Market Economics in California - What You Need to Know

Today, Ian Kleine is bringing us a market update for the state of California.

California: Economics

by Ian Kleine

The economic state of California holds a direct influence on the monetary system of the United States of America, due to the fact that the state pays more than as to the benefits it receives from monetary funds and benefits.

There are at least four major economic regions surrounding California. Hollywood, whose movies and projects cost and create a lot of money. California Central Valley, responsible for agriculture and the produce that supplies the state and its surrounding neighbors. Silicon Valley, which deals with the production, creation and development of computer hardware and electronic devices. And the wineries of California, particularly Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley and others.

By 2002, these regions were divided and more were added to the classification system. Among these were: Trade, Transportation and Utilities, Government, Professional and Business Service Providers, Education and Health, Leisure and Hospitality, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Construction, Information, Internet Business and Marketing and Agriculture.

The state also draws a lot of its income from tourism and international trade; after all, California IS the ‘melting pot’ of cultures in the United States. The tourism department makes at least an annual income of 134 billion dollars; with one third of that only coming from exports. The 96 billion something dollars left comes from revenue from direct traveling in to California.

California also competes with the other states in terms of agricultural produce. This includes the production of wines, cheese, dairy products, fruits and vegetables. California has been known to lead in the dairy category, with milk being the number one farming commodity, and has generated jobs and employment for at least 400,000 people far across the state.

Prospecting oil, so called liquid-gold, has also been under development. So far, rich strikes have been made near the Californian Coasts, Long Beach and Los Angeles. Oil drilling is not something new, it has actually supported the state over the years, now only making a comeback due to reduced and cheaper costs in drilling for oil around these areas.

–
Going for a trip to California? Why not make it worth the trip? California craft shows. Visit California craft fairs, that’s what I use to check up on mine.

Thanks for the update on the California economic climate, Ian!

If you’d like to learn more about how this affects your individual financial decisions, just drop us a line today to talk it over with a professional.

New Home Communities in Sacramento and Other Great Californian Cities

Check out these excellent new home communities in the Sacramento area (and throughout California).

California New Home Communities with Great Features

As the most populous state in the nation, California is one of the most desirable places to live. With close to 37 million residents, and growing, those wishing to relocate to the state, or within the state, need to be accommodated.

Lotus Walk is a townhome housing community found in the thriving city of Garden Grove, California. Located near to local entertainment, dining establishments, and shopping centers, Lotus Walk has over a dozen floor plans to select from. Lotus Walk is built by Olson Homes and range in size, from 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and up to 1,683 square feet. Each townhome includes granite countertops, underground parking, ceramic tile flooring, and Whirlpool stainless steel appliances. The new homes located at Garden Grove start in the $300s.

Serenity, a Brookfield Homes master-planned luxury home community, is located at The Estates at StoneBridge in San Diego, California. Overlooking acres of preserved open space, Serenity provides single-family and two-story homes that emphasize both Italian and Spanish architectural design. Each home at Serenity offers a master retreat, ladies’ vanities, and a bonus living area downstairs. Homes range between 4,040 to 4,759 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and three-car or four-car plans. New homes at Serenity start in the $800s.

Cristallo is a desert-living community in Indo, California built by Ryland Homes. Cristallo is located in the master-planned golf community of Terra Lago, and provides new homes ranging from 1,987 to 2,619 square feet; the homes offer up to 5 bedrooms, and 3 baths. This Southern California community allows residents to live the country club lifestyle, without having to pay the country club price. Home-sites are currently available alongside the golf course and buyers can choose from 7 different floor plans. The homes at Cristallo start in the low $200s.

Elliott Homes’ Tuscany community in Rancho Cordova provides several new homes ready for immediate move-in, including the Bordeaux which is a 5-bed, 4-bath, 3-car providing two stories and 3,705 square feet of livable space. This new home community is located just east of Sacramento and includes many upgrades, such as high-quality carpeting throughout, tile flooring throughout, upgraded countertops, Jacuzzi tub, an alarm system, pre-wired 5.1 surround sound, plus upgraded kitchen appliances. The Bordeaux was listed at $723,950, but is now available for only $495,000.

William Lyon Homes’ Shady Lane at Whitney Ranch, a Rocklin, California new home community currently offers several move-in ready homes for sale. Located on lot 21 is Plan 2C which offers 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a 2-car garage, and 2,394 square feet of living space. This home is nearing its final stage of construction, meaning there is still time to customize many of the features such as carpeting, cabinets, and countertops. This home is particular home is priced at $332,990.

