Best Pumpkin Patches Near Sacramento: Top Farms and Corn Mazes to Visit this Fall

When I was a kid, nothing felt more like fall than heading out to the pumpkin patch. I grew up in Citrus Heights and we'd make our annual trip to The Pumpkin Farm on Old Auburn Road (which has unfortunately closed, sigh). 

The thrill of finding and choosing the pumpkin that would become my jack-o’-lantern was pure magic. Then scooping out seeds and carving it with one of those special dull pumpkin knives was so fun! Now, as an adult, I have gotten to experience the magic through the eyes of the kiddos in my family. There’s something super cool about chaperoning kids through corn mazes, watching them climb hay bales, or hearing their absolute excitement when they spot a pumpkin that’s “the one” no matter how imperfect it is. 

The greater Sacramento region is blessed with plenty of pumpkin patches that capture that same childhood wonder. Here are some of the best spots to explore this fall: 

• Dave’s Pumpkin Patch / Vierra Farms (West Sacramento): A local favorite with something for everyone, like hay rides, a corn maze, pig races, and even pumpkin chunkin’. I went to my good friend's 30th birthday party here (in like 2008, don't judge!) and it is full of adult fun opportunities too.
• Nick & Ray’s Pumpkin Patch (Sacramento) Set on historic Bastiao Farms, this spot offers more than just pumpkins. Kids love the haunted “mining town,” corn maze, corn cannons (!), and giant straw bale pyramid. 
• Cool Patch Pumpkins (Dixon): Home to the world’s largest corn maze, this is the patch to visit if you’re up for adventure. I am not ashamed to admit I have been lost in this corn maze a few times in my life. Beyond the record-setting maze, there’s a “you-pick” pumpkin field, hayrides, and plenty of Instagram-worthy photo ops (as evidenced by my pic above).
• Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm (Wheatland): A true fall destination. Bishop’s has it all—U-Pick pumpkin fields, petting zoo, carousel, corn maze, hayrides, and a bakery filled with seasonal treats. It’s the kind of place you can spend the whole day and still not do it all. 
• Keema’s Pumpkin Farm (Elk Grove): A smaller, family-owned farm that feels more personal and low-key. With tractor rides, farm animals, and a cozy corn maze, it’s perfect if you want a quieter, less crowded patch experience. 
• Rickey Ranch (Granite Bay): Rustic charm defines this patch. Vintage tractors, farm animals, and a hay pyramid set the stage, while hidden skeletons among the vines add a playful twist to the search for pumpkins. 
• Boa Vista Orchards (Apple Hill, Placerville): Pair pumpkin picking with apple cider, pies, and gorgeous orchard views. This stop turns into a full fall day trip, especially if you want both pumpkins and the full Apple Hill harvest vibe. 
• Fog Willow Farms (Wilton): A charming farm with a picture-perfect setting. Visitors enjoy hayrides, friendly farm animals, and a climbing haystack. The on-site sugar shed with fudge and lemonade is a sweet bonus.

New Listing - 300 Katarina Lane, Folsom, CA 95630

Beautifully renovated American River Canyon Folsom home! You will love the open, light and bright floorplan! Enter to find a formal living room with cathedral ceilings, flowing seamlessly into the dining area and family room. The remodeled kitchen is the perfect place to refine your culinary skills and features quartz counters, stainless steel appliances including an induction cooktop with a hood vent, built-in oven and separate convection/warming drawer. You will love the island with a spacious breakfast counter, and lots of counter space, and an adjacent eat-in nook. A possible bedroom/den and full bath are located downstairs. The downstairs bathroom has been updated with a tiled floor, new vanity, and granite counters. Upstairs, the spacious primary suite has a luxurious ensuite bathroom including tub, a luxurious stall shower, dual sinks, and a walk-in closet. Three more upstairs hallway bedrooms, and the upstairs hallway jack-and-jill bathroom has dual sinks, a tiled tub/shower, and granite counters. The landscaped backyard is the perfect place for al fresco dining on a crisp evening, and features a concrete patio and plenty of plush grass to garden or play. HUGE 4-car garage! Close proximity to award-winning schools, the American River Parkway, Lake Natoma, and Folsom Lake! Don't wait! Offered at $899,000. For more photos and a 3D virtual tour please visit 300 Katarina Lane, Folsom, CA 95630.

