Luxury construction detailing is rare today. High quality craftsmanship takes substantially more time and effort to complete. In addition, very few buyers are knowledgeable enough about construction fundamentals to tell the difference between a fine job and a good job. In most cases where I see superb examples of old time craftsmanship, it's because a builder or individual chooses to work to their personal, elevated standard of quality.  I was fortunate enough to preview a house that will go on the luxury home market in Healdsburg shortly. The building team including the owners, architects, landscapers, and building contractors have done a wonderful job of upgrading a mid century modern home that has Russian River access and is an easy walk to the Healdsburg Plaza. There are lovely deta... 06/03/2010

Healdsburg, Ca: Picturesque Healdsburg, California, is wine country living with both Dry Creek and Alexander Valley bordering this small town. Rural, urban and agricultural living includes the historic Matheson Street Victorian homes. The Russian River runs through Healdsburg which provides some homes with private river access. The Healdsburg Plaza is a popular tourist and local destination offering the finest wines in Sonoma County and the famous Bear Republic Brewing Company. Five star restaurants, Cyrus, Dry Creek Kitchen and the Mandrona Manor are only a few of the many jewels in town. Fine dining, casual dining, bistros, cafes, wineries, boutiques, galleries, and antique shops abound. Hotel Healdsburg, Bed & Breakfast Inns, spas, movie theater, wine library of Sonoma County, commun... 05/21/2010

  Last week the love of my life called and told me that she had been looking at pets as a way to keep her busy while she was on the road. She told me that she had found a wonderful Pug and that she really wanted it. If I can give guys out there a word of advice at this point it is, listen carefully when your partner talks to you. Me being the good partner that I am and always wanting to do all I can for my partner decided to takes charge in this matter and go out there and find one for her myself. The picture above is what she was talking about. The picture below is what I heard. This is why I advise you guys out there to be a good listener. Apparently she said PUG! Have a Great Day! Good luck to all of you 4-h'ers and FFA kids this year! 04/26/2010

There are many factors that would contribute to the decision to purchase a home now. We already know that we are in an economic recovery. We know that the two main factors that are holding us back right now are unstable employment outlook and shortage of credit to small businesses. We have proven to ourselves during these past few years that we need to stop relying on both of these things and to be more self sufficient and accountable in both of these areas.   A couple of weeks ago the private sector began to purchase mortgage backed securities which is a leading indicator that we are moving forward and that will lead to expanded credit for small business. Interest rates are low. There is some inventory available but not much. The housing affordability index is the best we have seen in ... 04/26/2010

Steelhead and coho salmon are ocean dwellers who return to their spawning grounds three years after they leave. They fight their way upstream dodging seals at the mouth of the Russian River, otters, fishermen in season, and at the end of their long journey they often face waterfalls and other physical challenges. They will often wait for the water flows to diminish, but as the picture on the right shows, they are perfectly willing to take a flying leap at a tall waterfall so they can keep moving upstream. I've posted a few times about the special listing we have on Felta Road. It includes the section of Mill Creek where this picture was taken. There are several thousand feet of stream frontage with a vertical drop of a couple hundred feet along that length. That makes for a series of fa... 04/17/2010

Chalk Hill Road connects the eastern, agricultural edge of Windsor to Highway 128. You can actually go towards either Healdsburg to the north or south towards Calistoga in the Napa Valley from where Chalk Hill Road meets 128. This a powerfully useful road. Chalk Hill begins on Faught Road in Windsor. It's a surprisingly bucolic neighborhood with many farmhouses and bungalows. If you miss the turn onto Chalk Hill, Faught Road winds around past Shiloh Road near the entrance to the gated communities of Mayacama and Shiloh. For Jack Nicklaus golf course enthusiasts, Mayacama is a wonderful destination. It's a special place to live as well. Anyway, turning left onto Chalk Hill from Faught takes you instantly into more vineyard country, Chalk Hill winery, rolling hills, lovely oaks, and small... 04/06/2010

