New listing - 12083 Kirkwood St, Herald, CA 95638

Perfect blend of modern amenities & equestrian facilities on a sprawling 10-acre parcel. Enjoy panoramic 360-degree views of picturesque landscape, and take in gorgeous sunrises & sunsets from your patio. The heart of this 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, 2,179sf  home is the expansive kitchen, w/stainless appliances, double oven, & breakfast counter. Formal dining area w/built-in hutch. Great room boasts beautiful pine ceilings & a fireplace w/insert. The primary suite has a walk-in closet and enjoys direct access to the patio & hot tub hookups. Remodeled ensuite primary bathroom w/ soaking tub, separate shower, & dual sinks. Large hallway bedrooms, each w/a walk-in closet. Hallway bathroom has dual sinks & tub/shower. Immense bank of several storage cabinets in the hallway. The oversized attached 851sf (per assessor) 2-car garage. Private home office room has a built-in desk & walk-in closet. Long gravel driveway offers ample parking for guests & RVs. There's plenty of room for gardening, playing, livestock grazing, horses, & large equipment or toys, making it an ideal property for those seeking a versatile outdoor lifestyle. Paradise for horse enthusiasts with 36' x 76' horse barn equipped with lighting, electrical, & plumbing. 8 horse stalls + storage/tack room. Fenced pastures & 120-ft round horse arena. Don't wait! Offered at $1,050,000. For more photos, 3D virtual tour, and information please visit 12083 Kirkwood St, Herald, CA  95638.

New Listing - 517 Elverta Road, Elverta, CA 95626

Cute renovated 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1117sf Elverta country cottage that's got room for you, your horses, and your toys! You will love the spacious open layout, wood floors, formal dining room and updated kitchen with granite counters and stainless appliances. Large bedrooms, and remodeled bathrooms. Composition roof, dual pane windows, and newer HVAC. Situated on nearly three quarters of an acre, the property is an outdoor oasis. Enjoy hot days around the built-in swimming pool and spa! HUGE metal detached 35'x24 garage is perfect for storage or for your projects. Covered 12x20 carport space. Lots of space for a garden or to play. Your 4-legged babies will have a 10'x12' horse stall and have lots of pasture space to wander. Separate storage shed and chicken coop. All this and a commutable distance to the city! Don't wait! Offered at $399,900. For a 3D virtual walkthrough tour and more photos, please visit 517 Elverta Road, Elverta, CA 95626.

Not on public sewer? Be sure to get a septic inspection...

Occasionally I help clients buy or sell property that is not hooked up to public utilities. These properties tend not to be located in urban or suburban areas, and are usually a bit more rural -- like Elverta, Rio Linda, Elk Grove or unincorporated Sacramento County or Placer County areas.

Recently I helped a buyer purchase a horse property home on acreage in Elverta, and while MLS stated that the home was on all public utilities, we observed that there were indeed septic tanks on the property.

Septic systems must be pumped and drained in order to be fully inspected. Do yourself a favor and do not stand downwind of the septic while it is being drained. It's pretty disgusting to smell.

In cases where the septic is easily accessible -- meaning that the location to the access points of the underground tanks is known, and the access points are not buried or require excavation -- pumping is approximately $350 and then the inspection itself is approximately $125.

Assuming the septic system is in good, functioning condition, having a septic company issue a "certification" may cost another $250. A certification means that the company will guarantee the system is operable for the next 2 years. Some lenders may require as a condition of funding a loan that buyers obtain a septic certification for homes not on public sewer. So if you are buying (or selling) a home on a septic system, I would be sure to budget at least $725 for a septic certification. Maybe more.

For homes on septic systems where the tanks, wells, leach lines, etc. are NOT in good condition, a certification may not be issued without repairs. This can get pretty expensive (thousands of dollars!) depending on what the issues are.

The costs of inspection, repairs, and certification are negotiable between buyer and seller.

New Listing - 2408 E Street, Rio Linda, CA 95673

Rio Linda 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1,493sf home on one acre - this is the perfect blank canvas for your personal touches! You will love the spacious layout, living room with cozy gas fireplace, laminate flooring, dual pane windows, newer central heat and air, huge over-sized 2-car attached garage with long driveway and possible RV access. Large outbuilding for additional storage. HUGE front yard, and bigger rear yard with ample room for your creative endeavors. Don't wait! Offered at $339,000. For more photos and additional detail please visit 2408 E Street, Rio Linda, CA 95673. MLS#18021809

New Listing - 1108 Vickrey Court, Rio Linda, CA 95673

Adorable 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom,  approx 1,281sf home on .89ac in Rio Linda is ready for your and your horses! You will love the spacious layout, remodeled kitchen with stainless appliances and granite counters, remodeled master bathroom with dual sinks, dual pane windows, central heat and air, tile flooring throughout, two-car garage and awesome covered deck for entertaining. The property has a pasture with lighting, 4-rail fencing, covered horse stalls with concrete floors. Located close to parks, schools, and riding trails. Don't wait! Offered at $399,000. For more photos and information visit 1108 Vickrey Court, Rio Linda, CA 95673. MLS#18023092