Home Seller: Friday, December 30, 2022

Landlord

Q: My husband and I own a rental house in Vacaville that has always been managed by a property management company.

Last fall, due to that “storm of the century” we had for about 48 hours, we had unusual flooding problems in the Vacaville area. Our personal property suffered some mild flooding problems which destroyed the carpeting in two bedrooms and had to be replaced at our expense. No damage occurred to our tenants’ property, thanks to a large extent on an automatic sump-pump in the back yard area that could be plugged into an outside outlet when necessary.

Last month a potential flood warning was posted when a storm was coming so we called the management company to request they notify the tenant about the impending rainstorm and have them connect the sump-pump so it would operate if it became necessary. The only person on duty (on Sundays) was an agent who was unfa-

miliar with the proper action to take. We then tried to phone the tenants on three occasions during the day, only to receive an answering machine. Finally, in desperation, we entered the back yard through an unlocked gate. With the aid of a neighbor, we were able to plug in the cord on the pump and make sure it was operational. We then left a note on the front door, advising them of the situation. Late that same evening, the tenant responded to our phone messages and stated, “everything is OK and under control”.

The following day we received a call from the management company informing us that the tenants vigorously complained that we had entered their yard without permission and forbade us from doing it

again unless we had “made a previous appointment” with them. We tried to explain to them that we considered this an emergency and had no other choice but to enter their back yard and take preventive measures to protect our property as well as theirs. Do they have a legal case against us since it was an emergency? We do not know how to handle this should it occur again.

A: If all you did was connect the sump pump then you’re fine, legally anyway. You were within your rights to enter the property, under these specific conditions to protect your property and your entry was kept to a minimum to complete the task.

The law is very protective of a tenant’s right to privacy. In days gone by, landlords used to enter rental properties at will, often under the guise of making repairs or safety inspections. Eventually, the laws began to favor the idea that a tenant is not only renting a place to sleep but is in possession of the prop-

Mortgage rates rise for first time in 7 weeks

BLOOMBERG

Mortgage rates in the U.S. rose for the first time since mid-November.

The average for a 30-year, fixed loan was 6.42%, the highest since early this month and up from 6.27% last week, Freddie Mac said in a statement Thursday.

Borrowing costs tracked 10-year Treasury yields, which climbed after a report showed that a consumer-price gauge the Federal Reserve watches closely continued to cool. Inflation is still higher than the central bank

erty in the same way they would be if they were an owner. The law says they have the right to “peaceful enjoyment” of the property.

In other words, once a tenant takes possession of your property they can treat it as if it was theirs. If they breach the rental agreement, you can get the court to throw them out, but as long as they are abiding by the provisions of the lease the landlord has to leave them alone, for the most part.

However, the law still recognizes your right to protect your property and allows you to enter a property, without notice, in an emergency situation. It would ultimately be your responsibility, in court, to prove it was an emergency. The standard is one of reasonableness.

If you acted reasonably, your entry is lawful. So, what’s reasonable? That’s certainly something two lawyers can, and often do, argue about.

In this case, it sounds like entering the back yard was the

only way to prevent the potential flooding, since you tried everything else.

But the future may be a different issue.

Since you know the property is prone to flooding, your temporary sump-pump installation may be insufficient to give you access whenever it rains.

At some point in time you are responsible for permanently fixing the problem so you don’t continue to have an excuse to intrude on your tenants.

Clearly you aren’t intending to abuse your position as a landlord, but the law will always be suspicious and you want to avoid having to defend your actions, if possible.

My advice is to pursue a permanent fix to the problem so this issue doesn’t come up again.

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

THE DAILY REPUBLIC DELIVERS. CALL 707-427-6989.

Tim Jones

NAR applauds HUD for flood insurance decision

The president of the National Association of Realtors applauded HUD in November for now allowing homeowners with FHA mortgages to obtain private flood insurance, which can be much cheaper than the National Flood Insurance Program. HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.

This recent decision on flood insurance is a step in the right direction, but gee whiz, they are still making things terrible for home buyers that cannot qualify for a conventional mortgage and

need an FHA loan. FHA mortgage insurance, in some cases, is triple the cost of private mortgage insurance for buyers with 3.5% to 5% down.