–
Search new homes california, orange county new homes and Californai new homes today!

If you’re moving to California, I hope you found this to be an excellent resource on the new communities you can look forward to moving into.

To talk to a local mortgage broker about financing your next home, simply head over to our free consultation page, fill out some basic information, and they’ll get right back to you!

How to Save Serious Cash on your California Property Tax…

With the recent decline in housing prices, there isn’t a better time for home buyers! Wallace Rowan is with us today to show us how to take advantage of these low property values to the benefit of our tax refund.

Lower Property Taxes in California

California homeowners who are merciless to avoid the downward roller coaster housing market ride have an option. While some enjoyed the ride up and other entered at the peak of the housing market bubble, everyone is now currently in a free-fall. Luckily, there is small silver lining to benefit from in the coming years. As a property owner, it is your right to file for a decline in value in order to capitalize on a unique opportunity to reduce property taxes.

Expensive property tax appeal consultants who demand up front fees simply aren’t necessary. Homeowners can easily lower property taxes by asking for a property tax reassessment from the county assessor, by filing for a decline in value. With a little hard work and the correct instruction, homeowners can successfully file a professional property tax reduction appeal themselves.

Many California homeowners have benefited from the reassessment of their property values. Due to strict deadlines of the counties of California, you may be prevented from seeking a property tax reassessment if you wait too long. Act now before another deadline passes and the potential savings of another tax year vanishes.

This is not a gift or a benefit given by the state but your right as a California homeowner to be taxed fairly. Home values have dropped dramatically in California so a reassessment resulting in a property tax reduction is almost guaranteed if you purchased your home between 2004 and 2007. Usually, the state increases your property tax annually at a capped rate of 2 %. In rare cases will your assessor approach you to reassess your home. It does not benefit you to wait until they do.

Californian property owners have been bombarded by annoying advertisements from property tax appeal consultants asking for up-front fees to provide a service that they can do themselves. Now, more than ever, homeowners need to take matters into their own hands and find ways to save money on their homes. The time for over-spending and hiring out for everything has passed. Now is the time for people to take control of their home finances and weather the storm. It’s really pretty easy to save thousands on property taxes but it requires a proactive get-up-and-go mentality to demand a property tax reassessment and win.

Do it yourself! There’s a growing group of California homeowners who are about to save thousands of dollars! You too can save thousands on your property taxes by filing an appeal yourself, but you have to take action and demand a property tax reassessment before it’s too late. If you need help, there are great programs out there that will show you what to do step-by-step and provide all forms necessary for your property tax appeal letter. Do it yourself and save $1000’s. Yes, it is possible to take the roller coaster ride down and still survive the plunge.

–
Don’t hire expensive consultants! It is your right as a citizen to file for a property tax reduction yourself and save thousands of dollars this year and in the coming years.

What an excellent optimistic article in a time when everyone else is seeing the glass as half empty. Thanks, Wallace.

If you’d like to discuss your personal situation in more detail, we have experts standing by to help. Just drop us a line today to get started.

California Getaways - Where to Go Around Sacramento

I had the excellent stroke of luck to receive an article from Christopher Pyle, a Californian raft guide. He’s put together an excellent article about local getaways for the summer.

Affordable Vacations with Something to Crow About

Summer is nearer and for many of us, this means some time off: time off from packing lunches for the kids, time off of work, time off of carpool or simply some time off from the daily grind that is our routine.

Perhaps you’re not headed to Europe or off to the Caribbean but you’d still like to get a way for a while, then why not look right here in California? Tens of thousands of tourists do each year, there must be something to see, let’s have a look around.

Isn’t it always so that we forget how incredible the place we live? To remember can remind us not to take for granted those who support and love us; too often, we can take them for granted as well.

From the oldest standing redwood grove, to massive ports of call, to one of the deepest lakes in the world, some of the best rivers to be rafted and surf to be rip-curled, California is as good as it gets and tens of thousands of people flock to its land yearly.

Here are some adventures you can have in the Sierra Nevada Foothills.

We’ll start with the area responsible for the Gold Rush, The Coloma / Lotus American River Valley.

