The final vote count put the Yes folks up 16 votes. The No folks, the No on Measure N committee of Preserve Historic Sutter Creek, have requested a recount.

This should not be a big deal. Recounts are pretty normal for close elections, and just part of the process. Remember that certain presidential election a few years ago?

But some of the pro-Gold Rush folks have gone ballistic (see the comments on the Amador Ledger-Dispatch website.) They’re attacking PHSC, individual PHSC members, and anyone else they consider to be an opponent of the type of sprawling super-sized subdivision Gold Rush represents.

They’re also dredging up history – and getting their facts wrong in the process. They’re attacking me for the actions of a family to which I’m not related (apparently spelling is not their strong suit). They’re attacking the Foothill Conservancy for being the same as Protect Historic Amador Waterways, which if it weren’t so wrong would be sorta funny, considering that PHAW actually sued the Conservancy at one point.

You’d think the narrow vote on Measure N would give people pause. After all, it does show that a substantial number of Sutter Creek voters are opposed to the Gold Rush project as approved. Remember, we’re talking 16 votes. The Sutter Creek City Council and pro-GR folks should be thinking long and hard about that. If anything, they represent only the barest of majorities on this issue.

To their credit, the Gold Rush developers’ response has been rather subdued. They’re not out celebrating in the streets, gloating, or attacking the Sutter Creek residents who voted No. Instead, they’re inviting them to talk. It’s a nice gesture, and ought to be a sign to their attack dogs to back off. But it’s also relatively meaningless, since they’ve never before responded to the concerns of that strong near-majority (or maybe an actual majority) who oppose Gold Rush.

And of course, the developers spent about $140,000 on the election, compared to the approximately $5,000 PHSC spent. Plus, they’ve been knocking on doors and selling their project to locals for what, eight years? I think the close margin was a surprise to them. If I were them, I’d be sober, too.

It amazes, but does not surprise me to see PHSC accused of “dividing Sutter Creek.” If anyone has divided the town, it’s the developers and council members who ignored the sincere concerns of a substantial number of local residents over the last few years. They could have listened and made an effort to work out a project everyone could live with. But they chose the path of conflict, instead.

Time will tell what lessons, if any, are learned from this referendum election, and what the long-term effects will be in Sutter Creek and the county at large. Stay tuned.

For those of you that have been following these reports, please forgive me. I skipped last month. The First week of May was so hectic I just didn’t get to this and by the time I could we were well into the month. But I think things are back on track now, at least until the fabulous new calREDD MLS system is fully “populated… Amador County Real Estate inventory is a little down this month. Today, June 3, 2010 the Amador County Association of REALTORS® MLS shows a total of 420 active residential listings in Amador County, up 30 from April’s 390.

These listings have a $ 324,229 average listing price, down about twelve thousand dollars from April’s average of $ 344,496.

The average number of days on market for these listings is 191 days, No meaningful change from April’s 192 days.

In the last month Amador County has had 81 new listings and 43 listings have sold.

Today the lowest priced listing is a two bedroom, two bath manufactured home in The Highlands Park (Jackson). It does not include the land and space rent is $479/month. This home is offered at $20,000.

The lowest priced “stick built” home right now is a two story 2 bedroom 1 bath home in River Pines. Siting on a nice sized .43 acre lot, this “bank owned” home is offered at $69,900.

The highest priced listing is again the big operating vineyard on over 137 acres in “The Valley.” It is offered for $5.1 million. This one has not dropped.

This month Amador County’s median priced listing is a brand new JTS 3/2 in the Edgebrook Estates
subdivision of Ione.  Offered at $ 246,990, this home full of extras and is just a few blocks from the Castle Oaks golf course. 

At the rate of sales last month, it would take almost 10 months to deplete the current Amador County Real Estate inventory (if no new listings were made). This is often looked at to decide basic market trends. This number is down some from April’s 13 month’s inventory. Moving the direction I would like to see but not much.

The National Association of Realtors sometimes defines a market with over six months of inventory as a “buyers market”. Up here in the foothills inventory is often somewhat slower to move. Nonetheless, with almost a year of inventory, buyers that are ready, willing, and able, should have their pick.

Amador County Real Estate awaits you.

Just click over if you would like to Search Amador County listings.

Read more Amador County real estate market reports

Crews wearing yellow “Mormon Helping Hands” vests rolled up their sleeves to help paint, repair and groom numerous sites on the Fairgrounds. Volunteers repaired the leaky roof and installed waterless urinals in the Spur Emporium, painted the Horse Barns, Windmill Restaurant, First Aid Building, Privy Restrooms, repaired gates to the Benny Brown Arena, raked debris and pulled weeds around the Floriculture Building.

“A wonderful opportunity to serve our local community” said Hack Severson, Chairman for the Jackson Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mormon Helping Hands project. “Our members enjoyed giving back to the community and the Amador County Fair.” “And they had fun.”

“It’s amazing what was accomplished in just 8 hours,” said Robert Manassero, President of the Amador County Fair Board of Directors, “they helped us catch up on years of deferred maintenance that we were unable to get to due to budget cuts.”

