Home Seller: Friday, November 25, 2022

Q: I’m a longtime reader, first time writer. My wife died several years ago and I finally decided to sell my house and move closer to my kids. My Realtor found a buyer and we’ve been in escrow for about a month. We are now scheduled to close escrow in a few weeks. I just found out my son is being transferred to Travis by the end of summer. Now I want to stay here. My Realtor says I could get in trouble if I back out of the sale. I can’t believe I could be forced to sell the home I’ve owned for 30 years. Is there anything I can do?

A: As a longtime reader you’ve seen similar issues come up over the years, and the answer has always been the same. Frankly, there’s just no wiggle room in the standard pur chase contracts for a seller to back out of a sale.

Sure, there are lots of contin gencies for the buyers.

If they can’t get their loan, they can back out. If they have inspections and find problems the seller isn’t willing to fix, they can back out. Heck, they can back out for any reason at any time and only stand to lose the money they put down as a good

faith deposit.

But sellers are generally stuck from the moment they sign the contract.

If you refuse to sell the property, the buyers can bring a lawsuit to compel you to sell it. That’s an expense you want to avoid.

About the best you can do is to negotiate with the buyers and see if you can get them to vol untarily withdraw. Right now, it may be that interest rates have risen so high the buyers may be willing to back out, especially if you pay them some money for their trouble.

A combination of sym pathy and bribery can often work wonders.

Q: I read your column in the paper every week and I think it helps a lot of people. Now I’m hoping you can answer my ques tion. I live in a home in which my in-laws are the executive owners of the house. My ques-

tion is that I recently received a 60-day notice to quit and to vacate the property. And so I was wondering, do all of the executive owners’ signatures have to be on that notice to move? I was told by a friend that if the house/property’s name is in two or three siblings’ names that all of their signatures have to be on the notice to make it lawful. Is that true?

A: For starters, I’m not exactly sure what an “execu tive owner” is, but I’m guessing someone died and the property is either owned by a trust in which one or more of the siblings are trustees, or there was a will in which someone is the executor. Note that they’re called “per sonal representatives” nowadays to get away from the gender bias. Anyway, nope.

In fact, it doesn’t even need to be signed at all, though it generally is.

In either event, it doesn’t really matter. Anybody with an interest in the property can give you a notice to vacate. They’re often delivered by the property management company to whom you pay rent, and obviously they don’t own the property.

If you’re not out of the house

by the end of the 60 days, any one of the owners can file a lawsuit to evict you.

Called an “unlawful detainer,” that suit can have a sheriff’s deputy at your door in about four weeks unless you have some legal right that would allow you to stay.

So again, if you got a 60-day notice and you believe it was given to you by the authority of

anyone legally empowered to control occupancy of the house, you’d better start looking for other accommodations.

Tim Jones is a real estate attor ney in Fairfield. If you have any real estate questions you would like answered in this column, you may send an email to AllThingsRealEstate@ TJones-Law.com.

$659,000 FAIRFIELD Westside Gem! WOW 2,320 sqft living spaces 3 bed 3 bath in Round Hill nestled on a beautifully landscaped lot. A massive primary bedroom & Bath on the ground level with private backyard access. Lovely kitchen quartz countertops, custom

THE WASHINGTON POST

You’ve probably experi enced moments when the number on your thermostat simply doesn’t gel with how you’re feeling.

If it’s 74 degrees, why do you need the fuzziest socks and a Snuggie to avoid a chill? Or maybe you brace for battle with your mother-in-law whenever she comes over because she somehow always insists that your home feels like a sweat lodge.

As it turns out, it’s not nec

essarily that your thermostat is lying, or – sorry – that your MIL is wrong. It’s that the thermo stat tells only one small part of a rather complex story.

When most of us talk about feeling hot or cold, we think we’re referring to the temper ature. But the number on a thermometer is just one element of what the experts call “thermal comfort.” That term describes more holistically how satisfied an individual body feels within the climate of a given environ ment – and why. In addition to temperature, it takes into

thermostat lying? Think your is Science explains why

ity and air flow. There’s even research that suggests the colors of a room can affect how warm or cool it feels to various people.

In short, unlike a reading on a thermostat, thermal comfort is subjective, explains Shichao Liu, an assistant engineering pro fessor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute who studies the inter action between buildings and their occupants: “It’s the inter pretation and perception of our environment.”

So stop casting that accusa tory side eye at your thermostat,

and take a deeper look at the reasons we experience tempera ture differently.

Humidity and air flow

Think about the weather report. In addition to the tem perature, it also tells you the heat index or wind chill, which gives you a better idea of how the weather will actually feel when you step outside. On an August day in D.C., 90 degrees might feel more like 103, thanks to the humidity. On a blustery Decem ber day, 40 degrees could bite

like 32. These same dynamics also play out inside your home, just on a smaller scale.

