Thoughts Ideas and Giggles: California

Homes like this one don't come along every day...in fact, this is truly a rare opportunity to own a beautiful, quality home in South Land Park Terrace with over 3100 square feet on over a third of an acre! This home just beams with pride of ownership!

Enjoy the spacious open floor plan with a panoramic view of the lush backyard from the family room, the master suite and the office/den.  A wonderful remote bedroom and bath is perfect for a teenager retreat or in-law quarters that also features a walk-in closet and kitchenette.

The ever-sought after downstairs master retreat is a dream with a huge walk-in closet and pretty bath featuring dual sinks, large separate shower and loads of light.

With 4 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths, this is a home just built for a family or those who love to entertain!   A large shaded patio welcomes the Delta breezes...perfect for relaxing after a day's work.  The list price for this wonderful home is $759,000.

You know that it is a unique property when the first thing that people incredulously say when they come in the door is "Is this a duplex? I couldn't tell!"

This home is in College Tract...one of the most desirable areas within Land Park.  It offers options galore for the buyer.  It is an ideal set up for a family that needs that extra space for in-laws, but still want privacy.  The larger side is almost 2400 square feet, with 4 bedrooms and 2 baths.  The smaller side is 1297 square feet and is a 2 bedroom one bath.

However, if a family is looking for a single family home with lots of space, this home can easily be converted to a 6 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath home with over 3600 square feet!

The larger side features a spacious kitchen with new granite countertops and Jenn Aire gas range, all fresh interior paint and light fixtures.  Hardwood floors shine throughout both sides.  It also boasts a 2 car garage, some dual pane windows, and a basement that would make a great wine cellar!

Don't miss this great opportunity to purchase a prime Land Park home for $669,000!

For those of you who are following the big controversy about the "River Crossing", this Wednesday would be a great day to attend the monthly meeting of the Land Park Community Association.  You will have the opportunity to listen to some of the proposed solutions to the need of West Sacramento to have better access to Sacramento as well as to ask questions.

Also, we will have the opportunity to learn more about theSetzer property and its proposed development.  This should be of particular interest to residents west of Riverside Blvd as well as Realtors specializing in the area.

Also, we will be voting in 3 new board members to fill in vacated positions...so if you are a member, this is your chance to have a representative that reflects your viewpoint.

If you would like to attend, the meeting will be at Eskaton on Freeport Blvd at 6:30PM this Wednesday, August 18th.  We would love to see you there!

I wrote a previous post about our company (Dunnigan, REALTORS) leaving Windermere Real Estate in order to return to our independent roots.  This weekend, we are going to show off just how strong we are!

This Sunday afternoon, we are going to inundate the neighborhoods we specialize in with open houses!  For a neighborhood company of around 50 agents in two office, hosting over 20 open houses in just a few neighborhoods is going to be something special!  Buyers can visit homes for sale in Land Park, East Sacramento, Greenhaven and Pocket, just to name a few!

Our sellers are going to get the benefit of buyers seizing the opportunity to view all of the houses that appeal to them in one afternoon.  We will get a chance show off our stuff! It's going to be a great afternoon!

Since 1968, we have been a family run business known as Dunnigan, Realtors.  We are truly a family, placing more emphasis on new agents fitting in than increasing the bottom line.  The owners don't have their own offices...their desks are right among the desks of the Realtors.  Uniquely, we completely trust each other...contracts can be left on desks with no concerns about another agent taking advantage of the exposure.

Then, 3 years ago, we realized that we weren't keeping up with technology, and thus not providing the level of professionalism that we wanted to give our agents and clients.  We turned to Windermere Real Estate, another quality family run real estate firm out of Seattle with a great reputation and cutting edge technology. It was a good match at the time and we do not regret the move. However, over the past 3 years, more and more of the technology we required was being offered locally.  Then Windermere sent down a mandate to all of their franchisees to eliminate their local name.

Dunnigan, Realtors is well known in the neighborhoods they work.  We do not try to be all things to all people and feel strongly about our agents specializing in their selected neighborhoods.  Giving up our name would be tantamount to starting over, as other than us, Windermere Real Estate does not have a strong branding in Sacramento.

So, this week we returned to our roots...and are thrilled to be back!  Today our old signs came down and our new signs went up.  We gathered at our house to exchange over 250 open house signs for new Dunnigan, Realtors signs. The blue is gone and our cranberry color is back! We are soooo exicted!

This weekend is going to be beautiful! After an eternity of cooler weather and rain, Sacramento is overdue for some warmer weather and this weekend promises to be it!

Along with the warm weather comes the beach lovers.  Sacramento has no shortage of beaches.  We are a river city with the American River meeting the Sacramento River right in the middle of downtown.  People swarm to these beaches to enjoy the sun, the water and family.

And, every single year, despite continued warnings from a multitude of organizations to wear your life jacket, people drown.  There are even "loaner" life jackets that people can borrow, so there is no expense involved...and they still drown.  As much as I would like to believe that we will get through this coming weekend with everyone having a great time and doing so safely, history has not proven this to be the case.

