There’s nothing more magical than the start of the fall season, which officially kicks off next week on September 22nd. Fall is synonymous with football Sundays, cool and crisp weather, and of course, pumpkin spice everything. Not to mention, the Greater Sacramento area offers a wide array of recreational activities and events that pay homage to this beautiful season. This month we take a look at local happenings, winning spots to catch your favorite Sunday games, and the fall real estate market. Read on for the full scoop.

We scoured the area and rounded up a number of ways to celebrate the fall season in the Sacramento area (and beyond):

Sacramento:

1. River Cats Schedule
2. Sacramento Kings Schedule
3. Sac Republic FC Schedule
4. Now – September 18th: Farm-to-Fork Festival
5. Now – September 18th: Sacramento PorchFest
6. Now – September 19th: Sacramento Running Week
7. Now – September 30th: DOCO Interactive Art Experience – Verge 16th Annual Open Studios
8. Now – October 10th: Hamilton @ SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center
9. September 16th (And Select Days): Live Music at Crawdads on the River
10. Now-September 31st: Front Street Water Carousel & Waterfront Wheel in Old Sacramento
11. Select Weekends (Friday-Sunday): Old Sacramento Underground & Time Travel Tours
12. September 18th: Country in the Park 2021
13. September 18th-19th: 2021 Crawfish & Catfish Festival 
14. September 24th-26th: California Capital Airshow
15. September 25th: Oktoberfest Midtown Sacramento 2021
16. September 25th: Step into Fall Vendor Festival
17. September 25th (Select Days): Dave’s Pumpkin Patch
18. September 29th: Gold Over America Tour: Starring Simone Biles
19. September 30th: SacJobs Fall Career Fair
20. October 1st: Kane Brown @ Golden 1 Center
21. October 8th – 10th: Sacramento Fall Home Show
22. October 9th: Fall Festival @ Arden Park
23. October 12th: Eagles Live @ Golden 1 Center
24. October 15th: Phish @ Golden 1 Center
25. October 17th: Sacramento Antique Faire
26. October 21st: Dan + Shay @ Golden 1 Center
27. October 23rd: Sacramento SPCA Fall Gala
28. October 23rd: Andrea Bocelli @ Golden 1 Center
29. October 28th-31st: Disney on Ice @ Golden 1 Center

Carmichael:

1. Every Sunday: Carmichael Farmers’ Market
2. Every Sunday: Carmichael Cars and Coffee
3. September 24th: 2021 Arthritis Foundation Golf Tournament @ Ancil Hoffman
4. September 25th: Founders Day

Fair Oaks:

1. Register Now – September 24th: Village Scarecrow Contest
2. September 18th: Fair Oaks Chicken Festival
3. September 30th: Concerts in the Park
4. October 7th: Food Truck Mania
5. October 30th: Safe(r) Halloween in Old Fair Oaks

Folsom:

1. September 17th-18th: American Pops Social
2. September 19th: 2021 Peddler’s Fair
3. September 19th: American Sun – Cash Prophet Concert (Benefitting the Displaced Caldor Fire Families & First Responders)
4. September 25th: 5th Anniversary Jazz Celebration
5. September 26th: The Wedding Expo Experience
6. October 9th: Wild West Film Festival
7. October 16th-17th: Soap Box Derby Days
8. October 23rd: Spirits, Brews & Bites
9. October 24th: RevolutionBeat – Tribute to the Beatles
10. October 30th: Trick or Treat – FesetiFall

El Dorado Hills:

1. Every Sunday: El Dorado Hills Certified Farmers’ Market
2. Every Thursday: Live on the Boulevard at El Dorado Hills Town Center
3. September 19th: Gold Country Run & Sport 5K
4. October 2nd: Rotary Wine @ Town Center
5. October 9th: Hands for Hope Fall Festival

Elk Grove:

1. Every Thursday: Neighborhood Market
2. Every Saturday: Farmers Market
3. September 25th: 4th Annual Car Show & Harvest Festival
4. September 30th: Cultural Connections: Hispanic Heritage Month Storytellers
5. October 2nd: Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival

Roseville:

