Why Nevada County FAIR Plan Insurance Is Going Up 29% This Fall
Every fall I get a wave of calls from homeowners staring at a renewal notice that looks nothing like last year's. This year the number behind those calls is 29.1 percent, the average increase state regulators just approved for Nevada County FAIR Plan insurance starting October 15, 2026. If you own a
5 Nevada City Hidden Gems Worth Discovering Before You Move
When people ask me about living in Nevada City, CA, they usually mean the postcard version. The Victorian storefronts on Broad Street, the string lights over Commercial Street, the parade everybody has seen on Instagram. That part is real, and it is wonderful. But after 20+ years selling homes acros
Which Home Improvements Actually Pay Off Before You Sell in Nevada County
A new garage door can return close to 270% of what you spend on it at resale. A full kitchen remodel, the one most sellers assume is the safe bet, often recovers barely more than half its cost. If you are weighing home improvements before selling in Nevada County, the gap between those two numbers i
Will Selling in Nevada County Reset Your Property Tax Base?
I get some version of this question almost every time I sit down with someone who has owned their Nevada County home for twenty, thirty, even forty years and is starting to think about selling. They want to know if moving means starting over on property taxes, paying today's rate on today's price in
Grass Valley Brew Fest 2026: What Downtown Living Feels Like
Every October, downtown Grass Valley shuts down Mill Street for an afternoon and fills it with craft beer, live music, and a few thousand of my neighbors. The Grass Valley Brew Fest is back on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 1 to 5 p.m., and if you want to understand what it actually feels like to l
3 Things I'd Do Before Making an Offer in Lake of the Pines
Lake of the Pines is one of the most sought-after gated communities in Nevada County, and I get calls about it almost every week. Buyers love the golf course, the lake, and the sense that you can lock your door and leave for the weekend without worrying about a thing. But writing an offer in Lake of
5 Curb Appeal Fixes to Sell Your Lake Wildwood Home Faster
If you're getting ready to list a home in Lake Wildwood, curb appeal carries a little more weight here than it does in a typical Nevada County neighborhood. Buyers who tour a gated golf and lake community are already picturing a certain lifestyle before they get out of the car, and a home that looks
5 Hidden Gems in Grass Valley Most Newcomers Never Find
I've called Nevada County home for more than 40 years, and Grass Valley still surprises me. Most people who move here get to know Mill Street, grab coffee at a downtown café, and figure they've seen the town. But the real hidden gems in Grass Valley are a few blocks and a few habits away from that,
Should You Buy a Nevada County Home With a Solar Lease?
I had a client this summer who found the perfect place in Penn Valley, made an offer, and then almost lost her financing over something nobody had warned her about: a solar lease on the roof. If you are house hunting in Nevada County right now, there is a good chance you will run into a home with a