Amador County Fair, A Roaring Good Time, July 29-August 1, 2010

After visiting Daffodil Hill a few days back, with a daughter and three granddaughters, we literally fell into the little town of Volcano – 2 miles away.

Volcano (Formerly Soldier’s Gulch) is another of those little Gold Rush gems, which provides rich color to the Wild West era tapestry.   It is considered by many to be one of the most picturesque of the Mother Lode towns.

Dating back in history to the late 1850s, the town was originally nicknamed “Crater City.”  Early miners noticed the lay of the land was a bowl-shaped valley, which caused them to believe it was formed by a volcano.

There is a story that in 1849 one miner took out 8 thousand dollars worth of gold in a few days – that was in 1849 dollars.  Another got 28 pounds in a single pocket.

Volcano boasts that it is home to California’s first amateur theatrical company.  This theatre tradition continues to this day.  The town has an outdoor amphitheatre, and the Volcano Theatre Company, which stages performances at various times during the year.

Once the largest settlement in Amador County, Volcano now has a population of a mere 101 souls.  In its heyday, the town boasted 3 breweries, 17 hotels, 37 saloons and a great deal of gold. 

Volcano is also only a few miles from Indian Grinding Rock State Park a very worthwhile Amador County attraction. 

For more detailed history on Volcano you can visit Volcano’s AmadorGold webpage

Directions to Volcano from Sacramento: Take Highway 16 through Sloughhouse, and on until you reach Highway 49 toward Jackson (travels through Dry Town, Amador City, and Jackson).  Take the Highway 88 turnoff toward Lake Tahoe.  Turn left on Pine Grove-Volcano Road.  The settlement is about 3 miles from Highway 88.  Mileage is about 50 miles from Sacramento to Volcano. 

Every year at this time, the hills come alive with an explosion of yellow in Amador County.  The place where it all happens is Daffodil Hill near the little Mother Lode town named, “Volcano.”

I have been spending time with a few of my granddaughters these past few days; and it seemed appropriate to pack a picnic and pay homage to the blossoms:-)

The 4 acre farm has been in the McLaughlin family since 1887.  During the past two decades, the family has planted 6,000 new bulbs each year, continuing the family tradition and legacy.  Over 300,000 bulbs are estimated to now populate the farm.

Due to snow blanketing the area during the weeks of usual showing (mid March to Mid April), Daffodil Hill is now closed early for the season.  But, I highly encourage those that are in the area, to put it on their calendars for next year.
 
Available driving instructions state Daffodil Hill is anywhere from 39 to 50 miles from Sacramento.  There are several meandering routes, which will take you there.  

I usually travel highway 16 out of Sacramento, which journeys trough Sloughhouse.  I turn toward Amador City, and Sutter Creek on Highway 49.  And turn left on Church Street directly off highway 49 in Sutter Creek. 

You can visit the Amador County Chamber of Commerce website page devoted to Daffodil Hill for more information!

I take pictures for the purpose of remembering fond times.  I do not impose copyright restrictions on this photo, so you may feel free to use, or distribute as you wish.  However, should you need a Real Estate Professional in the Greater Sacramento area, I hope that you will contact me by email or by visiting my website www.myrljeffcoat.com - Thank You!

Right now Jackson, CA. has 75 current residential Real Estate listings , with an average price of $ 282,330 down more than nineteen thousand dollars from February’s $ 301,723 average. In the last month 8 homes have sold but 17 have been newly listed. Jackson’s listings have been on the market for an average of 214 days.

Jackson’s median price today, offered at $ 239,000 is a 1168 square foot, three bedroom one bath home on a .17 acre lot on Argonaut Hill. This nice home has lots of extras like a breakfast nook and an in ground pool, It is not a short sale or bank owned.

Today we have a new lowest priced home in Jackson, a 1056 square foot manufactured 2/2 in Rollingwood. It is offered at $34,500 without land down from an original price of $49,500.

The highest priced home in Jackson is still the 4134 square foot 4 bedroom 4 bath Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Arts & Crafts Style Executive Home on 2 acres. This home was offered at $1,395,000, but now it has been reduced to $1,249,500.

Jackson has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Jackson Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

This information is deemed reliable but you should always confirm.

This month Plymouth, CA. has 22 active residential real estate listings, up three from last month’s 19 listings. The average listing price in Plymouth is $ 806,513, down $46k  from last month’s $ 852,463. Houses in Plymouth have set on the market for an average of 159 days. In the last month Plymouth has had 5 new listings and 6 sales.

Plymouth’s median price listing for today is a 1776 square foot, 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home on 5 acres, offered at $ 465,000. This big property has a large heavy duty shop and a small out-building with a full bath. Great place with lots of room.

This month Plymouth’s least expensive listing is again a 1026 square foot 3 bedroom 2-bath manufactured home in Plymouth Mobile Manor offered at $55,900 and $ 280 per month space rent.

Again this month, the “highest priced listing” in the area is a special case. A well-known running and turnkey winery! The two-bedroom two-bath 1620 square foot home on 32.43 acres, and thousands of cases of wine are all part of the deal. The asking price for this one is $3,250,000.

