ALL THINGS REAL ESTATE
Divorce does not end joint mortgage responsibilities
Q: Last year, my wife and I divorced. We owned a house together in Monterey, which she got in the divorce. Afterward, I moved to Vacaville and we haven’t spoken since. I just tried to buy a house here in town, but when the bank pulled up my credit report, there was a fore closure on it so they refused to make the loan. Apparently my ex-wife let the house fall into foreclosure. This is wrong. The judge said she got the house so she should have the credit problem, not me. It hadn’t been my house for over a year. What do I do about it?
A: Just because a judge decrees that your wife gets the house, doesn’t mean your name comes off of the mortgage. In fact, the bank simply doesn’t care about your divorce; you both remain liable for the mort gage payment.
Since you moved, you probably didn’t give the bank your new address, so they had no way of notifying you that the mortgage payments were behind. When the mortgage wasn’t paid for 90 days, they went ahead and foreclosed.
I’m afraid you’re stuck. The best you can do is to explain to a lender the circumstances of the foreclosure, but I’m pretty confident you aren’t going to be getting a low-interest rate loan for a number of years. If you ever get divorced, make sure you notify all of your creditors, including credit cards, car loans, personal loans, etc. of your new address so you can make sure things are getting paid.
Q: My husband recently got transferred from the East Coast to Travis Air Force Base. He is an E-2 and doesn’t qualify for married housing out here. So we rented a U-Haul and drove out.
We’ve been trying to find a place don’t have very much credit and moved, so our income doesn’t look very good on paper. Where we came from there were lawscredit or income doesn’t check base said we should ask you if there were any laws in California that would help a military
available throughout Fairfield, Vacaville and Suisun. Typically, these consist of a certain number of apartments in each complex that have been set aside for military or low income. There are even some that have been set aside for teachers, police and other “public service” professions.
They are called “subsidized” not because someone is paying your rent, but because developers often agree to maintain a certain number of these units in order to get tax breaks and to reduce local development fees. While I don’t know for sure, I have to believe your base housing office would have information regarding these units and whether or not they are available to you.
Typically, however, subsidized housing means below market rents, which helps with your low income, but not necessarily reduced credit
Tim Jones
SOLANO REAL ESTATE SCENE
The American Dream is not free or easy
My mom and dad bought their four-bedroom home in 1970 for $32,500 with $5,000 total out of pocket, most of which was a loan from my Grandpa.
My dad was worried because the PITI payment was going to be $320 per month, $120 more than the rent they were paying, but he took the leap and bought the house.
After my brother Rob was born in August 1968 there were eight of us living in a two-bedroom flat seven blocks from Ocean Beach in the San Francisco Sunset District. The five boys were in one bedroom, my sister had the other, while my parents slept on a fold-out couch in the living room.
When 1974 rolled around and sister number two was born –making it 7 kids – my mom was working full-time as a secretary and my dad was working full-time during the day as an insurance broker for his dad and working the swing shift for the San Francisco Municipal Railway counting coins in the money room.
My grandpa was a great salesman, but my dad was only average so after they bought the house my dad grabbed the city job for benefits and the income because the American Dream is expensive when you have seven kids, one with special needs and six going to Catholic school. Today, there are many opportunities for moonlighting and making extra money that are not as extreme as the second job my dad had to take. Through promotions and hard work, the Muni job became his career job and selling insurance became his part-time job.
If you or someone you know
is not making ends meet because of a shortage of income, there is only one solution: make more money on your full-time job. If this is not possible, then you must find a new job or take on a side hustle.
Young people that want to get ahead today are no different those who wanted to get ahead 50 years ago – working 50 to 60 hours per week is required. I know a lot of people that are working 10 to 20 hours per week overtime. Teachers often work weekends and summers, a lot of firefighters have side businesses, and refinery workers, cops, nurses and correctional officers are known to work lots of overtime for the American Dream.
One of my favorite groups of people are those folks that work full-time as unskilled labor in construction, maintenance, janitorial, warehouse and retail for one company or the government, and then work weekends on a part-time job or side business because they are motivated to support their family and one day become financially free.
