2 minute read
Movin’ on up to the North Side
Mary and I were very happy raising our four kids over on the South Side of Vacaville, and our family was proud to be Will C. Wood Wildcats. Over the years, I was often teased about how the weather was better on the North Side and the Vacaville High School record for sports was superior to Wood.
Hogwash I say, but for the second- and third-generation Vacavillians, this is what they believe, so let’s go along with this myth. Let’s say a very proud Vacaville alumnus bought her first house in 2011 right around the corner from Will C. Wood High School. She bought a 3-bedroom 2-bathroom 1100 square foot foreclosure. The seller did not have any pride of ownership and the house was a mess, but at $175,000, this was all she could afford.
In 2016, during Brexit, she refinanced down to a 4.5% fixed rate loan for $250,000 and pulled out $100,000 in cash to remodel the small kitchen, bathrooms, replace the roof, and paint the house. She was conservative and careful not to over-improve the home with million-dollar custom-home type appliances, windows, and floors because she knew this was not her forever home.
As her kids are approach- ing high school age, 2020 rolls around and she is financially ready to move up to her dream home over on the Vacaville High side of town and then the pandemic hit. Her three daughters, 8, 10 and 12, are excited about their oopsy daisy little brother coming in June. Little Joey is born healthy and after 90 days of maternity leave, she postpones moving up because of the lockdowns and her kids all schooling via Zoom.
She jumps on the REFI band wagon and refinances her loan, that is now $235,000, down to 2.75%. Her house payment, including taxes and insurance drops to only $1,190 per month. She is in “fat city” financially but now in June 2023, her parents want her to move over to the North Side, her three daughters, now 11, 13 and 15, are squabbling about the one bathroom they share and are constantly making a mess in mom’s tiny master bathroom, not because they are spoiled rotten brats, but simply because they have outgrown the home.
This woman can easily qualify to sell her remodeled house for $560,000 and move up to an $800,000 house on the Northside or keep the old house as a rental and buy up to a max price of $700,000 but she hasn’t
See Porter, Page 7
2324 Rockville Road Green Valley
Located at the gateway to the beautiful Suisun Valley wine countr y, this rare, level one acre parcel includes two beautiful homes and plenty of room to roam. Built in 1937, the 4BR/3BA main house has been beautifully renovated yet maintains much of its original character and charm including refinished original hardwood floors, art deco trim and built-in cabinetr y. Completely remodeled farmhouse kitchen comes with all of the modern conveniences, spacious walk-in pantry, a butler’s pantr y and laundr y room. The 3BR/2BA second home has just as much charm and endless opportunities such as Airbnb, Rental Income or an ADU for in-laws. Between the two homes is a beautifully landscaped yard with shade trees complete with a tree house, playhouse, and expansive patios with a lush lawn for all to enjoy. In addition, there is an enormous workshop as well as several auxiliary indoor rooms for use as a home office, art studio or exercise area with security camera system. This is truly a rare opportunity for countr y living with space, privacy, and flexibility yet close to town and the historic Rockville Corners
Offered at $1,539,000
