Family Features
If you’re looking for a cost-e ective way to dress up a room in your home, crown moulding can be a simple way to add elegance and class with minimal investment.
Crown moulding is most commonly applied as a decorative trim where the walls meet the ceiling. It is o en painted the same color as the baseboards, door frames and other woodwork, but can be colored to match the ceiling or a di erent shade to create extra drama.
Though the corner angles may be especially daunting for do-it-yourself types, installing crown moulding is a project you can tackle without the assistance of a professional. However, it is a good idea to ask for help along the way, as all the measuring, marking and holding up pieces for nailing can be a bit much for one person.
This step-by-step guide can show you how to create a striking design element in your home:
1. Measure the perimeter of your room, remembering to take into account any insets or bump-outs that add additional inches. Be sure to pad your total when purchasing materials to allow for a mistake (or two).
2. Prime and paint the moulding, front and back, and allow it to dry completely.
3. Mark the studs near the ceiling on all walls so you can securely attach the moulding.
4. Measure from the ceiling down the depth of the moulding and mark this point. Using a level, establish a baseline for the length of each wall.
5. Use a miter saw or coping saw to trim angles for corner pieces. Remember the moulding as it lays on the saw table is the inverse of its t to the wall, so you may want to make a few practice cuts to be sure you’re trimming angles properly.
A good rule of thumb: For outside corners, the top edge is longer; for inside corners, the longer edge is on the bottom.
■ See CROWN MOULDING , page 4
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
Crown moulding adds elegance to a room.
America’s housing a ordability gap persists, report notes
National Association of Realtors
News release
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. households earning $75,000 a year can only a ord 21.2% of home listings as of March 2025 — up slightly from 20.8% a year prior and representing the biggest gain of any income group — demonstrating that the nation’s housing a ordability gap persists, according to the National Association of Realtors and Realtor.com 2025 Housing A ordability & Supply report.
The report analyzes the shortage of a ordable homes across di erent income levels in the current U.S. housing market. It provides a real-time, incomespeci c snapshot of housing a ordability, examining what homebuyers at various income levels can a ord based on standard lending criteria.
For-sale housing inventory increased nearly 20% nationwide in March 2025 from one year earlier, and while this gain marks progress, it remains far from prepandemic conditions.
“The housing market is at a turning point,” said Nadia Evangelou, NAR senior economist and director of real estate research. “More homes are hitting the market, and it’s encouraging to see the greatest housing-supply gains among middle-income homebuyers.”
While households earning $75,000 a year experienced a slight improvement in accessibility to home listings between March 2025 (21.2%) and March 2024 (20.8%), the largest gain of any income group, they have less than half of the access to a ordable homes than they had before the pandemic, when nearly 49% of listings were accessible. In a balanced housing market — where listings are aligned with what households at various income levels can a ord — these homebuyers would need access to 48.1% of listings. To reach that threshold, the market needs nearly 416,000 more listings priced at or below $255,000.
Households that earn $100,000 annually are in a similar situation. They can currently a ord 37.1% of home listings, up slightly from 36.9% in March
2024. That is far below the 64.7% they could a ord in 2019 and well below the 60.7% target for market balance. This group faces a shortage of nearly 364,000 home listings priced under $340,000.
A household earning $50,000 annually can only a ord 8.7% of home listings today, down from 9.4% one year ago. These low-income households represent one-in-three households, and in a balanced housing market, they should be able to a ord to buy one in three listings. For balance, about 367,000 listings at a maximum price of $170,000 are vital. Meanwhile, higher-income households have near-total access to the housing market. Homebuyers earning $250,000 or more can a ord at least 80% of home listings.
“Shoppers see more homes for sale today than one year ago, and encouragingly, many of these homes have been added at moderate income price points,” said Danielle Hale, Realtor. com chief economist. “But as this report shows, we still don’t have an abundance of homes that are a ordable to low- and moderate-income households, and the progress that we’ve seen is not happening everywhere. It’s been concentrated in the Midwest and the South.”
As of March 2025, 30% of the 100 largest metropolitan areas are classi ed as “Areas Getting Closer to Balance,” where the availability of a ordable homes improved signi cantly over the past year and is relatively strong across income levels. Substantial progress has been made in markets that were previously considered una ordable, with the a ordable home listings improving by more than 5% within the past year. These areas now have housing a ordability gaps that are less than 10 percentage points below a balanced housing market.
