Living in beautiful Northern California offers residents a wide range of benefits: amazing weather, a centralized location near the Bay Area and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, recreational opportunities for just about everything and the list goes on. Because California is a leader in clean energy and this region gets a whole lot of sun (cities in Placer County average around 250 days of sun per year), solar energy is truly within reach, and more affordable than ever.

It’s true. Harnessing the power from the sun to use around your home has never been more affordable or accessible – especially if you live in Placer County. Prices for materials are down, offering consumers direct savings. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the cost for solar installs dropped by more than 60 percent over the last decade. And tax breaks and other financial incentives can make the conversion from traditional electricity to solar seamless.

Modern solar energy is not just about lower prices, however. Solar energy is multifaceted in use. In addition to powering your home, solar installs can capture energy to heat water and reduce heating costs. Technologies include photovoltaics, solar heating and cooling and concentrating solar power. Not only that, but adding solar to your home boosts your property value. A recent study showed that buyers are willing to pay a premium of $15,000 for a home that’s equipped with solar panels compared to a home without a solar power system.

Going in, Placer County consumers have options not only on the types of systems, but on how much they can save.

Placer County’s mPower Program

mPOWER is a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. The program offers financing for both residential and non-residential property owners in Placer County to make energy efficiency improvements, as well as solar and water conservation measures. PACE extends the ability for the financing to be repaid by adding annual installments to property tax bills.

According to the county:

“Examples of projects eligible for mPOWER financing include, but are not limited to, heating and air conditioning upgrades; high efficiency windows, doors and insulation, and cool roofs; as well as indoor and outdoor water conservation measures, such as high efficiency and low-flow fixtures, drip irrigation systems, smart irrigation controllers, and artificial turf. Solar panel installation can also be financed through the program. Funding is available for up to 100 percent of the project costs, with no money down, and terms that are longer than traditional programs—up to 20 years for many improvements—and a low, fixed, interest rate.”

How mPOWER works

Property owners fill out an application for energy/water efficient upgrades. Once approved, they enter an assessment contract with the county. The county will pay for the costs and place an assessment lien or Mello Roos on the property until the loan is paid off (homeowners will notice the charge on their tax bill). You can learn more about this program here.

Rebates and Incentives

The government offers an Investment Tax Credit in the form of a 30 percent credit for solar installations (both on residential and commercial properties).

Read this fact sheet put together by the California Solar Energy Industries Association

How long will the credit last?

Luckily, this credit was extended until 2021. This is not without caveats. The rate will begin to drop from 30 percent to 26 percent in a few years. By 2021, it will be a 22 percent tax credit. It’s unclear what other incentives, if any, will be available beyond that, but this particular credit will shrink to 0 percent after 2021.

With the help of federal and local incentives, and emerging technology that is making solar more accessible and affordable than ever, there may be no better time than now to make this investment. And with Placer County’s ability to make financing a little easier, there is no better place to make the solar switch!

The median price for a home in Placer County rose once again in April to $460,000, according to data compiled by the California Association of Realtors.

The value is an increase of 4.5 percent month to month and a 7.1 percent leap compared to the value a year ago. Home sales in the region were also up by nearly 6 percent month to month, although the amount of homes sold year to year was down by about 10 percent, possibly indicating lower inventory.

Here’s a closer look at the most recent data we have for homes in Placer County:

  • Homes spent only 21 days on the market for the month of April. The median time on the market for this month was actually longer the previous month by 9.1 days, according to the association. Over the span of 12 months, it was about a two percent difference. Typically, consumers expect a home to close in about 30-40 days, so this is an excellent rate for those looking to move or sell quickly.
  • April saw about 2.8 months of unsold inventory. This simply refers to the number of unsold homes expressed in the months it would take them to come off the market at the current rates of sales. This pace is up by a modest 6 percent from the previous month, but down by the same percentage from a year ago. Generally speaking, a smaller index means sellers are experiencing quicker sales while a higher number indicates that buyers have more inventory and possibly time to settle into their next home.

Overall, the housing market in Placer County remains robust. Median prices are up, sales remain steady and unsold homes stay on the market for less than 22 days. All around, these numbers are a good sign (especially for sellers) for the Placer County market, and why wouldn’t the numbers look bright for this region? Placer County is a great place to live!

 

Well, it’s official, Roseville & Rocklin were named in the best places to raise a family in California by SmartAsset.com.

127 Cities were analyzed in this study and 2 of the top 10 places to raise a family were found to be in Placer County. Roseville CA was ranked #1 and Rocklin CA was ranked #7.

3 things that attract young families to Roseville CA and Rocklin CA is:

  1. Top rated schools
  2. Safe and family friendly neighborhoods
  3. Close proximity to Bay Area and Lake Tahoe

Please click on this link to view the full details of the study.

