Home Improvement

School is back in session…and this month, we’re offering a crash course on all things Sacramento. Get ready to fill up your social calendar for the rest of August with an exciting lineup of concerts, festivals, River Cats games, and more! We also take a look at the shifting real estate market and some of the recent changes that will affect buyers and sellers in the coming months. Last but certainly not least, we look ahead to this year’s top fall decor trends that you can incorporate into your home to create a cozy space and earn some extra points with family, friends, and peers. Read on for the full scoop!

Click on the below links to see what local events and activities are taking place now through the end of August!

Sacramento:

River Cats Schedule
Sac Republic FC Schedule
Now-August 28th (Every Weekend): Live Music at Crawdads on the River
Now-August 28th (Select Days): Alegria by Cirque Du Soleil
Now-August 31st: Front Street Water Carousel & Waterfront Wheel in Old Sacramento
Now-August 31st (Select Days): Old Sacramento Underground Tours
Now-End of Year: Van Gogh Exhibit in West Sacramento: The Immersive Experience
August 9th-14th: The Secret Garden Broadway At Music Circus
August 10th: BarnFlix at Drake’s the Barn: The Breakfast Club
August 12th: Trucks & Such at Land Park Amphitheatre
August 13th: Celebrate Oak Park
August 13th: Festival Del Mole
August 14th: Sacramento Antique Faire
August 14th: Second Sunday Brunch Market
August 16th: Sunset Yoga Sessions at Drake’s The Barn
August 18th: Summer Soiree Series at California Museum
August 18th: 2022 Best of Sacramento Party
August 18th: Daddy Yankee at Golden 1
August 19th-21st: FoodieLand Night Market at Cal Expo
August 19th: Back to School BBQ at McClatchy Park
August 20th-21st: 11th Annual Banana Festival at William Land Park
August 20th: Art on the Spectrum at The Crocker
August 20th: Legendary Sacramento Mile @ Cal Expo
August 23rd-28th: The Color Purple at Broadway Music Circus
August 24th: BarnFlix at Drake’s The Barn: Madagascar
August 25th: Latin & Funk Night at Drake’s The Barn
August 28th: 23rd Annual Race for the Arts 5K, Kids Fun Run & Arts Fest
August 30th: Kendrick Lamar at Golden 1

Carmichael:

Every Sunday: Carmichael Farmers’ Market
August 13th, 20th & 27th: Concerts in the Park

Fair Oaks:

August 25th: Concerts in the Park
August 26th: Comedy Under the Stars

Rancho Cordova/Gold River:

August 12th (Every Friday): Friday Night Concerts
August 13th (Every Saturday): Sunrise Light Rail Station Farmers Market
August 12th (And Select Days): Nunsense Musical Comedy at the MACC
August 19th: Beatles & Brew

Folsom:

Every Saturday: Farmers Market on the Plaza
Now-October: Palladio Presents Free Yoga in the Piazza
August 11th, 18th & 25th: Twilight Concert Series in Historic Folsom
August 27th: Cars and Coffee Show at Folsom Palladio
August 19th: Folsom Americana Fest

El Dorado Hills:

Every Saturday: Deer Creek Hills Preserve Saturdays
Every Sunday: El Dorado Hills Certified Farmers’ Market
Every Thursday: Live on the Boulevard at El Dorado Hills Town Center
Every 1st & 2nd Saturday: Cars & Coffee at El Dorado Hills Town Center

Elk Grove:

Every Thursday: Neighborhood Market
Every Saturday: Farmers Market
August 16th: Mini MOO Family Night
August 27th: Multi-Cultural Festival

Roseville:

August 11th: Food Truck Mania
August 13th: Fitness in the Park
August 19th: Friday Night Flicks: Spiderman – No Way Home
August 20th: Concerts on the Square at Vernon Street in Roseville

Rocklin:

August 19th, 20th & 27th: Concerts at the Quarry
August 26th: FREE Farmers Markets at Johnson-Springview Park

Things are starting to look up for buyers. According to a recent Redfin report, the city of Sacramento’s housing market is cooling at the second fastest rate in the nation, just behind the Bay Area. This marks a reversal from the height of the pandemic when it attracted scores of remote workers moving in from the Bay Area and other expensive parts of the country.
The latest housing statistics available from the Sacramento Association of Realtors also reveal that most of the Sacramento Region saw price drops in June. The median sales price decreased 2.6% from $575,000 to $560,000. This figure is up 7.7% from June 2021 ($520,000). The active listing inventory increased 21.6% from May to June, from 1,840 units to 2,237 units. Compared with June 2021 (1,297), inventory is up 72.5%. Moreover, the months of inventory increased from 1.4 months to 1.7 months. Median days on market increased from 7 to 8 and average days on market increased from 13 to 14.
So what’s causing this cooldown? For starters, mortgage rates have played an instrumental role — they nearly doubled in the first half of the year, reaching almost 6% in June. That caused the monthly mortgage payment for a typical homebuyer to surge 45% year-over-year to $2,459 in June and priced many buyers out of the market — therefore, increasing inventory and days on market.
However, we are now seeing mortgage rates fall close to 5%. The recent drop in mortgage rates from the June peak cuts about $400 a month from the monthly mortgage payment of a homebuyer looking at purchasing the median-priced home of $417,000. This opens the door for millions of homebuyers who were once priced out when mortgage rates soared in the first months of the year and are now able to get back into the game.
This recent drop in rates, coupled with increased inventory and a spike in average days on market should give buyers more leverage in the home buying process.