Square footage in the area ranges from $54.48/sqft. Up to over $2,000/sqft. With a median of $208.12/sqft.

Remember, you can search Plymouth Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

Read more real estate market reports.

This information is deemed reliable, but you should confirm.

Today Ione has 64 active residential real estate listings.

The average listing price in Ione is $ 221,685 down about four thousand dollars from last month’s $ 224,541.

The average number of days that properties have been on the market is back up to 176 days, from last month at 159 days.

In the last month Ione has had 12 new listings and 7 listings have sold.

This month the median price in Ione is $239,000. Two listings tie at this price. One is a Short Sale 3/2 with 1960 square feet, sitting on a .17 acre lot. The other is a regular sale 2/2 with approximately 1500 square feet on a slightly bigger .21 acre lot near the golf course.

Three manufactured home are in a tie for Ione’s lowest priced home right now.  All three listings are in The Oaks Park. Two homes are being sold as “land value only” and sellers might not have clear ownership of the improvements, the third is a Short Sale, all three are offered at $29,000.

This month the “highest priced listing” in the area is the three bedroom two bath 2084 square foot custom with a huge insulated shop/office. All on 28+ acres. The asking price for this one is $589,000.

One way that the National Association of Realtors defines markets is by months of inventory. If a market has less than six month’s of inventory it is often called a sellers market because the supply is low for the level of demand. Right now Ione has over nine months of inventory at the level of sales last month. So using that rule of thumb the Ione market is in a strong buyers market. But that stat is so strongly affected by just a few sales in a market segment as small as Ione. It is only worth paying attention to over time.

Ione has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Ione Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

Read more Amador County real estate market reports

This information is deemed reliable but you should always confirm.

Sutter Creek has 41 currant residential Real Estate listings, with an average price of $ 422,821 down more than $55,000 from March’s  $ 478,702 average. In the last month only 2 homes have sold but 10 have been newly listed. Sutter Creek’s listings have been on the market for an average of 210 days, down a bit from last month’s 233 day average.

Sutter Creek’s $375,000 median price is a two story 3/2.5 on .68 acre. This 2660 square foot home has great mountain views and is a short sale with an original price of $499,000.

The lowest priced home in Sutter Creek as of today is still a 960 square foot manufactured 2/2 in Sutter Terrace Estates. It is offered at $ 85,000 and this one comes with the .08-acre lot.

Again this month, the highest price home in Sutter Creek is the three story 5 bedroom 3 bath custom, with rock and log construction. On over 49 acres with guesthouse barn and only 4 miles from town, and with creek frontage, this is really something! Offered at $ 1,450,000.

With the spread of real estate offerings in Sutter Creek the range of prices per square foot is also very wide. Staring at only $ 61.85 for a manufactured home in Sutter Terrace, and going up to $ 537.04 for this month’s top priced home on almost 50 acres. The median is $ 172.66/sqft.

Notice how things just don’t change that fast here in the hills? Much of these stats are the same or very close to last month’s and the month before.

As you see, Sutter Creek has quite a spread of real estate. If you would like to talk about your specific real estate needs, please feel free to email me or drop me a line.

Remember, you can search Sutter Creek Homes For Sale Free at Mainstreet Brokers!

This information is deemed reliable, but you should confirm.

Amador County Real Estate inventory is a little down this month. Today, April 3, 2010 the Amador County Association of REALTORS® MLS shows a total of 390 active residential listings in Amador County, up 28 from last month’s 362.

These listings have a $ 344,496 average listing price, down about twelve thousand dollars from last month’s average of $ 356,173.

The average number of days on market for these listings is 192 days, Not much change from last month’s 203 days but in the right direction.

In the last month Amador County has had 91 new listings and 39 listings have sold. Up a nice bit from last month.

Today the lowest priced listing is The same 960 square foot manufactured home on a large .30 acre lot in Meadow Pines (Pioneer) It has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, new carpet, vinyl, paint, and fixtures and even a pellet stove in the living room. This home was listed at $28,000, it has dropped to just $9,950 without the land. Space rent is $490 per month. Water is $34.96 per month Septic is $18.50 per month. This park DOES include children.

The highest priced listing is again the big operating vineyard on over 137 acres in “The Valley.” It is offered for $5.1 million. This one has not dropped.

This month Amador County’s median priced listing is a 3/2 in the Ranch House subdivision of Pine Grove.  Offered at $ 249,950, this home full of extras sits on almost a third of an acre. 

At the rate of sales last month, it would take more than 10 months to deplete the current Amador County Real Estate inventory (if no new listings were made). This is often looked at to decide basic market trends. This number is down some from last month’s 13 month’s inventory. Moving the direction I would like to see but not much.

The National Association of Realtors sometimes defines a market with over six months of inventory as a “buyers market”. Up here in the foothills inventory is often somewhat slower to move. Nonetheless, with almost a year of inventory, buyers that are ready, willing, and able, should have their pick.

Amador County Real Estate awaits you.

Just click over if you would like to Search Amador County listings.

Read more Amador County real estate market reports