At first glance, BAD Bakers coming to Roseville may not sound like something to be excited about and could possibly even work some Rosevillians. However, I think you may feel a lot better, maybe even be filled with joy when you get done reading what I have to tell you.

BAD (Bread and Doughnuts) Bakers is the name of a new bakery that will be located in the Palisades Plaza on East Roseville Pkwy, near the intersection of N Sunrise Ave and across the street from Sutter Hospital. This new bakery is the brainchild of local entrepreneurs Vince Tiuseco and his wife, Katelyn, who also own the Starbread bakery in Natomas. If you weren’t already aware, Starbread once topped the charts on a list of “100 Places to Eat in the Nation” and currently has a 4.5 star rating with over 500 reviews on Yelp.

Feeling better yet? No? Okay well this bit of info may help. It is rumored that BAD Bakers in Roseville CA will offer customers gourmet doughnuts that will include many different fillings and toppings. I don’t know about you but I am keeping my fingers crossed that the toppings might include bacon, like a maple bacon doughnut or some other concoction of sweet and salty goodness.

The best part is that it will be right next door to one of the best Starbucks locations in Roseville CA and there is an open air patio seating area that overlooks Miners Ravine between the two stores. So, you can enjoy your gourmet doughnut from BAD Bakers with an iced coffee from Starbucks on a beautiful sunny Roseville CA day while taking in the spectacular views of Miners Ravine (I know it sounds like I am going a little overboard but this is truly one of my favorite places to grab a cup of coffee and the view is great).

This all being said, BAD Bakers will be a welcomed addition to Roseville and Placer County. I look forward to seeing you there!

The natural beauty of Placer County attracts visitors from across Northern California to dive in and experience all it has to offer. Expensing energy from a hike or building an oversized appetite following an afternoon of wine tasting only leaves room for one more thing: a wonderful meal.

Whatever you’re in the mood for — Mexican, Italian or Asian cuisine — flavors of every kind are at your behest in Placer County.

So if you’re ready for the perfect culinary retreat, any of these top-rated restaurants are sure to please.

 

The Chef’s Table

Located in Rocklin, The Chef’s Table brings together local ingredients for one exemplary night of food – and so much more. The restaurant serves up an impressive lineup of local beers, too.

“We love where we live, we love where our restaurant sits, and we love to entertain,” the restaurant’s website states.

The dinner menu includes such mouth-watering classics as southern fried chicken, ground filet mignon sliders, beer-battered French fries and other surprises. Patrons can also enjoy some traditional Mexican dishes including chicken posole – which fuses together a soup with tortilla chips, lime, salsa and other fresh Mex-ready ingredients. Al Pastor pork tacos are also on the menu.

The Chef’s Table does not stop there. Its eclectic offerings extend to its bar, where patrons can explore a local tour of beers. The extensive beer list features crafts from Loomis, Auburn, Sacramento, Petaluma and Berkeley.

 

 

Hawks Restaurant

If a fine cut of beef or pork is more what you have in mind, Hawks Restaurant in Granite Bay is your ticket. Almond, wood-grilled filet mignon, New York steak, slow roasted short ribs and Niman Ranch rack of pork highlight the restaurant’s constantly changing menu.

Hawks was also featured in the “2016 Best Of” edition of Sacramento Magazine.

 

Joe Caribe

Joe Caribe has been serving folks in Auburn for nearly a decade with fresh, ethnic and Caribbean cuisine perfect for those with an adventurous pallet.

The menu includes tacos prepared with a variety of meats, including Alaskan cod, pork, chicken and shrimp. Joe Caribe’s burrito offerings take a detour from the norm. Chicken, shrimp and vegetarian curries spice up its offering of tortilla wraps, AKA, burritos.

Joe Caribe’s house specialties are more familiar and include jambalaya, quinoa and noodles.

 

Il Pizzaiolo

Mamma mia, Pizzeria!

Il Pizzaiolo got its start after its founder grew tired of eating poor-quality pizza. He knew a thing or two about pizza, being from Brooklyn and all, and took matters, and dough, into his own hands to create a fast and casual pizzeria in Colfax.

The variety of pizzas are crafted in the tradition of Naples and are fired up in 800-degree wood-fired ovens. The menu includes Salsiccia, Cinque Terre, Pepperoni, Margherita and white-sauce pies, including Rosmarino, Campania, Siena and Pancetta.

 

 

Farmhaus

“Good food. Good Wine. Good Friends.” That’s how this restaurant in Granite Bay likes to think of itself. And if you’re looking for an update to country comfort food, Farmhaus is just for you.

