Garth Evans

4141 Monteverde-Granite, Thermador appliances, Mahogany Cabinets…

You are invited to come to an open house at 4141 Monteverde Drive, Lincoln, CA 95648. Come and take a look at this beautiful home and the gorgeous golf course views. Saturday March 12 from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. See the link below for the video tour and then come and see in person!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTD5WC1ECtA

4200 Monteverde Drive, Lincoln, CA 95648

Elegant and luxurious, this home is designed with entertaining in mind! Situated on a choice cul-de-sac lot in prestigious Catta Verdera, you’ll feel like you are at the resort. At over 5800 sf, this home includes 6 bedrooms, 5 baths, a home theater room, loft, separate formal rooms and finished garages. The gourmet kitchen features Viking appliances, granite slab countertops, top of the line cabinets & full butler’s pantry with prep sink and extra dishwasher. You’ll be impressed with the way the rest of the home wraps itself around the dramatic circular formal dining room. Just off the dining room, enjoy the open feel as the french doors lead to the expansive, exposed aggregate courtyard. Spend time cooking at the outdoor kitchen or unwinding with friends and family in the heated pool. Rinse off in the outdoor shower before you take a dip and take a nap afterward in the private pool house. Everything has been done to a higher standard! The Caribbean Blue Pebbletech bottom pool includes removable fencing, a built-in spa with spillway, rock waterfall and other water features. The manicured, private yard feels more like a park with flagstone walkways, stylish fountain, citrus orchard and a variety of trees and shrubs.  Every aspect of this home highlights the attention to detail. The custom accents of the inlaid medallion mosaic, the old-world stone style fireplace mantels and the unique lighting fixtures add interest in each room. Throughout the home there are numerous functional upgrades including surround sound, central vacuum, security system with camera capability, fire sprinklers and a tankless hotwater heater. This home is truly a masterpiece!

Watch the Video Tour on this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93VtbbehRMo&feature=related

Call for a complete list of upgrades and to schedule a private tour.

108 Estrella Court, Lincoln, CA

You can see the video tour of this property by clicking on this link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpeBUrFRUu8

This beautiful home in the gated Verdera Community is located on a huge cul-de-sac lot and has a private, park-like yard. Incredible views of the Sutter Buttes, putting green, basketball court and a custom water fountain are just some of the features that this over .40 of an acre lot has to offer. Impressive curb appeal with contrasting stone and stucco work greet you as you come up to the home. You will be impressed with the detail and the well thought-out upgrades on the interior. The nicely appointed kitchen includes granite countertops, maple cabinets, stainless appliances and 18 inch tile flooring. Enjoy looking out to the spacious back yard from the open kitchen nook. This home has a wonderful floor plan with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, separate formal living and dining rooms and the kitchen/family “great room” concept. You will notice the architectural detail in the master with the oval entry and the coffered ceilings. The master bath is aptly upgraded with a split vanity including tumbled travertine tile countertops and shower surround, jetted tub and beautiful cherry wood closet organizers. Take some time to relax and enjoy the views in the backyard or play ball on the basketball court, BBQ or practice your “short game” on the putting green. The handy man will love the split three and one 4 car garage with custom cabinets and epoxy floors.  The single side is currently being used as a games room. Other upgrades include surround sound, built-in media niche, crown molding, fireplaces, custom paint, moss rock walls, back yard fountain, coach lights, and so much more.   

Call today for a full list of upgrades and to request a private showing.

I’ve said it before, Lincoln, CA is a great place to live!. We are located close to pretty much everything. Day trips to the resorts up I-80 and towards San Francisco are an easy possibility. This time of year we love to take some trips to the snow. The kids enjoy sledding, building snow caves and snowmen, and drinking hot chocolate. One of the places we like is about an hour up I-80 at Cisco Grove. There is a snow park there, but we prefer to hike up behind the park and blaze our own trails. My wife and I take the camp chairs and set up at the bottom of the hill while the kids wear themselves out. The good thing about being only an hour away is that you can look at the weather and jump in the car without having to plan too much or take a full day to get somewhere if the weather is going to be terrible. As the kids start to get cold and wet, I fire up a couple Jetboil backpacking stoves (well used on all our Scout camps) and get the water ready for hot chocolate. Some hot chocolate and then a few more runs and we can stop at In and Out in Auburn for dinner and be home before dark. Cost is minimal. $10 for parking, 1/4 tank of gas, some packets of chocolate that were in the camping box anyway, and less than $30 at In and Out. As long as there aren’t any co-pays at the emergency room, we have a great day with the family for under $75. Right now sleds are on sale and most of the sporting goods stores. We really enjoy doing day trips. I am the kind of person that would rather get out and do something than sit in front of a movie screen (ok on rainy days) or waste a day doing nothing… Let me know if anyone has any good ideas for day trips, we are always looking for new adventures!

