheless, for me, it was a zero in all categories. Would not recommend.
Cleanliness: 0/5
Efficiency: 0/5
Hackability: 0/5
The painful part of the job is the thousands of hours required in training, making sales calls, the stress of dealing with a person’s largest asset, the rejection and disappointments, the ups and downs in the market, and all the required paperwork and government compliance required to hand over the keys.
Successful homeowners in their 50s and older are people who paid the price and persevered over 30 to 50 years to achieve their success.
Very few people inherit large amounts of money. Most of our greatest local success stories are folks who worked hard for 30 to even 50 years practicing and training to become financially free as a senior. Police and firefighters must attend school and graduate from academies to get a job. Nurses must spend thousands of painful hours studying to become an RN. Refinery operators must be trained and often work as grunt laborers for years
Where I drew the line: Stick a container of Fabuloso in your toilet tank
Wary from my garbage-disposal mishap, I decided not to pursue this hack from TikTok user @lexi_gray_, who cut a hole in a bottle of the cleaning solution Fabuloso and kept it in her toilet tank. Essentially, every time she flushed, a bit of Fabuloso was released into the tank and bowl, allegedly freshening up the toilet automatically.
I envisioned my cat drinking toilet water laced with chemicals, plus the comments for the video screamed: DO NOT DO THIS. Abrams confirmed that commenters were correct.
He warns that the bottle could fall out of position and block moving parts inside your toilet tank, either keeping the toilet from working altogether or causing it to run continuously. And because the shape and size of toilet tanks vary, the likelihood that this would work for everyone is slim.
prior to making enough money to support a family. There is just no free lunch. Go to school, get a good career, work hard and get promoted, invest in income producing assets, maximize a 401(k) or IRA, buy a house as soon as possible, maintain a 700 FICO score, pay your taxes, avoid substance abuse and gambling, study success and pursue coaching from great financial coaches, and after 30 to 40 years of pain and hard work, you have a great
chance of retiring with financial freedom and personal victory.
Jim Porter, NMLS No. 276412, is the branch manager and senior loan adviser of Solano Mortgage, NMLS No. 1515497, a division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation, NMLS No. 1850, licensed in California by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the CRMLA / Equal Housing Opportunity. Jim can be reached at 707-449-4777.
10 Friday, March 10, 2023 — McNAUGHTON MEDIA
Your Home Improvement Specialists To adver tise your business here, contact your sales representative or (707) 425-4646 (707) 448-8222 Licensed, Insured, and Bonded VEelectric.com REMODEL LIGHTING INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL SOLAR DESIGN SERVICE COMMERCIAL Lic. #1066269 Accumulation of pollen, leaves, dust, wildfires and more will affect panels and cause their efficiency to drop. We also offer bird netting estimates and services! Call today for an estimate to clean your solar panels. 1270 Callen Street Vacaville 707-448-8222 solarbutlerllc.com
Winter
which containers had what from the standpoint of color. Also kind of funny was I forgot what the dormant sticks were
First off, I was surprised I had placed Superbena Imperial Blue in proximity to Double Play Candy Corn spirea. This is going to cause great joy with my Louisiana State University horti-
Then a large container with Superbena Imperial Blue found its position in proximity to Double Take Scarlet flowering quince, as well as both red and white azaleas. It is a feast for the eyes. Superbena Imperial Blue, like most of the other Superbenas, will get 5 to 12 inches tall with a spread of 30 inches. They need fertile, well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight to reach their
true performance potential. For the most part, Superbenas are considered an annual, and one certainly of exceptional value.
I live in zone 8a, and in my zone and warmer we get them to return in the spring, which causes the perennial happy dance to break out. Superbena Imperial Blue, Superbena Whiteout and Superbena Stormburst have been good perennials for me. This year I also have Superbena Plum Wine returning. Strangely, all these are in containers. They are way ahead of those in the soil.
The key to this is good soil drainage, which is easy-peasy in a container. Son James and I both are firm believers in cutting the verbena back periodically to keep rejuvenating growth and new blooms coming. It also helps to minimize chances for spider mites and lace bugs to have a fatal infestation.
So, to put it another way, if you leave a huge patch of weak foliage because you still have a couple
of blossoms, you are not helping the plant. Cut it back, and new growth will resume quickly, followed by blooms.
There are 17 varieties to be found in the Superbena (most vigorous), Superbena Royale (slightly compact, less spread) and Superbena Sparkling (bicolored) groups. Make sure you try the Superbenas in baskets or taller pots, too, as the off-the-ground or aerial-like aspect, coupled with cascading flowers, is an easy attraction for the hummingbirds.
Superbenas may have a funny sounding name to you, but it is just Proven Winners’ way of saying that these are Super Verbenas.
Norman Winter is a 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.
McNAUGHTON MEDIA — Friday, March 10, 2023 11
NORMAN WINTER/TNS
It’s late afternoon but you still have to eat, says this ruby-throated hummingbird feeding on a Superbena Imperial Blue verbena blossom.
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