Jim Porter, NMLS No. 276412, is the branch manager and senior loan adviser of Solano Mortgage, NMLS No. 1515497, a division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation, NMLS No. 1850, licensed in California by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the CRMLA / Equal Housing Opportunity. Jim can be reached at 707-449-4777.
Planning for the future to protect generational wealth
STATEPOINT
In the coming years, baby boomers are poised to pass down an estimated $17 trillion in home equity to their children, according to a recent Freddie Mac survey. But whether or not you’re among the 75% of homeowners in this generation planning to leave your current home or the proceeds from a home sale to family members when they pass away, having a clear estate plan is critical to ensuring your wishes come to fruition.
Without one, your future heirs may face complex ownership issues, potential legal disputes and even the loss of family property.
To help your family plan for the future and protect generational wealth, Freddie Mac is sharing information about some of the pitfalls that may occur in the absence of an estate plan, as well as steps you can take to protect the wealth you’ve built over your lifetime.
Tangled titles
Heirs’ property, also referred to as a tangled title, is created when a family member dies without a will or court document passing their property to a specific heir or heirs. When this happens, the property may be transferred by inheritance to multiple family members who each have equal rights to use and occupy the property. Unfortunately, this can lead to messy legal disputes among family members, limited access to resources, and loss of generational wealth due to forced sales or costly legal battles. These disputes are common in this scenario because each heir has shared responsibilities regarding the property. For example, all heirs will be expected to contribute to property-related taxes and upkeep, which can become difficult to manage collectively. Additionally, major property decisions often require agreement among all heirs, which can make it diffi-
cult to maintain, improve or sell the property.
As generations pass, the property may be further divided among new heirs, complicating ownership even more. Lacking a clear legal title, heirs often struggle to qualify for resources like home equity loans or disaster relief funds, leaving properties vulnerable to foreclosure or forced sales.
Avoiding heirs’ property
Planning for the future helps prevent legal and financial complications like heirs’ property. Here are steps to take to protect your family’s property and wealth:
• Create a will or trust. Work with a trusted legal advisor to create an estate plan that can ensure your property is passed down as intended.
• Establish a power of attorney. Appoint someone you
Jim Porter
Solano real estate transactions
BENICIA
TOTAL SALES: 6
LOWEST AMOUNT: $575,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $990,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $802,500
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $808,333
844 Corrigan Court - $980,000
09-26-25 [3 Bdrms - 1953 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-10-99, $365,000
871 Hanlon Way - $990,000
09-26-25 [4 Bdrms - 2040 SqFt - 1985 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-25-22, $910,000
672 East K Street - $730,000
09-26-25 [2 Bdrms - 960 SqFt - 1936 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-02-25, $564,000
58 La Cruz Avenue - $575,000
09-26-25 [2 Bdrms - 1092 SqFt - 1943 YrBlt]
933 Rose Drive - $875,000
09-23-25 [3 Bdrms - 2039 SqFt - 1981 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-04-01, $322,000 564 Willow Court - $700,000
09-25-25 [3 Bdrms - 1703 SqFt - 1982 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1992, $175,000
DIXON
TOTAL SALES: 7
LOWEST AMOUNT: $400,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $749,500
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $575,000
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $602,643
1105 Bello Drive - $749,500
09-25-25 [4 Bdrms - 2489 SqFt - 2004 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-14-16, $465,000 765 Cahill Court - $500,000
09-25-25 [3 Bdrms - 1438 SqFt - 1976 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-31-19, $222,000 1225 Dartmouth Circle - $400,000
09-23-25 [3 Bdrms - 1917 SqFt - 2015 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-18-15, $356,000 1315 Estates Drive - $719,000