The FHA mortgage insurance fund’s capital reserve ratio is more than five times the statutory minimum reserve ratio and is well positioned to withstand

Asking $630K Offering $10K Credit

Mr. Clean lives here! Desirable Cordelia is known for their parks, schools and easy commute access to Hwy I-680, Hwy I2 and/or Hwy I-80. With over 1900SF, 2-stories, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, front living room, roomy-modern kitchen with tile floors has granite slab counters, gas free-standing stove, SS refrigerator, dishwasher, eat-in dining area, pantry closet and built-in desk. Family room for entertaining or recreation. First floor has attractive laminate flooring. Spacious carpeted bedrooms and laundry room are upstairs. Walk-in closet with ensuite in master bedroom. Long driveway to 2-car auto attached garage and low maintenance landscaping yards front and back. Bonus: Refrigerator, microwave, washer and dryer stay. We welcome all financing or cash.

Jim Porter

Solano County Listings: Homes for sale

$835,000 116 Mountview Ter Benicia 4 3/0 2,288 0.11 322031987

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

$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

$350,000 225 Pennsylvania Ave #A2 Fairfield 3 2 /0 1084 0.026 322065570

$460,000 1655 Hemlock St Fairfield 3 2 /0 1,274 0.16 322082879

$480,000 363 Santa Susana Ct Fairfield 3 2 /0 960 0.13 322103874

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

$549,950 2849 Bay Tree Dr Fairfield 3 3/0 1,476 0.10 322104649

$555,000 2737 Almondwood Wy Fairfield 4 2 /1 1512 0.08 322080695

$560,000 8 32 Tulare Circle Fairfield 4 2 /1 1934 6006 322080552

$675,000 223 Madison Street Fairfield 4 1/0 1020 0.17 322105113

$689,000 1973 Tamayo Way Fairfield 4 3/0 2,346 0.06 322085972

$699,000 4 874 Birkdale Cir Fairfield 4 3/0 2716 0.217 322104166

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

$875,000 2818 Watson Ct Fairfield 5 3/0 3000 0.198 322104028

$895,000 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

$1,495,000 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

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

$539,900 914 Javan Wy Suisun City 4 20/ 1532 0.14 322105241

$389,000 146 Isle Royale Cir Vacaville 2 2 /0 1212 0.13 322103633

$429,000 101 Isle Royale Cir Vacaville 2 2 /0 1152 0.15 322080839

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

$509,000 424 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

$565,000 107 Colony Way Vacaville 4 3/0 1,887 0.07 322068608

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

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

$589,900 1116 Amber Ridge Ln Vacaville 3 2 /1 1990 0.100 32209946

$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

$599,982 748 Bluebird Dr Vacaville 3 2 /0 1478 0.125 322103320

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

$640,000 643 Dahlia Dr Vacaville 3 3/0 1,728 0.08 322095268

$665,000 1061 Red Mulberry Ct Vacaville 3 2 /0 1898 0.127 322105014

$675,000 324 Crow Canyon Ct Vacaville 4 3/0 2003 0.191 322100614

$675,000 764 Shannon Dr Vacaville 3 2 /1 2262 0.147 322099214

$685,000 312 Bridgeport Ct Vacaville 4 3/0 2148 0.126 322104241

$699,000 307 Epic St Vacaville 5 3/0 2,219 0.11 322094278

$700,000 245 Wykoff Dr Vacaville 2 2 /1 1566 0.433 322103932

$720,000 2037 Daybreak Ct Vacaville 4 2 /0 2,321 0.23 322102726

$735,000 8024 Claret Court Vacaville 4 3/1 2941 0.16 322074811

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

$807,500 878 Daffodil Dr Vacaville 4 3/1 2762 0.138 322102280

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

$1,100,000 896 Granada Ln. Vacaville 4 3.5 3395 16860 322100642 $460,000 2940 Georgia St Vallejo 3 2 /0 876 0.13 322087029

$499,000 305 Campbell Ave Vallejo 4 2 /0 1686 0.115 322103190 $499,995 450 Carousel Dr Vallejo 3 2 /0 1310 0.137 322104455

$565,000 1541 Severus Dr Vallejo 4 2 /0 1,428 0.12 322103845

$610,000 701 Keats Dr Vallejo 4 2 /0 10500 10018sf 322091636 $629,000 3931 Central Ln Winters 3 2 /0 1782 5.52 322102413

