Sacramento Real Estate

Julie Gallaher

What you should know about Sacramento area real estate in 2026.

  1. 2d ago

    An Unusual Journey - Dennis Elliott Origin Story

    Meet Dennis Elliott, a top-rated Sacramento Realtor and North Natomas real estate specialist with more than 18 years of experience helping buyers, sellers and investors throughout the Sacramento region. Dennis has been voted Best Realtor in Sacramento by the Sacramento Bee three years in a row, and North Natomas has become the community most closely connected to his real estate career. Learn more about Dennis, search Sacramento-area homes or connect with him at https://DennisSellsNatomas.com But Dennis Elliott’s path to becoming a successful Realtor didn’t begin in a real estate office. It began with vacuum cleaners, websites, a Costco kiosk — and one extremely hot garage. As a broke 19-year-old college student, Dennis discovered pretty quickly that the traditional “hard sell” wasn’t for him. He’d been building websites since he was 15, so when he needed rent money, he opened the phone book and started calling local businesses to ask if they needed a website. That entrepreneurial streak eventually led him to his first real estate-related job: making calls for an independent mortgage broker while working from an un-air-conditioned garage. Then came real estate investing. Dennis bought his first home in 2007 — just before the Great Recession. As the housing market collapsed, he watched the property lose roughly half its value. Instead of walking away, he rented out four of the home’s five bedrooms to cover the mortgage and held on. That experience became an education no classroom could duplicate. Soon, Dennis was flying across the country buying inexpensive foreclosures in places like Pennsylvania and Ohio, renovating properties and wholesaling homes to other investors. Eventually, his journey brought him to Sacramento, where he bought a duplex, studied the business obsessively and earned his broker’s license. By then, he had experienced real estate from almost every possible angle — homeowner, landlord, renovator, wholesaler, investor and buyer. North Natomas entered the story almost by accident after a lender introduced Dennis to the broker at Keller Williams in Natomas. What began as a brokerage change turned into a genuine connection to the community — its neighborhoods, growth, convenient location and the people who live there. And perhaps the biggest lesson from Dennis’s story goes all the way back to those vacuum cleaners. Great real estate isn’t about the hard sell. It’s about understanding what your clients are going through, solving problems and helping people make smart decisions about one of the biggest investments of their lives. Listen to Dennis Elliott’s full story on the Sacramento Real Estate Podcast. Learn more about Dennis Elliott and North Natomas real estate at https://DennisSellsNatomas.com More Sacramento Real Estate News https://www.sacramentotop10.com/featured-real-estate/

    An Unusual Journey - Dennis Elliott Origin Story
  2. Aug 23

    The Insider's Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Placerville

    What if choosing where to live wasn’t really about square footage, school districts or commute times — but about choosing which version of the California dream fits you best? https://www.sacramentotop10.com/insiders-guide-to-the-best-neighborhoods-in-placerville-el-dorado-county/ That’s the question hiding inside a surprisingly short stretch of Highway 50 between Placerville and Pollock Pines. In just about 15 miles, the landscape — and the lifestyle — changes dramatically. You move from Gold Rush history to acreage, from orchards and vineyards to dense pine forest, and finally into true mountain country. Start with Historic Placerville, where irregular streets, Victorian-era architecture and a real walkable downtown create something most modern suburbs can’t imitate. This isn’t faux history built by a developer. Placerville grew organically during the Gold Rush, and today its historic residential districts still preserve that character. The trade-off? Owning a historic home can mean accepting preservation rules along with the charm. Head west to Gold Hill and the equation flips. Here, it’s about acreage, custom homes, mature oaks, horses, workshops, RVs and privacy. Instead of walking to coffee, you may be managing a well, septic system and several acres of your own little kingdom. Yet Highway 50 keeps you connected to Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills and Sacramento. Drive east and you enter Apple Hill and Camino, where vineyards, apple orchards and small farms dominate the scenery. One of the best local secrets? Apple Hill isn’t actually a town. It began as a cooperative marketing effort among area farmers and became such a successful regional identity that today people treat “Apple Hill” like a place on the map. Add wineries, volcanic soils and high-elevation growing conditions, and you have one of Northern California’s most distinctive wine-country lifestyles. Then the elevation climbs. Sly Park and Jenkinson Lake offer the mountain-playground version of Pollock Pines — kayaking, fishing, hiking and mountain biking surrounded by forest. But mountain living comes with real responsibilities: snow, fire prevention, defensible space, generators and winter preparedness. Want the mountain scenery with more neighborhood structure? Gold Ridge Forest combines pine trees and elevation with organized amenities, community green space and even swimming pools — something like suburbia transported into the forest. And then there’s Sierra Springs, for buyers who want the classic cabin-in-the-pines experience. Here, power outages, winter storms and self-reliance aren’t abstract possibilities. They’re part of the lifestyle. For some buyers, that sounds exhausting. For others, it sounds perfect. That’s what makes Placerville and Pollock Pines so fascinating. You’re not simply choosing a neighborhood. You’re choosing your relationship with the land. Historic town? Private acreage? Vineyard country? Lake life? Organized mountain community? Or full cabin-in-the-pines independence? Which one sounds most like you? Listen to our latest Sacramento Real Estate podcast and explore the Insider’s Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Placerville & Pollock Pines.

