Paradise, CA

Do you have cabin fever? It is that time of year when everyone is ready for spring. We have had some tough weather this winter here in Paradise and I am ready for a change of scenery. Luckily the Butte county community is hosting some great events towards the end of this month and into March. One that sticks out in my mind is the California Nut Festival which is going to be held February 21^st through February 24^th right in the midst of Almond Blossom season. The event will be held at a variety of locations in Chico, you can click this link for a full detail of events and locations during the 4 day festival. Some pre-festival events will even start this weekend where merchants will be hosting tastings, tours, and demonstrations. This event makes me feel like spring is right around the corner!

And with spring right around the corner, the Paradise real estate market will be starting to pick up speed. This is when prospective Paradise home buyers start stopping in at open houses and more aggressively looking on-line at properties. If you have any questions about how you could fit into this spring Paradise real estate market, either as a buyer or seller, just let me know. I'd love to help out.

The Paradise Real Estate market had some great activity this past week with 9 sold properties and 9 properties that went under contract. There were 16 new listings that hit the Paradise market, with 7 listings expiring, and 13 listings undergoing price reductions. The bulk of the properties that go under contract and sell, continue to be manufactured homes and single family residential homes priced under $250,000. With the mortgage rates still remaining at near record lows, and plenty of Paradise real estate opportunities on the market under $300,000, now is an amazing time to enter into Paradise homeownership.

Last weekend I dropped by the local home improvement center to get a few things for a room fix up, we are doing this week. Is it just me or did the prices of building materials dropping? Drywall was the best example I can think of right now.

Right after the Katrina storm the building supplies skyrocketed and now they are adjusting downward, or is it that the construction of home building in Chico, Paradise and surrounding Butte county is almost non existant.

Whatever the reason, I am sure that local Paradise California home owners are liking the reduction in prices. When your ready to take on another project to fix up your home, you will appreciate those lower building material costs in Paradise.

On a brisk cold morning in Paradise, dropping by an older friends home for a warm coffee and donut, I felt a coolness, where I was resting. I asked my friend Dee, if they had checked the home for energy leaks recently. Her reply was no. Well, I definately feel a cool draft and that could be costing her extra energy money. so, with that, we set out to find out what was leaking and if there was anything we could do about it.

Many years ago my husband and I installed weatherstripping and insulation for a PG&E program. First we checked the windows and found some leaks there. We looked at outlets, yes there were leaks there too!

I suggest we get an energy audit.

As this was a older home, we knew it would have many leaks because building restrictions were much more loose then. If you live in an area where temperature drop into the low 30's you will feel the cold trying to enter your home in every crack or pipe which enters your home.

Newer built homes have tight windows, doors, the exteriors are wrapped and the insulation values are higher.

If your home is older it may prove wise to get a energy audit to seal up any holes, cracks and openings, which can increase your winter enrgy bills. The comfort of this home was improved with minor sealing and caulking around windows, doors and pipes.

Can you find the energy leaks in your Paradise California Home?

Local residents involved in the Gold Nugget Museum are busy these days preparing for the upcoming "Gold Nugget Days" in Paradise, California. This town wide event held in Paradise features the gold nugget musuem located at 502 Pearson road. If you have a desire to learn more about the early history of this area known as Paradise, California, drop by and see the musuem in action.

During the spring the "Gold Nugget Days" celebration held in April, comemmorates the discovery of the 54 pound gold nugget in 1859.

The largest "Gold Nugget" found in North America. Exhibits in the museum include one room schoolhouse, walk thru mine, Maidu indian exhibit, new animated assay office, old country store. The Gold Nugget Museum rotates the exhibits and so you can expect someting new at the museum, drop by between Noon-4 from Wednesday thru Sunday.

Upon my last visit, children were learning how to pan for gold, viewing a blacksmith shop in action, an old western town "Nuggetville". The beautiful grounds of the Gold Nugget Museum include a bridge over the creek plus a barbeque pit and picnic area.


If your a Paradise California history buff, the Gold Nugget Museum should be one stop on your visit to Paradise California.