Fall may seem a long ways away, but with the kids back to school, September 22nd will be here before we know it! If you’re thinking about doing a bit of re-decorating to get your home ready for the new season, now is a great time to find on-trend items that will create a comforting space and help you fall for your home all over again. Here are some of this year’s most anticipated fall decor trends.

Earth Tones: Earth tones are making a big comeback this year and for good reason. “The ‘color of the year’ selections correlate with where we are as a society,” Ginger Curtis, owner and principal designer at Urbanology Designs, says. “People need healing spaces that are restorative and calming.” She expects these earthy greens to be paired with other nature-inspired colors—like sky blues, warm browns, and soft grays.

The great thing about this trend is that earth tones pair well with almost every style of decor. If your home already has warmer hues and neutrals, you can easily add a touch of fall by layering in some richer accent colors like this warm-toned pillow arrangement or these amber glass vases from Crate & Barrel. You can also create a cozier space in your living room or bedroom by adding these cotton waffle throws that are now on sale at West Elm.

Natural Wood: Incorporating natural wood and warm wood tones is another great way to create a welcoming and relaxed environment for fall — and experts agree. “Manufacturers have developed a happy medium between ultra-dark furniture and super washed-out gray tones,” Kristin Bartone, creative director and principal designer at Bartone Interiors says. Warm, medium-tone woods are already popular in flooring, but she says we should see more “lightly stained wood oak” furniture and décor in the coming year. And Mary Beth Christopher, principal designer at MBC Interior Design, agrees. “I’m very ready to say goodbye to overly bleached-out wood,” she says. “We are nesting right now. We need comfort, coziness, and warmth.”
However, don’t panic if you have gray-toned wood flooring or other elements in your home. You can still easily incorporate warmer wood tones through furniture like this reclaimed coffee table from West Elm, or these gorgeous dining room chairs from Wayfair. Free-floating storage shelves are another budget-friendly way to instantly add warmth to your kitchen or living room.

Cozy Textures: Bring on the cozy textures – think chunky cotton, wool throws, and luscious velvet accents to instantly elevate your space and add an element of warmth. “If it’s not comfortable, forget it,” Caroline Brackett, owner and principal designer at Caroline Brackett Studio of Design, says. “For textures, that means anything furry, nubby, or cozy.” And Kim Gordon, principal designer at Kim Gordon Designs, agrees. “We’re going to see a huge wave of shapely, soft upholstered pieces that are slung lower to the ground,” she says. “This is all about letting your home envelop you.”

Not sure where to start? Make your home irresistibly cozy with these faux fur throws or these gorgeous knit pillows.

Candles: While they aren’t technically a trend, nothing screams fall like candles. Not only will a candle bring that warm and inviting feeling into your home – but it also serves as a signature fall staple piece that instantly infuses the home with comforting scents. Place these gorgeous votives on the fireplace, entryway, table, or outdoor patio to illuminate your home and add a touch of elegance. On a budget? You can stock up on signature fall scents here.

Mix Vintage & Modern: Traditional touches and antique accents are coming back in a big way — and Mary Beth Christopher, principal designer at MBC Interior Design, agrees. “Here in California, the T-word (traditional) has been banished. But, traditional design is coming out of the woodwork in a new way.” She also notes that people are gravitating toward “pieces that have richness and history”— like ornate mirrors, velvet chairs, and fringe-lined couches. But that doesn’t mean getting rid of your modern pieces. “Mixing and matching current furniture pieces with family heirlooms or antiques helps to keep the room feeling timeless,” adds Mary Maloney, owner and interior designer at Bee’s Knees Interior Design.

If you’d like to add a few vintage pieces to your home, start with a vintage rug, velvet chair, or timeless mirror.

As our communities work hard to flatten the curve, we also continue to face new challenges and learning curves of our own. This August looks very different from last year for many children and families throughout the country. Virtual back-to-school nights and remote learning from home have become the new norm. Not to mention, working parents are adjusting their schedules to oversee their children during the school day.

This month’s newsletter explores some of the challenges of at-home learning with the goal of offering some helpful resources, classroom design inspiration, lunch ideas and more. We also take a look at the local real estate market, which has earned very high marks throughout this pandemic. Read on for the full scoop!

