About Sonoma County, CA

Here's a list of 10 "Must Have" Home Features cited in a recent survey of home builders and I think it's a big heads up for sellers. Do these recession-weary tradespeople have an agenda in sharing this list? Sure, they want you to hire them to do the remodeling. That's obvious. But if you read through this "short list" you'll see things that make sense from a buyer's perspective. Many relate to today's more frugal, built-for-the-long-term, and stay-at-home lifestyle.

1. Large kitchen with an island
2. Energy efficient appliances, insulation, and windows
3. Home office / study
4. Main-floor master suite
5. Outdoor living room
6. Ceiling fans
7. Master suite soaker tubs
8. Stone and brick exteriors
9. Community landscaping, including walking paths & playgrounds
10. Two-car garages

If you want to read the entire article just click here: http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/108701/the-10-must-have-features-in-todays-new-homes.html

Spring is coming and if you're going to be selling this year my advice is make home improvements so your place is as attractive as possible. Today's buyers are value-driven but they most likely will be living in their "investment" for a long time, too, so make your home irresistible.

Vintage Home Sells in Ridgeway Historic District, Sonoma, California

Last year I was involved in helping a retired couple moving from Michigan to the wine region in Sonoma, California to be closer to their daughter (a single -mom) and three grandsons.

The original plan was to find a home close to their daughter, who was renting a vintage home in the Historic Junior College District in Santa Rosa, California. Their love of vintage properties inspired them to make an offer on a property within walking distance of her and the boys. However, short sales with long closing dates were not working since their desire to relocate 8 to 10 months later or bidding the property up thousands of dollars was not in the game plan. 

This has happened many times in my real estate career and when we discussed their real options, I explained to them something better usually turns up in the long run. So, we decided to expand our search for a vintage home in an adjoining historic neighborhood.

Guess what? A Vintage, Norman Tudor Beauty came on the market in the Historic Ridgeway District and they decided it provided enough room for ALL of them to live under one roof. This Norman Tudor Beauty with two stories, numerous rooms with nooks and crannies, large rooms, kitchen, breakfast room, formal living room with wooden beamed ceiling , gracious dining room, workshop, basement, large separate laundry/mud room and garage was a blessing in more ways than one.  An estate sale, this had been home to one family for over forty years. Five children had been reared in this home and they had many wonderful memories of their mom, dad and each other.

The house had a lot maintenance issues ( many vintage homes do) but the family is used to hard work and has the required skills and patience to restore her.

Since the family has moved into their "new" vintage home they have repaired dry rot around the fireplace from water seepage, rehabilitated the old asbestos roof, rebuilt an outside staircase and painted numerous rooms .

Today, three lively boys, their mother (who designs jewelry in her remodeled atelier in the old workshop), their uncle and both grandparents now live in this Vintage, Tudor Beauty creating wonderful memories of their own.

Kathleen Bonham - Sonoma  Vintage Home Specialist

Contact a Sonoma Vintage Home Specialist

Phone Numbers that will help you during your move

Bored with Wine and Golf?

Some people visit Sonoma County for wine tours or our great restaurants. A lot of Sacramento residents visit us in the summer for the cool coastal temperatures and great golf along the coast. For the intrepid few who are looking for a change of pace, we can now add animal tracking to the visitor options in Sonoma County.

Beginning in March, Chanslor Wildlife will offer wildlife tracking seminars in Bodega Bay at Chanslor Ranch. The program will operate in association with Mr. Jim Sullivan of Occidental and Mr. Richard Vacha of Point Reyes. Both men are very experienced trackers and naturalists. In addition to the Chanslor Ranch's extensive resources, there are thousands of acres of Sonoma Coast State Park to explore.

Chanslor Ranch is a historic working ranch and protected wetlands preserve less than an hour and a half from San Francisco. Activities at Chanslor Ranch include room, vacation rentals, camping, horseback riding, fishing, events, Wildlife Club membership, and more.

Life is good for dogs in Sonoma. This is a super dog-friendly town. I've been gathering stuff for a blog about Sonoma's lucky dogs and the local amenities and services that cater only to our four-legged best friends. For that info, please stay tuned. In the meantime, take a few seconds and check out the video below. It's time-sensitive and sweet. The subtitles tell the story of "Dumpling's" tale of woe and his second chance at life.

My friend Dona volunteers at Pets Lifeline and she's just told me....as of 12:50PM Pacific Standard Time that Dumpling still is available to a loving home. So, if you, or anyone you know, can scoop up this scrumtious little survivor please call Pets Lifeline in Sonoma right now at 707.996.9982. Life is good for dogs in Sonoma and Dumpling deserves a good life, too.