Lake Wildwood vs. Auburn: Which Sierra Foothills Lifestyle Fits You
I get some version of this question almost every month: should we look at Lake Wildwood, or should we look at Auburn? Both sit in the Sierra Foothills. Both draw plenty of people leaving the Bay Area and Sacramento. But Lake Wildwood vs Auburn is really a choice between two different ways of living,
5 Curb Appeal Fixes to Sell Your Alta Sierra Home Faster
If you're getting ready to list a home in Alta Sierra, curb appeal is going to do more work for you than almost anything else you spend money on before selling. Buyers touring Alta Sierra's golf course streets and forested lots decide how they feel about a house before they ever get out of the car.
Do You Need Flood Insurance in Nevada County, CA?
I hear this question a lot from buyers who grew up somewhere flatter than the Sierra Foothills: do I actually need flood insurance in Nevada County, CA? The honest answer is that most of the county sits outside any mapped flood zone. But a real number of homes, especially the ones close to the Bear
Grass Valley vs. Auburn: Which Sierra Foothills Lifestyle Fits You
I get the Grass Valley vs. Auburn question a lot, usually from Bay Area or Sacramento buyers who have narrowed their move down to two towns and can't quite decide. Both sit in the Sierra Foothills, both trade freeway noise for tree cover, and both have historic downtowns people fall in love with on
Do You Have to Sign a Buyer's Agreement Before Touring Nevada County Homes?
If you have started looking at homes in Grass Valley, Nevada City, or anywhere else in Nevada County recently, you may have noticed something new. Your agent asked you to sign paperwork before you even walked through the front door. That is not a sales tactic. It is California law, and it changed ho
Should You Buy a Nevada County Home With a Friend?
More buyers are choosing to buy a home with a friend or family member in Nevada County these days, and it is not hard to see why. The average sale price across the county was $607,801 in July, and in Nevada City it was closer to $699,243. Splitting a down payment and a mortgage payment two ways can
Penn Valley vs. Auburn: Which Sierra Foothills Lifestyle Fits You
I get some version of this question almost every month: should I look at Penn Valley or should I look at Auburn? Both sit in the Sierra Foothills, both put you within reach of Sacramento, and both feel worlds away from a subdivision. But Penn Valley vs. Auburn is really a question about what kind of
How Long Does Escrow Actually Take on a Nevada County Home?
One of the most common questions I get from both buyers and sellers is how long escrow actually takes once an offer is accepted. It is a fair question, because a lot rides on that date, from moving trucks to mortgage rate locks. In Nevada County, the honest answer is that the Nevada County escrow ti
Do You Actually Need Title Insurance When Buying in Nevada County?
I get asked about title insurance in Nevada County almost every time I sit down with a first-time buyer, usually right after they see it as a line item on their closing cost estimate. Nobody explains what it actually is, so buyers either skip it without understanding the risk or overpay for coverage