Humidity measures the amount of water vapor in the air, which matters because sweat ing – your body’s best bet for cooling down – isn’t just about releasing perspiration, explains Matthew D. White, an associate professor of physiology at Simon Fraser University. For you to feel any relief, your sweat needs to be able to evaporate. If the air is already filled with water,

Real estate transactions

BENICIA

TOTAL SALES: 8

LOWEST AMOUNT: $500,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $1,200,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $835,000

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $848,000

461 Camellia Court - $820,000

10-18-22 [3 Bdrms - 1383 SqFt - 1987 YrBlt]

448 East E Street - $730,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1640 SqFt - 1999 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-03-07, $550,000

565 Lori Drive #58 - $500,000

10-21-22 [2 Bdrms - 873 SqFt - 1983 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-24-17, $314,500

418 Ofarrell Drive - $815,000 10-18-22 [3 Bdrms - 1365 SqFt - 1977 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-30-98, $185,000

389 Paul Court - $919,000

10-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1667 SqFt - 1992 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-18-14, $500,000

347 Warwick Drive - $850,000

10-18-22 [4 Bdrms - 2048 SqFt - 1979 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1989, $210,000

545 Watson Court - $1,200,000

10-21-22 [5 Bdrms - 2763 SqFt - 1998 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 09-09-98, $343,900

389 Wool Court - $950,000

10-17-22 [4 Bdrms - 2758 SqFt - 2004 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-12-04, $734,200

DIXON

TOTAL SALES: 4

LOWEST AMOUNT: $430,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $638,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $525,500

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $529,750

290 East B Street - $450,000

10-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 2659 SqFt - 1929 YrBlt]

1495 Ferrero Drive - $601,000

10-18-22 [4 Bdrms - 1819 SqFt - 1994 YrBlt]

250 Lynd Way - $638,000

10-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 2378 SqFt - 1993 YrBlt]

995 Woodvale Drive - $430,000 10-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1186 SqFt - 1974 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-22-19, $375,000

FAIRFIELD

TOTAL SALES: 29

LOWEST AMOUNT: $120,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $1,100,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $615,000

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $617,207

2761 Ambrosia Way - $718,000

10-18-22 [4 Bdrms - 2253 SqFt - 2021 YrBlt]

2765 Ambrosia Way - $715,000

10-20-22 [4 Bdrms - 2055 SqFt - 2021 YrBlt]

2745 Ambrosia Way - $776,000

10-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 2385 SqFt - 2021 YrBlt]

852 Antiquity Drive - $1,030,000

10-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 2564 SqFt - 2005

YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-09-12, $415,000

2218 Atherton Court - $575,000 10-18-22 [3 Bdrms - 1696 SqFt - 1971 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 08-27-19, $435,000

539 Citrine Circle - $637,000

10-17-22 [3 Bdrms - 1805 SqFt - 2008 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 09-04-20, $520,000

3116 Clydesdale Way - $635,000

10-19-22 [4 Bdrms - 2253 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 00/1989, $184,500

212 Dahlia Street - $425,000 10-19-22 [3 Bdrms - 1739 SqFt - 1964 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 06-23-06, $399,500

5200 Gordon Valley Road - $1,100,000 10-17-22 [4 Bdrms - 1920 SqFt - 2005 YrBlt]

1036 Harding Street - $615,000 10-17-22 [6 Bdrms - 2888 SqFt - 1953 YrBlt]

1158 Hartford Place - $120,000 10-17-22 [2 Bdrms - 1591 SqFt - 1979 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 09-14-11, $120,000

4249 Hazeltine Way - $725,000 10-21-22 [5 Bdrms - 2823 SqFt - 2003 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-07-03, $390,753

1301 Lincoln Street - $425,000 10-18-22 [3 Bdrms - 1034 SqFt - 1951 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-17-01, $164,000

1305 Maryland Street - $450,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1172 SqFt - 1952 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 11-04-15, $259,000

961 Oakbrook Drive - $590,000 10-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1419 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 08-25-15, $296,500

3796 Poppy Hills Court - $775,000 10-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 2800 SqFt - 2003 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-21-08, $470,000

526 Princeton Way - $375,000 10-20-22 [4 Bdrms - 1525 SqFt - 1972 YrBlt]

3126 Redwood Drive - $650,000 10-21-22 [5 Bdrms - 2603 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt]

2844 Retreat Way - $610,000 10-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1817 SqFt - 2020 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 03-06-20, $524,500

4930 Ridgecrest Court - $625,000 10-19-22 [3 Bdrms - 1305 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 06-26-20, $470,000

4913 Ridgefield Circle - $860,000 10-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 2755 SqFt - 2006 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 06-30-20, $645,000

1747 River Oaks Circle - $809,000 10-19-22 [5 Bdrms - 3408 SqFt - 2000 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-22-20, $715,000

4255 Rockville Heights - $979,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 2463 SqFt - 1984 YrBlt]

1919 San Benito Street - $325,000 10-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1287 SqFt - 1961 YrBlt]

2438 Sheldon Drive - $585,000 10-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1695 SqFt - 2005 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 07-21-14, $331,000

4825 Silver Creek Road - $559,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1308 SqFt - 1984 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 03-19-08, $290,000

4823 Silver Lake Court - $451,000 10-17-22 [2 Bdrms - 1141 SqFt - 1982 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 06-27-11, $139,500

2716 Soho Lane - $580,000 10-18-22 [3 Bdrms - 1890 SqFt - 2007 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 01-08-08, $399,000

84 Villa Circle - $180,000 10-21-22 [2 Bdrms - 968 SqFt - 1971 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 00/1992, $62,000