El Dorado County is host to the American River Valley and Coloma, it’s only 2-hours from the San Francisco Bay Area, 1-hour from South Lake Tahoe and thus has some excellent vacation choices. This is a good choice for a cost friendly break from the daily grind and one that offers a bounty of vacation options. Within a reasonable drive from anywhere in the State, this is a solid option rich in US history as well.

The History:

As noted on the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park website -James W. Marshall discovered gold in 1848 on the South Fork of the American River in the valley the Nisenan Indians knew as Cullumah. This event led to the greatest mass movement of people in the Western Hemisphere and was the spark that ignited the spectacular growth of the West during the ensuing decades. The gold discovery site, located in the still visible tailrace of Sutter’s sawmill, in present day Coloma California, is one of the most significant historic sites in the nation.

It seems true that we have a tendency to not see that which is part of our everyday and thus so many Californians are missing the great offerings of their State. The very Gold Rush you studied, the very Gold Rush all Americans have to study, took place right here. The State Park is one of the most heavily visited in all the United States. The Park is replete with historic items on display, buildings still stand from the era, including a jail cell, a replica of the mill, a few building are still employed that were part of the town during it’s boom time, etc.

Before you make your way to Coloma and the Gold Rush site, you have a decisions to make. Are you making a day of this? Is it just you and the family coming into town for a little history and picnic on the banks of the South Fork of the American River or are you planning a big family get together, reunion style, and you’re planning to employ some of the built in barbeques they have available for your use. Is the family going to stay a day or multiple days?

Lodging includes campgrounds, such as Camp Lotus or American River Resort, an RV park called Ponderosa Park (please call them as they have membership requirements I’m not familiar), a local historic Hotel, The Sierra Nevada House and bed and breakfast opportunities such as The Albert Shafsky House in Placerville. After you’ve decided how you’ll settle in at night, there are a variety of daily excursions you could look into: hot air ballooning, whitewater rafting and even excellent wine tasting!

South East El Dorado County is recognized by the Viticulture Society as some of the best land for specific wine-grape varietals. Thus, some of the best wineries can be visited and tasted while you’re right here. Personal favorites are Oakstone and Windwalker wineries both in Fairplay!

Nothing wrong with enjoying the spirits of wine tasting and relaxing into the warm; however, if you want to mix it up, check out rafting. It’s a great adventure for most age ranges and fitness levels. The local river offers great excitement for a seasoned adventurist but is not so intense beginners cannot venture onto a raft. The American River is one of the most rafted rivers in all the United States, and it’s ability to accommodate such a wide variety of guests is a big reason why.

You’ll definitely have your choice when it comes to a rafting outfitter, there are some 33-companies on the river. The best way to chose which is right for you is to go with the one you feel most comfortable with when you book. There are differences between the companies but the environment is so competitive they all have to mind themselves pretty well.

You really shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to raft. The majesty of the river canyon is cathartic in so many ways. Since there are so many things to do in the area, if you do come on a large family outing, there are plenty of things to do for those that absolutely won’t raft.

Ever wonder what the oldest hardware store in the west looks like? Or perhaps you’re into newspapers and you’ve long pondered where the home of the oldest western newspaper is. Well, wonder no more, visit historic Hangtown, now known as Placerville. The main street is lined with shops, eateries and real life local businesses.

Stretch yourself a bit more by driving up to South Lake Tahoe and visit the beautiful lake, play a few games, hike through Desolation Wilderness.

Perhaps wed all love to cruise the Mediterranean for a few weeks but its simply not in our cards right now. You can head to the foothills of Northern California from anywhere in the State and be there within a days drive. Once here, with some simple planning, you can have as fulfilling and diverse holiday as nearly anywhere in the world. Tens of thousands of people a year come to visit, shouldn’t you?

–
Christopher Pyle is the owner of Action Whitewater, long a river lover, Christopher has been commercially guiding for 24-years and has grown up in El Dorado County. Since 1989 Action Whitewater Adventures has offered quality rafting on the on the South and Middle Forks of the American River. Curious, want to see rafting video, then please, click on over to our home on the web.

Thanks for that excellent Californian tour, Christopher! See what you have to look forward to in Sacramento?

If you’re planning to move to the Sacramento area, you should drop us a line and we’ll put you in touch with the best mortgage brokers in the area.