09-22-25 [4 Bdrms - 2491 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-12-00, $98,409 660 West F Street - $530,000
09-24-25 [4 Bdrms - 1473 SqFt - 1955 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-15-21, $520,000 1365 Ferrero Drive - $575,000
09-23-25 [3 Bdrms - 1238 SqFt - 1994 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 10-10-14, $270,000 1110 Legion Court - $745,000
09-24-25 [4 Bdrms - 2750 SqFt - 2019 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-08-21, $715,000
FAIRFIELD
TOTAL SALES: 25
LOWEST AMOUNT: $292,500
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $799,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $575,000
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $588,880
355 Acacia Street - $564,000
09-23-25 [3 Bdrms - 1367 SqFt - 2013 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 04-06-21, $392,000
397 Allegany Court - $725,000
09-25-25 [4 Bdrms - 2364 SqFt - 2017 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-18-20, $649,500
1723 Astoria Drive - $669,000
09-23-25 [4 Bdrms - 1926 SqFt - 1983 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 04-27-21, $650,000
760 East Atlantic Avenue - $420,000
09-23-25 [3 Bdrms - 1128 SqFt - 1966 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 08-06-99, $128,750
4239 Brudenell Drive - $765,000
09-23-25 [5 Bdrms - 3005 SqFt - 2000 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-22-21, $775,000
205 Del Luz Court - $292,500
09-26-25 [3 Bdrms - 1164 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt]
193 Diamond Court - $467,500
09-24-25 [3 Bdrms - 1000 SqFt - 1983
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-09-18, $359,000
5002 Greenwood Court - $660,000
09-26-25 [4 Bdrms - 1567 SqFt - 1985 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 08-06-18, $509,000
1158 Hartford Place - $469,000
09-26-25 [2 Bdrms - 1591 SqFt - 1979 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 10-13-22, $120,000
1324 Holmes Court - $535,000
09-23-25 [4 Bdrms - 1904 SqFt - 1977 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-26-13, $236,500
5240 Julia Berger Circle - $705,000
09-26-25 [3 Bdrms - 2340 SqFt - 2019
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-26-19, $588,500
5166 Maddalena Place - $715,000
09-25-25 [3 Bdrms - 2264 SqFt - 2003
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-07-14, $425,000
102 Manchester Drive - $455,000
09-23-25 [3 Bdrms - 1432 SqFt - 1993
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-19-12, $125,500
2951 Newberry Court - $673,000
09-24-25 [4 Bdrms - 2030 SqFt - 2023
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-28-23, $644,500
2234 Pullen Lane - $730,000
09-22-25 [4 Bdrms - 3048 SqFt - 2014
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-16-14, $548,000
2100 San Gabriel Street - $480,000
09-25-25 [3 Bdrms - 1287 SqFt - 1964 YrBlt]
2213 Santa Fe Court - $575,000
09-22-25 [4 Bdrms - 1563 SqFt - 1966 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 02-23-22, $380,000
2302 Santa Rosa Drive - $510,000
09-25-25 [3 Bdrms - 1287 SqFt - 1968 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-14-25, $362,500
320 Serrano Court - $499,000
09-26-25 [4 Bdrms - 1636 SqFt - 1979 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 10-28-14, $272,000
3161 Sonoma Valley Drive - $750,000
09-22-25 [4 Bdrms - 2303 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-13-13, $400,000
5037 Soprano Circle - $699,000
09-25-25 [4 Bdrms - 2394 SqFt - 2017 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-06-17, $640,000
2813 Sundown Circle - $405,000
09-24-25 [2 Bdrms - 1603 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 07-08-20, $340,000
2432 Trevino Way - $799,000
09-22-25 [4 Bdrms - 2263 SqFt - 1992
YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-30-98, $244,000
1754 Utah Street - $460,000
09-22-25 [4 Bdrms - 1236 SqFt - 1955 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 08-13-07, $215,000
3264 Wailea Circle - $700,000
09-26-25 [4 Bdrms - 2424 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-27-17, $585,000
RIO VISTA
TOTAL SALES: 6
LOWEST AMOUNT: $285,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $638,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $412,500
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $444,917
350 Atlantic Drive - $410,000
