One of my favorite streets in Sacramento County is Winding Way in Fair Oaks. Yesterday was the perfect spring day to show homes in Fair Oaks to my doctor client, which meant traveling down Winding Way. It was like driving through a fairy-tale land. The curves and dips of the road added to the scenic beauty. Many fruit trees are in bloom this time of year. Row upon row of flowering trees bordered Winding Way. It was magical.
We looked at four homes. The first was magnificent. Qualify construction throughout: glazed Italian kitchen cabinets, marble entry with columns; each bedroom featured nooks, angles, under-window bench seating, crown molding, an extensive amount of detailing. It was easy to see that the present owners had put a lot of thought into the remodel. The grounds were meticulously maintained, manicured, with rose bushes, fruit trees, and we came upon a bubbling brook beyond the pool.
The second home required a gate code for access. The gate swung open and we were greeted by a boxer, who almost poked his nose through my open car window. I drove past a few homes and stopped at our destination. Because I didn't see a place to park, I left my car on the private driveway, turning to my client to joke, "It's OK; I'm in real estate." He laughed. "I get to park in the middle of the street, too," he said, "Because I'm a doctor." Hey, I did not know that doctors and real estate agents shared a common right.
This home was a bit odd. The dining room flooring was planked wood but the kitchen was laminate and sloped. In fact, the living room floor sloped, too. The view wasn't as inviting as the first home. We didn't make it through the rest of the home but instead navigated our way around the boxer who was waiting at the gate for us, nice doggie, nice doggie, jumped back into my car and headed off down Winding Way.
Some of the homes in Fair Oaks are built as gated communities. Builders picked up 5 to 10-acre parcels, plopped 5 to 7 homes on them, and put a gate around the homes. The third home was one of those. It had half-timbering on a brick exterior, sort of like it couldn't decide whether it was a Tudor or French Normandy or maybe a castle. Across from it sat a Mediterranean monstrosity. The interior was a mix of styles and it had a confusing layout.
One more home to see. This was a newer home built in the early 2000s. The square footage was not pulled from the assessor's records, so I suspected it was smaller than noted. The room sizes were not as grand as the first home, although the waterfall off in the distance reminded me of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Lots of oak trees. I pointed out that the style of the home was a bit too "countrified" for my client. We left. He's probably going to buy the first home.
As we drove through the historic district of Fair Oaks, my client asked about the history of the Fair Oaks chickens. Those chickens have been in Fair Oaks a long time, and I couldn't remember the back story. I know that the chickens and roosters cause a lot of ruckus during outdoor weddings, sometimes crowing very loudly right in the middle of "I do's." So I later Googled it. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, an artist named Hugh Gorman brought 4 chickens to Fair Oaks in 1977, and he eventually released them into the wild. They reproduced, other chickens joined them -- some were Easter escapees from the feed store and some that people abandoned on the edge of town -- and they've been in Fair Oaks ever since.
I have to say that I've got one of the best jobs in the entire world. Who else gets to drive through enchanted lands and tour luxury homes? That experience yesterday was like stepping into a Thomas Kinkade painting. It's a nice break from the stressful day-to-day challenges of selling Sacramento short sales.
Photo: Big Stock Photo
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Certified HAFA Specialist
My Sacramento Real Estate Listings
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout the four-county Sacramento area. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate. DRE License # 00697006.
The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, available at Amazon.com.
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The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of Lyon Real Estate.
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Elizabeth: Thank you so much for sharing! It is a real pleasure to hear about someone who truly enjoys their job and community so much- I am sure that your passion shows through in your work and that you are very successful!
I like your post. Some days are just a little more fun than others, especially if you're out with someone who is buying or selling because they "want to", not because they "have to".
Elizabeth,
What a nice post for my Saturday reading. Masterfully written. A boring real estate stuff can be fascinating, too.
And boy, you got sild chickens? Wow!
I love the Old Village in Fair Oaks! I am fairly certain their are more chickens per capita there, than there are humans. The quaint nature of the little shops, cafes, park etc. is exactly as you say, "A Norman Rockwell experience."
Elizabeth, our chickens in Cotati hang out all day at Walgreens. I could think of nicer places, but they love it there. And speaking of sloped floors, we have a lot of those too. I carry marbles with me when I show houses. When we think that a floor is sloped, I pull out the marbles to find out just how sloped they are. Buyers love this (we have races) and they get to keep their marbles as well.
Now you've made me homesick. When I lived near the Waldorf School, just down the walking path, I loved to find chickens strutting up and down my street. I spent many dawdling hours in Fair Oaks, feeling like I was miles away from cookie-cutter land. My favorite observation point for the gorgeous roosters was at the little vegetarian food place. Wonder if it's still there.
So how many chickens are there now? It's funny, there are some loose chicken on my street now. I'm wondering if one of these days it's going to be the "Fair Oaks" of Lake Sinclair.
And as hectic as your life must be juggling short sales it sounds like a wonderful showing opportunity that was nice and relaxing.
I love Thomas KinKade 's paintings. Thank you for sharing!! I have been there before and it is so true about Fair Oaks and you are very lucky to have such a beautiful place..
Sounds like a good place to have a chicken fry, or at least some fresh eggs!