7871 Boulder Creek Road, Penryn CA

This custom country estate is located in a very desirable gated Penryn community. Situated on 5.1 oak studded acres, you will love the tranquility and space this property has to offer. Enjoy walking the trails, sitting by the creek or looking at the amazing granite outcroppings. Excellent craftsmanship is evident as you walk in the front door and see the wonderful upgrades. The nicely appointed kitchen includes granite countertops, stainless appliances and hardwood flooring. The family room has a rock fireplace with a spacious hearth and is the perfect place to relax. Throughout the home you will see many other custom features such as imperfect smooth walls, crown molding, plantation shutters and built-in cabinets. This home has a wonderful open floor plan with a large master suite with fireplace, 4 additional bedrooms (one jack&jill), a den, family room, kitchen with nook and formal dining room.

The yard is fenced, has auto sprinklers, Trex patio and a fire pit. Those with a “green-thumb can spend time in the separate garden area. The handyman will be pleased with the large, finished garage with drop-down ladder for overhead storage and the 3rd bay rear pass-through/roll up door. Enjoy the privacy of country living with all the conveniences of living in town. From the inviting circular drive to the well thought-out floor plan and premium upgrades, this location and home make a rare opportunity for a luck buyer.

Call today for a full list of upgrades and to request a private showing.

2049 Glenveagh Lane, Lincoln, CA

Move-in ready! This quality-built Pulte home is located in a great 12 Bridges neighborhood close to schools, parks and walking trails. With a functional and spacious floor plan, this home has 5 bedrooms and 4 full baths, including a full bed and bath downstairs. This plan also includes a formal living and dining room, large loft, a den, and a huge great room. You’ll love the upgrades this home has to offer! The bright and open kitchen has granite countertops, top quality cabinets with roll-outs, upgraded appliances and a walk-in pantry. This home has warm, two-tone custom paint, tile flooring, premium carpet and more. The fully landscaped yard includes custom concrete, auto sprinkler and drip, landscape lighting, covered patio, mow curb and lots of room to play or relax. Other features include plantation shutters, built-in media niche, laundry sink, whole house fan, ceiling fans and a finished 3 car garage. From the excellent location to the size and functionality of the floor plan, this is a must see home!

Call me at 916 408-2222 if you have any questions or would like a private tour.

Galleria Fire from CBS News

No alien abductions, no terrorist attacks, only some crazy kid that played one too many video games and knew how to start a fire…Thank goodness that nobody was physically hurt! I am sure some mental anguish took place for some people not being able to get their Nordstrom fix.

So now that the dust has settled to some extent, everyone is asking “When will the Galleria Mall open?” To be honest with you, my concern is not about the lack of immediate shopping options, but for the people that are currently out of work due to the fire. My daughter, on the other hand, has been worried that she won’t be able to frequent her favorite stores. I hear a lot of the rumors going around about when the mall will reopen and there are mixed opinions. I think the most reliable sources are saying that portions of the mall may be open by the end of the week. The parts of the mall that have the most damage, JC Penney and Macy’s, will take much longer to open. I feel bad for the people who are out of work, but as with any catastrophe, new opportunities are created. I am sure that some of the people working to restore the mall could be amongst those who were praying for work. Hopefully things will work out well for those directly affected.

