Putah Creek Party - Celebrating 20 Years
June 3rd, 2008 Categories: Amusement, Davis Fun to Do, Davis Nature, Real Estate News
If you are new to Davis you may not know that it took a tremendous collaboration of lawmakers, attorneys, landowners, farmers, ecologists and citizens who cared to save one of the only natural riparian woodlands in Northern California - Putah Creek.
At least 100 people gathered at my house along the creek this weekend to celebrate and remember the past 20 years of the Putah Creek Council and the victory to adjudicate Federal law and keep water in the creek year round. The day was gorgeous, the wonderful local band Hardwater played, there was meat on the barbie, and wine poured freely. Energetic young members and revered old timers gathered to talk and remember. Most notably Steve Chainey, the founder of Putah Creek Council, shared his understanding that though not yet pristine, Putah Creek is so much cleaner than it was twenty years ago. The eco system is more complex and vibrant, with salmon spawning, mink, otters and more. We were inspired to consider what a difference citizens can make, and we all wondered where it was we got all that energy (and time) to see it through.
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Invitation to See a Few Good Homes in America’s #3 Friendliest Place to Live
May 30th, 2008 Categories: Davis CA Real Estate, Davis Fun to Do, Davis Schools, Davis Schools Foundation, RE Week in Review, Real Estate News
Sunday June 8, 1-4 pm, Start at 764 Elmwood Drive…
My amazingly energetic client and friend Joy Klineberg had a great idea - a walking home tour of a few homes on some of our favorite Davis streets. The people of Davis have given hugely this spring to the Davis Schools Foundation and we made national news for saving 20 teacher’s jobs, so it feels like an unwelcome tug to ask once again. However, some of the important smaller organizations are struggling for funding that has been redirected to the Schools Foundation. Joy is raising money to help the coffers of the Davis School Arts Foundation , and Ciana Wallace and I are sponsoring her. Hope you can come out for a funky Davis-style tour! Call (530.574.0596) or email (jamiebmadison@msn.com) if you have questions.
In case you missed it, the Today Show had a segment this week on the 5 Friendliest places in the US to live….yup, Davis came in number 3!
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Do You Know Why? 2007 vs 2008 in Regional Cities
May 27th, 2008 Categories: Davis CA Real Estate, Davis RE Trends, RE Week in Review, Real Estate News
Following are notes on the performance of two groups of cities for March 27 - May 27th in 2007 and 2008. These cities are all within a 50 mile radius. Can you guess why the vivid differences in the two groups?
Group 1 / # of homes sold 2007 2008
North Highlands 33 97 +194%
Elk Grove 259 570 + 97%
Rancho Cordova 70 138 +97%
West Sacramento 47 88 +87%
Natomas 213 372 +75%
Woodland 72 91 +26%
Group 2 / # of homes sold 2007 2008
Davis 98 64 -35%
Folsom 171 132 -23%
Auburn 81 66 -19%
Granite Bay 43 36 -16%
East Sacramento 179 180 —-
Yes, of course you have it. The cities who have increased in the number of homes sold are those who had the most bank-owned properties. Investors have recognized a good thing and swooped in to take advantage of homes whose prices have dropped well below the cost it would take to build them… -Jamie Madison
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Rare Visit to the Glide Ranch
May 21st, 2008 Categories: Amusement, Davis CA Real Estate, Davis Fun to Do, Davis Nature, Local Food, Photo Tours
This past sweltering Sunday afternoon the Ag Futures Alliance held “First Flavors” a fund raiser/tasting event at the famed Glide Ranch just west of Davis. (Sponsored in part by the Howard and Nancy Shapiro Foundation.)
Though my home is on property adjacent to the south side of the ranch and I have driven by its entrance for over 20 years, never have I actually seen this amazingly gorgeous place. Hills, swails and natural canals that transverse the ranch are unusual for this area. The main house - a classic grand valley home over 100 years old and recently restored - sits in the middle of the property surrounded by rose gardens, expansive lawns and palm trees. If you were dropped there and someone removed your blindfold, you would probably not guess that you were in Davis, but you would know that you were somewhere magical.
I will write more about the wonderful trust created by the Glides for the protection of animals, wildlife and agriculture of Yolo County in a future post, but for now, enjoy a few pictures I snapped at Sunday’s event.
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Pastoral-Urban Living at Shepard’s Close in Davis
May 20th, 2008 Categories: Davis CA Real Estate, Davis RE Trends, RE Week in Review, Real Estate News
Okay friends we had URBAN living in Davis with the Roe Building - and NEW to the scene is Shepard’s Close. It is as urban as Davis gets - being just one block from the Farmers Market and a few blocks from downtown. However, with a quaint English moniker like “Shepard’s Close” (meaning the end of Shepard’s Lane) and with a meandering walkway among cork oak trees and other thoughtful plantings, there is a really pastoral feeling in this new development.
Maybe “development” overstates the case - Shepard’s Close is a collection of 5 stand alone and semi-attached homes off B Street between 7th and 8th. Built by Mike Corbett (Village Homes fame), Christopher Corbett and with the design charge of Elizabeth McDermott, these charming sustainable homes offer Davisites a new alternative.
Two of the homes are very modern, one small one cottage at the back has a 1920s Land Park feel, there is a classic two story home, and the large home up front (Mike Corbett’s personal home) sits elegantly on its plot (still under construction) promising a slightly medieval influence. How can all of these disparate influences work together? You will be amazed to see that they do. Maybe it is the hardscape and the plantings that make Shepard’s Close feel so cohesive.
The homes feature passive and active solar - southern orientation for winter heat and prevailing summer breezes, no fossil fuels, EPA-certified wood burning stoves, energy star appliances, photo-voltaic, solar hot water, and more. They are filled with light and pleasant to be in.
Two are for sale - the others sold privately before the project started. Call if you are curious - I am happy to give you the details or show you around the project.
-Jamie Madison
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Madison/Merrell Lead the Pack!
May 9th, 2008 Categories: Davis CA Real Estate, Davis RE Trends, Realtor Tales
Jamie Madison and Kim Merrell, partners in the Madison/Merrell group, are pleased to announce that we individually hold the Number 1 and Number 2 spots in Davis for the total dollar volume of real estate transactions in 2008. Thank you to all of our wonderful clients who have made it so! AND a big thanks to Sharon Pannell, our assisting agent who helps us keep the busy transactions on course! In addition to Sharon Pannell, we have recently welcomed Rebecca Restreppo and Beth Ellenberger as referring agents for Madison/ Merrell.
What does that mean to you? It means that behind Kim and Jamie there are agents helping to streamline the many appointments and details that go into completing a transaction, and that there is greater availability to tend to all of the needs of our clients. It also means that collectively we draw from a larger group of friends and acquaintances to find buyers and sellers. What it doesn’t mean is that you are pushed off onto an assistant once you have joined up with Kim or Jamie. We are both actively involved in every conversation and in every step of your real estate transaction. And always, we live by our motto - Good People/Good Properties.
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