$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 31.00 322099831

LOTS & LAND

PRICE A DDRESS CITY LOT/AC SUB TYPE MLS#

$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 $1,600,000 2300-11 E Monte Vista Ave Vacaville 3.66 COMM 321102156 $40,000 1172 Deputy Dr Pope Valley 0.48 RESA 322104578 $225,000 2060 Pinecrest Ct Vacaville 1.15 RESA 322048328 $359,950 Gibson Canyon Vacaville 1.55 RESA 22029146 $399,000 English Hills Rd Vacaville 6.09 RESA 322096839 $399,000 3872 Ciarlo Ln Vacaville 8.96 RESA 322102308 $549,000 County Rd Crockett 1.06 RESA 322104890 $699,000 3874 Ciarlo Ln Vacaville 19 RESA 322102228 $875,000 8 457 Plesants Valley Rd Winters 22.16 RESA 321000406 $15,000,000 Mankas Fairfield RESA 21825708

MOBILE/FLOATING

PRICE ADDRESS CITY BEDS BA(F/H) SQ. FT. MLS # $35,000 9 Dali Ct Fairfield 0 0 800 322100984 $170,000 161 Lemon Tree Cir Vacaville 3/2 1440 322093675

MULTI UNIT 2-4

PRICE ADDRESS CITY UNITS BLDGS SQ. FT. MLS $735,900 549-551 Pacific Avenue Fairfield 2 1 2479 321043438

COMMERCIAL

PRICE ADDRESS CITY T YPE MLS # $350,000 424 Davis St Vacaville Mixed 322095434 $625,000 120 E Tabor Ave Fairfield Retail 322088826

an FHA loan.

From Page 3

an economic slowdown. FHA is hurting the people targeted in their mission statement.

As far as I am concerned, HUD is ripping off the middle-class buyers that need

As an FHA lender, we must charge an upfront nonrefundable mortgage insurance premium of 1.75% of the loan amount and then charge .85% annually for the life of the loan when the buyer has a 3.5% down payment regardless of FICO score. Every private mortgage insurance in the country has moved to riskbased PMI pricing based on

FICO score.

HUD needs to modernize its risk management program and update the mortgage insurance program and stop referring to the Great Recession as a reason for overcharging their target audience.

A 700 FICO score buyer that can qualify for a conventional loan with 3% down can get private mortgage insurance at a

cost of .84% annually with a zero up front premium and, unlike FHA, can get rid of the .84% PMI cost in three to eight years. This scenario is with a smaller down payment and dramatically less in mortgage insurance cost. Call your local representative in Congress or the Senate and get this price gouging corrected ASAP and get them back to the mission.

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.

ON GARDENING Waikiki Sunset will have you looking on the bright side

Last week The Garden Guy attempted to take your mind off the impending doom from the arctic blast with a little “Mele Kalikimaka” from Hawaii. I know I failed – if you are a gardener, you are suffering. I too was leaning toward a mood of dark hysteria brought on by five days of 11-17 degrees Fahrenheit.

Then a lifeline came in the mail: I received the new Spring 2023 Preview catalog from Proven Winners. There on page 14 were the new 2023 Proven Accent Plants, one of which, Waikiki Sunset, took me back to Hawaii.

Although I currently have a landscape of burnt toast, color is sure to come again. If you have not grown Waikiki Sunset, just know it is a mood changer, a spirit uplifter from the plant world. Waikiki Sunset will have you looking at The Bright Side (more on that later). But before I tell you why, let’s get down to the botany and taxonomy of this treasure.

Waikiki Sunset is known botanically as Lysimachia congestiflora with the recognized common name of dense-flowered loosestrife, moneywort and occasionally golden globes. None of the common names do the plant justice. Waikiki Sunset, on the other hand, fits perfectly.

As you may have gathered, it is related to the Goldilocks creeping Jenny, which is Lysimachia

This recipe is called The Bright Side and features Waikiki Sunset lysimachia with Superbells Tropical Punch and Superbells Red calibrachoas.

nummularia. Goldilocks is hardy to zone 3, while Waikiki Sunset is hardy to zone 7 (though I hear some touting zone 6).

Goldilocks travels in the garden and can cascade 24-plus inches over the rim of a container or basket. Waikiki Sunset won’t spread nearly as much and is taller, able to reach around 10 inches. But Waikiki Sunset offers green and gold variegated leaves and gorgeous golden globe flowers sporting rusty red centers or throats that persist off and on most of the summer.

I have grown them in between flagstone patio rocks with blue scaevola and was delighted. Son James has used them with blue

NORMAN WINTER/TNS PHOTOS

Waikiki Sunset features beautiful golden globe flowers with rusty red throats. The foliage is exceptionally colorful and variegated standing out in mixed containers.

