A Local's Guide to Rocklin

In the beautiful region of Northern California, the smaller city of Rocklin is the place that many families today go to visit, and sometimes even to live in eventually. Although the city is overflowing with countless recreational possibilities, Rocklin's greatest asset proves to be the quality of its residents. The following paragraphs provide an overview and a local's guide to the great little city of Rocklin, California.

Rocklin, CA History
Rocklin was first settled a hundred and fifty years ago by Joel Park Whiten. The farmer arrived and created his prosperous thirty thousand acres Spring Valley Ranch. In order to make places for his more than two hundred ranchers and their families, Whiten rounded up twenty-five miles of crushed rock to use for barns, housing, stables, roads, and even twelve granite bridges that he had built. This is showcased today at the Rocklin Historical Society. The city of Rocklin, California was eventually built on the ranch begun by Joel Whiten after the last member of his family had passed away and the ranch had deteriorated to ruin.

Rocklin, CA Parks
Many of the founder's original twelve granite bridges were encompassed into the city parks' building as a project undertaken by the Rocklin Recreation Commission. Today, the city proudly brags about its thirty different parks, along with two hundred acres of community parks, open spaces, neighborhood parks, sports fields, and events. Besides these impressive numbers of parks, Rocklin possesses a wide range of differing opportunities for recreation within the city limits.

Rocklin CA Colleges and Shopping
The city itself lies within Placer County, due north of Sacramento. Last year, it had a population of pproximately 54,754 and two colleges in its boundaries, William Jessup University that is a private Christian University, as well as Sierra College that was founded seventy years ago. Rocklin is furthermore the home of the Blue Oaks Town Center. This regional shopping center is found on Highway 65. Yet another beloved shopping outlet is Toy Row. This is often called the main shopping attraction in the city and stretches along the length of I-80. The

"toys" in this center are found principally in the Land Rover, Porsche, and three boat dealership showrooms. Recently, the Rocklin Coin Shop that is a significant gold and silver bullion dealer, along with the newer Mercedes dealership, have opened up here. Truly this shopping center is a toy story for grown ups with money to spend.

Rocklin, CA Events
Rocklin has been included in Family Circle Magazine as one of the very best ten places in America in which to raise a family. This little city provides its visitors and local alike with literally hundreds of events to enjoy. This great variety of entertainment includes theater, films, arts and crafts fairs, music, movies, and a few places of historical interest.

Rocklin, CA Music
Rocklin prides itself for its wide array of the finest musical entertainment not just from the community of Rocklin. They also feature terrific musical entertainment from surrounding locales. An example of this was the harp playing performance of Pamela Pamperin, among the city of Sacramento's best renowned harp players.

Rocklin, CA Nightlife Scene
Rocklin possesses a number of bars and sports bars within the city limits. Some of the more recommended ones are listed below, as follows:

Coaches Sports Bar
Granite Rock Grill
Don Quixote's Mexican Grill

Indoorgolf Plex

Paradise Grill Inc

Kokyo Teppan -Yaka & Sushi Bar

The Gray Goose Bistro & Bar

Reagan's Pub

Wave Sushi & Grill

Rocklin CA Tourist Appeal
The tourists who come to see Rocklin at once discover that the city has an ideal climate. The temperatures here run from seventy degrees during the fall and spring and have mild winters. The rainfall is a mere twenty-one inches each year.

Tourists encounter a number of points of historical interest, a museum, aquatics, pools, parks, and also golf. On top of this, wonderful places to eat and to stay abound in the city. Rocklin also prides itself for being a city that values the arts as the greatest appeal in the local entertainment scene. There are festivals like the Got Shakespeare!, the Spring Art Show, the Toast of the Town, and the Winter Wonderland annual events. Other attractions include the Evening in the Park Concerts, Center Stage Family Theater, Breakfast with Santa, and Santa Visits.

Rocklin Real Estate
For those who visit Northern California and the Placer County area and fall under the spell of its many charms, there are a wide variety of reasonably priced Rocklin real estate. Among them are single family homes, condos, townhouses, and apartments. The average home price here currently comes in at $299,000. New home prices are higher, at a heftier $399,467. Rent prices start at $800 and up for rentals of one bedroom apartments.