The up-scale comfort food is served in a smaller building along Auburn Folsom Road. It serves breakfast, lunch and a pricier dinner, but everyone is talking about its take on chicken pot pie.

 

There is no shortage of breweries across Northern California, and Placer County is no exception. These three breweries boast their own pizzazz and appeal for how they make their craft beer and the philosophy the drives them.

 

Moonraker Brewing Company

The mastermind behind Moonraker Brewing began making home brews in 2008 before bringing his creative edge here.

The menu includes:

  • Miss Conduct Blonde Ale — Gold Medal – California State Fair 2016 Silver Medal
  • Yojo — A New England IPA with tons of apricot, peach and pineapple hop flavors.
  • Extremis — Triple IPA. ’Nuff said.
  • Alpha Tide — This West Coast 2xIPA is filled with Mosaic and Amarillo hops.
  • Hopped Lucidity — West Coast IPA is filled with “melon, papaya, evergreen and herbaceous hop flavor.”
  • Galaxy Crush — This beer comes from a single hop series.

 

 

Knee Deep Brewing Company

These cold ones from Auburn are well known. Knee Deep Brewing Company sells beer in 25 states and has a distribution network that spans around the globe, reaching Canada, Australia and Japan.

Knee Deeps’s brews have received several awards, including Bronze Medal in the American IPA category at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival.

You may recognize some of its offerings, which are available in can or bottle.

The brewery got its start in Nevada and today it calls its’ 28,000-square-foot facility in Auburn home.

Its lineup includes Citra Extra Pale Ale, Breaking Bud India Pale Ale, Hoptologist Double IPA, Big Sipper Imperial IPA, Lupulin River Imperial IPA, Belgo Hoptologist Double IPA among others.

 

 

Crooked Lane Brewing

Crooked Lane Brewing’s philosophy is to keep it local.

Whenever possible, the company buys from within its community. Its Mandarin IPA fruit, for instance, comes from a ranch in Penryn. And honey for the Honey Wheat Beer is produced at a farm in Newcastle.

By supporting local businesses and using their goods, the brewery hopes to give new meaning to locally brewed while also representing the area through its beers.

Crooked Lane features a beer garden and makes room for a local food vendor to complement its beers.

Currently, its menu of beers include: Doppelbock, Dottie’s Habit Stout – Oatmeal, Pupup Porter – Baltic,  Poor Me Porter Porter – American, Tidliwink Brown Ale – English,  Klasse Lager – Vienna, SR16 IPA – Imperial / Double, Roaky Mandarina IPA – American, Mandarin IPA IPA – American, Copper Eye – IPA IPA – American and Swamp Angel IPA – American, just to name a few.

 

If you love beer, then you will love what Placer County has to offer!

 

If you ever meandered along the highway near Auburn, a towering structure over the North Fork of the American River may have caught your attention. Or, if you ever watched the 2002 movie “XXX” with Vin Diesel, it may also look familiar.

The Foresthill Bridge, which is also known as the Auburn-Foresthill Bridge, is the highest bridge by deck height in all of California, standing 730 feet above the water. Upon its opening, it was the second tallest in the world. Today, it continues to hold distinction for its height and history.

The bridge, fabricated by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan, opened in 1973 and was designed to accommodate the unbuilt Auburn Dam, which was slated to be completed in the 1970s. However, it was postponed over a variety of concerns.

The Foresthill Bridge’s height was set to accommodate the reservoir below, but despite some completed groundwork for the Auburn Dam, it never came to be.

 

 

In the early 1970s, foundation work commenced on the planned 685-foot-tall dam, but construction to the complementary dam stopped over a series of seismic, budgetary, political and environmental concerns.

Despite its utility to many of the residents in the nearby towns, where pedestrian can cross in either directions, and its perched-up window to the bucolic scenery of the foothills, the waterway, the valley and the Sierra, the bridge would not have been financed without the planned reservoir.

The dam wasn’t the project’s only causality. A cable stay bridge was also in the works near the Ruck-A-Chucky rapids. The tower-less bridge would have crossed the river several miles upstream, providing more sweeping views of the river system, canyons and land.

 

 

Visitors looking into the gorge can also see the abandoned Mountain Quarry railroad bridge, originally built in 1912 by the Pacific Portland Cement Company. The bridge and the rail line were abandoned around 1939, however. When the Hell Hole Dam broke in 1964, the integrity of the structure was tested. The flood actually took out a road bridge just upstream from the railroad bridge, and its remains can still be seen.

The surrounding projects that were planned near the Foresthill Bridge are left to the one’s own imagination. But perhaps they will come as an afterthought once you become immersed by the beautiful view.

The Foresthill Bridge is an iconic structure in Placer County and if you haven’t been to see it, we highly recommend you do!