5 Sizzling Ways To Finance A Home This Summer

Today we have Victor Benoun bringing us the best tips on financing a home in this turbulent market. Thanks for joining us, Victor, and we are anxious to hear your advice, so without further adieu…

5 Sizzling Ways To Finance A Home This Summer

by Victor Benoun

Despite the negative press we are pounded with daily concerning the aspect of the housing market, and the difficulties in the banking system, it is in fact a fair time to buying a home. Prices have not been this low in years, interest rates remain at historical lows, and buyers have tremendous bargaining power. Whether you are considering purchasing a house or refinancing an real property, here are a few helpful hints to make your transaction as even as a summer day!

1. Get pre-approved. Pre-approval differs from pre-qualification as pre-qualification is purely a thumbnail sketch of your financial background. A credit report frequently is not run and no financial documentation is reviewed. Pre-approval requires income tax returns, pay check stubs, bank statements, liabilities, anything that might be indispensable for a lender to make an adequate assessment of your ability to repay a mortgage. In addition, a credit report is requested and reviewed for your credit-worthiness.

2. Improve your credit score if necessary. A credit score is a numerical demigod of the likelihood of you repaying your debt. It is based on the amount of fly open credit trades you have, how near at hand you are to your available credit, as well as your paying habits. In the case of credit scores, your foregone does equal your future. You can improve your credit score by paying down your debts, closing credit cards you no longer use, and of course paying on time.

3. Inquire how much wherewithal is exigent for a down compensation and closing costs, and are there restrictions where the stock comes from. Often, assumptions are fabricated by the consumer that down payments can come from a credit card, a personal loan, cash on hand, or a little gift. It is wise to discuss this in move on in terms of what is allowable or not. Do not wait until you are under compromise to discover the source of your funds can not be used.

4. If you find a home that is right for you, do not wait for the market to drop. Believe it not sundry homes today still sell with multiple offers. According to an article in The Los Angeles Times, dated June 1, 2008, ‘Homes in service qualification that are listed at $300,000 or underADJ Expensiveness are drawing as in as 15 to 20 bids from home buyers and investors, looking for bargains.’ It is very toilsome to time the market as to when the supporting has been reached. Prices have already dropped by record amounts, and there is just no way to say how much lower they may go.

5. In financing a home, now is a benefit time to contemplate long-term. By that I mean to consider a 30 year fixed rate mortgage. Rates are still at low record levels so it is greater time to lock something in and not worry about it.

People oftentimes make life changing decisions based on beliefs which in reality no longer exist. Loan programs have transitional as well as the criteria for being approved. Before ever stepping foot into an yawn house meet with a lender what programs are available and what you qualify for.

–
Victor Benoun is President of The Mortgage Source, Inc., and author of Your Castle No Hassle. He has 29 years experience in the mortgage industry and is available for keynote speaking and consulting. For free housing and mortgage reports, visit his website at http://www.yourcastlenohassle.com.

Thanks for that wonderful report, Victor! We are glad to have you as a resource to our readers!

Readers, if you’d like to speak with an industry expert like Victor, feel free to drop us a line today. Our consultations are always free for the Sacramento community!

Ready to Choose a Mortgage Lender? Don’t Miss These 5 Vital Tell-Alls!

Brian Jenkins is here with us today to explain the vital aspects of choosing a mortgage lender. Sometimes this can be a touchy subject if you know people in the business. You might feel forced to use them even if there are better lenders out there. In the end, it’s obviously your decision, so choose wisely and use Brian’s 5 keys as an objective comparison tool.

Real Estate ~ Tips For Choosing A Mortgage Lender

When it comes time to apply for a mortgage, you may be confused as to where to begin. A home is most people’s most significant investment, and the deliberation of carrying a voluminous amount of arrears can be stressful. To keep the process as seamless as possible, it makes sense to choose a trustworthy and competent mortgage lender. How to choose the right one? Follow the tips below to help make you with your choice.

Know what type of lender you are looking for

Mortgages are available at your local bank, through national lenders, and through mortgage brokers. To make the best alternative for you it is important to take in the difference mid each type of lender. When applying for a loan, various people start their search at their local bank. A bank where you already hold bill is oftentimes a benefit choice, you know the people, they know you, and by having more than one account at a bank, you may save assets on fees and closing costs. There are drawbacks to working with your local bank as well. Small banks may not have as much denizen with mortgage practices, and may not be able to proposition a loan to someone with at the bottom than excellent credit. They may also have trouble competing with larger institutions in regards to interest rates and closing costs.