Top Five Tips for Saving Money While Mortgage Shopping

The Placer County real estate market features several Rocklin homes for sale that are excellent values in today's market. As a result, it's worth shopping around for a mortgage that can help you take advantage of these deals.

Here are five helpful tips which can help Rocklin home buyers save money on most Rocklin real estate mortgages:

1) Do some research in advance to find out which mortgages are right for your situation.

Some Placer County residents need an Adjustable Rate Mortgage because they might have to sell their home in 3-5 years. Other Placer Counter residents might need a 15-30 year traditional fixed-rate mortgage because they might want to keep the home for more than five years. Therefore, try to do some background research on mortgages before asking a Rocklin real estate agent for advice purchasing a home because you can save money by avoiding wasting money on mortgage products and services that you may not need to purchase

It's easy to do this research because there are several books, websites and pamphlets that can help Placer County home buyers learn about the types of mortgages available. Ask your local Rocklin real estate agent for more details about these resources.

2) Once you've figured out which type of mortgage is right for your situation, ask a Rocklin real estate agent for a list of reputable local mortgage brokers.

It is a good idea to purchase a mortgage from a reputable local lender because you can often save money on the closing costs and up-front fees that can make obtaining a mortgage prohibitive for some Placer County residents.

Local lenders can help Placer County residents save money on most Rocklin real estate mortgages because they can help clients take advantage of local market conditions to find an affordable mortgage that features lower fees. This is possible because most local mortgage companies can afford to offer clients lower fees because their overhead costs are generally lower than what national mortgage lenders pay.

3) Make sure that you get a fair estimate of all closing costs from several local lenders to get an idea of what you should pay for a mortgage.

All Placer County mortgage brokers are required by federal law to provide clients an estimate of any closing fees that clients must pay before they buy a mortgage. As a result, be sure to get estimates from several lenders to determine which lenders offer the lowest closing costs.

4) Use these estimates to shop for mortgages which offer the lowest total costs.

Today's Placer County mortgage market is highly competitive. Therefore, people who are considering buying one of the great Rocklin homes for sale should be able to save money by shopping around for mortgages which offer the lowest total costs.

Here are some hints that can help you do this.

--Look for mortgages which offer the lowest mortgage discount "point" fees and interest rates possible.

Discount "point" fees are used to offset the costs of offering home buyers a lower mortgage rate. Many home buyers can save money by shopping for mortgages that offer the lowest possible fixed mortgage rates on conventional 15 and 30 year obligations. This is true because most mortgages deals that include lower fixed mortgage rates need fewer discount "point" fees to complete successfully.

--Try to look for a lender that offers clients free applications and free credit reports.

There are many Placer County Real Estate brokers who know of several local mortgage lenders who offer clients free mortgage applications and free credit reports. These lenders can help home buyers save money because they offer discounts on closing fee and administrative costs. As a result, try to look for a lender that will waive the application and credit report fee. It might help you save money on a Rocklin real estate mortgage.

5) Finally, try to purchase mortgages that allow you pay back the mortgage early without incurring a penalty.

Many Placer County home buyers who are considering re-financing their mortgages or selling their homes before their mortgage contract ends should consider purchasing a mortgage that allows them to pay back the loan early without a penalty because it could save them money on re-finance and closing costs. This is true because the penalty for paying off a mortgage early can be as much as 2-3% of the amount of the mortgage.

For more information, ask your local Placer County real estate agent. He can help you find the resources you might need to learn more about Rocklin's mortgage market.

Rocklin - One of America's Best Little Cities for a Reason

Every now and then, a little known location becomes recognized, inviting attention previously bestowed by only a few. The city of Rocklin, California, nestled in the foothills of the scenic Sierra Nevada Mountains, in Sacramento's greater metropolitan region, is a prime example. What has made Rocklin so popular and what does Rocklin real estate offer for those interested in residing there?

A snapshot of Rocklin, atop 20 square miles of rolling hills, reveals a family oriented community consisting primarily of nicely kept homes. One of the fasting growing cities in California, its population increased 51% from 2000-2009 alone. Although significantly faster than its surrounds, over the next five years it was predicted to slow to 9% in keeping with the rest of Placer County, in which it is located.