 

Wine grapes were first introduced in Placer County in 1848, coinciding with the year James Marshall discovered gold.

In the 1860s, winemaking became a thriving industry. So much so, that Placer County had more vineyards than Sonoma and Napa combined.

Now’s your chance to celebrate the tradition of Placer County winemaking by visiting these five great wineries.

 

Wise Villa Winery

Wise Villa, winner of the State Fair’s Winery of the year award in 2015, is a family managed vineyard where the harvest is carefully handpicked to ensure the wines’ purity and composition.

The winery pays close attention to detail and sorts through the crop to ensure that every grape is viable for the production process.

The vineyards consist of 26 acres, where 11 varieties flourish. They include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Tempranillo, Touriga National, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.

The winery has tasting room locations in Roseville and Lincoln.

 

 

Lone Buffalo Vineyards

This establishment is a family-owned micro-winery that launched in 2007, but its beginning stretches decades back.

The winery is the culmination of the winemaker’s 35 years of passion and dedication for fine wine making. Everything you see at Lone Buffalo Vineyards is done by the local staff. From harvesting, crushing, bottling and labeling, staff members are hands-on at every step of the way.

Lone Buffalo Vineyards are stewards of the natural process involved with winemaking.

“The point is to produce rich, complex, concentrated fruit, not luxuriant vegetative growth,” the winery states on its website.

If you’re ready for a tasting, the on-site tasting room reflects the laid-back Sierra Foothills. The wine tasting is so hands-on that it’s not unusual for the winemaker to do the pouring.

 

Viña Castellano

Viña Castellano is a pristine vineyard along the rolling hills of Auburn.

The estates’ architects, longtime Placer County residents, incorporate the spirit of their Spanish heritage and history in every bottle.

The estate vineyard and winery was added 14 years ago and produces an array of Mediterranean wines, including their award-winning Spanish varietals.

If you’re intrigued, you are welcome to visit the Stone Barrel Cave and Tasting Room.

 

Mt. Vernon Winery

This winery is the largest and most award-winning winery in the county and features 16 to 18 different wines for tasting.

Some visitors are reminded of a Thomas Kincaid painting when they visit the winery and old restored milk house originally constructed in 1950, where they enjoy wine and the peaceful setting.

The well-decorated winery has earned more than 230 medals in competitions over the last 14 years.

 

 

Casque Wines

Casque Wines has one goal in mind, and that is to produce small lots of wines from the best vineyards in the Sierra Foothills and nearby areas.

The winery embraces the time-honored French tradition of blending several varietals together for the ultimate wine experience.

Casque Wines opened up its winery in Loomis before opening a new tasting room at the Flower Farm in 2013. The tasting room is dog and family friendly and provides room for picnics.

 

If you love wine, then you will love the options Placer County has!

 

Anyone craving adrenaline-pumping activities might soon zip line down a seven-story abandoned quarry or rock climb down its cliff at a historic site in Rocklin.

The future of Rocklin Adventures moved forward in January when the Rocklin City Council approved an agreement with Legacy Family Adventures, the company tapped to design about 30 percent of the adventure park. It has designed more than 40 water, adventure and theme parks, including some in Northern California.

City leaders said the initial design phase will take a few months, or perhaps a little longer, but the park could be built by next spring.

Parts of the plan call for the use of some structures on site, including the Big Gun Quarry Pit and other property. But the city maintains that the integration will happen without tampering with the historic integrity of the site.

 

 

Once the initial design plans are set the city would release them to outside contractors to design the reminder of the park.

Visitors will still have access to public areas once the park opens.

City leaders believe the adventure park will add to the Quarry District’s charm and history. The district in the heart of Old Town Rocklin focuses on art, entertainment, park and open space perfect for community gatherings.

 

 

In 2016, the Adventure Park concept was publicly introduced. Since then, the city has worked with a third-party consultant to evaluate what it will take for the park to get off the ground.

 

Placer County just made it much easier to apply and proceed with the acquisition of a building permit.

The newly launched online permitting process is now available on the Building Services Division’s online portal.

The services will allow contractors to obtain the permits used for a variety of purposes, including:

  • Heating and air conditioning installation
  • Reroofing
  • Water heater replacement
  • Solar installation
  • Windows
  • Minor plumbing
  • Mechanical and electrical work

The county said the online tool is an “effort to improve services and ease the process of getting a building permit.”

Before this was set up, getting a permit required a trip to the county’s building services office in either Auburn or Tahoe City.

 

 

In an upcoming expansion of online tools, licensed contractors will be able to submit small projects, including deck, patio covers, swimming pools and single-family dealing in tracts.

The county anticipates that all permit types will be available online to both homeowners and contractors later this year.

 

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