National banks have an advantage in that they every hour invitation lower rates as well as more variety of loans. The disadvantage is that you are not likely to work closely with your loan officer, and are ‘just a number’. Many of your dealings may be via email or telephone messages, with few, if any, face to face meetings. Mortgage brokers are a ‘go between’. They work with a variety of lenders. Their goal is to find the best loan package for your circumstance, whether it is of a first time home buyer, problem credit, or refinancing option. If you choose to go with a mortgage broker, it is important to ask how they will be paid for their work, so there are no surprises when closing day arrives.

Reputation is important

If you are going to trust a stranger to help you make the most important financial decision of your life, it is important to make the right choice. Once you have narrowed down your option of lenders to a few, ask acquaintances who have recently purchased homes who they recommend. Who they recommend, or who they do not recommend, can give you some insight into who would be a goodness alternative for you. While everyone is different, and has nonconformist expectations, if you give a hearing complaints about a particular lender that you were considering, it makes sense to occur up on those concerns. Before finalizing your decision in lenders, make a few more inquiries. Particularly in the case of a national lender or a mortgage broker, it is important to make sure that they are licensed to do business in the condition where you are located. Once you have confirmed this, typically through your state’s banking oversight division of mood master or the secretary of state’s office, you can move ahead in your inquiry. Next contact both the attorney general for your lot as well as your state’s Better Business Bureau. Complaints filed through these two agencies should be taken seriously before shifting ahead with a lender.

Communication and responsiveness

Once you have narrowed down your alternative in mortgage lenders, finalize the deal by choosing someone that you are comfortable with. The most well effusion mortgage lender on the planet will not do you any benefit if they do not render up your phone call or treat your questions as irrelevant. It is not unreasonable to expect your questions to be answered immediately, and calls and emails to be returned the same day. An important consideration is that if the mortgage lender is at a disadvantage than responsive or expensive than forthcoming when trying to win your business, what can you expect once they have your business?

Forthcoming

All mortgage lenders should be willing to forage you with a weal faith estimate. This is an estimate on the amount of capital that it will cost to occlude your loan. The weal faith estimate takes into consideration appraisal fees, any points you may pay to lower the interest rate, decoration insurance, and other fees that are included in the cost of the loan. If the mortgage lender wants a commitment from you before providing you with a interest faith estimate, it is time to look future for another lender.

Personality

It is perfectly okay to admit that you do not hit it off with someone. Even if family and friends have had excellent experience with a lender, if they make you uncomfortable, seem unwilling to answer your questions, or you just generally do not get along, there is no reason to feel obligated to choose them as your lender. The mortgage relationship is a permanentlyN Plurality one, and you should choose someone who you get along well with.

–
Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to the mortgage industry such as a Pennsylvania Mortgage

Brian, thanks for sharing those very important tips about choosing the right lender.

If your search for the right lender is coming up a little short, let us know, and we can help you choose the best individual or company to work with to achieve your personal goals. Drop us a line today to get started.

Live in Sacramento, but Want to Refinance Online? Not a Problem…

If you have a lot of pride in your city, it can be difficult to make the decision to look outside of local brokers to get your home refinanced. Fear not! The best resource for information and price shopping is the Internet, but your can take the information back to your local broker and they can be even more helpful since you’re educated about the market. So without further adieu…

Doing a California Refinance Online

Californians are passionate people. I know. I have lived in California my whole life: From the smoggy basins of Los Angeles, to, well, the smoggy basins of Sacramento. I’ve traveled highway 101, I’ve smelled the glory of the Redwoods, and I’ve experienced the confusion of the Terminator becoming governor. Without turning into a pop-song, I’ve done it all California-style, and that even includes, moving through the exciting process of doing a California Refinance Online!

Okay, so it’s not exactly as poetic or as exciting as I’m making it out to be, but a Sacramento Refinance conducted online does not make you a bad Californian. It makes you a smart consumer, and if it’s important for you to keep your business local, then there’s no need to shy away from your monitor. You can still do it all in your pajamas.

In the next few moments, I’m going to cover some basics to ease your worries and calm your nerves about using the internet to gain access to local money.

1. You are in Total Control.
2. Important Online Mortgage Resources
3. Keeping it Local!
4. Start Broad, And then Narrow Your Search.