RIO VISTA

TOTAL SALES: 4

LOWEST AMOUNT: $429,000 HIGHEST AMOUNT: $535,000 MEDIAN AMOUNT: $517,000 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $499,500 668 Pinehurst Drive - $429,000 10-21-22 [2 Bdrms - 1845 SqFt - 2001 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-02-01, $250,545 762 Rubier Way - $535,000 10-17-22 [4 Bdrms - 1617 SqFt - 1999 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-14-19, $380,000 521 Twin Pines Drive - $505,000 10-18-22 [2 Bdrms - 1898 SqFt - 2004 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-30-04, $328,060 537 Western Hills Drive - $529,000 10-19-22 [2 Bdrms - 1912 SqFt - 2004 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-28-19, $425,000

SUISUN CITY

TOTAL SALES: 9

LOWEST AMOUNT: $340,000 HIGHEST AMOUNT: $565,000 MEDIAN AMOUNT: $497,500 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $494,056 944 Anderson Drive - $530,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1353 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1989, $147,500 1035 Greylag Drive - $535,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1320 SqFt - 1984 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-13-16, $340,000 1005 Humphrey Drive - $565,000 10-18-22 [4 Bdrms - 1563 SqFt - 1977 YrBlt] 608 Kinglet Street - $495,000 10-17-22 [2 Bdrms - 1130 SqFt - 1983 YrBlt] 51 Montego Court - $469,000 10-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1342 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt] 1002 Murre Way - $485,000 10-21-22 [2 Bdrms - 1050 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-08-09, $115,000 509 Paula Drive - $497,500 10-19-22 [3 Bdrms - 1448 SqFt - 1979 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-20-19, $370,000 1604 Pensacola Lane - $530,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 2840 SqFt - 2003 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-29-13, $287,000 1208 Ricky Court - $340,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1505 SqFt - 1975 YrBlt]

VACAVILLE

TOTAL SALES: 23

LOWEST AMOUNT: $310,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $935,000 MEDIAN AMOUNT: $615,000 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $602,130 700 Arbor Oaks Drive - $530,000 10-18-22 [3 Bdrms - 1525 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt] 688 Arcadia Drive - $310,000 10-21-22 [2 Bdrms - 954 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-15-04, $267,000 237 Arlington Way - $530,000 10-19-22 [4 Bdrms - 1544 SqFt - 1975 YrBlt] 112 Arroyo Court - $575,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1657 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-12-00, $149,000

267 Boulderidge Court - $670,000 10-18-22 [4 Bdrms - 1725 SqFt - 1994 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-01-22, $700,000

These are the local homes sold recently, provided by California Resource of Lodi. The company can be reached at 209.365.6663 or CalResource@aol.com.

121 Bryce Way - $450,000 10-21-22 [2 Bdrms - 1484 SqFt - 1981 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-15-16, $299,000

1049 Cinnabar Way - $560,000 10-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 1689 SqFt - 1994 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-15-13, $290,000

570 Coventry Court - $600,000 10-19-22 [5 Bdrms - 2052 SqFt - 1972 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-06-19, $230,000

712 Fox Hollow Way - $649,000 10-17-22 [4 Bdrms - 2511 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-16-07, $609,000

712 Greenhaven Drive - $625,000 10-17-22 [4 Bdrms - 1898 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-03-20, $547,000

449 Harvest Circle - $690,000 10-17-22 [5 Bdrms - 2457 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt]

261 Harvest Drive - $615,000 10-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 2097 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt]

178 Kodiak Drive - $635,000 10-17-22 [3 Bdrms - 1999 SqFt - 2016 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-13-16, $458,000

119 Kodiak Drive - $608,000 10-17-22 [3 Bdrms - 2020 SqFt - 2017 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 09-22-20, $535,000

308 Limerick Way - $655,000 10-17-22 [3 Bdrms - 1988 SqFt - 1987 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 05-28-13, $393,000

148 Monte Verde Drive - $642,000 10-21-22 [5 Bdrms - 2196 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 07-13-22, $545,000

172 Oak Brook Court - $650,000 10-18-22 [3 Bdrms - 1777 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt]

4400 Peaceful Glen Road - $935,000 10-21-22 [2 Bdrms - 1360 SqFt - 1936 YrBlt]

121 Quail Court - $665,000 10-19-22 [4 Bdrms - 2356 SqFt - 1980 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-09-12, $234,000

955 Rio Grande Drive - $790,000 10-17-22 [4 Bdrms - 3018 SqFt - 2001 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-26-02, $391,490

445 Springvalley Drive - $440,000 10-19-22 [3 Bdrms - 1247 SqFt - 1971 YrBlt]

350 Torrey Pines Court - $540,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1769 SqFt - 2000 YrBlt]

330 North West Street - $485,000 10-18-22 [3 Bdrms - 1294 SqFt - 1961 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-23-20, $397,500

VALLEJO

TOTAL SALES: 29

LOWEST AMOUNT: $200,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $675,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $510,000 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $507,138

6094 Ashwell Way - $675,000 10-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 2264 SqFt - 2005 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-17-04, $491,275

1182 Benicia Road - $200,000 10-17-22 [2 Bdrms - 810 SqFt - 1938 YrBlt]

572 Buckskin Place - $510,000 10-17-22 [2 Bdrms - 1225 SqFt - 1985 YrBlt]

828 Capitol Street - $600,000 10-17-22 [2 Bdrms - 1212 SqFt - 1912 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1991, $170,000

100 Cardinal Lane - $540,000 10-17-22 [4 Bdrms - 1716 SqFt - 1961 YrBlt]

21 Chesley Court - $470,000 10-17-22 [3 Bdrms - 1015 SqFt - 1951 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-03-16, $299,000