Akron, Ohio; St. Louis, Mo.; Youngstown, Ohio; and Pittsburgh, Pa. exhibit housing conditions that closely align with healthy supply benchmarks. While they are not yet fully balanced, Raleigh, N.C.; Des Moines, Iowa; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Columbia, S.C.;
11-2PM
OPEN HOUSE DIRECTORY
Saturday, June 7, 2025
5603
SIERRA SPRINGS DRIVE, POLLOCK PINES
$369,000
Discover the perfect blend of nature and convenience with this 1,244 sq. ft. home nestled on a spacious 0.29-acre lot in the heart of Pollock Pines. Surrounded by towering pines and breathtaking mountain scenery, this home offers the ultimate escape for outdoor enthusiasts.Located near, shopping, restaurants, and renowned wineries, you’ll also enjoy easy access to endless recreation, including hiking, snow skiing, kayaking, paddle boarding, boating and equestrian trails, near by Sly Park Lake. The community itself provides fantastic amenities such as tennis courts, two swimming pools, a clubhouse, and scenic picnic and BBQ areas, perfect for entertaining or relaxing in a peaceful setting. Whether you’re looking for a full-time residence or a weekend getaway, this home is your gateway to the beauty of the Sierra Nevada. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to own a slice of paradise!
RE/MAX GOLD • TOM WARD (530) 417-1922
11-2PM
6700
DIAMOND DRIVE, POLLOCK PINES
$525,000
Opportunity awaits with this exceptional property offering limitless possibilities! Whether you are seeking a multi-generational home, an income-generating Airbnb, or the perfect setup to owner-occupy one side while renting the other, this property has you covered. Alternatively, rent out both sides and maximize your investment potential. Featuring separate entrances for each side, this property ensures privacy and convenience for all occupants. The sale includes an option for furniture and kitchenware, allowing for a turnkey solution tailored to your needs. Located at the choice corner of Sly Park and Diamond, this level 1.54-acre lot boasts unbeatable accessibility. The home is designed to impress with its large, picturesque windows, ooding the space with natural light and offering serene forest views. Cozy up by the gas replace and enjoy the beauty of snow falling outside. Your perfect retreat awaits. Don’t miss out on this versatile property in an unbeatable location. Schedule your visit today to explore all the possibilities!
RE/MAX GOLD • TOM WARD (530) 417-1922
11-2PM
654 DAVID CIRCLE, PLACERVILLE
$389,000
Tucked into a wonderful neighborhood, this charming 2-bedroom, 1.5-bath townhome is ready for its next chapter. Thoughtfully designed with easy living in mind, this home offers a comfortable layout and low-maintenance lifestyle perfect for rst-time buyers, downsizers, or anyone looking for a sweet spot close to town. You’ll love being minutes from Placerville’s local shops, restaurants, and outdoor recreation. It’s a fantastic opportunity to own a cozy, move-in-ready home in a prime location!
C21 • HELEN RIVARD (530) 409-2687 • ASHLEY CAMPBELL (530) 391-4058
Sunday, June 8, 2025
12-3PM 1281 PLEASANT VALLEY RD #20, DIAMOND SPRINGS $160,000
• 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• Spacious doublewide mobile home
• New heating & air systems (2017)
• Upgraded composition shingle roof (2016)
• Easy access ramp to front door
• Updated vinyl ooring and new carpet
• Fresh interior paint throughout
• New ceiling fan and light xtures
• Friendly, active 55+ community with events and social activities
C21 • HELEN RIVARD (530) 409-2687 • ASHLEY CAMPBELL (530) 391-4058
12-3PM 1281 PLEASANT
Located in desirable Diamond Manor Senior Park this home sits on a large fenced parcel surrounded by beautiful trees and lovely gardens creating a parklike setting. There is a covered front porch and large back patio to enjoy outdoor entertaining and listening to nature.
and Columbus, Ohio made substantial progress increasing the availability of a ordable homes.
“For many rst-time homebuyers, navigating the current housing market still feels like window shopping,” added Evangelou. “Listing prices don’t match rst-time homebuyers’ budgets. If the promising trend of building smaller homes continues, that could be a meaningful step toward easing the housing a ordability gap for more buyers.”
A sizable slice (44%) of the 100-largest metropolitan areas is classi ed as “Areas Stuck in the Middle,” where housing supply and
demand are misaligned but not at crisis levels. Some markets made small-but-meaningful gains in one year — adding a modest number of a ordable listings — but gains have not been substantial enough to shi the market.
Seattle, Wash., and Washington, D.C. experienced moderate increases in the share of homes considered a ordable over the past year, with an average rise of 4 percentage points. While that marks progress, both cities still face some of the largest a ordability gaps in the country, requiring households to earn more than $150,000 a year
just to a ord half the homes on the market. In contrast, Austin, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Denver, Colo., made substantial progress, boosting the share of a ordable listings by an average of 20 percentage points. Notably, San Francisco has also seen very signi cant improvement, with the supply of a ordable listings surpassing prepandemic levels.
