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Real estate broker, civil engineer and general contractor.
Real Estate

First Gain in California Home Prices in 16 Months

The Saitta House, Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, New...
The Saitta House, Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, New York (built in 1899) has been on the National Register since 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The median price for an existing, single-family home in California rose 1.6 percent in March compared with the year before, marking the first year-over-year increase in 16 months, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® reported Monday.

  • The statewide median price of an existing, single-family detached home jumped 9.2 percent to $291,080 in March from February’s $266,660 median price and was up 1.6 percent from a revised $286,550 recorded in March 2011.  The month-to-month increase was the largest since March 2004.
  • Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 505,360 units in March, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide.  Sales in March were down 4.5 percent month-over-month and 2.3 percent year-to-year.
  • The statewide sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2012 if sales maintained the March pace throughout the year.  It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.
  • “Housing inventory remains extremely tight throughout the state and at levels severely under normal market conditions,” said C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young.  “In areas, such as Los Angeles and Riverside counties, where the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) wants to implement the REO bulk sale pilot program, inventory is running at levels well below the long-run average.  These low inventory levels demonstrate that the pilot program is not necessary in California.”
  • The pilot program calls for the sale of more than 600 Fannie Mae-owned foreclosed homes in Los Angeles and Riverside counties to institutional investors.

Read the full story

 

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For all your real estate needs
Email or call today:

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE#00669941

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Uncategorized

Landscaping With Firewise Plants in Western Nevada County

Gaillardia 'Goblin' offers multicolored blooms for the fire safe border
Gaillardia 'Goblin' offers multicolored blooms for the fire safe border

Fire is a Fact of Life in the Sierra Nevada Foothills

California is home to some of the most scenic vistas in the world. The natural beauty and mild, Mediterranean climate [Sunset Magazine Zone 7, USDA Zone 8] have attracted millions to settle in the foothills.  Living in Nevada County means learning to live with fire. That’s because our scenic vistas are fire-dependent. Fire cracks seed casings, allowing our native plants to thrive. And it clears out dead brush that can choke living plants and cut off food for wildlife.

Work with nature and choose plants that are climate and soil adapted.  Incorporating fire safe concepts into the residential landscape is one of the most important ways you can help your home survive a wildfire.  Creating an area of defensible space does not mean you need a ring of bare dirt around your home.  Through proper planning, you can have both a beautiful landscape and a fire safe home.

Vegetation Arrangement

The general concept is that trees should be kept furthest from your home, shrubs and trees may be closer and bedding plants and lawns may be nearest to the structure.  From a wildfire fuel perspective, vegetation is often described in terms of its vertical and horizontal arrangement.  The vertical fuel continuity is also referred to as “ladder fuels.”  Laddering arrangements of fuels enables fire to climb neighboring vegetation like a ladder.  Reduce the chance of fire climbing into trees by removing the lower tree limbs from 6-10 feet from the ground (or the lower third of branches on smaller trees.)

Fire spreads on the ground from plant to plant and then onto your home.  To reduce the chance of fire spreading horizontally, space or group plants in clumps for visual screening while providing enough space between plants to reduce the fire spreading.  Individual spacing needs depends on the height and width of the plant, but generally a three times height for vertical separation is a good rule of thumb.

Vegetation Zones

The home defense zone is within 30 feet of the house.  The reduced fuel zone lies beyond the home defense zone and extends out to 100 feet from the house or the property boundary.  Greater defense zone widths are necessary when your home is sited on a steep slope or in a windswept exposure. The most intensive vegetation management lies within the home defense zone.  Objectives for the home defense zone include:

 

  • Remove any combustible materials (such as needles, leaves, dead twigs, firewood, dry grasses, recycling, and building materials) from within 30 feet of the home, garage, outbuildings, and propane tanks.
  • Reduce the ladder effect between plants.
  • Replace any flammable plant species (such as juniper, cypress, or broom varieties) with fire wise plant selections.
  • Maintain high moisture content in the vegetation

Where to Plant

Avoid putting plants in the following locations to minimize the movement of fire from the vegetation to the home: immediately adjacent to the siding; underneath vents or eaves; tree limbs over the roof; and underneath or near the deck.