This beautiful home in the gated Verdera Community is located at the end of a cul-de-sac and backs open space giving you a nice view of the heritage oaks. Imperfect smooth stucco and contrasting stone work greet you as you come up to the home. You will be impressed with the detail and the well thought-out upgrades on the interior. The richly appointed kitchen includes granite slab countertops, top-of-the-line cabinets, stainless appliances and travertine flooring. Enjoy looking out to nature from the many windows of the kitchen nook. This home has a wonderful floor plan with a ground level master, formal living and dining rooms, spacious den, library, bonus room and 4 additional bedrooms. The generous master opens to the back yard and includes an impressive master bath with a jetted tub, travertine, split vanity, custom closet organizers and a large shower. Relax next to the fire pit in the gorgeous backyard, play ball on the basketball court, BBQ at the outdoor kitchen or enjoy views from the balcony. The over 900 sf garage has custom cabinets, double garage door opener and epoxy floors.  Other upgrades include hardwood flooring, surround sound, built-in media niche, custom paint, covered patio and so much more. From the masculine den, premium carpet, extensive travertine and hardwood to the privacy and fun of the backyard, this home is affordable luxury. Priced to sell at $549,999.

See full photo set on Featured Homes tab, 205 Monteverde Court, Lincoln, CA 95648

6900 sf Custom Home in Catta Verdera-now only $1,132,900

Well, let me preface this by saying what I say right now might not apply 10 days or 10 minutes from now. The real estate market is ever changing. There are numerous variables that will cause price shifts, movement in supply and demand and the overall “mood” of the market. Some of these variables can affect the market nationwide (interest rates, govt. stimulus etc.) and others affect Lincoln or even just parts of the city.

This being said, here is my simple take on the market today:

1) rates are extremely low and many buyers that have been looking for a while are realizing their “buying power” has increased. They qualify for a higher loan amount. Even with the lower rates we haven’t seen the price increases that usually go hand in hand. Buyer power has truly increased.

2) the low rates haven’t stimulated the housing market overall like the government hoped. However, in Lincoln, we still have a shortage of properties that can be closed in 30 or so days (non shortsale). Most buyers want to close quickly and a lot of the regular or bank-owned properties sell fast. I did see a bit of a lag in the market the last couple weeks but things are picking up again. I attribute the slow down to ”back to school”.

3)prices in Lincoln Crossing and West Lincoln seem to be falling. The smaller homes between 180K and 215K seem to be staying steady, but the larger 2800 sf+ homes are dropping. Prices in 12 Bridges (with the exception of the custom homes in Verdera) are generally stable. The custom homes in Catta Verdera will see a PLUNGE in the next few months. Sun City Lincoln is a little harder to figure out. In general the prices have dropped, but the buyers in that market will buy regardless, if it is what they want.

Overall, the properties are moving and the banks are starting to get better at processing their short sales. This is just a snapshot of my feelings as to what is going on. If you have specific questions, let me know!

Wow, it’s only 10:00 am and my office thermostat is already reading 84 degrees. I usually don’t have to turn the air on until at least 11:00, but I’m starting to heat up! I really like the heat, maybe it’s because I had to shovel so many sidewalks and deal with frozen ears and toes so much growing up. Isn’t is funny taking about the weather? It seems like some people are never satisfied. Either it’s too hot, too cold, too much rain, not enough rain…blah, blah, blah. Maybe it’s just for converstation or something but I think it might be about attitude as well. Now, I can understand if you are having to move today, I do feel for my clients moving to Davis. I hope the day goes well. I also understand the farmers and other businesses that depend on the weather for work or to be able to do work, but I am talking about the everyday American that goes to an office or school that is air-conditioned and the hardest part of the day is getting into a hot car and sweating for a minute while it cools down.

Sorry if I come off harsh, it might just be a bit of an attitude after talking to some banks on short sales, but I’m also counting my blessings and trying to reflect on how lucky we are to live in this country. I’m going to try to have a more positive outlook and encourage others to do the same!

On the real estate front, rates are still extremely low and if you have good credit and a little money, it’s a great time to buy. Some of the bank-owned and traditional sales are starting to sit on the market a little longer and I feel that prices in the larger homes are starting to drop again slightly (they did go up in Placer County for a few months).  Congratulations on closing to my two clients moving out of the area.

1756 sf, 3bed/2bath sold for $233,000

2498 sf 4bed/2.5bath sold for $235,000

 Call me if you have any questions about buying or selling or the market in general.