09-25-25 [2 Bdrms - 1767 SqFt - 2003 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-12-03, $285,000
544 Birch Ridge Drive - $399,000
09-26-25 [2 Bdrms - 1420 SqFt - 2005 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-17-25, $410,000
400 Brockton Place - $285,000
09-23-25 [2 Bdrms - 1172 SqFt - 2000 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-19-25, $160,000
2066 Espana Lane - $522,500
09-23-25 [3 Bdrms - 2022 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-24-25, $481,000
415 Mallards Gulch Drive - $638,000
09-24-25 [2 Bdrms - 2419 SqFt - 2015 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-31-15, $453,500
85 Tahoe Drive - $415,000
09-24-25 [3 Bdrms - 1268 SqFt - 1962 YrBlt]
SUISUN CITY
TOTAL SALES: 4
LOWEST AMOUNT: $310,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $625,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $435,000
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $451,250
1111 Main Street - $500,000
09-24-25 [3 Bdrms - 1008 SqFt - 1954 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-24-15, $235,000
212 Maple Street - $310,000
09-23-25 [3 Bdrms - 1152 SqFt - 1974 YrBlt]
1300 Reeves Court - $625,000
09-24-25 [3 Bdrms - 1924 SqFt - 2000 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-01-13, $290,000
1109 Waxwing Drive - $370,000
09-25-25 [4 Bdrms - 1720 SqFt - 1977 YrBlt]
VACAVILLE
TOTAL SALES: 25
LOWEST AMOUNT: $177,500
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $1,340,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $600,000
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $622,340
119 Amberwood Court - $678,000
09-26-25 [4 Bdrms - 2058 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-06-23, $611,000 1191 Araquipa Court - $532,000
09-25-25 [3 Bdrms - 1518 SqFt - 1996 YrBlt]
269 Bald Eagle Drive - $615,000
09-26-25 [3 Bdrms - 1514 SqFt - 1995 YrBlt]
472 Beelard Drive - $505,000
09-26-25 [3 Bdrms - 1012 SqFt - 1967 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 11-19-19, $385,000
133 Birch Street - $530,000
09-24-25 [3 Bdrms - 1359 SqFt - 1948 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-27-24, $360,000
831 Bluewater Drive - $610,000
09-23-25 [4 Bdrms - 1679 SqFt - 1998 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 05-16-18, $475,000
953 Cashel Circle - $800,000
09-22-25 [4 Bdrms - 2951 SqFt - 1998 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 03-18-03, $449,000
These
791 Cookson Street - $450,000
09-25-25 [3 Bdrms - 1633 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 07-10-13, $297,000
512 Corte Alta - $713,000
09-23-25 [4 Bdrms - 1851 SqFt - 1975 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-14-11, $292,000
2001 Eastwood Drive #38 - $177,500
09-26-25 [2 Bdrms - 890 SqFt - 2001 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 02-17-21, $245,000
200 Hidden Valley Lane - $1,100,000
09-23-25 [4 Bdrms - 3690 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt]
766 Morissette Way - $570,000
09-25-25 [3 Bdrms - 1509 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 01-19-99, $155,000
1091 Notre Dame Circle - $600,000
09-26-25 [3 Bdrms - 1807 SqFt - 1991 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 00/1991, $195,500
137 Olympic Circle - $450,000
09-26-25 [2 Bdrms - 1152 SqFt - 1964 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 05-01-25, $315,000
516 Owl Court - $606,000
09-25-25 [3 Bdrms - 1657 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 08-26-14, $365,000
467 Royal Tern Drive - $810,000
09-24-25 [3 Bdrms - 3882 SqFt - 2005 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-21-11, $185,000
172 Salinas Drive - $460,000
09-26-25 [4 Bdrms - 1889 SqFt - 1977 YrBlt]
155 Scarlet Street - $670,000
09-25-25 [3 Bdrms - 1864 SqFt - 2015 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 06-01-15, $455,000
255 Shadowhawk Court - $782,000
09-26-25 [5 Bdrms - 2413 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt]
299 Shasta Drive #52 - $385,000
09-25-25 [3 Bdrms - 1424 SqFt - 1987 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 06-18-18, $275,000
6869 Steiger Hill Road - $1,340,000
09-26-25 [4 Bdrms - 2427 SqFt - 1984 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-14-20, $1,150,000
468 Stinson Avenue - $375,000
09-24-25 [3 Bdrms - 1304 SqFt - 1977 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-25-16, $163,000 821 Turquoise Street - $555,000
09-25-25 [2 Bdrms - 969 SqFt - 1992 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-27-00, $172,000 511 Wellington Way - $690,000