113 Coventry Way - $615,000 10-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1545 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-12-18, $440,000

243 Coventry Way - $630,000 10-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 1790 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-31-12, $250,000

518 Daniels Avenue - $460,000 10-19-22 [4 Bdrms - 1702 SqFt - 2003 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-07-16, $240,000

644 Everett Place - $449,000 10-18-22 [3 Bdrms - 1372 SqFt - 1918 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-21-10, $145,000

104 Foster Street - $450,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 817 SqFt - 1942 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-24-00, $150,000

4222 Georgia Street - $525,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1108 SqFt - 1954 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-06-08, $181,000

1004 Hargus Avenue - $575,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1563 SqFt - 1938 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-21-22, $440,000

37 Hawthorne Place - $529,000 10-19-22 [3 Bdrms - 1291 SqFt - 1937 YrBlt] 2904 Irwin Street - $430,000 10-20-22 [2 Bdrms - 1124 SqFt - 1942 YrBlt] 534 La Jolla Street - $500,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 966 SqFt - 1953 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-25-22, $325,000

173 Ladera Drive - $520,000 10-18-22 [3 Bdrms - 1216 SqFt - 1953 YrBlt]

1203 Lassen Street - $515,000 10-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1674 SqFt - 1954 YrBlt]

167 Mar Monte Court - $600,000 10-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 1621 SqFt - 1955 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-06-00, $247,200

166 Nantucket Lane - $485,000 10-19-22 [2 Bdrms - 1337 SqFt - 1985 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-09-06, $315,000

355 Parkview Terrace #F2 - $305,000 10-19-22 [2 Bdrms - 918 SqFt - 1973 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-26-18, $196,000

202 Redwing Street - $565,000 10-19-22 [4 Bdrms - 1285 SqFt - 1962 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-02-22, $430,000

136 Renida Street - $475,000 10-19-22 [4 Bdrms - 1895 SqFt - 1954 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-21-21, $460,000

1004 Rollingwood Drive - $450,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1132 SqFt - 1954 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-24-16, $310,000

742 Rosewood Avenue - $510,000 10-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 1091 SqFt - 1951 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-06-18, $380,100

1426 Ryder Street - $425,000 10-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1480 SqFt - 1926 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-28-11, $83,500

101 Serpentine Drive - $510,000 10-20-22 [3 Bdrms - 960 SqFt - 1984 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-08-14, $245,000

261 Shady Lane - $595,000 10-17-22 [4 Bdrms - 1816 SqFt - 1981 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 02-14-12, $200,000

173 Toni Court - $594,000 10-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 1752 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt]

SOLANO REAL ESTATE SCENE

It’s not easy being a rookie Realtor

Television shows like “House Hunters,” “Fixer Upper” and “Million Dollar Listing” make becoming a real estate agent look fun, glamorous and easy. Back in the old days, Century 21 agents wore flashy gold sport coats and everyone was trained to dress for success.

Top producers usually drive expensive cars and even the average full-time agents must have a presentable car, or at least pre-Covid they did, because buyer’s agents drive people around all weekend to show homes and an agent doesn’t want to park out in front of a potential

listing and have the seller see a rundown 1979 Ford Pinto.

Many people outside of the real estate business have a per ception that most real estate agents make a lot of money and have a relatively easy job. Holy cow, this is the farthest thing from reality.

See Porter, Page 7

www.836Landon.com

Outstanding curb appeal w/ a warm & welcoming front porch on a charming court location in desirable & rarely available Glenbrook Hills of North Vacaville. R anch-style home o ering the ver y best- close to schools, Alamo Creek Park & proximity to Downtown. From the moment you walk into the formal entr y you’re greeted w/ natural light & notice the quality in cra smanship including real hardwood ooring. Step into the cozy formal living room w/ wood-burning replace & a formal dining area. rough elegant french doors you’ll nd your way into a more casual 2nd living room w/ access to the backyard. Open concept kitchen w/ abundant counter & cabinet space + raised bar seating for casual dining or entertaining. A generously sized dedicated laundry room w/ access to the 2-car garage, making it an ideal space makeshi mudroom. 3 spacious bedrooms including primar y bedroom w/ walk-in closet, huge L-shaped vanity & private access to backyard. Low maintenance landscape surrounded by mature trees, an entertainer’s paradise & perfect for year-round family fun. An inviting heated spa over owing into the inground pool + covered patio making indoor/outdoor living a breeze.

Offered at $749,000

Jim Porter

First, there are costs involved in becoming a licensed agent for the required education and paying the Department of Real Estate for the license. Once the person passes the DRE test, the newcomer chooses a broker to work for and pays all the dues required to become a Realtor, which is what happens when an agent becomes a member of the local, California and National Association of Realtors.

A Realtor is a licensed real estate agent who belongs to the National Association of Real tors, the largest trade group in the country.

The Realtor apprenticeship is like becoming a pilot for any of the airlines or a journeymen carpenter. A brand-new pilot makes $36,000 per year for the first two years and then jumps to $150,000 per year if they survive the two years. A journeyman master craftsman carpenter may take three to five years of labor, hard work and studying under a mentor before they make $100,000 per year.

It usually takes two to three years of working 50 hours per week, attending every sales training seminar or webinar pos sible, studying under a proven top producing mentor or mul tiple mentors and training from the broker owner before a Realtor can make $100,000 net profit per year.