“Even in high-cost areas like San Francisco, we’re witnessing real progress,” explained Evangelou.
“While the housing market remains far from balanced, current forsale home listings better align with homebuyers’
incomes compared to pre-COVID-19 levels – a clear reminder that improvement is possible.”
Twenty-six percent of the 100-largest metro areas are classi ed as “Areas Falling Further Behind,” where the gap from a balanced housing market continues to widen, worsening housing a ordability.
In these metropolitan areas, the availability of a ordable listings has either declined over the past year or remains more than 20 percentage points below what is considered a balanced housing market, highlighting a troubling trend in housing accessibility.
Despite being home to millions and some of the strongest local economies, Los Angeles; Oxnard; San Diego; New York, N.Y.; and Spokane, Wash. are among the furthest from housing-supply balance. Even with improvement since last year, these
areas continue to face the most severe shortages of a ordable home listings. From a state perspective, Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and West Virginia lead the nation in o ering balanced housing market conditions. In most of these states, a household earning $75,000 — close to the national median — can a ord more than 45% of the for-sale home listings. Although they are improving with additional inventory and moving in the right direction, Montana, Idaho, California, Massachusetts and Hawaii still need a plentiful supply of a ordable home listings. Delaware, Utah, Colorado, Florida and Arizona showed the most improvement with signi cant year-overyear gains in housing a ordability. Only the District of Columbia improved a ordability compared to prepandemic levels.
6. Attach moulding using a nail gun, making sure to hit as many studs as possible for secure attachment.
7. On the sections that t in corners, nail the center of the moulding rst, leaving the corner end loose. Use a wood shim or screwdriver behind the bottom edge of the moulding to make adjustments and eliminate gaps before securing the corners.
8. Where you join two pieces for a long stretch of wall, be sure the seam falls over a stud, so you can nail both ends rmly in place. For the most polished look, t the ends of these pieces together with complementary 45-degree angles.
9. If your nails aren’t fully sunk, use a nail set to press them deeper. Use wood putty to cover nail holes.
10. Caulk all seams using a thin stream and use a nger dipped in water to smooth away excess.
11. Touch up paint, especially over putty spots and seams.
Find more tips for upgrading your home at eLivingtoday.com.
Charming Mountain Retreat in Pollock Pines!
Discover the perfect blend of nature and convenience with this 1,244 sq. ft. home nestled on a spacious 0.29-acre lot in the heart of Pollock Pines. Surrounded by towering pines and breathtaking mountain scenery, this home offers the ultimate escape for outdoor enthusiasts. Located near, shopping, restaurants, and renowned wineries, you’ll also enjoy easy access to endless recreation, including hiking, snow skiing, kayaking, paddle boarding, boating and equestrian trails, near by Sly Park Lake. The community itself provides fantastic amenities such as tennis courts, two swimming pools, a clubhouse, and scenic picnic and BBQ areas, perfect for entertaining or relaxing in a peaceful setting. Whether you’re looking for a full-time residence or a weekend getaway, this home is your gateway to the beauty of the Sierra Nevada. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to own a slice of paradise!
MLS#: 225032363
Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Finance Lenders law - #6073455. CA Department of Business Oversight - 866-275-2677. California - Bureau of Real Estate Branch Of ce License Endorsement #00988341 1-2025
Placerville ~ $1,169,000
Huge kitchen! Eight burner gas range, double oven, a built-in oversized refrigerator, two dishwashers, a very large butcher block island, a wet bar with a wine frig and a pantry to die for. Vaulted ceilings, and a six foot propane fireplace. The master Bedroom opens to the valley view and deck. The master bath w/free-standing slipper style soaking tub and a enormous shower. The double doors to the master closet reveals a large closet .Tile roof w/ solar.
Lovely Cape Cod Style Home
Placerville ~ Offered at $549,900
On a friendly cul de sac that’s just minutes from downtown Placerville.
This 3 bdrm, 2 1/2 bath home features a loft, soaring vaulted ceiling as well as a sunroom. Measuring almost 2500 sq ft, you can live entirely on the ground level where the kitchen, formal dining room, living room, 1 1/2 baths and master bdrm are located. Upstairs there’s another full bath, loft and 2 large bedrooms. The roof is newer, and the Trex style deck is ready for entertaining a large group.
Pollock Pines ~ $489,900
Built in 2004 on a little less than 1 acre w/end of road privacy! Open downstairs floor-plan with 2 bd/1ba, kitchen, laundry room, & living room. Upstairs master bedroom suite features a loft, walk-in closet, bathLive Where Others
Diamond Manor Park