    The Insider's Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Placerville
  3. Aug 23

    The Insider's Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Citrus Heights

    Citrus Heights looks simple from the road. It isn’t. https://www.sacramentotop10.com/the-insiders-guide-to-the-best-neighborhoods-in-citrus-heights/ Drive down Auburn Boulevard, Greenback Lane or Sunrise Boulevard and you might assume the city is one continuous stretch of suburban development. But behind those commercial corridors is a surprisingly complicated patchwork of neighborhoods shaped by more than 150 years of development. That’s what makes Citrus Heights so unusual. In this episode, we explore why the city defies normal suburban logic — and why choosing the right neighborhood here is less about prestige and more about matching a very specific lifestyle. Start with Sylvan and Old Auburn Road, where Citrus Heights still reveals traces of its earliest history. This part of town grew from Gold Rush-era transportation routes, ranch land and a community that dates back to the 1800s. Today, buyers can find mature trees, larger parcels and homes with far more individuality than you’d expect in a Sacramento suburb. But character comes with a trade-off: older properties can also mean more maintenance, less standardized infrastructure and plenty of surprises. Then travel just a short distance to Stock Ranch, and everything changes. Developed in the 2000s as a 129-acre master-planned area, Stock Ranch offers newer homes, predictable lots, contemporary layouts, parks and open space. It’s essentially the opposite of Sylvan — designed for buyers who want convenience without taking on the renovation risks that often come with an older house. For the strongest all-around choice, the guide points to Sunrise Ranch. Quiet residential streets, substantial homes, mature trees and deeper yards give it a sense of permanence without relying on gates, golf courses or flashy amenities. The trade-off is older floor plans, but for buyers who value outdoor space and an established neighborhood, that may be exactly the point. Nearby Sunrise Oaks takes a different approach. Its advantage is proximity. Residents are close to the massive Sunrise and Greenback shopping corridor, but curving streets, landscaping and neighborhood design help separate residential life from the commercial activity just beyond it. Think of it as having immediate access to the action without having to live in the middle of it. Then there’s the Rusch Park area, where the neighborhood anchor isn’t architectural prestige but recreation. Older housing combined with access to a major community park creates an appealing option for buyers who care more about lifestyle, activities and value than having the newest kitchen on the block. And don’t overlook Park Oaks. It may be Citrus Heights’ sleeper neighborhood precisely because it doesn’t come with a famous name, historic designation or showpiece amenity. It’s simply a solid, established residential pocket — the kind that can be missed when homebuyers rely too heavily on search filters instead of actually driving the streets. The biggest wildcard may be what happens next. The Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan proposes a dramatic reinvention of the old Sunrise Mall property, with roughly 100 acres potentially transitioning toward a mixed-use community destination. If that transformation succeeds, it could eventually change the lifestyle appeal of nearby neighborhoods including Sunrise Oaks and Sunrise Ranch. The lesson? Citrus Heights is not one generic suburb. It’s a street-by-street collision of architectural eras, development philosophies and lifestyle choices. The best neighborhood isn’t necessarily the newest or most expensive. It’s the one that fits the way you actually want to live.

    The Insider's Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Citrus Heights
  4. Aug 23

    The Insider's Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in West Sacramento

