Tag Archives: grass valley

Nevada County Information, Real Estate

Residential Sales in Nevada County November 2009 Compared to November 2008

 map-of-nevada-county

The good news is that sales volume picked up 7 percent.   In November of 2007 to November of 2008, 839 homes had been sold.  From November 2008 to November 2009 897 homes were sold, an increase of 7 percent.

The average sales price in November 2008 was $395,609. In November 2009 the average sales price was $316,859.  This is a decrease of $78,650 or a 20 percent drop in average sales price.  The amount of active listings also dropped 7 percent.

Sales bya few key areas:

 Nevada City area sales increased 17 percent and average sales price dropped 22 percent. The average sales price in November 2009 was $364,800 compared to a year ago of $468,895.

Lake Wildwood sales increased 11 percent and the average sales price dropped 14 percent to an average sales price of $316,216 compared to last year’s average sales price of $368,366.

Lake of the Pines sales decreased 3 percent and the average sales price dropped 20 percent to an average sales price of $313,188 compared to $368,366 last year.

Alta Sierra sales increased 20 percent and the average sales price dropped 26 percent to an average sales price of $305,537 compared to last year’s average sales price of $410,415.

Grass Valley’s sales decreased 3 percent and the average sales price dropped 16 percent to an average sales price of $267,024 compared to last year’s average sales price of $318,072.

Penn Valley sales decreased 10 percent and the average sales price dropped 12 percent to an average sales price of $319,370 compared to last year’s average sales price of $361,450.

Peardale/Chicago Park sales decreased 2 percent and the average sales price decreased 20 percent with an average sales price of $382,940 compared to last year’s average sales price of $476,855.

There are other areas of the county which I have not mentioned. If you are interested in any particular area that is not in the list above, write or call me and I will give you the stats.

John O’Dell
Broker

Real Estate

Realty World, O’Dell Realty Group is Now John O’Dell Realty

Bridgeport Covered Bridge, Nevada County, CA

 

I’m pleased to announce that we are no longer a part of the Realty World, Northern California franchise.  No longer being part of the corporate world, we are back to being your home town real estate company, locally owned and operated. We are also using our original name, O’Dell Realty. Please go to our website John ODell Realty   There you can search for all the  MLS listings, foreclosures or put yourself on a free mailing list of homes with your own criteria to find exactly the home or land that you are looking for.

With the advent of the world wide web, there is no need for being a part of a corporate franchise. Along with our own web site, we can provide you with large exposure on many other websites, such as Realtor.com, Trulia and others, to mention just a few. Of course your property is also listed  on the Nevada County Multiple Listing service.  We also have direct access to all of the Bay Area  MLS’s and beyond, along with most of the Northern California MLS’s. Currently we are working with clients buying property in the Bay Area, along with our clients here in Nevada County.

We want to thank our clients that has helped us to be successful for these many years.

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Thinking of buying or selling?
For all your real estate needs
Email or call:

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

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Entertainment

The Smothers Brothers Are Coming to Grass Valley

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kj_ZoQZUps

The Smothers Brothers in Boil That Cabbage Down
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I’ve always enjoyed the The The Smothers Brothers and now they are coming to Grass Valley this Saturday October 17.  They will perform at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 255 S. Auburn Street, Grass Valley. They will start at 8 pm, General Admission is $45.00. If you want to spend a little more money, for $125 per person you can get reserved table seating in front of stage, pre-event cocktail party with entertainment, complimentary beer, wine and appetizers and reserved parking.

Starting the affair will be The Yo Yo Man who begins his tricks with a trademark dance-like step that signals he’s in a “State of Yo” and ready to proceed. With each successive trick, the spirits rise until the crowd can no longer contain itself and contagiously fills the air with shouts of “Yo!”

For the younger one’s in the crowd, it was five decades ago that Tom and Dick Smothers first took stage together professionally. Comedy was about to change. Many comedy duos, have had success but none as enduring as the Smothers Brothers whose lengthy career has surpassed all other comedy teams in history. Their cutting-edge humor has not only been ahead of its time but has remained timeless as well. With their singular blend of comedic and musical talents, the irrepressible brothers have made a sweeping impact on diverse generations of fans. Such lasting power is a testimonial to their intuitive humor, natural warmth, superlative showmanship and the pure unadulterated joy they bring to audiences of all ages.

For more information including tickets go to Center of the Arts

Hiking

South Yuba River Independence Trail in Nevada County

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independence-trail-bench-tr

One of the many nice trails located in Nevada County is the South Yuba River Independence Trail. I have walked this trail many times and it is truly a unique natural and historic jewel. The trail is fairly level, with wheelchair accessibility on both on the west and the east trail.

The main entrance to the Trail is on Highway 49, 5.5 miles from Nevada City, heading towards Downieville, near the South Yuba River bridge. Parking is available beside the road, with several marked disabled spaces. Highlighting the West Trail is a waterfall one mile from the entrance. People and wheelchairs travel a switchback ramp from Flume 28 (520 feet long) to the swirling waters of Rush Creek. Also featured on the west side is an overlook of the Yuba River, surrounded by canyon flora. The East Trail features cliff-hanging flumes, more views of the river and foothill landscapes, with a total of two and a half miles of maintained trail. There are picnic areas, outhouses, and scenic vistas all around. The Independence Trail is for all people, with its gradual, level walkway – from young mothers with stroller kids, to serious hikers and joggers, to seniors with limited mobility, to those in wheelchairs. Bathrooms are available along the way.