1. Select Saturdays: Fitness in the Park
2. September 16th: Food Truck Mania @ Vernon Street Town Square
3. September 17th: Back to the Future @ Vernon Street Town Square
4. September 25th: Family Fest @ Vernon Street Town Square
5. October 15th: Hocus Pocus  @ Vernon Street Town Square
6. October 24th: Halloween Family Fest

Off the Grid:

1. October 1st-3rd: Big Crush 2021 in Amador Wine Country
2. October 21st-24th: Hangtown Music Festival in Placerville
3. See Business Hours: Apple Hill Farms
4. See Business Hours: Go Wine Tasting in Napa
5. See Home Game Schedule: Catch a Niners Game
6. See Fall Colors on a Tahoe Hike

Gearing up for next Sunday’s game? If you’re looking for the perfect spot to cheer on your favorite team, then look no further. Check out some of our top picks below!

For those of you in Carmichael that want to kick back and watch the game with a refreshing drink and some all-American grub, check out Palm Street Pub & Grill — a neighborhood-friendly spot that offers a full-service bar, delicious burgers, wings, and fries. Palm Street also has three pool tables and darts. What more could you ask for?

Thinking of trying a new spot downtown? Pay a visit to Public House Downtown on 16th and L Streets. With 60 beers on tap, 23 flat screens, and two outdoor patios—not to mention mouth-watering burgers and an American-inspired menu—this restaurant is an ideal place for your Sunday hangout.

If you find yourself in Folsom, stop by FLB where you won’t miss a play of your favorite team with 26 flat screens, HD game audio, and all of the major sports packages. They also have killer wraps and salads to keep you fueled for the game.

Last but certainly not least, Bar 101 located in the heart of downtown Roseville is another winning spot to watch your team. With the Sunday Ticket, 33 beers on tap, and 13 HD TVs (and one monster 10 ft screen), you can grab a seat as early as 9:30 and enjoy a hearty breakfast while catching your favorite team.

Summer is almost over, which means the temperatures are about to cool off. And while there’s no guarantee, it looks like the housing market may cool along with it — at least slightly.

According to a recent article from realtor.com, many experts expect that, while the fall buying season will be competitive, it won’t be quite as frenzied as the spring or summer.

One indicator supporting that projection is the pace of price growth. According to the article, the national median home price hit $385,000 the week ending August 14 (the highest on record). That price represented an 8.2 percent increase year over year—a definite increase in price, but significantly less than the 17.2 percent increase from April 2020 to April 2021. Inventory is also starting to increase (according to data from the National Association of REALTORS®,1.32 million homes were available for sale in July 2021—a 7.3 increase from June)—and the more inventory is available in the fall, the easier the home search process will be for buyers.

According to the latest available stats from the Sacramento Association of Realtors, while the active listing inventory decreased 4.7 percent from July to August of 2021, this is reflected in last month’s increase of 23.5 percent from June to July. This means that we are still seeing an increase in active listing inventory, which is up 23.3 percent compared to July 2020. The average days on market are also increasing slightly — up from 12 days to 15 days from the initial listing of the home to the day it goes pending.

The Sacramento real estate market continues to make a splash with historically low inventory, high competition, and rising prices. While there’s no denying that our current market favors sellers, this month’s newsletter highlights some ways that buyers can prepare before diving into the real estate pool. We also take a look at data that supports a wave of growing inventory within the next year.

Whether you are planning on buying, selling or both, you may find yourself competing with countless others in this red hot market. However, taking care of the items listed below can help you get the edge you need and ensure smooth sailing ahead.

Patience is key: Let’s face the facts…it’s a tough market for buyers in most price points right now. Some buyers are being rushed to make decisions, which can quickly lead to remorse over paying too much for a home. So our advice? Take your time, be patient, and keep logic in mind when submitting offers. It’s also important not to become over-invested in one home because of the bidding wars taking place in this overheated market. This doesn’t mean you should stop looking however – persistency and patience is key. Be ready to check out available homes as soon as they hit the market and act quickly once you come across the right home.