With a current population of 55,000, Rocklin doesn't compare population-wise to major US cities like Los Angeles, or even the capital city, Sacramento, with just under half a million. However, it has the activity level that attracts city dwellers, combined with small town ambiance. The city-like ethnic blend of White, African American, Native American, Asian, and Latino, moreover, encourages variety in restaurants, shopping venues, and cultural events. Additionally, located a half hour north of the capital, Rocklin residents benefit from Sacramento's bigger city advantages and amenities while preserving their little city's marvelous outdoor living and recreational facilities.

Much of Rocklin real estate, in fact, was built upon former ranch land developed one hundred fifty years ago and instrumental in building the area's historical charm. Joel Parker Whitney established his Spring Valley Ranch on 30,000 acres, building crushed stone roads covering 25 miles and granite bridges, with granite mined from Rocklin's own quarries. With housing for 200 ranch hands and families, this "first development" is now graced by two beautiful planned communities, Stanford Ranch and Whitney Oaks. What's more, the ranch's original granite bridges were preserved by the city's recreation commission. Designing community parks around them, they opted to blend history with modern living.

Besides scenic allure, Rocklin has many other assets, recently prompting Family Circle magazine to name it one of the top ten places to raise a family in the nation. Maintaining a great residential and business climate, this little city offers excellent schools, low crime, sound government, tree lined streets, 30 parks, extensive recreational programs and a friendly feeling that residents love. Not to be outdone by bigger cities, it also sports its share of culture, evidenced by museums of history and environmental science, an exotic wildlife refuge facility, and the early 20th century Finn Hall, renovated for event hosting. Another "plus" is Rocklin's transportation system; an Amtrak station allows easy commuting to Sacramento and smooth transit to San Francisco, only 108 miles away. It's a hassle-free arrangement suggesting that a Rocklin real estate acquisition might support a less stressful lifestyle.

When considering Rocklin homes for sale, current inventory displays nearly 250, with even more foreclosures. As Rocklin home values have taken a nosedive along with the rest of the country, there couldn't be a better time to buy. These examples of Rocklin homes for sale show the inherent value:

• A beautiful golf course home, sold in 2004 for nearly $350,000, is available as a short-sale with an asking price of $285,000. Currently valued at $310,000, encompassing 2151 square feet of living space with 4 bedrooms and an office, it was valued around a half million dollars in 2006.

• Reduced $20,000 from the initial listing, a large, totally renovated 2361 square foot home on a quarter acre, lists at $269,000. Last sold in 2001 for $245,000, then extensively remodeled, its estimated value rose to half a million dollars in 2006! Regardless of costly interior and exterior updates, it illustrates motivated sellers offering price incentives to quicken the sale.

• Another traditional sale, further supporting this concept, a 2024 square foot home on over one third acre, with a beautifully remodeled kitchen, sold in 2006 for $445,000. Its estimated value was around $500,000 then; it lists now for $295,000. Again, the remodeling advantages endure minus the headaches and cost.

While most homes presently sale-listed were built between 1980 and 1999, about one third are newer, from 2000 to present. Foreclosures abound here, and a fairly new home in Whitney Oaks, on the old Spring Valley Ranch land, is selling for little more than half a million dollars. With a whopping 3808 square feet of living space, 5 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, it is close to everything. Best of all, it embodies the essence of Rocklin, combining rustic charm with modern amenities.

Rocklin has truly been a well kept secret, though its reputation is expanding. Following Family Circle's 2010 recognition, Money magazine ranked it 65th among 100 best cities with populations between 50,000 and 300,000. Recognition by outsiders notwithstanding, residents lavish praise on their hometown, as well, raising the question of whether the predicted leveling-off in population growth might need revision. Regardless, it's clear that Rocklin real estate, in one of America's greatest little cities, seems like a solid investment!

Check out the links below for more on Rocklin California:

Buying Real Estate in Rocklin California

Buy to Let - The Outlook's Fine in Rocklin

Tips For Finding Real Estate Treasures in Rocklin CA

How Short Sale Buying is Different from Regular Home Buying

Rocklin Official Site