Why People Moving to Nevada City Notice the Stars First
Why People Moving to Nevada City Notice the Stars First I get some version of the same phone call every few months from clients who just closed on a home here. They call not about the closing, but about the night before, when they stepped outside after dark and actually saw the Milky Way. For people

Grass Valley vs. Nevada City: Which Market Fits Your Budget
Grass Valley vs. Nevada City: Which Market Fits Your Budget I get asked some version of this question almost every week: should I look in Grass Valley or Nevada City? It is one of the most common decisions buyers face when comparing Grass Valley vs Nevada City real estate, and the honest answer is t

Can You Transfer Your Property Taxes When You Sell in Nevada County?
Can You Transfer Your Property Taxes When You Sell in Nevada County? If you've owned your Nevada County home for a decade or more, you already know the trap. Your property taxes have stayed low thanks to Prop 13, but that same protection can feel like it locks you in place. Sell your home and buy a
Penn Valley vs. Lake Wildwood: Which Sierra Foothills Lifestyle Fits You
Penn Valley vs. Lake Wildwood: Which Sierra Foothills Lifestyle Fits You I get some version of this question almost every week from buyers looking at Penn Valley vs Lake Wildwood: "Aren't those the same place?" Not quite. Lake Wildwood is actually a gated community inside Penn Valley, which means th

Nevada County vs. Auburn, CA: Which Sierra Foothills Market Fits Your Budget?
If you are weighing Nevada County vs Auburn CA for your next home, you are not alone. I get this question all the time from buyers who work in the Sacramento area or the Bay Area and are trying to figure out which Sierra Foothills community gives them the most for their money. Both markets sit along
Do Solar Panels Actually Add Value to Your Nevada County Home?
I get this question from both buyers and sellers, usually in the same week. A seller wants to know if the panels on their roof are worth mentioning in the listing. A buyer touring a home with solar wants to know if they are actually getting something valuable or just inheriting someone else's equipm

Moving to Nevada County Right Before Fair Week 2026
If you're timing a move to Nevada County this year, I have a suggestion: try to be here for Fair Week. The Nevada County Fair runs August 12 through 16, 2026, at the fairgrounds in Grass Valley, and it's the single best week of the year to feel what this community is actually like. I've watched more

Should You Sell Your Nevada County Home As-Is or Fix It First?
If you're weighing whether to sell your home as-is or put money into repairs first, you're not alone. It's one of the questions I get asked most often, and the right answer depends less on what you'd like to do and more on what the current Nevada County market actually rewards. With homes here selli
Is a USDA Zero-Down Loan Realistic in Nevada County?
Photo credit: Jamie Hagan, Unsplash Is a USDA Zero-Down Loan Realistic in Nevada County? I get a version of this question almost every week from buyers who assume a big down payment is the only way into a home here: is there really a way to buy with nothing down? For a good number of buyers, the ans
