OwnPlacer.com

09/10/2026

📊 August 2026 Placer County Housing Market Update

August brought the typical late-summer slowdown in closed sales, but the Placer County housing market continues to hold up well.

Home prices increased, inventory declined, and pending sales remained steady. With 2.9 months of inventory, Placer County also remains just inside seller’s market territory.

A few highlights:

• 394 homes sold, down 21.2% from July
• Median price: $693,000, up 2.7% from last year
• 40 average days on market, up from 36 in July
• Inventory declined 3.2% from July
• 452 homes went pending, up 1.6% from July

The countywide numbers only tell part of the story. I’m seeing some homes receive multiple offers while others are giving buyers substantial negotiating room. The individual home, neighborhood, condition, price range and asking price can make a big difference right now.

Read the full August Placer County Housing Market Update here:

https://www.ownplacer.com/blog/august-2026-placer-county-housing-market-update-prices-rise-as-inventory-declines.html

09/03/2026

📈 What happened to lower mortgage rates?

If you've been waiting for mortgage rates to come down before buying or selling a home, the last six months have probably been frustrating.

On February 23, the national average for a 30-year mortgage briefly fell to 5.99%. As of September 3, it has climbed to 6.88%.

And here's something that surprises a lot of people: the Federal Reserve hasn't raised its short-term interest rate once during that time.

That's because the Fed doesn't directly control mortgage rates.

In my latest blog, I break down in simple terms why mortgage rates have climbed, what the conflict with Iran, inflation and the economy have to do with it, and what could eventually cause rates to move back down.

I also discuss what this means for our local housing market, where I'm seeing some neighborhoods and price ranges shift in the buyer's favor while others remain firmly in a seller's market.

Read the full post here:

https://www.ownplacer.com/blog/why-mortgage-rates-have-gone-up-2026-placer-county.html

08/30/2026

Thinking about selling or downsizing after many years in the same home? 🏡📦

One of the biggest challenges may not be deciding where you're going next. It may be figuring out what to do with everything you've accumulated along the way.

I recently met with clients who have lived in their home since the 1990s and are preparing to sell, move out of state and downsize. Like many longtime homeowners, they're now faced with sorting and packing decades of belongings.

It can feel like a huge project, but it's completely manageable if you start early and take it one room at a time.

Keep it. Pack it. Sell it. Donate it. Toss it.

Decluttering also helps prepare your home for sale. A minimally furnished and decorated home can feel more spacious and makes it easier for buyers to focus on the home itself and imagine living there.

You don't need to wait until you're ready to put your home on the market. A little progress each week can make the eventual move much easier.

I put together some practical tips for anyone thinking about selling, downsizing or simply getting a head start on the process:

https://www.ownplacer.com/blog/decluttering-before-selling-downsizing-home.html

08/13/2026

🥵 We've all felt the heat these past few weeks, and many homeowners are about to feel it again when their summer electric bill arrives.

When you're buying a home, it's easy to focus on the purchase price and monthly mortgage payment. But one thing that's often overlooked is the ongoing cost of owning that home.

In my latest article, I discuss why features like:

☀️ Solar panels (and why older NEM agreements can make a big difference)

❄️ High-efficiency HVAC systems

🪟 Energy-efficient windows and insulation

⚡ Even your utility provider (PG&E, Roseville Electric, or SMUD)

can have a significant impact on your monthly expenses, your comfort, and even your home's resale value.

If you're shopping for a home or thinking about selling one, these are the kinds of details that can make a bigger difference than many people realize.

Read the full article here:

https://www.ownplacer.com/blog/energy-efficient-homes-california.html

Have you made any energy-efficient upgrades to your home? I'd love to hear what's made the biggest difference for you.

08/01/2026

🏡 New Listing in Wi******er Country Club!

I'm excited to introduce my newest listing at 1520 Ridgemore Drive in Meadow Vista.

Built in 2020, this custom single-story home offers the perfect combination of modern construction, thoughtful design, and an exceptional location within one of Placer County's premier gated communities.

Some of my favorite features include:

✔️ 3 spacious ensuite bedrooms + dedicated office
✔️ Large flex room with endless possibilities for guests, hobbies, fitness, or entertainment
✔️ Approximately 1,390 sq. ft. finished garage for cars, golf carts, toys, or a workshop
✔️ Beautifully landscaped and private 1.8-acre lot
✔️ Covered outdoor living area with built-in BBQ, fire pit, and hot tub
✔️ Owned solar and whole-house generator
✔️ Just a short golf cart ride to the community pool, tennis and pickleball courts, and clubhouse, with optional Wi******er Country Club golf membership nearby.

One of the things that makes this home especially rare is that it's a newer custom-built, true single-story home. Many of the newer homes in Wi******er are built on steeper lots that require a second story or walk-out lower level. This home offers all the benefits of newer construction with the convenience of one-level living.

Take a look at the photos, explore the interactive 3-D Matterport tour, and learn more about everything this home has to offer here:

👉 https://www.ownplacer.com/1520-ridgemore-drive-winchester-country-club.php

If you'd like to schedule a private showing or have questions about Wi******er Country Club or the Meadow Vista area, I'd be happy to help.

******erCountryClub

07/30/2026

📸 How would your home have been marketed in the 1990s?

When my parents started selling real estate in the early 1990s, many homes didn't even have a photo. Buyers relied on a written description, local knowledge, and often a drive-by before deciding whether it was worth seeing.

When I became a Realtor in 2002, most listings included a single exterior photo.

Today, buyers often decide which homes they want to see—and which they'll skip—based almost entirely on what they find online. Professional photography, drone footage, 3D tours, floor plans, and video have completely changed the way homes are marketed.

One thing I've learned over the past 24 years is that no two homes should be marketed exactly the same way. Every property has its own strengths, and the best marketing strategy is the one that highlights what makes that particular home stand out.

While the tools have changed dramatically, one thing hasn't:

🏡 The homes that make the strongest first impression usually attract the most interest.

If you're thinking about selling your home, or you're simply curious about how real estate marketing has evolved over the years, I think you'll enjoy my latest blog post.

📖 Read it here:

Learn how selling a home has evolved since the 1990s and why first impressions, professional marketing, and the right strategy matter more than ever in today's Placer County real estate market.