The origin of the Independence Trail was an old, abandoned miner’s ditch, previously known as the Excelsior Canal. It was built to carry water from the South Yuba river to hydraulic mining sites in Smartsville, 25 miles downstream. When California outlawed hydraulic mining in 1884, the ditch was used for irrigation until 1967, when it was abandoned. In 1975, a docent of the Oakland Museum, John Olmsted, re-discovered the whole water system consisting of the ditch, the berm, where the ditch-tender walked, and the wooden flumes which bridged the ravines. He had the vision to recognize that this could be the answer to a friend’s lifelong dream: “Please find me a level wilderness trail where I can reach out and touch the wildflowers from my wheel chair.”

Hiking distance: 2.5 miles downstream (west) or upstream (east) The west trail offers a 4.3 mile loop along a swimming trail to Jones Bar Road and then goes back to Excelsior Canal and back to the start.
To start Go 5.5 miles from Nevada City towards Downieville just short of the South Yuba River. There is parking along Hwy 49 including handicapped spaces.

Caution:
Winter and Spring weather conditions can cause the trail to become muddy and impassable for wheelchairs.

Call the South Yuba River State Park for trail condition information before you go.

More Information South Yuba Indendence Trail


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Business

Chrysler May Terminate Liberty Motors Chrysler-Dodge Dealership

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Liberty Motors
Liberty Motors

Wow, in continuing bad news for Grass Valley’s tax revenues and our local shopping, Chrysler has announced that they are trying to close 789 dealerships according to CNN today. One of the chosen one’s is our local Chrysler dealer, G.K. Alcombrack, Inc. known as Liberty Motors Dodge Chrysler off of Freeman Lane.

Since Chrysler is in bankruptcy court, they are asking that the sales and service agreements between Chrysler Motors LLC and the 789 dealerships be terminated.

Chrysler has already sent letters to the dealerships and “Upon approval from the court, your agreement will be rejected on or about June 9, 2009”. This represents about 25% of their dealerships and represents about 14% of their sales.

So now we have lost Weaver GMAC, Ford has moved to Auburn and we may lose Chrysler. The only car sales remaining in Western Nevada County will be used car dealers. If we want to buy a new car, we’ll have to go out of town. Not a good thing, sorry to say. That means we have not only lost our dealerships, but when we want warranty work, that’s another trip out of town and more lost revenue.

I talked to Ernie Shewmaker today, salesman for Liberty Motors and he stated that they will continue to sell used cars at their present site. He claims they have not ordered any vehicles from Chrysler in months. However, their website still reflects that they are a Chrysler dealer.

To read the full story got to CNN Chrysler Closing 789 Dealerships

For a map of the 789 Dealerships to be closed go to New York Times Maps of Closings

History

The Historic Holbrooke Hotel, Grass Valley, CA

Photo courtesy of the Grass Valley Downtown Association
Photo courtesy of the Grass Valley Downtown Association

A gem in the beautiful City of Grass Valley is the Holbrooke Hotel. Perhaps better said, the Holbrooke Hotel is a nugget of gold, since Grass Valley is a City born of the gold rush of the 1800’s.

The history of the building of the Holbrooke Hotel started with Stephen and Clara Smith being among the first to invest in the then boom town of Grass Valley. They built the Adams Express Office and the Golden Gate Saloon which sadly, were destroyed by fire in 1855 along with most of Grass Valley. The Smiths rebuilt the popular saloon as a one story fieldstone building with a brick façade, making it safer from the threat of another fire. The Golden Gate Saloon, an integral part of the Holbrooke Hotel, is the oldest, continuously operated saloon west of the Mississippi River.

In 1862 a relative, Charles Smith, built the current structure and named it the Exchange Hotel. It was noted for its convenience to the local Gold Exchange. When the Gold Exchange was closed, 18 ounces of pure gold was found. In 1879 the hotel was purchased by Ellen and Daniel Holbrooke who gave the hotel its present name.

Over the years, the Hotel has hosted many famous guests that included Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, James Garfield and prize fighters, “Gentleman Jim” Corbett and Bob Fitzismmons. Famous authors Mark Twain and Bret Harte were also guests of the Holbrooke Hotel. The hotel was also frequented by entertainers Lola Montez, Lotta Crabtre and Emma Nevada. Some say that the infamous highwayman, Black Bart was also a guest of the hotel.

In 1974 the Holbrooke Hotel was declared a California State Landmark and proudly displays a plaque at the entrance to hotel commemorating that declaration.

The hotel is now under new management and will continue to provide top notch service. They have a splendid dining room; the Golden Gate Saloon is there much like it was in the 1800’s. You have a choice of staying in Victorian appointed rooms or suites. If you would like to relive a little of the past, with fine food and service, I recommend the Holbrooke Hotel to you.
For reservations, go to this link  Holbrooke Hotel