Norman Winter

Solano real estate transactions

BENICIA

TOTAL SALES: 5

LOWEST AMOUNT: $585,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $1,100,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $725,000

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $763,000

149 Chelsea Hills Drive - $630,000 11-23-22 [4 Bdrms - 1650 SqFt - 1972 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 09-16-98, $218,000

1144 Dominic Court - $1,100,000 11-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 2449 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt]

108 Gill Way - $585,000 11-23-22 [3 Bdrms - 1365 SqFt - 1972 YrBlt]

811 Goettel Court - $775,000 11-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1709 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 07-08-16, $599,000

434 Viewmont Street - $725,000 11-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1508 SqFt - 1958 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 06-26-98, $175,000

DIXON

TOTAL SALES: 2

LOWEST AMOUNT: $465,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $540,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $502,500

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $502,500

433 West H Street - $465,000

11-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1033 SqFt - 1953 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 09-09-08, $185,000

1015 North Lincoln Street - $540,000 11-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1734 SqFt - 1979 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 04-07-03, $298,000

FAIRFIELD

TOTAL SALES: 15

LOWEST AMOUNT: $140,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $780,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $510,000

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $521,867

3111 Americano Court - $140,000

11-22-22 [4 Bdrms - 2253 SqFt - 1986 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 07-07-17, $495,000

2836 Candleberry Way - $550,000

11-23-22 [3 Bdrms - 1666 SqFt - 1987 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 04-29-11, $165,000

2173 Cedarbrook Drive - $550,000

11-23-22 [4 Bdrms - 1512 SqFt - 1980 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 12-07-18, $410,000

508 Cove Court - $699,000

Mortgage

From Page 2

would like, and wage growth is stubbornly robust, meaning the Fed’s policy of interest-rate hikes is likely to continue into the new year.

For would-be homebuyers, mortgage costs are more than

11-22-22 [4 Bdrms - 2248 SqFt - 2004 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 12-09-16, $469,000

2523 Freitas Way - $585,000

11-23-22 [3 Bdrms - 1665 SqFt - 2002 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 05-06-13, $240,000

1666 Glenmore Drive - $460,000

11-23-22 [3 Bdrms - 1692 SqFt - 2005 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 04-06-12, $103,000

2925 Hearst Court - $569,000

11-23-22 [4 Bdrms - 1738 SqFt - 1979 YrBlt]

1372 Horizon Circle - $780,000

11-23-22 [4 Bdrms - 2253 SqFt - 2021 YrBlt]

312 East Kentucky Street - $445,000

11-23-22 [3 Bdrms - 1180 SqFt - 1952 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 07-03-12, $67,000

20 Manchester Lane - $445,000

11-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1432 SqFt - 1992 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 10-08-10, $120,000

2277 Nottingham Drive - $425,000

11-23-22 [4 Bdrms - 1463 SqFt - 1971 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 08-09-22, $450,000

3031 Roadrunner Drive - $460,000

11-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1717 SqFt - 2005 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 07-15-15, $302,000

342 San Jose Street - $475,000

11-23-22 [3 Bdrms - 960 SqFt - 1961 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 12-07-16, $294,000

200 Santa Cruz Drive - $510,000

11-23-22 [3 Bdrms - 1280 SqFt - 1964 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 05-27-22, $350,000

730 Stallion Circle - $735,000

11-23-22 [4 Bdrms - 2253 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 01-10-18, $505,000

RIO VISTA

TOTAL SALES: 5

LOWEST AMOUNT: $395,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $535,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $510,000

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $478,800

342 Brockton Place - $395,000

11-21-22 [2 Bdrms - 1172 SqFt - 2004 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 11-25-13, $209,000

114 Gardiner Way - $525,000

11-23-22 [3 Bdrms - 1907 SqFt - 1948 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 05-02-22, $350,000

413 Laurel Place - $535,000

11-21-22 [2 Bdrms - 2031 SqFt - 2004 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 02-07-19, $390,000

1973 Lavender Place - $510,000

double what they were a year ago and “remain a significant barrier to successfully closing transactions,” said George Ratiu, head of economic research at Realtor. com. Purchases have been declining for months, and in November, contract signings slid to their second-lowest pace in records going back to 2001. With demand slumping, sellers are reluctant to list properties.