    West Sacramento is no longer just “the city across the river.” https://www.sacramentotop10.com/the-insiders-guide-to-the-best-neighborhoods-in-west-sacramento/ For decades, the Sacramento River acted almost like a psychological barrier. Downtown Sacramento was the established capital city; West Sacramento was the place on the other side. But cross the Tower Bridge today and that old story starts falling apart fast. The biggest example is the Bridge District, where former industrial waterfront is being transformed into one of the region’s most interesting urban neighborhoods. Instead of warehouses and shipping infrastructure, you’ll find contemporary apartments, condos and townhomes near River Walk Park, Sutter Health Park, The Barn and Mill Street Pier. It’s designed for people willing to trade the traditional big backyard for something else: proximity. And the amazing part? Cross Tower Bridge and you’re essentially in Downtown Sacramento. But West Sacramento isn’t trying to become one giant urban neighborhood. Drive just a little farther and the lifestyle changes completely. The Rivers, sometimes associated with the Lighthouse neighborhood, offers upscale master-planned living with green space, private parks, community pools and larger homes—all surprisingly close to Downtown Sacramento. Then head south of the Deep Water Ship Channel and you enter Southport, where the classic suburban dream takes over. Bridgeway Lakes and Bridgeway Island offer newer homes, attached garages, usable yards, parks and family-oriented streets. Bridgeway Lakes Community Park alone covers 12 acres, with walking paths, a spray ground, amphitheater and baseball diamond. And Southport is still growing. The enormous Yarbrough Master Plan calls for roughly 3,000 additional homes, commercial development, a golf course and an interconnected system of lakes, canals and parks. But some of West Sacramento’s most intriguing neighborhoods aren’t new at all. Washington dates back to Washington Town in 1850 and sits less than a mile from Downtown Sacramento. It doesn’t have the perfectly coordinated look of a master-planned community—and that’s precisely what makes it interesting. Historic homes, newer infill and redevelopment are all colliding in one of the best-located pockets of the city. Nearby Broderick and Bryte offer another version of old West Sacramento, with cottages, bungalows, modest ranch homes and newer infill mixed together. These are neighborhoods where buyers need to look block by block, but the combination of history, location and future investment makes them fascinating to watch. So what is the best neighborhood in West Sacramento? That depends entirely on the life you want. Want an urban riverfront lifestyle? Start with the Bridge District. Want upscale master-planned living without a long suburban commute? Look at The Rivers. Want classic family suburbia? Explore Bridgeway Lakes, Bridgeway Island and Southport. Want historic character and redevelopment potential? Take a serious look at Washington, Broderick and Bryte. West Sacramento’s real strength is that these neighborhoods don’t compete by offering the same thing. They solve completely different problems for completely different buyers. And that may be the biggest change of all. West Sacramento is no longer defined by what sits across the river. Increasingly, it’s becoming a place worth crossing the bridge to get to. 🎧 Listen to the full episode for our deep dive into the best neighborhoods in West Sacramento—and how geography, development and lifestyle are reshaping the city.

    The Insider's Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in West Sacramento
  5. Aug 23

    The Insider’s Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Cameron Park

    What if your neighborhood streets were designed for airplanes instead of just cars? https://www.sacramentotop10.com/the-insiders-guide-to-the-best-neighborhoods-in-cameron-park/ Welcome to Cameron Air Park Estates in Cameron Park, California, where private aviation isn’t just a hobby — it’s built into the neighborhood. Here, homeowners can keep aircraft in oversized hangars at their homes, taxi directly onto specially designed shared-use streets, and make their way to the runway at Cameron Park Airport. Even the street signs, mailboxes, and infrastructure are designed around the fact that sometimes the vehicle coming down the road has wings. It’s one of the most unusual examples of how a neighborhood can be shaped around the lifestyle of the people who live there. And Cameron Air Park Estates is only the beginning. In this episode, we explore The Insider’s Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Cameron Park and Shingle Springs, including golf-course living near Cameron Park Country Club, recreation around Cameron Park Lake, acreage in Cameron Estates and Green Springs Ranch, the privacy of rural Shingle Springs and French Creek, and the more traditional suburban feel of Bar J Ranch. The fascinating part? These neighborhoods aren’t variations on the same suburban formula. They represent completely different ways of living — from airplanes and golf carts to horses, hobby vineyards, workshops, RVs and wide-open land. Based on The Insider’s Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Cameron Park, written by Julie Gallaher of Sacramento Top 10. If you could design a neighborhood around your favorite passion, what would yours look like?

    The Insider’s Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Cameron Park
  6. Aug 19

    From Private Chef to Realtor - Rachel Griffith Origin Story

    Rachel Griffith, REALTOR® at Windermere Realty in Fair Oaks, didn’t set out to build a career in real estate. Her path began in a completely different world — as a private chef. Born and raised in Sacramento, Rachel built a successful culinary career around something she loved: taking care of people. She planned menus, worked inside clients’ homes, handled demanding schedules, solved problems on the fly, and created experiences that felt personal and effortless. Then came March 2020. Rachel had a catering and private-chef calendar booked through the end of the year when the pandemic brought the hospitality industry to an abrupt halt. Fortunately, she had recently earned her real estate license — originally something she planned to keep “in her back pocket.” Instead of waiting for life to return to normal, Rachel went all in on real estate. She learned a brand-new business during one of the most unusual housing markets in history and sold her first home just months later. What surprised Rachel most was how naturally her old skills transferred to her new career. The preparation, problem-solving, attention to detail and ability to understand what people need were just as valuable in real estate as they had been in the kitchen. And then one client changed everything. After helping a woman who had been through a difficult life transition buy a home she never thought she could own, Rachel watched her break down in tears as she received the keys. In that moment, Rachel realized she had found the same sense of purpose she once found in feeding people: helping someone feel cared for, secure and at home. Today, real estate isn’t Rachel Griffith’s backup career. It’s her calling. Rachel Griffith is also featured in Sacramento Top 10’s Insider’s Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Fair Oaks, a local resource for buyers who want to understand the communities, lifestyle and character of Fair Oaks. Read the guide:https://www.sacramentotop10.com/the-insiders-guide-to-the-best-neighborhoods-in-fair-oaks/ Rachel Griffith, REALTOR®Windermere Realty – Fair Oaks📞 916-718-0034🌐 https://rgriffith.windermereca.com/REALTOR® License #02106442