You are in Total Control

Chances are, you will be filling out a short 30 second form online in the very near future, and in return, you will be receiving 3 to 4 immediate offers from brokers and lenders vying for your business. But that doesn’t mean that you must receive offers from banks located at the top of the Space Needle or beneath the catacombs of the Grand Canyon.

The majority of the loan search services available online provide you with the option to request loan offers from several brokers specific to your area. You don’t need to reach far and wide to get a good deal. This means that you can rest easy. When it’s time to complete the online short-form application, just make sure the query asks you if you’d like to narrow your search.

Important Online Mortgage Resources

a) Ask if your prospective mortgage broker and/or lender are licensed under the CMLA, the California Mortgage Lending Act of 1994. http://www.corp.ca.gov/pub/mb.htm

b) Check out their complaint history with the Better Business Bureau online. http://www.bbb.org/

c) Ask if they are a member of the CMBA, the California Mortgage Bankers Association http://www.cmba.com/

d) Do you qualify for Affordable Housing? If so, make sure your lender can broker a loan that will meet your needs. Here is the current Interest Rate Schedule: http://www.calhfa.ca.gov/homeownership/rates/index.htm

e) Research the current California Mortgage Refinance Rates online. We offer a free, daily rate-watch at our site, but interest rate information is everywhere.

Keeping It Local

Doing a California Refinance from your neighborhood bank or local broker, is probably a very good idea. One important reason is that they know the terrain, and they know what things are like in your home town or State. Every region has a different set of variables and demographics that determine its respective health or struggles, as it pertains to mortgage rates. If your preference is to do your refinance with local information and personable service, then I say go with your instincts.

Start Broad, Then Narrow Your Search

Start with a broad query using the Internet, and then narrow your search. There are too many banks and brokers in your area, for you to call on the phone, or take a day to drive by each office for a personal visit. Use the internet as a resource. Start wisely. Conduct a broad Sacramento Refinance loan search, via the methods discussed above, and then zero-in on the folks down the street.

If you are not making decisions based on wise, savvy shopping tactics, then in the end, you could wind up spending more money through higher rates, or higher fees, all in the good name of convenience. You can still go local in the end. Those are the parameters that you get to choose when conducting a search. But don’t start there. The internet is a powerful tool, for your Sacramento Refinance needs. Don’t ignore it. Use it, and use it to your full financial advantage.

We’ve enjoyed providing this information to you, and we wish you the best of luck in your pursuits. Remember to always seek out good advice from those you trust, and never turn your back on your own common sense.

–
Copyright 2005, by Loans-Resource.Com

What a great read! I know our readers love to hear about new ways to make their time go further for them, and this is just the ticket.

If you’re a reader who’s ready to take action towards getting your home refinanced, drop us a line today to make sure you’re on the right track. All of our consultation services are free - we’re all about helping the Sacramento community, so drop us a line today!

Thinking About Moving to Sacramento? Don’t Miss These Highlights…

For those of you unfamiliar with the beautiful Sacramento area, we’re featuring a little tourist information for your enjoyment. We asked American historian Priscilla Faith Rhodes to write this guest post. Enjoy!

Discover Sacramento, California - Regional Tour Highlights

Sacramento, California’s beautiful capital city at the junction of the American and Sacramento Rivers is disarmingly deceptive. Tranquil boulevards lined with gracious Victorian homes shaded by leafy old trees, charming neighborhoods, and river parks mask a mercantile metropolis and political hotbed that thrive below the surface. The capital city of the largest state in the union, by population, and the third largest state by area, Sacramento is like a sweet-tempered, smartly dressed matriarch of undisclosed wealth and power.

Things to See in Sacramento

• California State Capitol

The California State Capitol was constructed and furnished between 1860 and 1874 during a period of US cultural history known as the American Renaissance, a time when artists, artisans, architects, craftsmen, and philanthropists set out to equal or exceed the greatest achievements of preceding civilizations. Its pristine white architecture looks like something straight out of the Holy Roman Empire. Eight Roman Corinthian columns on the front portico lead the eye to the elaborate rooftop sculptures, beyond the shining copper dome punctuated by a glittering 30 inch gold ball set against a clear, Sacramento sky.