Almost all Realtors are independent contractors and must pay for all their own expenses. New Realtors must constantly be marketing, making sales calls, following up on leads effec tively that they are given by their broker or that they buy

from entities like Zillow, and be willing to accept rejection while building a database of clients and potential clients.

There are 3,000 licensed real estate agents in Solano County and only 500 homes sold per month. Fortunately, for an ambi tious, hard-working, full-time Realtor apprentice, 2,000 of the licensed agents are part-time, possibly lazy, semi-retired, many are not NAR members, and some are just old veteran Realtors sat isfied selling two or three homes per year because they have lots of income-producing assets or their spouse works and makes enough

monthly to support the household.

Yes, selling homes can be fun and super rewarding helping people achieve the Amer ican Dream, but it is by no means easy.

Jim Porter, NMLS No. 276412, is the branch manager 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.

Iremember the day we were filming “Southern Garden ing” as part of my duties with Mississippi State University. Friend and garden designer Lori Hitchcock pre sented an urn for the front porch of the his torical home in Kosciusko, Mississippi. It was all decked out for the hol idays with red cyclamen, holly fern and a Wojo’s Jem Vinca, which was a new plant to me. Each plant succeeded with its purpose, and although I had a deep love for cyclamen, the orig inal Christmas plant, it was the Vinca with the funny name that was capturing my interest.

Whether you are thinking about designing mixed contain ers for the holidays, the winter season ahead or simply looking to add pizzazz to your warm season designer-style AquaPots, you need to remember the name Wojo’s Jem. This is an excep tional variegated gold, cream and green Vinca that gives an incredible performance as a spiller plant.

Wojo’s Jem is a variety of Vinca maculata, or greater periwinkle, which we have pre viously used as a ground cover. Now, thanks to Wojo’s Jem, we look at Vinca vine as a thriller spiller plant for large mixed con tainers (it’s a spiller so beautiful it’s a thriller!).

In the holiday urn designed by Lori Hitchcock, she planted the red cyclamen, which by the sheer nature of its red color evoked excitement and passion. Red’s opposite color is green, and we often assume the leaves are enough to get the job done.

But in this case, holly fern, which is cold-hardy to zone 6, was the perfect choice. After all, we think of hollies at Christmas, and the fern’s name says it all. But the long strands of Wojo’s Jem Vinca

hanging down was the perfect finishing touch.

In a hanging basket, no matter the season, do much the same.

New-home sales unexpectedly rise, driven by demand in South

BLOOMBERG

Sales of new U.S. homes unexpectedly rose in October, largely driven by an increase in the South and likely represent ing a pause in an otherwise weak housing market.

Purchases of new single-fam ily homes increased 7.5% to an annualized 632,000 pace last month after falling in Septem ber, government data showed Wednesday. The median esti mate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a 570,000 rate.

Sales in the South rebounded after a sharp retreat a month earlier when Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida and parts

of Georgia and South Carolina. The October pace in the South was still slower than in August.

Even with the surprising pickup in sales, buyer demand has rapidly evaporated this year amid the Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hikes to tame inflation. Mortgage rates, which topped 7% by the end of October, have more than doubled this year. That’s put a brake on sales and construction while also helping to push down home prices.

Looking ahead, though, a recent drop in mortgage rates may help to stabilize housing demand. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has dropped nearly a half percentage point

in the past two weeks, the most since 2008 according to Mort gage Bankers Association data released Wednesday.

In addition to the 16% sales pickup in the South, demand in the Northeast also increased. Purchases in the Midwest and West fell.

The report, produced by the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, showed the median sales price of a new home rose 15.4% from a year earlier, to $493,000.

There were 470,000 new homes for sale as of the end of last month, though the over whelming majority remain under construction or not yet started.

The number of for-sale dwellings under construction, however, was the smallest in six months. At the current sales pace, it would take 8.9 months to exhaust the supply of new homes.

Earlier this month, Michael Murray, co-chief operating officer at D.R. Horton Inc., one of the largest U.S. homebuilders, said the company closed fewer homes than expected in the latest quarter due to slower sales, more cancellations and continued con struction delays.

New single-family home con struction declined in October to the slowest pace since May 2020, according to government data last week. Permits also declined, and homebuilder sentiment has

declined every month this year.

The number of homes sold in October and awaiting the start of construction – – a measure of backlogs – – increased to the highest level since January.

New-home purchases account for about 10% of the market and are calculated when contracts are signed. They are consid ered a timelier barometer than purchases of previously-owned homes, which are calculated when contracts close.

The new-homes data are vol atile; the report showed 90% confidence that the change in sales ranged from a 13.3% decline to a 28.3% increase.

From Page 3

there’s nowhere for your sweat to go. While some fancy thermo stats measure humidity, many don’t, meaning yours probably is not filling you in on a key factor in your perception of the indoor environment.

While we don’t typically think of indoor air flow as a breeze –as we would if it was occurring outside – it affects our thermal comfort in much the same way that wind does.

Inside, of course, the airflow comes from fans or HVAC systems. The ways in which those circulate the air affect how you experience the tem perature. “We want the air to go up when we want it to be warm in the house and it’s winter” because it makes the temper ature across a building more uniform, says Jennifer Lather, an assistant professor of engineer ing at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. This is because an upward flow keeps the air in a room circulating, and prevents the hottest air from simply rising to the ceiling and remaining

there. On the other hand, when it’s hot it’ll probably feel better if air is pushing downward, so you can feel the relief of a breeze. (Both Lather and Liu are part of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers, which generates research and standards for how the built environment can promote well-being.)