New Listing - 1480 Bicker Circle, Folsom, CA 95630

Welcome to The Knolls in Folsom! This stylish, former model home offers 4 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms, and 2,322sf (per assessor) of functional light-filled space. You will love the freshly painted interior, tile flooring downstairs, with new carpet upstairs. Designed for modern living, the open layout and kitchen features lots of storage space, stainless steel appliances, breakfast bar seating, and flows seamlessly into the dining area and spacious family room. You will also appreciate the downstairs bedroom and full bathroom, which provide flexibility for guests or multigenerational living. Upstairs, the spacious primary suite includes an ensuite bathroom with two separate vanities- each with a sink. You will love the soaking tub, stall shower, and a large walk-in closet. Two additional upstairs bedrooms share a convenient Jack-and-Jill bathroom, while the upstairs laundry room adds extra storage capacity. Step outside to enjoy a low-maintenance backyard with a charming stamped concrete patio with lots of sunny space to garden, relax, or to entertain. With upstairs sierra views, proximity to Folsom Lake, Folsom Point State Park, The Palladio, award-winning schools, scenic trails, and Historic Folsom, this home combines comfort, convenience, and lifestyle in one perfect package. Don't wait! Offered at $760,000. For more photos and a 3D virtual tour, please visit 1480 Bicker Circle, Folsom, CA 95630.

New Listing: 2814 Karitsa Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95833

Lovely 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, approximately 1,702sf home for sale in Riverdale North in Natomas! As you enter, you will love the high ceilings and light-filled rooms. The interior has been freshly painted. The front room is a formal living area which makes for the perfect home office set-up or play area. The family room opens to the dining area and kitchen. The kitchen offers a breakfast counter, tile countertops, gas appliances, and plenty of storage. As you make your way to the stairs, find a downstairs half bathroom. Upstairs, the spacious primary suite features dual sinks, a separate tub and shower, and a huge walk-in closet. There are two additional large hallway bedrooms, and laundry space with cabinets. Private backyard and patio is the perfect place to unwind or entertain with lots of sunny space to garden or play. 2-car garage, tile roof, newer water heater. Washer, dryer, and refrigerator may stay. The Riverdale North community amenities have something for everyone, offering pool, a fully-equipped gym, and a clubhouse available for events. Plus, you're just minutes away from lovely parks, scenic trails, award-winning schools, shopping, easy access to both I-5 and I-80, and easy access to downtown Sacramento. HOA dues are $58/mo. Don't wait! For more photos and information, along with a 3D virtual tour, please visit 2814 Karitsa Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95833.

New Listing: 5953-5955 Moss Creek Circle, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 (duplex)

Excellent multi-unit investment property opportunity in Fair Oaks with tons of potential! This conveniently located duplex is in a high-demand area and offers great upside potential for an investor or owner-occupant willing to bring their vision and updates. The right-side unit at 5955 has 3 bedrooms/2 bathrooms with a 2-car garage and leased month-to-month. The left-side unit at 5953 has 2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms with a 1-car garage and leased month-to-month. Both are spacious units and have open floorplans, generous-sized bedrooms, en-suite primary bathrooms, ample storage, and large private fenced backyards. 5955 has a new water heater and flooring was replaced in 2022. The duplex is the perfect blank canvas for your improvements and modernization, and the layout and location make it a solid value-add investment. Close to shopping, public transportation, parks, award-winning schools, and convenient highway access. Offered at $619,000. Don't wait! For more photos, financials, disclosures, and information please visit 5953-5955 Moss Creek Circle, Fair Oaks, CA 95628.

Pro tip: buyers -- how what you say in front of a doorbell camera could affect negotiation on your Sacramento dream home...

If I had a nickel for every doorbell camera I’ve seen while showing a home in Sacramento…well, I could probably buy really nice doorbell camera. 

In my 20 years as a Sacramento Realtor, I’ve watched plenty of trends come and go, but one of the more recent changes in how we tour homes is the rise of doorbell cameras and smart home devices. 

These days, it feels like at least half the homes I list for sellers or show to buyers have one, quietly recording video and, in many cases, audio. That means when you’re chatting with your agent on the front porch, the seller might be able to hear every word. And in real estate, those words can be worth more than you think. 

It’s not just the front door, either. Inside, devices like Alexa, Google Home, or built-in security systems can also pick up casual remarks about the home. That innocent “wow this house is amazing” or “I love this kitchen” or discussing what you might offer and how high you are willing to go could easily end up as leverage in negotiations. 

Tip from a seasoned Sacramento real estate pro: Save your unfiltered thoughts for after the showing. You never know how your comments might play out once it’s time to make an offer or request repairs.