09-23-25 [4 Bdrms - 1177 SqFt - 1970 YrBlt]
331 North West Street - $555,000
09-23-25 [3 Bdrms - 1286 SqFt - 1961 YrBlt]
VALLEJO
TOTAL SALES: 19
LOWEST AMOUNT: $74,000
HIGHEST AMOUNT: $798,000
MEDIAN AMOUNT: $510,000
AVERAGE AMOUNT: $488,579
1225 Arkansas Street - $518,000
09-26-25 [2 Bdrms - 1075 SqFt - 1941 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-30-20, $469,000
200 Birkdale Court - $675,000
09-23-25 [4 Bdrms - 1964 SqFt - 1986 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 08-12-16, $497,500
5124 Carisbrooke Lane - $680,000
09-22-25 [3 Bdrms - 2580 SqFt - 2003 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-15-18, $580,000
145 Chatham Place - $480,000
09-23-25 [4 Bdrms - 1993 SqFt - 1987 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-07-08, $255,000
38 D Street - $475,000
09-24-25 [3 Bdrms - 1588 SqFt - 1941 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-11-01, $276,600
124 Evergreen Way - $635,000
09-26-25 [4 Bdrms - 2030 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-28-25, $480,000
170 Fiddletown Court - $605,000
09-22-25 [4 Bdrms - 1816 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 03-14-25, $400,000
605 Grennan Street - $400,000
09-23-25 [3 Bdrms - 1756 SqFt - 1942 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 12-02-15, $272,500
1220 Halsey Street - $510,000
09-26-25 [3 Bdrms - 1405 SqFt - 2004 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-21-11, $190,000
212 Illinois Street - $223,000
09-22-25 [2 Bdrms - 620 SqFt - 1928 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 08-28-00, $120,000
317 Kentucky Street - $330,000
09-23-25 [2 Bdrms - 900 SqFt - 1890 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 06-25-98, $83,000
510 Lockwood Drive - $595,000
09-22-25 [3 Bdrms - 1622 SqFt - 1987 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 03-27-19, $475,000
159 Nantucket Lane - $310,000
09-26-25 [1 Bdrms - 894 SqFt - 1984 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 06-18-21, $252,000 1465 Ohio Street - $539,000
09-23-25 [3 Bdrms - 1492 SqFt - 1941 YrBlt]
3021 Overlook Drive - $655,000
09-23-25 [4 Bdrms - 2746 SqFt - 2001 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-15-05, $780,000 1773 Severus Drive - $429,000
09-22-25 [2 Bdrms - 864 SqFt - 1971 YrBlt],
Previous Sale: 05-07-09, $70,000 2041 Severus Drive - $352,000
09-26-25 [3 Bdrms - 1605 SqFt - 1966 YrBlt] 731 Springs Road - $74,000
09-26-25 [2 Bdrms - 1198 SqFt - 1928 YrBlt]
6844 Sunriver Lane - $798,000
09-23-25 [4 Bdrms - 2799 SqFt - 1999 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-24-22, $845,000
Five Christmas tree mistakes you should avoid
TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY
As jolly as bringing home a Christmas tree should be, there are plenty of ways it can go wrong. Getting your tree from the lot to the living room is both an art and a science.
Here are five tips on avoid ing common Christmas trees mishaps, from keeping it fresh and decorating it safely to giving it new life when the season is over.
1. Don’t assume a fake tree is better for the environment
Artificial trees promise con venience and less mess, but most are made from non-recyclable plastics and may contain harmful substances. Many only last a few years before looking shabby and ending up in landfill. Studies have found problematic chemicals in some artificial trees, including substances that can affect health and the environment.
branches compact and mini
ULRICH PERREY/DPA/TNS
First it makes a mess of your car, then the cat chokes on a decoration, only for the tree to dry out by Christmas Eve. There’s a lot that can go wrong with a Christmas tree - unless you know what to look out for.
scratches. Keep branches from sticking out and cover the tree with a tarp to prevent it drying out in the wind. Cyclists: stick to short trees, use a trailer or cargo bike, and never try to balance a tree under your arm or tie it sideways.
two litres per day, even for small trees - so make sure your stand is always topped up with cool tap or rainwater. Avoid sharp cuts to the trunk and skip additives like flower food or sugar; plain water is best.
4. Don’t let it kill your pet
Cats and dogs see Christmas trees as the ultimate playground, but baubles and tinsel can spell trouble. Glass ornaments can shatter and injure curious paws, so you may want to opt for petproof plastic decorations.