Mulching

Mulch conserves moisture, but also burns.  Carefully choose the location of plants or garden beds that will need mulch.  Mulches greater than 2 inches deep tend to smolder and are difficult to extinguish.  Do not use wood or bark mulches within 3-5 feet of the house.  Instead consider colored rock, pea gravel or other less flammable materials.  Having a “hardscape” immediately adjacent to your home will help harden the structure from flying ember intrusion.

Maintenance

Maintenance is critical to fire safety.  Over time, plants grow both vertically and horizontally, mulches dry out, leaves and needles accumulate within and around landscape vegetation.  All of these fuels may help feed a fire.  Remember to conduct annual cleanup of your established vegetation to ensure a fire safe condition during wildfire season.

Remember that no plant is completely resistant to fire.  Plants with low fuel content can be the difference between safety and destruction.  You will find that a fire safe landscape can increase your property value, provide wildlife habitat and conserve water while beautifying your home.

Download your Copy of the Firewise Plants for Western Nevada County Plant Guide complied by: Lynn Lorenson, Landscape Consultant & Master Gardner; Karen Callahan, CA Native Plant Society; and the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County.

Visit the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County’s Firewise Landscaping webpage for additional information.

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Call or email today
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Real Estate Broker
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(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE #00669941

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Real Estate

As Home Rents Head Higher, Owning Regains its Appeal

Scotts Flat Lake April 13, 2012 early morning from my deck Photo by John J. O'Dell
Scotts Flat Lake April 13, 2012 early morning from my deck Photo by John J. O'Dell

Rising rents, coupled with slumping home prices and interest rates near record-lows, are boosting demand for homes at entry-level prices.

Making sense of the story

  • Increased buying activity from investors and second-home purchases may be factors behind the recent pickup in home sales, but real estate agents say they are fielding more calls from anxious tenants complaining about rising rents.
  • Average apartment rents rose by 2.7 percent last year, while the national vacancy rate dropped below 5 percent for the first time since 2001, according to a quarterly survey released Wednesday by REIS Inc., a real estate research firm.
  • The largest rent increases came in San Francisco and San Jose, Calif., which saw increases of 5.9 percent and 4.9 percent, respectively.  Such increases are one reason why industry analysts believe 2012 will be the first year since 2005 when the share of apartment renters that moves out to buy a house increases from the previous year.
  • Historically, the cost to rent an apartment has been about 10 percent lower than the after-tax cost of owning a home.  That rental discount began to fall in 2010 and disappeared entirely last year, according to analysts at Deutsche Bank who track housing costs. By the end of 2011, the bank’s research found that the cost to rent an apartment was about 15 percent higher than the cost to own a home.
  • It isn’t always easy for home buyers to make it to the closing table though. Lending and appraisal standards remain tight, keeping many would-be buyers out of the market.  And aspiring buyers are competing with savvy investors who have turned buying and reselling foreclosed homes into a business.

Read the full story  

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John J. O’Dell
Broker/Owner
O’Dell Real Estate
(530) 263-1091
jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE# 00996641

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History of Nevada County

Rough & Ready, California

Picture courtesy of the Rough and Ready Chamber of Commerce
Picture courtesy of the Rough and Ready Chamber of Commerce

By Judy J. Pinegar

The first established settlement in Rough and Ready was made in the fall of 1849 by a mining company from Wisconsin known as the Rough and Ready Company. Their leader, Captain A. A. Townsend, named the company after General Zachary Taylor (nicknamed “Old Rough and Ready”) who had recently been elected the 12th President of the United States. Captain Townsend had served under “Old Rough and Ready” during the U.S.-Mexican War.

Gold was easy pickings, and by the late 1840s, the population of the town of Rough and Ready had exploded to over 3,000. The town had plenty of uncontrolled lawlessness and a growing resentment of the government which had imposed a Mining Tax on all claims. On April 7th, 1850, a mass meeting was called to propose seceding from the Union.

The Great Republic of Rough and Ready was formed that day as a free and independent republic. The townspeople elected Col. E.F. Brundage as President, and  Justice of the Peace Hans Q. Roberts as Secretary of State, who then signed a constitution similar to that of the United States.