The Alexander Valley runs along the Russian River from Healdsburg in the south to Cloverdale in the north. This is famous vineyard country and is home to many premium wineries and vineyards. Alexander Valley is bordered on the east by the Mayacamas Mountains and has about 13,000 acres of vines planted at this time. For the purposes of this post, however, I'm going to focus on the parts of Alexander Valley right around Healdsburg. That section is what is featured in the map. Basically from Healdsburg to Jimtown. Here’s what the Wine Enthusiast had to say about the Alexander Valley, “The Alexander Valley is the most diverse grape-growing region in California’s most diverse wine county, Sonoma. This long, narrow valley, home to more than 50 wineries and 200 producers, earned its reputatio... 04/06/2010

The Felta Road area of Healdsburg is right at the border of the Dry Creek Valley Appellation and the Russian River Valley Appellation, just west of Westside Road. Felta's claim to fame includes Westside School, a charming elementary school throwback to a bygone era when teachers knew all the students and the school was a family. Apart from the school, Felta's location just five minutes to Healdsburg makes this a highly sought after neighborhood. There are only 25 homes in the area, so scarcity defines the opportunity to live in the Felta neighborhood. It also has contributed to the sense that this is an exclusive neighborhood. The most recent building activity has been on the extravagant scale and the new homes on Felta Ridge Road are among the most expensive in Sonoma County. People wo... 04/06/2010

If I knew that I wouldn't have to be at work today. Even though I love what I do. There are several factors that you should take into account when making this decision. On the plus side we have tax incentives, low interest rates, it is a buyers market and there are some great deals out there. The best deals that I see out there today are in the $650,000. to about $900,000. range. The things that I believe are holding buyers back is job security and watching the news way to much. We have been told what signs we should be looking for that would mark an improvement in the economy and they are popping their head up just a bit. Last week I was looking to see six figure improvements to the employment statistics and we did with one caveat. 40,0000. plus of those jobs were for census workers. S... 04/06/2010

The Russian River Valley's Westside Road is home to vineyards, wineries, and some of the finest estate homes in Sonoma County's wine country. There are a handful of modest homes along this scenic, wine-tourism road, but if you have a Westside Road address, whether you house is small or grand, it's likely that you have more than one bottle of Pinot or Chardonnay in your wine cellar. Westside Road's first stretch heading west is an easy walk to town for the fifty or so residences that are on or within a few blocks of Westside Road. It's a low turnover residential area, even for Healdsburg. In the last year, there is only one residential sale of a beautiful 1917 Craftsman on 1.5 acres with a bonded winery and a guest house. It sold for around $1.3 million. There's only one lot and land sa... 04/05/2010

Downtown Healdsburg real estate is strictly limited by walking speed. You can choose whether to go three or four blocks from the downtown Healdsburg Plaza for your unofficial boundary, but if it takes more than five minutes to walk to a public concert or Farmer's Market, you aren't in the downtown core.  98  On this map I would define the northernmost boundary as Grant St (the next street up from Piper) and the southern boundary as Haydon St. On the west University St is a convenient marker. On the east, Healdsburg Avenue is the limit of residential real estate since almost everything between Healdsburg Ave and Highway 101 is commercial including restaurants, hotels, retail, and the great Bear Republic brewery and restaurant. The architectural stock of Healdsburg is very mixed in this d... 04/04/2010

Dry Creek Valley Land appeals to lovers of Sonoma County wine, beautiful scenery, and a wonderful climate.This narrow valley is only a dozen miles long, but is home to some of the best Zinfandel made in the United States. Other wine varietals perform superbly here, but Zinfandel is the grape most in demand from wine makers and consumers. The hospitable grape growing conditions also make this a fine weather area, slightly hotter than Sonoma County as a whole, and free from the fog that is a staple in the Russian River Valley. Residential real estate in Dry Creek Valley falls into three major categories. Along Dry Creek Road in the mile or so nearest Healdsburg there are a series of modest sized homes on small acreage parcels. These homes are within earshot (and eyeshot) of Highway 101 an... 04/03/2010