Tinsel, while festive, is especially hazardous if swallowed, as it can cause life-threatening intestinal blockages. Before decorating, consider your pet and avoid anything that might double as a tempting toy.
5. Don’t let it go to waste after Christmas
When the festivities are over, don’t just throw your tree out with the rubbish. If you bought a tree with a healthy root ball, you can keep it in a cool, sheltered place until the risk of frost passes, then plant it in your garden for years of enjoyment.
For cut trees, there are plenty of ways to help your garden. Place branches over sensitive plants for winter protection, or use fallen needles to create humus for acidloving plants. Shred the tree for mulch, use branches as climbing supports, or lay pine needles around rose beds to repel slugs and snails.
Real trees are better for the climate while they grow, absorbing CO2 and supporting local ecosystems. For the lowest impact, choose a locally grown, organically certified tree. Potted trees sound appealing, but unless the root ball is substantial and undamaged, most won’t survive long after Christmas.
2. Don’t get sap and needles all over your car
Nothing says “bah, humbug” like a Christmas tree mishap on the road. A tree that’s not properly secured in or on your car can turn into a dangerous projectile in an accident.
Before you buy, make sure your tree can be netted to keep
3. Don’t let your tree dry out by Christmas Day
Nobody wants a brown, needledropping tree before Christmas morning. Whether your tree is potted or cut, avoid placing it near radiators or other heat sources. If you have underfloor heating, set the tree on a pedestal to reduce drying from below.
Even after it’s been cut, your tree still drinks up water - one to
From Page 2
requirements.
Apartment managers can still run credit checks and set certain credit standards. However, let me be quick to point out that “subsidized housing” comes in many, many forms. There are city, county, state and even federal programs, all with different requirements for both the apartment owner and the prospective tenant. I urge you to speak to the base housing office. It would seem to me that their job would be to keep track of available community housing and to stay up to speed on the various programs available to help service people in your position.
calling the various cities, such as Fairfield, Vacaville, Suisun and Dixon to see if they can give you a lead as to residential properties or community organizations that can help.
If for some reason they aren’t of any assistance, I would start
Tim Jones, Esq., is a real estate attorney in Fairfield. If you have any real estate questions you would like answered in this column, you can send an email to AllThingsRealEstate@ TJones-Law.com.
ON GARDENING
Chicklet Gold Esperanza brings beauty, pollinators
Your landscape will strike gold with this year’s new Chicklet Gold Esperanza. Though I am writing about Chicklet Gold, let’s spill all the beans and tell you that Chicklet Red will make its debut in 2026.
So, if you think about the Chicklet Esperanza colors Orange, Gold and Red, you get the idea of the Chiclet chewing gum colors that many of us fell in love with when we were kids. Perhaps that is where the name of the series comes from despite the spelling differences.
On the other hand, is it pos sible that these Esperanza got their name from their habits, which are a little more compact than the typical Tecoma found in their native habitat. I should explain that the Gold and Red varieties are known botanically as Tecoma stans and the Orange is Tecoma fulva. So, by being a little more compact they might be like chicks in their stature.
notice the color is really a yellow gold, hence the common names yellow bells, yellow trumpet bush and yellow elder. The tag reads 3-6 feet tall but in frostfree areas, I see the possibility of going a little taller especially if
Chicklet Gold is probably best considered semi-deciduous in zone 8 and evergreen in warmer regions. It blooms on new wood; hence it is a rebloomer and a reliable one. You are almost always assured of seeing blooms throughout the growing season. Heaviest in the initial flush, which lasts a long time, and then it is like you are seeing continuous yellow bouquets with
striking green foliage throughout the summer and fall.
So, Chicklet Gold will drop its leaves in zone 8 and winter will do its thing. Some winters will be more of a thing. Let the spring return of growth tell you where to cut back. If you suffer little cold damage, you may still want to cut back to 3 feet to keep a nice shrubby look.
If you are growing in containers in zones 7 and colder where you will be tucking in a garage, basement or even indoors, the transition to deciduous is your friend. Don’t forget that in much of their native habitat they are growing in something that looks like the moon. So, you don’t have to fret about a watering regimen. A little to keep your anxiety down will be appreciated.