11-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1508 SqFt - 2019 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 05-14-19, $366,000

121 Springhill Drive - $429,000 11-23-22 [2 Bdrms - 1439 SqFt - 2005 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 08-06-08, $260,000

SUISUN CITY

TOTAL SALES: 3

LOWEST AMOUNT: $120,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $574,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $500,000

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $398,000

1201 Bittern Way - $574,000 11-23-22 [4 Bdrms - 1609 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-27-17, $405,000 1125 School Street - $120,000 11-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 960 SqFt - 1976 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-20-12, $75,000

601 Whipporwill Way - $500,000 11-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1480 SqFt - 1977 YrBlt]

VACAVILLE

TOTAL SALES: 9

LOWEST AMOUNT: $485,000 HIGHEST AMOUNT: $650,000 MEDIAN AMOUNT: $555,000 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $565,778 462 Buckeye Street - $525,000 11-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1168 SqFt - 1956 YrBlt] 832 Derry Circle - $650,000 11-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1708 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 00/1990, $174,000 385 Franklin Court - $552,000 11-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1602 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-11-20, $445,000 106 Longview Drive - $485,000 11-21-22 [3 Bdrms - 1284 SqFt - 1973 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-02-16, $339,000 275 Mandarin Circle - $569,000 11-21-22 [2 Bdrms - 1597 SqFt - 1999 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 03-18-08, $405,000

380 Regency Circle - $555,000 11-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1900 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 00/1990, $186,500

561 Rolling Oak Court - $610,000 11-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1859 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 11-08-19, $480,000

809 Saddle Horn Trail - $545,000 11-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1305 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 08-06-19, $445,000

While home prices have slipped from the peak reached in June, they’re still rising from year-earlier levels – a double whammy for shoppers still in the hunt for something affordable. At current mortgage rates, the buyer of a median-priced home would pay about $2,100 a month without taxes or insurance, roughly 60% more than last year, according to Ratiu.

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.

933 Turquoise Street - $601,000 11-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 2291 SqFt - 1996 YrBlt]

VALLEJO

TOTAL SALES: 5

LOWEST AMOUNT: $432,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $564,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $540,000

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $505,200

23 Hilton Court - $540,000 11-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1200 SqFt - 1956 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-23-21, $345,000

120 Kemper Street - $432,000 11-21-22 [4 Bdrms - 1080 SqFt - 1958 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 06-05-14, $62,000

187 Outrigger Drive - $540,000 11-23-22 [3 Bdrms - 1531 SqFt - 1993 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 12-04-19, $430,000

127 Rome Drive - $564,000

11-21-22 [5 Bdrms - 2077 SqFt - 1963 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 09-02-22, $375,000

755 Rosewood Avenue - $450,000

11-22-22 [3 Bdrms - 1020 SqFt - 1951 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 03-22-16, $275,000

Winter

From Page 5

lobelias in containers, which were dazzling. The blue partners as complementary colors and are a natural choice. But I want you to look at The Bright Side, which I mentioned earlier. This is a Proven Winners recipe that is as colorful as Carnival in Rio.

The Bright Side recipe is so simple it makes me think we all must be guilty of trying too hard when it comes to container

partnerships. The Bright Side features Waikiki Sunset lysimachia, Superbells Red and Superbells Tropical Punch calibrachoas. You will notice the clusters of golden globe flowers certainly stand out, but the golden chartreuse and green variegated leaves add a special pizzazz.

Many in the industry talk of this plant’s ability to stand out in a monoculture planting. Proven Winners added on to this idea by combining Waikiki Sunset with the new Graceful Grasses Queen Tut. This gives you monoculture on the bottom, then elegant

tufts of green towering over the planting. Trust me, this is dropdead gorgeous.

If you are trying in the landscape, amend tight heavy soil with 3 to 4 inches of organic matter, and work it shovel-deep, 6 to 8 inches. As you probably have gathered by now, I am a proponent of incorporating a little preplant slow-release fertilizer. It is considered a sun to part-shade plant. I have a highfiltered shifting sun, which also seems perfect.

When planting the Waikiki Sunset lysimachia or any other perennial, take care of not plant-

ing too deep. Plant where the top of the root-ball is even with the surface of the soil. The Waikiki Sunset is spreading, so space 10 to 12 inches apart.

Water to get the plants established, but then sparingly. A light application of a slowreleased, balanced fertilizer a month after transplanting should be sufficient for vigorous growth. Commercial landscapers growing in mixed containers tend to use a preplant controlledrelease granular fertilizer, followed up by dilute liquid feeding the rest of the summer. It won’t be long, and this

record cold spell will be thankfully forgotten. Use this down time to make your list of plants and start thinking of combos or recipes like The Bright Side that you may want to try.

Norman Winter is a horticulturist, 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 @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy. He receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.