We have an agent in our office who heads up a non-profit group called D.A.R.T. (Diving and Rescue Team).  By the time they get called, there usually is a missing body.  He tells stories of while they are looking for a missing kid who used a rope swing to drop into the middle of the river, there are other kids still using the rope swing with no life jacket.  One family overloaded their fishing boat and to be sure that the baby wouldn't go overboard, tied it's life jacket to the boat. So, when the boat tipped over, the baby was stuck  under it and couldn't float to the surface.

So, please people, wear a life jacket.  Being alive is way cooler than being dead.

May marked the one year anniverary since there was a major upheaval of the Land Park Community Association board of directors and a larger and almost all new board.  Much has been tackled in the past year to mend fences and create a renewed faith in the direction the board was taking.  It has been an exciting time with positive results.  We went from approximately 150 members to a sustained 450 members.  We have included a business membership and have had wonderful support from our local businesses.

Other items we have accomplished are such things as a successful "Taste of Land Park" (wine tasting, restaurant sampling and car show) that netted over $8,000.  For the first time, we thanked our neighbors for their support by holding a free Family Picnic Day with games. Despite soaring heat, it was attended by approximately 100 neighbors.  We initiated the Volunteer Corp to compensate for the disastrous cut in park maintenance personnel...now we go out and prune, plant and and clean up.  We lent our support to our Curtis Park neighbors by endorsing the Curtis Park Village developement.  We encouraged and discouraged cell towers, depending on viability of the locations and appearance.  We co-hosted, along with the City, the annual Easter Egg Hunt which was attended  by hundreds of children who picked up thousands of plastic eggs stuffed by the local boy scout troop.  We are developing a better relationship with our councilman with monthly meetings.  We are watching closely a move to expand the Sacramento Zoo...a great idea in theory, but a disaster for the existing park's use.

The election that just took place was suppose to be a simple one.  There were a couple of contested positions, but no animosity was forseen.  In fact, we still have 3 open seats we are hoping to fill in the coming months.  The unexpected antagonism occured when one of the board members from the previous regime did not win as president.  It was unfortunate and the resulting diatribes were sad.  Since that election, the losing board member has resigned all positions he held within the board as did one of the other old regime board members. 

We are now busy filling very large shoes of the two who resigned.  We are fortunate to have a very capable member step up to one of the positions.  It is believed that one of the other positions will be filled at the next board meeting.  There are other committees that will need attention and with the talent we have within our membership, it is certain we will find other talent out there.

So, as has been the history of this board, there is never a dull moment.  However, we look forward to a positive coming year with many challenges and hopefully, many great outcomes.

I went into the real estate business specializing in residential sales in the Land Park, East Sacramento and Curtis Park neighborhoods.  These are the neighborhoods I love and I have lived in Land Park for over 30 years.  Little did I dream that I would develop a niche to my specialty.

I wish I could say it was a well planned business plan.  It wasn't.  It started with a property that I was asked to list about 2 years ago.  It was dated, but otherwise a truly charming home.  I knew that it would net the sellers much more money if they would be willing to put a little money into it.  I had just started using a new stager and asked for her input as to colors.  I found a wonderful contractor who could paint, take care of any electrical needs as well as do pest work.  Other specialists who could work on hardwood floors, plumbing and cleaning also come into play and are an important part of the process.

First, we needed to determine what needs doing as opposed to completing an all out remodel. Much of the time I need to be respectful of what the owner has loved about their home and assure them that we will keep that "aura".   I have now learned the key elements that should almost always be done in this situation. Fresh interior paint is almost always a given.  Dated homes are most quickly identified by the choice in paint colors.  The second might be surprising...new light fixtures.  Large hardware stores have a great selection without paying a premium price.  Floors always have to be considered.  This is where it can get expensive, so it is critical to balance the need for new flooring  with the cost. Almost without exception, we remove all window treatments unless they are quality shutters.  Finally, the house should be thoroughly cleaned and staged well.

This house turned out beautifully.  We didn't remodel a dated kitchen, but the tile was an acceptable color and in good condition.  We replaced the range since it was old and well used.  We also replaced all of the faucets in the house as well as the light fixtures and cabinet knobs. We pulled up carpeting, exposed the hardwood floors and had them buffed. We painted the entire interior of the home.  I planted flowers in the front and back yards.  Details do count, so a mirror was replaced in the bathroom and an interior planter had its fake flowers replaced with quality artificial ivy.  All in all, we spent about $8000 and in return, sold it for about $20,000 more than we would have if we had done nothing.

A neighbor 2 doors down came to the first open house to see the end product.  As it happens, they were about to go through the same process and wanted to see what they needed to do.  They were from out of town and it was going to be a logistical nightmare.  When I told them I could do it for them and that it was part of the service I offer when I list a property, they were thrilled. I could almost see the relief in their eyes and posture.  We went through the same process with the same results.