The fantastic prune blossom tour has been officially canceled is what I heard this morning at the Saint Patrick's Day parade. In fact I know that the rumor is true because I started it during the parade. The old timers thought it was a cute (but outdated) rumor. In Healdsburg we have a lot of great traditions. When I was growing up one of the big traditions every year was to look forward to the prune blossom tour. In my mind it drew as many people to town as our recent barrel tasting weekend. Of course I was little then and everything seemed bigger. Like the Matterhorn in Disneyland, I was sure was much larger when I was 10. Long before we had all these grapes planted it was all prune trees and they had profuse blossoms in the spring that would fill the air with wonderful fragrances. Fo... 03/17/2010

There are few trees that bloom as magnificently as magnolias. The Healdsburg City Hall has a handful of these specimens that bloom profusely, quickly, and then retreat into regular tree-hood for the rest of the year. While the show lasts, there aren't many things to rival it for color, drama, and effect. 03/14/2010

Hiking a beautiful Sonoma County property with clients a few days ago we encountered glorious flowers, dramatic boulders, a rushing creek complete with waterfalls, and magnificent meadows. I don't want to make you all envious of the tough life of a wine country agent, so I'll show you a crappy picture instead. In one corner of a meadow, a horse had done what horses do best, and each horse dropping was home to its own cluster of mushrooms. Everything in its place seems to sum this up. 02/28/2010

02/07/2010

I have spent many years selling and refurbishing vintage homes in Historic neighborhoods, such as San Francisco, Healdsburg and Santa Rosa and on the East coast. In Northern Virginia, I was on the committee to establish Historic Designation for Fairlington Villages, built by the government to house all the G.I.'s returning from World War II. These townhouses and condominiums were the largest conversion in the United States and home to many congressman since it is a short commute to Capital Hill. Presently, I live in Sonoma County, the Northern California wine region and as we all know, preparing homes to sell usually begins with the basics...and my first stop is Healdsburg Plaza Paints.I can praise all the staff but one person that stands out is Mark. Mark understands the depth of color... 01/25/2010

It is that time of year again for the firefighters bucket brigade blood drive. If you have not donated blood in the past 8 weeks please join us at the Healdsburg Fire Department from 2:30 today, Tues, Jan 19th. This is a friendly competition among most of Sonoma Counties fire departments. They will be serving the famous fire fighters chili and corn bread. It is a great place to see old friends and maybe save a life. For more information please contact the Blood Bank of the Redwoods707-545-1222 or www.bbr.org   Thank you! www.realestateofhealdsburg.com 01/19/2010

That title may sound quite seductive and it is for me. Just south east of Healdsburg at the end of Grant Ave (past Giorgio's) on a hill over looking Healdsburg are a pair of Redwood Trees. Locally known as the Adam and Eve trees. We used to hike up there with our church group. At the time there was a lady, Nell that didn't mind if you hiked her property. The trees are dead center in this picture and the photo was taken from the balcony of my home the other morning. My friend Tom Curtis used to say that they were the only trees that were used by local aircraft as a landmark. If you ever go up there you will be surprised how beat up they are from lightening strikes. My Godmother had her ashes scattered there and that is my wish also. So next time you are at Giorgio's look east at the top... 01/15/2010

18th Annual Winter Wineland 2010 - Healdsburg Ca - Wine Tasting and Events - Sonoma County Wine Country Lifestyle The 18th Annual Winter Wineland is just around the corner! Last year, my wife and I and several of our friends had so much fun visiting the wineries at the Annual Winter Wineland event that we decided to start a tradition of inviting more friends to join us on the tour. So, I'm posting this invitation to anyone who's interested in joining our group this year for a day of food, fun and friends. Oh, and wine! The event doesn't have a specific starting place in Sonoma County, but the ticket office is located in Healdsburg, CA.  The tickets cost $40 and are good for both days! That's a ton of wine tasting for only 40 bucks! The dates and time are January 16 & 17, 2010 from 11:00... 01/09/2010