The Republic of Rough and Ready lasted only three months as the world’s smallest nation. It came to a halt when preparing for a fourth of July celebration, it was realized as an independent country it had no reason to celebrate.  A popular vote restored the new Republic to the United States followed by the most riotous Fourth celebration ever held anywhere. An alternate story for the reason Rough and Ready rejoined the union is that Nevada City refused to sell the “foreign” miners liquor!

In 1859, a devastating fire destroyed most of Rough and Ready as shown in the photo.

Picture courtesy of the Rough and Ready Chamber of Commerce
Picture courtesy of the Rough and Ready Chamber of Commerce

Picture courtesy of the Rough and Ready Chamber of Commerce

Rough and Ready is located west of Grass Valley, California, on State Route 20 at the junction of State Route 49, approximately 62 miles (100 km) from Sacramento. The post office at Rough and Ready was established in February 1851. Among the oldest buildings are the blacksmith shop (1850s), the Grange (1850’s), the Odd Fellows Hall (1854), and the Old Toll House. The population was 963 at the 2010 census.

 

Picture courtesy of the Rough and Ready Chamber of Commerce
Picture courtesy of the Rough and Ready Chamber of Commerce

 

The Rough and Ready Calendar of Events includes the following. It is a great place to visit on a weekend…come for a drive!

Weekly

Every Sunday

The Fruit Jar Pickers

10am to Noon at the Grange in downtown Rough and Ready

 

Monthly

Every 2nd Saturday

Breakfast at the Grange

8am to 10 am at the Grange Hall. Great food and entertainment for $5.00

Annually

Last Sunday in June

Secession Days in downtown Rough and Ready. 7am to 3pm.

 Annually

Last Sunday in September

Chili Cook-off in downtown Rough and Ready. 10am to 3pm.

Additional information about Rough and Ready and these events may be obtained from the Rough and Ready Chamber of Commerce webpage

Judy J. Pinegar is a writer and her articles have appeared in many publications

 

For all your real estate needs
Email or call today:

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE#00669941

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Real Estate

Pending Home Sales in California Gained in February

 

Pending home sales in California gained ground for the second consecutive month in February, while the share of equity sales posted higher after two months of decline, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.

Pending home sales:

C.A.R.’s Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)* rose from a revised 102.3 in January to 127.8 in February, based on signed contracts.  The index also was up from the 111.8 index recorded in February 2011, marking the tenth consecutive month that pending sales were higher than the previous year.  Pending home sales are forward-looking indicators of future home sales activity, providing information on the future direction of the market.

Distressed housing market data:

“A lack of inventory in the bank-owned (REO) and short sale market was a contributing factor to the decline in share of distressed sales in February,” said C.A.R. President LeFrancis Arnold.  “In fact, REO inventory declined 24 percent in February from the previous year, while short sale inventory dropped 17 percent during the same period.”

• After declining for two straight months, equity sales increased in February, making up 51.1 percent of home sales in February.  Equity sales made up 49.9 and 44.8 percent of all sales in January 2012 and February 2011, respectively.
• Meanwhile, the total share of all distressed property types sold statewide decreased in February to 48.9 percent, down from January’s 50.1 percent and from 55.2 percent in February 2011.
• The share of short sales dipped slightly in February.  Of the distressed properties sold statewide in January, 23 percent were short sales, down from the previous month’s share of 23.8 percent but up from last February’s share of 22.9 percent.
• The share of REO sales also edged down in February to 25.2 percent, down from January’s 25.9 percent and down from the 31.9 percent recorded in February 2011.
For all your real estate needs:
Call or email today
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Real Estate Broker
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE #00669941

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Environment

Consider Wildlife When Creating A Firewise Landscape

By Ed Pandofino

Living in fire-prone landscapes in California requires some modification of the areas around your home to protect it from fire. While there is no doubt that these modifications alter habitats used by wildlife, you can minimize the negative impacts on birds by paying attention to the timing of your activities.