I am now establishing a reputation that I can help in these types of situations.  More often than not, the home is a family home in which the parents have passed away and the children are trying to determine what to do. At one of my open houses, 2 sisters came by.  They had heard about what I do and wanted to see the finished results.  They told me that they will be putting their parents home on the market fairly soon and had heard about my services.  They also wanted to see the end results.  I was so pleased when they told me that when the time comes, they will be contacting me to help them. 

 I have had the good fortune to have prepared and sold 2 more homes in the same way.  I am presently working on 2 more.  One Land Park home that is in its finishing stages will go on the market in about a week.  The other is just being started and will probably take about 3 weeks to complete.

This is such a win-win for me.  Many times the seller is a child of the owner and lives out of town.  The logistics of preparing to put a home on the market is formidable.  I get the opportunity to take that burden from a seller, make the home shine and help the seller maximize their net from the sale of the home.  I love the niche that has found me!

Camp Union soldiers marched where the Sacramento Zoonow sits and their parading grounds now enjoy 4 of the 5 baseball diamonds.  A restroom was transformed into the present day Tiny Tots Preschool.  Horses were rented from College Stables at the corner of Sutterville Road and Freeport Boulevard for Sacramentans to enjoy a day of riding. In 1953, the first Police Academy held its classes at William Land Park.  Bartley Cavanaugh owned a ranch that featured his interests of race horses, hops kilns and barns that was situated near where the Sacramento Zoo now sits.  Andrew Caruthers from Pennsylvania bought a 160 acre ranch in 1849 in the southeast corner of William Land Park.

To say that William Land Parks 160 acres enjoys a rich history is an understatement.  John Sutter wanted to ensure a city that would be above a consistently challenging flood plain.  He located Sutterville at the southwest corner of what is now known as William Land Park.  Spreading out from this establishment of a ships carpenter, doctor, brewery owner and brick layer the citizens made their homes.  Due to poorly managed finances, Sutterville gave way to nearby Sacramento in 1852, when the brewery was torn down.

William Land made his fortune primarily as a hotelier, establishing the Western Hotel on 2^nd and K and then erecting the Land Hotel in downtown Sacramento.  He died in 1911, leaving a legacy of $250,000 to "to purchase a public park within a suitable distance" of Sacramento to be used as a recreation spot for the children and a pleasure ground for the poor."  William Land Park was established on its present site in the 1920's.

William Land was a gentleman ahead of his time and his legacy has become a rich environment for all to enjoy.  The Land Park Golf Course, opening in 1924, was the first golf course in Sacramento.   Pony rides have been enjoyed in William Land Park since the late 1930's or early 1940's.  Funderland, a concession for children ages 2-12, was established in 1941.  Fairytale Townhas been entertaining toddlers and preschoolers since 1959.  The William Land Park Amphitheatre has hosted concerts, plays and other productions since as early as 1963. The Village Green (appearing to most as a simple square slab of cement) has been a popular place for concerts in the 1970's and has been used more recently for practicing skating, playing bagpipes and the staging area for hundreds of charity events.

William Land Park celebrates its history with many memorials.  William Land's own memorial sits in the park across from Sacramento City Junior College.  It was designed by noted architect Leonard F. Starks in honor of William Land (1837-1911). The plaque contains a quote by Virgil: "The noblest motive is the public good."  The World War 1 Memorial was erected in 1973 and honors the Sacramentans who gave their lives in the war.  The statue of Charles Swanston was erected by his son George and included a dance pavilion (now a part of the Sacramento Zoo).  There are many groves and gardens celebrating influential groups who helped make Sacramento what it is today. Currently William Land Park features multitudes of entertainment possibilities.  It has 1 class 1 and 22 class 2 updated picnic areas with tables and barbecues for which some can be reserved for that family reunion or birthday party.  The park has 3 ponds stocked with fish for those who enjoy the rod and reel...just be sure the geese and ducks don't beat you to it!  For baseball lovers, it has 2 softball fields and 3 baseball fields, one of which is lit.  Soccer lovers enjoy its 2 bantam and 1 full size soccer fields.  Very close to Tiny Tots Preschool you can find basketball players challenging each other on the basketball court. .  Joggers can get in their daily run on the 3.4 mile jogging course.  To this day, the 9-hole Land Park Golf Course is constantly being enjoyed by local golfers.   The accredited Sacramento Zoo was established in 1927 and features over 140 native, exotic and endangered species.

As you can see, William Land Park is a Sacramento treasure with a rich history.  Come enjoy a summer day at this family oriented oasis full of wonderful experiences and potential memories! For a map, click William Land Park

Land Park residents rely on their local Target store for lots of their spring planting.  The Garden Center is popular, with affordable prices and popular plants seen abundantly in the Land Park neighborhood.

Now...the bad news.  I was told by a Target employee tonight that they are closing the Garden Center in October.  The company feels that they can better serve their customers by enlarging their food department.  Certainly the economy is spurring such changes in emphasis...necessities over luxuries.

It will be a sad day when I can no longer make a quick trip to Target for my favorite flowers.