It seems everything makes a nice companion with the yellow
Let’s unpack a little more of the taxonomy. Tecoma stans are native to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Florida and Mexico. If you’ve seen these areas, you realize how tough and persevering they are.
The Tecoma fulva or orange is native to a small area of Florida, and the tropics to South America. All are rated as zones 8-11 but are worth every penny if grown as an annual or as the thriller in a container and protected like you do a hibiscus, citrus or even a fern.
So, let’s go deeper on this year’s newest variety, which is Chicklet Gold. You will quickly
Norman Winter
NORMAN WINTER/TNS PHOTOS
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Chicklet Gold Esperanza found its place layered in between SunPatiens and Rockin salvias; this female eastern tiger swallowtail with her blue swatch looks like the perfect complement; the Chicklet Orange Esperanza was the first in the series. It is also recommended for zones 8-11.
REAL ESTATE
Tips to make a bedroom a more relaxing space
METRO
Homes are often characterized as sanctuaries. A home’s interior spaces can provide a respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life no matter what’s going on in the outside world.
Perhaps no space inside a home should be more relaxing than a bedroom. But bedrooms are not impervious to the hectic pace of life unless homeowners make a concerted effort to transform these spaces into relaxing respites. By implementing a variety of strategies, homeowners can ensure bedrooms embody the notion that homes are sanctuaries for their residents.
• Install new window treatments. Blinds, curtains, shades, and other window treatments come in a variety of styles and colors, ensuring there’s at least one out there that can match an existing design scheme in a bedroom. Window treatments can be utilized to create a cozy vibe in a bedroom, blocking out lights from outside, including natural
also street lamps and decorative lights from neighboring properties. This can ensure bedrooms are a peaceful and welcoming respite when homeowners and residents return home each night.
• Make the room a devicefree zone. If escapism is an end goal, then turning a bedroom
into a device-free zone is a must. Televisions, tablets and smartphones ensure the distractions and stressors of everyday life are never too far away, so removing these devices from bedrooms can help to establish a more peaceful bedroom environment. In addition, the National Sleep Foun-
dation reports that using devices in a bedroom tends to reduce sleep duration by delaying the time users go to sleep.
• Reconsider the lighting. Bedroom lighting is another variable that merits consideration when trying to transform the space into a more relaxing room.
Ambient lighting can be utilized to create a soft and welcoming atmosphere in the room. Dimmable lights also allow residents to adjust the amount of light depending on the time of day. Lights can be bright when getting dressed in the morning, and then turned down when residents are going to bed and want to unwind before closing their eyes.
• Clear out clutter. A cluttered bedroom is more than an eyesore. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners notes that clutter can contribute to anxiety and adversely affect individuals’ ability to sleep and focus. Examine bedrooms to see if there is any unnecessary or overly bulky furnishings that make the spaces feel cramped and cluttered. Remove those items when possible, or consider working with a contractor to expand the room if budget and space allows. Bedrooms can be respites within the larger sanctuary that homes are meant to be. That’s especially so when residents implement strategies to transform bedrooms into more relaxing spaces.
From Page 7
gold trumpet flowers. Before you choose, know that Chicklet Gold is a pollinator magnet. Butterflies, bees and hummingbirds love the large tubular blossoms. Rockin salvias, Vermillionaire cuphea and the new Prairie Princess Ironweed should be a marriage made in gardening heaven. Believe me, this is just a tiny sampling.
Choose a site with plenty of sun. Fertile well-drained
soil and your artistic imagination with combinations will make you the happiest of gardeners when you plant your Chicklet Gold Esperanza.
Norman Winter is a horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Toughas-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy. He receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.
NORMAN WINTER/TNS
ABOVE: Chicklet Red Esperanza will make its debut in 2026. It will be shorter, in the 3- to 4-foot range, with a spread of 2 to 3 feet.
RIGHT: Chicklet Gold Esperanza made its debut in 2025, creating excitement with gardeners and pollinators.
Solano County Listings: Homes for sale
$1,050,000
$1,175,000
$1,250,000
$1,300,000
$1,895,000
$2,250,000
$740,000
LOTS & LAND
MOBILE / FLOATING