How your home is built

If your windows or doors aren’t well-insulated, cold air will seep into your home on frigid days and meet with the warmer air inside. This collision, explains Lather, “creates air movement,” leading to a changing climate in your home, just as the meeting of large masses of hot and cold air in the great outdoors causes extreme weather patterns. In your house, the clash creates a draft that can make you feel colder, even though your thermo stat won’t necessarily reflect all this drama. (Windows also come into play on hot days, because they’re where the sun’s radiation enters your home, making you feel warmer.)

The materials used to build your home can also influ

ence how warm or cold you feel because different materi als hold heat differently. Wood, for instance, heats up faster than cement but retains heat for less time. Whether your thermostat can keep up with those changes depends on how fast the tem perature fluctuates throughout the day, and how much sunlight hits your home.

The impact of colors

It might sound a little out there, but it’s true: An evolving area of research in the world of thermal comfort shows that the color of a room or object may influence how we experience its temperature.

The concept, called the “hueheat hypothesis,” asserts that cool colors, such as blue, can cause people to perceive cooler temperatures, and warmer tones like yellow or red can lead to a warmer perception. There is evidence to back this up, includ ing a study that found different colored lights had an impact on how hot or cold airline passen gers felt, and a 2016 study that found people held a hot object longer if it was blue and a cold object longer if it was red.

Whether a room is done up in a cool or warm color isn’t the only consideration. Another element rife for exploration is the relative light or darkness of the hue, says Lather. In a darker room, for instance, “you have this sense of coziness because you feel like you’re in a smaller space.”

Some of us really do just ‘run’ hot or cold

You’ve probably heard people say they “run hot” or “run cold” – often leading to spats over the correct temperature to set the thermostat. “There are dif ferent perceptions of the same conditions,” says White, the physiologist, which is why some people start sweating or shiver-

ing before others.

One major factor in how you “run” is whether you’re used to hot or cold. If you’re accustomed to a freezing climate, you’ll be less tolerant of heat and likely to feel it more intensely than someone who grew up in Miami (and vice versa), though this can change over time.

Physiological components such as your metabolism (how much heat your organs gener ate) and your body’s fat content, which can affect the transfer of heat from inside your body to your skin, also come into play. And, of course, how much you’re moving and what you’re wearing will also affect your perception of thermal comfort – so don’t under estimate the value of keeping a throw blanket or two around.

