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Old 12-27-2007, 07:28 PM
 
Location: Chicago suburb
702 posts, read 2,441,819 times
Reputation: 253

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Hi Everyone,
My husband and I are making a move to the Sacramento area from a northern suburb of Chicago in 2008. We just can't take the winters anymore. We have relatives in Roseville and in the Bay area. We have visited the communities I listed and love the topography. We really love EDH. The only issue is we don't live out there and would like to hear from people who do. We can afford up to $675 and really want a new, solar home. We hope this will be enough to get what we want.

I also want to be close to a stable where I can continue riding and board a horse in the future. My husband is a long distance biker and runner and wants to train for and compete in the Western Open. We have no children so schools are only an issue for resale.

We looked at Blackstone and Serrano and liked Blackstone better. Serrano just seemed too restrictive. If I am wrong about this community please let me know because it is lovely. Also, if we can get some elbow room, that would be great too.

If anyone has a solar home, please let me know what you think. Also, of the new home builders using solar, who do you like and why? Lennar, Centex, Tim Lewis, Christopherson? Are there others we may not know about?

If anyone has any other communities to suggest that have similar amenities, we would consider those as well. We really wouldn't like a community with a more rustic feel - for example, Auburn felt too rustic for us.

Also, what is winter really like in these areas? Are there many gray days? Lots of rain? What about bugs and snakes? Centex has an internal exterminator system built into their homes - are bugs really a problem out there?

Thanks for your help! Hope you're having a wonderful holiday season!
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Old 12-28-2007, 12:09 AM
 
325 posts, read 1,422,204 times
Reputation: 104
I'm a former Chicagoan, so I have lots to say about this, but only a short amount of time right now. Hopefully later I'll be able to say more.

Serrano is restrictive. Winter is winter, so you do have a distinct season, but it's nothing compared to Midwest winters. A few mornings this year down here in Folsom my birdbath has frozen. You get to wear winter clothes and coats, and even gloves sometimes! It can oftentimes be gray and wet, but instead of looking forward to a sunny 20-degree day, it's 55. I was freezing today with a low of 29 and high of 46.

Bugs, not a lot, but lots of spiders. Careful of the exterminator systems and exterminators, they throw off the natural balance and you'll find yourself with an excess of one bug at the expense of another.

Snakes. Lots, especially in newer areas where the snakes haven't yet moved from. New construction will drive them out, often to the closest homes. However, you will find rattlesnakes just about everywhere. You'll see signs to warn of them at parks. My husband sees them often on the American River Parkway as he's marathon training. I tell my kids not to run through brush around ponds and park perimeters.
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Old 12-28-2007, 10:34 AM
 
Location: Chicago suburb
702 posts, read 2,441,819 times
Reputation: 253
CW68 thanks for your reply. This is a big move for us. We are hoping to have enough house to offer a room to my parents so they can retire without a mortgage and Chicago winters. I hope you will have the opportunity to elaborate on your post since you seem to have a lot of information that will be helpful to us.

The snake thing scares me a little. We have a dog and I would hate for her or us to have a run in with one. My husband will have to be careful on his runs and I guess I will have to be careful on my rides. I don't think I have ever encountered a snake on a trail ride. As for spiders, I am Ok with those as long as they are not poisonious or really huge.

As for the winters, as long as we can re-home our snowblower I am sure we can deal. We will probably be wearing shorts LOL. I guess that's how Californians know the tourists and transplants!

I am looking forward to getting some candid, first hand information from you and other posters.

Thanks again for your post!
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Old 12-28-2007, 03:08 PM
 
Location: Mokelumne Hill, CA & El Pescadero, BCS MX.
6,958 posts, read 21,430,108 times
Reputation: 6456
Rancho Murrieta has an outstanding equestrian facility but it may be more oriented towards show jumping and all that other part of equine stuff that I know nothing about.