Class is in session…at home! With many of our homes now doubling as classrooms, we’ve found a few ways to transform any room or small space into the perfect study spot. Check out these fun and creative ideas for some inspiration.

Create a Cozy Study Space: Limited on space? Build a “Study Nook” in your child’s room to create a comfortable, organized, and efficient place for them to learn from home. You can also utilize a space in the bonus room, art, music, game or playroom. Check out this adorable Parsons Mini Smart Desk from Pottery Barn. If your child is on the go, they also have a great mobile Lap Desk.

Designate a Special Area for Reading: It’s no surprise that children tend to get stir crazy when sitting in one place for long periods of time. So switch things up when it comes to reading time! Whether you have a playroom or a small space in your child’s bedroom, designate an area where your child can escape from the “classroom” and curl up with a good book. Use your imagination and gather a reading chair and comfy blankets, some fluffy pillows, a bean bag chair, reading tent…the possibilities are endless! You can also purchase a bookshelf to store their books and tie the space together.

Stay Organized: Organization is essential to staying on track for the school year…especially when merging the classroom and home. Take advantage of color-coded bins to store homework for each subject, add initials next to each child’s workspace, personalize cubbies, organize school supplies in an easily accessible rolling cart, and hang floating shelves and file holders to your room of choice.

Utilize Natural Light: Have you ever been stuck working in a poorly lit cubicle and had a hard time focusing? The same applies to your kiddos…Help them stay motivated by letting nature inspire them! Creating a study room near windows is not only easier on the eyes, but it will also help them focus on their studies better. You can also breathe some life into the room with beautiful succulents or indoor plants.

Choose Active Seating: Do your little ones have a hard time sitting still? Encourage them to stay active while they’re studying by swapping out traditional chairs with exercise balls. This is also a great option if you’re trying to fit everything into a small study room.

Distance learning online education. A schoolboy boy studies at home and does school homework. A home distance learning.

Be Mindful of Distractions: When choosing a study room or area, be mindful of distractions and noises like the television, phones, tablets and anything that might interest them more than their upcoming math test. Opt for background music or silence during study time.

Forget about that boring PB&J sandwich, stale cookie, and those uneaten apple slices…Lunches at home mean that we can be a little more creative and healthy, even when we’re on a time crunch. Check out these simple yet satisfying lunch recipes that will have your kids asking for seconds!

Quesadillas with a Twist: Pair this black bean and sweet potato quesadilla with avocado slices, pineapple chunks, and tortilla chips for a healthy (and easy to make) lunch.

Turkey Roll-Ups: If your kid is a fan of the classics, you can’t go wrong with these turkey roll-ups. Pack with pretzels, celery sticks dipped in peanut butter, and cinnamon-sprinkled apple slices for a well-balanced meal.

Pasta Salad: If your kids are adventurous, try this California pasta salad, which is loaded with veggies. Pair with some fruit slices for a hearty lunch.

Breakfast for Lunch: Is your kid a fan of brunch? Turn on the skillet and whip up these delicious buttermilk pancakes. Pair with some strawberry slices, a hard-boiled egg, and squeezable yogurt for a delicious meal.

Easy Pizza Pocket: Short on time? Make these easy pizza pockets with a can of refrigerated biscuits, lots of cheese, and pizza toppings of your choice. You can save even more time by buying a jar of pizza sauce. These pair perfectly with a side salad.

Cookie Bars: Ok so these may not be the healthiest option, but they’re certainly better for us than processed cookies. So put the Oreos down and make a fresh batch of cookie bars for the school week! You can’t go wrong with this chocolate chip recipe from Tollhouse.

Having the kids home from school is taking on new meaning these days. That’s why we’ve pulled together some informational links and resources to help you overcome the learning curve that comes with this big change.

1. In this article, the author reaches out to teachers for tips on designing environments at home that are as conducive to learning and discovery as the classrooms they have lovingly created.

2. This article published by Children and Screens shares 10 tips for successfully navigating the new realities of online learning.

3. A recent online article published by Time magazine shares the secrets to keeping your kids happy, busy, and learning during school closures.

4. Julie Mason, a former teacher, and now mother of three and head of content and curriculum at TeacherVision, shares a helpful guide and at-home learning resources for both parents and students.

5. This online article published by The Center for Discovery outlines some safe indoor and outdoor activities for families during Coronavirus.

According to a recent article from Redfin, more than 27% of homebuyers are searching out of town, with Phoenix, Sacramento and Las Vegas being the most popular destinations. The reasoning behind this? The pandemic is causing homebuyers to rethink what they want in a home, with more people relocating to places where they can afford more outdoor space and room for home offices, according to the article. Click here to read the full article.

Your August Newsletter is Here

Your August Newsletter is Here…

Kim White