Solano County Listings: Homes for sale

$599,900 14 La Cruz Ave Benicia 3 1/0 1124 0.13 322096895

$840,000 116 Mountview Ter Benicia 4 3/0 2,288 0.11 322031987

$459,000 1320 Blackberry Ct Dixon 3 2 /0 1487 0.073 322062507

$565,000 1410 Cornell Dr Dixon 3 3/0 1,917 0.07 322085404

$655,000 1950 Dailey Ct Dixon 4 2 /0 2021 0.248 322084370

$785,000 515 West Cherry St Dixon 4 3/0 2755 0.124 322083817

$4,500,000 6156 Clark Rd Dixon 4 4 /0 5906 78.98 322047718

$434,950 56 Del Prado Cir Fairfield 3 2 /1 1234 0.038 322081681

$450,000 749 Wren Court Fairfield 3 2 /0 1,952 0.2 322098917

$465,000 1655 Hemlock St Fairfield 3 2 /0 1,274 0.16 322082879

$470,900 231 E Utah St Fairfield 3 2 /0 1517 0.12 322083815

$489,585 2001 Bluebird Way Fairfield 4 2 /0 1,285 0.17 322096754

$499,000 2373 Cabrillo Dr Fairfield 4 2 /0 1704 0.13 322086472

$499,500 204 Camelia Street Fairfield 3 2 /0 1,403 0.17 322078544

$544,950 4 831 Silver Creek Rd Fairfield 3 2 /0 1082 0.185 322077342

$565,000 1661 Homewood Ct Fairfield 3 2 /0 1127 0.175 322099977

$575,000 2737 Almondwood Wy Fairfield 4 2 /1 1512 0.08 322080695

$602,000 962 Julie Ct Fairfield 4 2 /0 1804 0.19 322097450

$650,000 2018 Windsor Pl Fairfield 3 2 /1 1862 0.26 322078194

$659,000 2907 Owens Ct Fairfield 3 3/0 2320 0.18 322084406

$695,000 4 480 Rolling Meadows Ln Fairfield 4 2 /1 2210 0.169 322086454

$775,000 454 Oakwood Circle Fairfield 4 3/0 2,144 0.23 322100491

$799,000 505 East Meadows Lane Fairfield 5 3/0 2,549 0.14 322092262

$824,999 3032 Muse Wy Fairfield 4 3/0 2841 0.135 322078149

$908,000 5181 Palace Ct Fairfield 5 3/0 3007 0.168 322082111

$1,099,900 3404 Black Mountain Ct Fairfield 5 3/1 4003 0.215 322100196

$1,149,000 1098 Skywest Ct Fairfield 3 2 /1 2709 24455sf 322098903

$1,247,500 4 427 Glencannon Dr Fairfield 3 3/0 2,409 2.5 322092157

$1,499,000 5270 Oakridge Dr Fairfield 4 3/0 4,034 0.3 322069250

$1,495,000 1106 Skywest Ct Fairfield 5 3/0 3414 0.804 322068078

$2,599,888 5324 Boulder Ridge Ct Fairfield 5 6/0 5,325 0.91 322099213

$420,000 101 Cedar Ridge Dr Rio Vista 2 2 /0 1671 0.129 322064595

$500,000 420 Canvasback Dr Suisun City 4 2 /0 1440 0.13 322096457

$509,000 411 Avalon Wy Suisun City 3 2 /0 2152 0.23 322067943

$519,900 211 Leafwood Ct Suisun City 3 2 /0 1,427 0.08 322095282

$534,000 719 Capistrano Dr Suisun City 4 2 /0 1620 0.170 322095047

$550,000 906 Anderson Dr Suisun City 3 2 /1 1759 0.116 322096978

$608,899 1709 Carswell Ln Suisun City 4 3/0 2,061 0.08 322095129

$630,000 330 Engell Ct Suisun City 3 2 /1 2206 0.160 322070250

$639,997 429 Dobbins Ct Suisun City 5 3/0 2,338 0.14 322079187

$949,997 406 Kings Way Suisun City 4 4 /0 3,228 0.89 322095606

$325,000 648 Arcadia Drive Vacaville 2 1/0 954 0.02 322097587

$379,999 120 Mckinley Circle Vacaville 2 1/0 918 0.13 322098446

$399,000 116 Mckinley Cir Vacaville 2 2 /0 1,043 0.13 322086513

$434,000 101 Isle Royale Cir Vacaville 2 2 /0 1152 0.15 322080839

$434,000 135 Maple St Vacaville 3 1/0 1040 0.11 322093532

$444,000 105 Rainier Cir Vacaville 2 2 /0 1152 0.13 322078018

$460,000 125 Christine Dr Vacaville 3 2 /0 1,062 0.11 322080818

$519,000 424 Mandarin Cir Vacaville 2 2 /0 1323 0.116 322066345

$525,000 4 84 Manchester Wy Vacaville 3 2 /0 1602 0.13 322083162

$539,000 686 Mashall Rd Vacaville 3 2 /0 1402 0.18 322059279

$545,000 600 Fox Pointe Rd Vacaville 3 2 /0 1320 0.160 322089563

$567,500 801 S Orchard Ave Vacaville 3 2 /0 1230 0.12 322073187

$569,000 304 Kendrick Ln Vacaville 3 2 /0 1276 0.138 322100653

$569,500 201 Sungate Court Vacaville 3 2 /0 1596 0.17 322099010

$574,999 296 Plantation Way Vacaville 4 2 /1 1840 0.13 322062209

$575,000 107 Colony Way Vacaville 4 3/0 1,887 0.07 322068608

$589,999 332 Plantation Court Vacaville 5 2 /1 2043 0.16 322094970

$590,000 512 Florence Dr Vacaville 4 2 /0 1785 0.21 322090024

$595,000 148 Shefield Dr Vacaville 4 2 /1 1799 0.14 322089957

$597,777 231 Kildare Ln Vacaville 3 2 /1 1988 0.209 322091198

$610,000 667 Laurelwood Cir Vacaville 3 2 /0 1,750 0.14 322080908

$629,999 107 Diablo Creek Way Vacaville 3 2 /0 1728 0.15 322092111

$648,000 636 Silver Star Ct Vacaville 4 2 /0 1661 0.134 322071775

$675,000 263 Bantry Dr Vacaville 4 2 /1 2143 0.184 322086137

$675,000 643 Dahlia Dr Vacaville 3 3/0 1,728 0.08 322095268

$690,000 764 Shannon Dr Vacaville 3 2 /1 2262 0.147 322099214

$710,000 754 Arabian Cir Vacaville 3 2 /0 2,066 0.26 322067856

$719,000 307 Epic St Vacaville 5 3/0 2,219 0.11 322094278

$725,000 173 Encinosa Ave Vacaville 4 3/0 1944 0.18 322098170

$750,000 201 Wrentham Dr Vacaville 5 3/0 2286 0.22 322099300

$759,000 901 Cedarcrest Dr Vacaville 5 3/0 3014 0.207 322061115

$775,000 8024 Claret Court Vacaville 4 3/1 2941 0.16 322074811

$874,999 857 Atchison Drive Vacaville 4 4 /0 4,087 0.21 322098624

$899,000 1000 Brighton Ct Vacaville 5 3/0 3,431 0.21 322090634

$899,500 155 Foothill Dr Vacaville 3 3/0 1,919 0.60 322068886 $989,000 7885 N Locke Rd Vacaville 3 2 /0 1,493 3.95 322095123

$1,100,000 896 Granada Ln. Vacaville 4 3/1 3395 16860 32203670 $1,475,000 4117 Cricket Trail Rd Vacaville 5 2 /0 2,328 5.35 322097504

$460,000 2940 Georgia St Vallejo 3 2 /0 876 0.13 322087029

$525,000 1728 Napa St Vallejo 3 2 /0 1530 0.106 322037217 $575,000 184 Smokey Hills Dr Vallejo 3 2 /0 1532 10890sf 322084742