It's fairly rare for any dog to get bitten by a snake, but it happens. Rattlesnakes tend to avoid confrontation with things larger than they are and only bite when they are stepped on or cornered. Fear not! Snakes generally hang out where there is a supply of tasty rodents, my 4 cats keep the rodent population down and I've only seen one snake (a baby) in the 7 years I've lived in my home. I get out quite a bit showing raw land and I just take a golf club with me to give them something to aim at when I'm walking through tall grass.
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Old 12-28-2007, 03:54 PM
 
Location: Chicago suburb
702 posts, read 2,441,819 times
Reputation: 253
Hi DMenscha - Thanks for the information. I am more of a western rider, but I will check out Rancho Murrietta and see what they have going on there.

I am glad to hear you haven't had run ins with snakes. Makes me feel better. I guess you always trade one thing for another. I'll take snakes in exchange for no more sub zero winters!

If you have any suggestions for other communities or what the communities are like that we are interested in I would love the feedback. Thanks and have a good one!
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Old 12-29-2007, 11:41 AM
 
29 posts, read 120,152 times
Reputation: 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by Calidreemer View Post
Hi Everyone,
My husband and I are making a move to the Sacramento area from a northern suburb of Chicago in 2008. We just can't take the winters anymore. We have relatives in Roseville and in the Bay area. We have visited the communities I listed and love the topography. We really love EDH. The only issue is we don't live out there and would like to hear from people who do. We can afford up to $675 and really want a new, solar home. We hope this will be enough to get what we want.

I also want to be close to a stable where I can continue riding and board a horse in the future. My husband is a long distance biker and runner and wants to train for and compete in the Western Open. We have no children so schools are only an issue for resale.

We looked at Blackstone and Serrano and liked Blackstone better. Serrano just seemed too restrictive. If I am wrong about this community please let me know because it is lovely. Also, if we can get some elbow room, that would be great too.

If anyone has a solar home, please let me know what you think. Also, of the new home builders using solar, who do you like and why? Lennar, Centex, Tim Lewis, Christopherson? Are there others we may not know about?

If anyone has any other communities to suggest that have similar amenities, we would consider those as well. We really wouldn't like a community with a more rustic feel - for example, Auburn felt too rustic for us.

Also, what is winter really like in these areas? Are there many gray days? Lots of rain? What about bugs and snakes? Centex has an internal exterminator system built into their homes - are bugs really a problem out there?

Thanks for your help! Hope you're having a wonderful holiday season!
El Dorado Hills is a terrific city, and Serrano is a very highly regarded community. As for restrictions, you'll have those in any master-planned community. There are pluses and minues to HOAs/CC&Rs; it all depends on your predilections on such things.

Winters are cold (40s today), but nothing like in the east and no snow in EDH except in rare years. Yearly average rainfall in EDH is approximately 41-42 inches.
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Old 02-11-2008, 07:38 PM
 
14 posts, read 59,432 times
Reputation: 16
Calidreemer...did you ever get any useful input on solar homes built by centex, christopherson, standard pacific, etc??? We will be house hunting this week and next in roseville, rocklin, lincoln areas and we may be considering some of these. There appears to be a premium of 5-10% over same price home with no solar. May not make sense for someone like us who will probably move within 3-5 years again. But we might consider them if it is desirable to have for resale of the home.

Cheers
Sal
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Old 02-11-2008, 08:05 PM
 
Location: Chicago suburb
702 posts, read 2,441,819 times
Reputation: 253
Hey Sal - we are coming out this weekend - Feb 15 -18 to do some looking around in those same areas and EDH and Folsom. No, I didn't get much information unfortunately. We think the up-charge is worth it considering the high cost of utilities. We want a house with 3,000-4,000 sf so we know the cost of air conditioning will be high and why not use sun power? I don't understand why all homes are not being built with solar, especially in states with many days of sunshine. Maybe we will run into each other? That would be funny! Where are you from?
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Old 02-12-2008, 02:11 AM
 
527 posts, read 1,245,396 times
Reputation: 254
good luck on your hunt. Whitney Ranch and EDH are exceptional communities!
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Old 02-12-2008, 10:13 AM
 
Location: folsom
105 posts, read 470,275 times
Reputation: 33
Don't leave out Granite bay too. I've seen a couple of equestrian ranches going into granite bay and into auburn. As far as solar homes go I'm not sure if there are any in Granite bay, unless they are custom.

With your price range you shouldn't have a problem trying to find a 3000sqft+ 5bd house.
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