New Listing: 4549 Ashcroft Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95841 (Fourplex)

Fantastic 4-unit investment opportunity in a prime Sacramento location near American River College. 4549 Ashcroft Avenue is situated in a small community of other fourplexes in a neighborhood among single family homes. Four spacious units with strong upside potential in rental income. Each unit has an identical mirror-image layout with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and approximately 898sf (per assessor's records). The property features a well-maintained exterior, dual-pane windows, updated plumbing fixtures, newer water heater, newer building water backflow, and roof replaced in October 2017. Recent SB721 exterior elevated elements inspection and required repairs were completed in July 2025. Each unit has off-street parking and access to a shared fenced backyard. A shared coin-operated laundry room (machines owned and included) provides additional income and convenience for residents. Located within a professionally managed Homeowners Association that covers common area maintenance and garbage expenses. Communal outdoor space fosters a neighborly feel. Financial analysis, rent roll, and disclosures/reports available. Don't miss this great opportunity! For more photos and information, please visit 4549 Ashcroft Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95841.

What happens when a home with leased solar panels is sold?

Recently I encountered one a situation with a home that had a leased solar array, and a common question I get from both home buyers and sellers: What happens when a home with leased solar panels is sold?

This home was beautiful. Great layout, open kitchen, fantastic backyard...and a leased solar system already in place on the roof. The seller had entered into a solar lease agreement a few years prior for a 20-year term. The solar array had generated power to offset their cost of their monthly utility bills, which the seller had loved...and at the time of sale, the solar lease was transferable to a new homeowner.

Sounds good, right? Almost.

The buyer loved the home. They were especially excited about the idea of lower energy bills and sustainability. But once they got their hands on a copy of the actual solar lease agreement and dug into the fine print, the mood shifted.

The terms weren’t a dealbreaker on the surface, but the buyer had some questions. The monthly solar lease payment increased slightly each year. The agreement required the new owner to formally assume the lease through the solar company’s process, which involved a credit check and added paperwork. At the conclusion of the 20-year term, the homeowner did not actually own the solar panels...instead they had the option to extend the lease, or have the panels removed, or IF they wanted to buy those panels there was a balloon payment option at the end of the term. The buyer wasn’t thrilled about the idea of being locked into a third-party agreement they hadn’t chosen. On the upside, not owning the panels meant they did not have responsibility for maintaining the panels. The buyers were torn...

Rather than walk away, the buyer made an ask: they loved the idea of having a home with solar panels, but only if they could own them outright. After a little back-and-forth, both sides reached an agreement: the seller agreed to pay off the solar agreement at closing, which converted the system from a leased asset to an owned one and gave the new owner full ownership of the solar array from day one.

So many homeowners in Sacramento are now installing rooftop solar systems (and rooftop solar is actually required on new construction homes!), but not everyone realizes how it can affect a sale. The reality is that many buyers will happily assume a solar lease from a seller, while other buyers will not love it and want to negotiate with the seller to pay off the solar to own it outright. 

Leased Solar vs. Power Purchase Agreement Solar vs. Owned Solar: What sellers and buyers should know...

Leased Solar Systems are owned by a third party. Homeowners pay a monthly amount for the use of the solar system. These leases often last +/-20 years and are usually transferable, but buyers need to qualify and agree to the lease terms.

Often confused for a solar lease is a "Solar Power Purchase Agreement" (PPA). A solar lease charges you a monthly fee to use the solar panels, while a solar power purchase agreement (PPA) charges you based on the actual electricity the system produces. With a lease, you pay for the equipment; with a PPA, you pay per kilowatt-hour of energy. In both cases, the 3rd party solar company owns the system and typically handles maintenance.

Owned Solar Systems, whether paid in cash or financed and paid off, are treated like other fixtures. They generally add value to a home and are simple to transfer because there’s no lease to assume.

What to do if you are selling a home with Solar...?

Pull out your solar contract before you put your home on the market...buyers will want to review it. They likley also will ask for copies of your energy bills...be prepared and download 12-months of your bills so buyers can evaluate the seasonal fluctuation of power production and utility billing, AND so they can look at your "true-up" bill if you have one. In California, you will also want to complete the "Solar Advisory and Questionnaire" Disclosure.

Be upfront about whether the system is leased, on a power purchase agreement, or owned (with or without a loan). And be prepared to discuss options: Are you willing to pay off the lease? And how much does it cost to pay off the lease? Can the lease or power purchase agreement be assigned? Will the buyer need to apply to assume it?

In my case, the seller closed the sale, and the buyer got a great home and a fully-owned solar system. But it was only possible because we had the right conversations upfront, read the fine print, and stayed flexible.

So yes, you can absolutely sell a home with solar in Sacramento. But whether it’s smooth and seamless or unexpectedly sticky depends on many factors.