In our area birds begin nesting in March and many still have dependent young as late as August. Since destruction of active bird nests is both against the law (Migratory Bird Treaty Act) and avoidable, the simplest approach is to conduct all clearing activities outside this period. This means doing the work in the cooler months, which is also easier on those doing this difficult work. Keep in mind that birds do NOT just nest in trees. Many birds nest on or near the ground in brushy areas (e.g., California Quail, Bewick’s Wren, California Towhees, etc.). Just because you are NOT removing trees doesn’t mean you are not disturbing nests. Also, keep in mind that disturbance is most damaging early in the season when birds are on eggs or have young still in the nest. In general, the most sensitive period is likely to be mid-March through July. It is best to avoid all disturbance during this period.

Ed Pandolfino
Sierra Foothills Audubon Society

For more information visit:

 

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For all your real estate needs
Email or call today:

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE#00669941

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Bits & Pieces

80 Year Old Women Lands Plane After Husband Dies

When her husband slumped over in the pilot’s seat, non-pilot Helen Collins, 80, found herself at the controls of a twin-engine plane that was low on fuel. “You better get me in there pretty soon,” she radioed the tower

For all your real estate needs:
Call or email today

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Real Estate Broker
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE #00669941

Center for the Arts

The Center for the Arts Presents Kansas

httpv://youtu.be/YRCh8yh5Oys

The Center for the Arts presents Kansas with Lorraine Gervais (Women of Rock) unplugged opening, Thursday April 12 at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 255 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley, CA.

Originally formed in Topeka, Kansas during 1973, the group became one of the decade’s most popular rock bands, on the strength of such all-time classic albums as 1976’s four-times platinum ‘Leftoverture’ and 1977’s five-times platinum ‘Point of Know Return’ – which spawned the aforementioned mega hit singles. Despite a few line- up changes throughout the years, Kansas remains immensely popular to this day, and continues to put on amazing shows. Case in point, ‘There’s Know Place Like Home.’ Filmed on February 7, 2009 in their home state (at Washburn University’s White Concert Hall), the concert was certainly not your average affair. For this show, the group was united with former members Kerry Livgren (guitar/keyboards) and Steve Morse (guitar), as well as the 50-piece Washburn University Orchestra.

For tickets and to read more: The Center for the Arts

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For all your real estate needs
Call today or email

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Broker/Owner
O’Dell Realty

(530) 263-1091
jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE# 00669941

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animals

Elephant Escapes Circus, Goes for Coffee

httpv://youtu.be/48_BvWsGjQc

 

Elephant Escapes Circus and Runs Around Car Park in Blackpool, County Cork, Ireland.  The people of Cork in Ireland had a fright today when an elephant broke free from a circus. The elephant was found outside a coffee shop.

 
Email or call today:
For all your real estate needs

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE#00669941
 

animals, Bits & Pieces

Bats Under Tile Roof and How to Handle Bats in Your Home

httpv://youtu.be/Oc8ACBiwIyE

Here’s an extreme case of bats under a tile roof. I have to feel sorry for the bats, because now they don’t have a home and will have to find another place for shelter. Here’s how to handle bats if found in your home. (hopefully, not of the magnitude  shown in this video)

“Don’t panic. The solutions are simple.

Bats are rarely aggressive, even if they’re being chased, but they may bite in self-defense if handled. As with any wild animal, bats should never be touched with bare hands. Always wear gloves when removing bats. Only a small percentage of bats (about one-half of one percent overall) have rabies, but anyone bitten by a bat should immediately seek medical consultation.

A solitary bat – often a lost youngster – will occasionally fly into a home, garage or other building through an open door or window. When this happens, the bat’s primary goal is to escape safely back outside. As long as no direct human contact with the bat has occurred, it can be released outdoors.

These bats will usually leave on their own if a window or door to the outside is opened, while interior entrances are closed.

If the bat does not leave on its own, it can be safely captured and released outside. (See the illustrations at right). Wait until the bat lands, then cover it with a small box or other container. Slip a piece of cardboard between the wall and the container, gently trapping the bat inside. Wait until nightfall and, with the bat inside the cardboard-covered container, take it outdoors and release it.”

Source: Bats Conservation International

 

 

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Email or call today:
For all your real estate needs

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE#00669941

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