Inside, are beautifully restored massive wooden doors, magnificently carved stairways and a fabulous Carrara marble statue of Queen Isabella and Christopher Columbus. Other features include a circular room of murals depicting early California life, and furnished rooms of the restored turn-of-the-century Governor’s office, Secretary of State’s office, and Treasurer’s office. The Secretary of State’s office has old files stacked up and tied in red ribbon, showing the origins of the governmental term “Red Tape.” The Senate is decorated in red as in the British House of Lords, while the Assembly is green, as in the House of Commons, and both chairs for each head of the chambers are symbolic of the British monarchy—themes borrowed from the British Parliament from which the United States bases its two-house system.

Tip: Grab a meal at the statehouse restaurant located in the basement. Warm red brick walls, arches and the cool cellar atmosphere give the ambience of an Italian grotto. Note the walls and arches made from old bricks retrieved during the massive 1970s restoration when the building was, as the
tour guide says, “carved out like a melon,” then recreated to its original beauty, based on old photos and furnishings found in storage. Notice the old pictures on the restaurant walls, particularly the photo of the “Insectuary,” a building dedicated to “breeding beneficial insects” affectionately called the “Bug House.”

Check it out . . . Take a walk through the 40-acre Capitol Park and enjoy the sweet scent of rose gardens and over 400 exotic plants and trees from all over the world. Two intriguing 20th century war memorials are also on the grounds. The Vietnam War Memorial has many sculptures of men in battle, and a rare sculpture of POW’s. The plaque reads: “To the memory of those who died or remain
missing.”

• Old Sacramento

Old Sacramento is an old Western town encompassing ten blocks with two main streets flanked by wood plank sidewalks. Plenty of side streets loaded with two- and three-story picturesque buildings from the Gold Rush days make a fascinating walking tour. Listen to echo of shoe heels clapping along the wooden sidewalks, as pedestrians stroll past shops and restaurants that once housed rowdy barrooms and gambling halls during the heyday of the 1849 Gold Rush. Today the smell of grilled steaks and homemade candy fills the air, competing with the sounds of nearby trains and laughing children carrying gigantic pinwheel lollipops of rainbow hues. The restored 1876 Central Pacific Railroad Station is in the center of town and the California State Railroad Museum nearby houses
more than 20 restored locomotives and passenger cars.

• Downtown Plaza

A pedestrian tunnel from Old Sacramento leads visitors to Downtown Plaza, a modern mall complex with an open-air market, a megaplex cinema, specialty stores, clothing stores, ethnic restaurants and minstrels from all walks of life: peripatetic musicians, jugglers, mimes and other street performers entertain shoppers and diners. A recently restored Art Deco vaudeville theater several blocks east
shows independent and foreign films.

• Sutter’s Fort State Park

In 1839 while California was still under the Mexican flag, Captain John Sutter, a Swiss immigrant received a 50,000-acre land grant at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers. Nine years later, while building a sawmill, Sutter’s partner, John Marshall, saw gold shining through the river. Walking back to his workmen, he remarked, in possibly the understatement of the century, “Boys, I believe I found a gold mine.” But when Sutter heard the report, he feared ruination for his mill businesses. His fears were not unfounded. The scent of easy money attracted thousands of desperate people who flooded the new American territory, launching one of the greatest gold rushes in history, and establishing a new city, Sacramento, to serve the influx of prospectors. As Sutter suspected, mill workers deserted their jobs in search of gold, while invading goldseekers tore Sutter’s fences to build ramshackle housing on his land. Both Sutter and Marshall died penniless. Sutter later wrote, “By the sudden discovery of gold, all my great plans were destroyed . . . I should have been the richest citizen on the Pacific . . . Instead of being rich, I am ruined.”

The state park is the site of the first white settlerment in this region. An 1839 adobe structure, faithfully reconstructed, now houses mementoes from the pioneer period and the Gold Rush era. (The original gold nugget Marshall found is now at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.)

California State Tourist Info: (800) 862-2543

–
Priscilla Faith Rhodes is the author of DISCOVER AMERICA DIARIES: 50 STATES, 50 STATES OF MIND, and co-publisher of the award-winning website, Postcards from America, http://www.postcardsfrom.com, a edu-travel site that helps students and families learn about America through postcards.

Thanks for sharing that excellent background on our beautiful city, Priscilla!

If you’re a reader who would like more information on the financial side of moving to Sacramento, we’d love to help you out. Our area experts will consult with you at no cost, so just drop us a line today.