    From Private Chef to Realtor - Rachel Griffith Origin Story
  7. Jun 16

    The Insider's Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Auburn, California

    Auburn, California is not the kind of place where you simply “buy a house.” You choose a lifestyle. https://www.sacramentotop10.com/insiders-guide-to-the-best-neighborhoods-in-auburn-ca/ In this episode, we take a deep dive into what makes Auburn’s neighborhoods so fascinating — and so different from the predictable, master-planned suburbs found throughout much of the Sacramento region. Auburn was shaped by the Gold Rush, rugged foothill terrain, steep streets, river canyons, wooded acreage, and a fiercely independent identity. That means each pocket of town offers something completely different. Old Town Auburn gives you brick storefronts, antique shops, steep streets, historic cottages, and Gold Rush charm right outside your front door. Downtown Auburn keeps that vintage character but adds everyday livability, local dining, shops, parades, and community events. South Auburn and Robie Point are all about canyon views, trail access, Overlook Park, and a lifestyle that practically hands you hiking poles at closing. Bowman offers more space and quiet without cutting you off from town, while Christian Valley is for buyers who want acreage, privacy, workshops, gardens, livestock, and a blessed distance from the neighbor’s leaf blower. But rural beauty comes with real responsibilities: fire insurance, defensible space, private road maintenance, wells, brush clearing, and a much more hands-on approach to homeownership. Then there’s North Auburn, the practical hero of the story. It may not flirt with you like Old Town or dazzle you like the canyon, but it makes daily life easier with shopping, services, medical offices, Highway 49, and I-80 close by. And finally, Lake of the Pines offers a completely different lifestyle — a gated lake community with golf, a marina, pools, tennis, and resort-style amenities just north of Auburn. Auburn’s magic is that it refuses to be one thing. It asks a better question: What kind of daily life do you actually want?

    The Insider's Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Auburn, California
  8. Jun 16

    The Insider's Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Granite Bay

    Granite Bay is not a one-size-fits-all luxury suburb. It’s a collection of distinct neighborhoods, each offering its own version of upscale living. https://www.sacramentotop10.com/insiders-guide-to-the-best-neighborhoods-in-granite-bay/ Instead of being defined by a walkable downtown or boutique shopping scene, Granite Bay is known for beautiful homes, large yards, mature trees, top-rated schools, privacy, horses, lake access and a more relaxed foothill lifestyle. For buyers seeking classic Granite Bay prestige, Los Lagos, Wexford and Shelborne are the signature gated communities. Los Lagos feels established, private and organic, with custom estates tucked into mature landscaping. Wexford is more formal and polished, with cohesive streets, manicured yards and a strong sense of order. Shelborne offers a middle ground: gated privacy and polish, but with a warmer, more neighborly feel, especially appealing to families who want prestige without feeling isolated. For buyers who want the Granite Bay address without the grand-estate formality, Treelake Village, Wedgewood, Ashley Woods and Greyhawk offer a more approachable version of high-end suburban life. These neighborhoods are polished, comfortable and practical, with an emphasis on community, schools and everyday convenience. They deliver the quality and location buyers want, but with a more relaxed, “live your actual life” atmosphere. Granite Bay also appeals to buyers who want space, views and architectural freedom. Douglas Ranch offers larger lots, horse properties and a semi-rural feel, while Eden Rock is ideal for custom homes and buyers who do not want every house to look the same. In these neighborhoods, luxury is less about uniformity and more about elbow room. For lake lovers, Folsom Lake Estates offers a completely different lifestyle. Here, the appeal is boating, paddle boarding, trails, beaches, picnic areas and scenic views. The lake becomes part of daily life rather than an occasional weekend outing. Tying all of Granite Bay together are the schools. Eureka Union School District and Granite Bay High School are major drivers of demand and property values. Whether someone chooses gated prestige, family-friendly comfort, acreage, or lake living, Granite Bay’s top-tier schools remain one of its strongest and most enduring attractions.

    The Insider's Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Granite Bay

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What you should know about Sacramento area real estate in 2026.