$595,000 40 Sandy Beach Vallejo 2 1/0 1,124 0.19 322093840 $630,000 701 Keats Dr Vallejo 4 2 /0 10500 10018sf 322091636 $1,029,000 2643 Marshfield Road Vallejo 4 3/0 3,179 0.27 322100261

$875,000 8 457 Plesants Valley Rd Winters 2 1/0 22.16 321006700 $1,500,000 9211 Boyce Road Winters 3 1/1 1500 31 322099831

LOTS & LAND

PRICE A DDRESS CITY LOT/AC SUB TYPE MLS#

$550,000 Liberty Ln Vacaville 25.01 AGRI 322061524 $850,000 Gaddini Road Vacaville 14.89 AGRI 322085720 $4,500,000 6156 Clark Rd Dixon 78.98 AGRI 322049465 $500,000 360 Butcher Rd Vacaville 1.10 COMM 321098151 $1,250,000 8 362 Auction Ln Dixon 2.16 COMM 322014651 $1,870,000 2300-11 E Monte Vista Ave Vacaville 3.66 COMM 321102156

$225,000 2060 Pinecrest Ct Vacaville 1.15 RESA 322048328 $359,950 Gibson Canyon Vacaville 1.55 RESA 22029146 $384,500 3757 Wild Oak Trl Vacaville 4.96 RESA 322061715 $399,000 English Hills Rd Vacaville 6.09 RESA 322096839 $499,500 3745 Wild Oak Trl Vacaville 5 RESA 322061705 $875,000 8 457 Plesants Valley Rd Winters 22.16 RESA 321000406 $15,000,000 Mankas Fairfield RESA 21825708

MOBILE/FLOATING

COMMERCIAL

Senior living at its BEST in beautiful Diamond Grove. 2bd/2ba+den, 1323sf. Gas fireplace between LR & dining area. Eat in kitchen. Large covered patio runs width of home. Easy care garden w/fruit trees & roses. Community pool. $519,000

Winter

From Page 8

If using sphagnum moss-lined baskets, you actually will plant in the bottom of the basket, letting the foliage hang down. Hang the basket high enough to create a great vertical element, with the Vinca growing downward 3 feet or more.

As spring rolls around, lucky is the gardener who has window boxes. You could not ask for a better cascading plant. Wojo’s Jem, African iris as a thriller with its spiky foliage, and Rock apulco double impatiens is a combination made in gardening heaven. Let your imagination run wild with your mixed con tainers. Angelface angelonia, Artist Ageratums, Diamond Frost Euphorbia and Flambe

Yellow Chrysocephalum are just a few plant choices waiting for your touch, but the Wojo’s Jem Vinca will be there at the finish.

In these containers, use a light, airy mix that drains well but does have a good moistureand nutrient-holding capacity. Heavy potting soil is not a good buy. Necessary daily water ing during the summer months means more frequent feeding will also be needed.

Wojo’s Jem Vinca makes great ground cover plantings, too. Filtered light seems to give the best performance, though morning sun and afternoon shade are also quite acceptable. Space them 8 to 12 inches apart. This is a great choice under trees where roots have grown above the soil surface. They are cold-hardy through zone 7, with many gardeners touting them as returning in zone 6 as well.

I have raved about the boldly variegated foliage, but also note that they will occasion ally produce almost iridescent blue-violet flowers. This simply adds a wonderful complemen tary color combination with the gold and cream in the varie gated leaves.

It’s time to design your holiday containers, so plan a visit to your garden center. Remember to pick up some Wojo’s Jem Vinca for the artis tic touch to your designer containers no matter the season.

Norman Winter is a horticultur ist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWin terTheGardenGuy. He receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.

This lovely, inviting home is located in the desirable Cooper School district. With over 4,000 sq ft, it of fers an amazing variety of rooms. Large primary suite with retreat, junior suite, two more bedrooms. Two or three offices. Generous loft. Formal entrance with soaring ceiling and soothing water fall. Dining room, butlers pantr y, family room with fireplace, large breakfast area, laundry room. Three car garage. Front porch, pool, patio. $874,999

(707) 864-8221

Open House Sunday 1-3PM

424 Mandarin Circle, Vacaville

New Price! 857 Atchison Drive, Vacaville

Carolyn

NORMAN WINTER/TNS PHOTOS

LEFT: This holiday container designed by Lori Hitchcock features red cyclamen, holly fern and Wojo’s Jem vinca. RIGHT: A patio with planters filled with your favorite flowers, foliage and Wojo’s Jem vinca carries creates an idyllic place for the morning cup of coffee.

Grand Opening - Open Hous e Event

Beautiful single story home that has 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms and has approximately 2144 square feet of living space. It’s a rare opportunity that this floor plan comes available to purchase with a finished 3 car garage. This home has vaulted ceilings throughout. There’s a formal dining room. The front room could easily be converted into a 5th bedroom if desired. The kitchen has tile countertops, dual sinks, newer stainless steel dishwasher, built-in oven and microwave, 4 burner cooktop and pantry. The kitchen overlooks the family room with a brick wood burning fireplace. The fireplace has never been used. There’s over $20K in the front and back landscaping, hardscaping, lighting, sprinkler and automatic drip system. The exterior was recently painted with high end Dunn Edwards paint. This special type of paint helps to deflect the weather elements and is known to last for many years to come. Offered at $775,000.

Fully hosted by “Loney & Worley Team” Refreshments will be served.