Find the right real estate agent: This brings us to our next point. Whether this is your first or fifth home purchase, it’s still wise to enlist the help of a buyer’s agent. After all, it doesn’t cost you anything out of pocket, and a good agent will help you by sharing their inside knowledge not only of the neighborhood, but also help establish what’s a good value in your price range. Plus, they’ll arrange showings on your behalf and they may also be able to alert you to red flags you’d otherwise miss while touring properties.

Clean up your credit: Your credit score not only impacts your ability to secure a mortgage at all, but it will also determine the interest rate you’ll pay. If you’re worried about your credit score, start working toward raising it by paying all your bills on time and making sure your balances are low. Check your credit report by contacting the three credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. You’re entitled to a free report from each agency once per year. If you spot an error, having the report amended will boost your score. Pro tip: Speak to an experienced mortgage professional. Sometimes they can advise you on what (and what not) to pay down or off, in order to improve your credit score.

Save for a down payment (and then some!): Being able to put 20% of the purchase price down at your closing isn’t necessary, but it could increase your chance of your offer being accepted. In today’s market, sellers are often looking for the most money down possible. Increasing your down payment could also help you in terms of better rates and overall monthly payments. It can also help you avoid paying for private mortgage insurance (PMI). Last but not least, it’s wise to save for emergencies because once you’re in your new home you never know what may suddenly need repair.

Get pre-approved for a mortgage: Getting pre-approved lets sellers know you’re the real deal. And, it lets you know what you can afford, so you can focus on the right price points and choose the perfect home to go after with confidence. Rather than just getting pre-qualified, which is more like an estimate of what you can borrow, a pre-approval means the loan is much more likely to get through underwriting once you get a home under contract because the lender has already assessed your credit, income, debts, and assets. Plus, if you find yourself competing for a property, being able to tell a seller you’re pre-approved will give you the advantage you need against others who are not. Finding a lender that has the shortest close time is another advantage in today’s hot market. Our preferred lender, Summit Funding is coming out with a 15-day close guaranteed. Contact Summit Funding Senior Loan Officer Chris Stahl at 916.768.8000 to begin the pre-approval process.

Do your due diligence: Think you’ve found an area you like? Check out neighborhoods at different times of day, and be sure to notice traffic patterns. For example, is the home you like on a street that drivers use to dodge traffic on main streets? Will you encounter school drop-off or pick-up congestion that will make getting in or out of your driveway a hassle? Consider all these factors and anything else that may appeal to you, or bother you personally, as you’re driving past potential homes.

While lack of inventory and high competition has made for a challenging market for buyers, get ready, because it looks like things are about to get at least slightly better for people searching for a home. According to data outlined in a recent realtor.com article, about 10 percent of homeowners plan to list their home this year—with another 16 percent planning to list in the next 24 to 36 months. That translates to an additional 1.5 million homes hitting the market—which, while not enough to completely end the historic inventory shortage, is certainly a solid start.

Options for first-time buyers should also improve. More than half of the buyers planning to list their homes this year (58 percent) have homes valued at $350,000 or less—which means more affordable options should be hitting the market soon.

As we take a closer at the Sacramento housing market, we are also seeing a slight increase in active listing inventory according to the Sacramento Association of Realtors – an increase of 9.4 percent from February to Marchand another increase of 9.6 percent from March to April to be exact. While still very competitive, experts suggest that a leveling market is on the horizon.

We are proud supporters of The Sacramento SPCA and we are committed to helping animals find their forever homes. That’s why Diez & Sigg Properties is a returning sponsor for this year’s Doggy Dash Event. This year’s event will once again be a virtual experience. However, just because we won’t be walking side by side, doesn’t mean we can’t still walk together to save more lives!

On June 5th, walk around your neighborhood with your pup, hit a local park or trail, or get creative at home with your pooch. The Sacramento SPCA will be kicking off the walk LIVE on Facebook and you will be able to share your photos, videos and participate in activities throughout the day. You will still see some of their famous Bark in the Park games and contests to participate in right at home! They will be tracking all the fun using the hashtag: #SSPCADASH2021

Ways you Can Contribute: If you would like to contribute to this cause, you can do so by purchasing a Doggy Dash T-shirt as a part of our “pack”. Click here to purchase your shirt. You can also make a donation here.

Enter our raffle to receive a FREE Pet Gift Basket (valued at over $100!)