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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A new report shows a promising upward trend for home prices in Lake County.
The Lake County Association of Realtors, or LCAOR, reported the April median sales price for single family residences in Lake County rose to $284,000, the highest median sales price in more than 10 years.
The April median was 1.6 percent higher than the March median of $279,500, LCAOR said. On a year-to-year basis the 2018 April median topped the 2017 April median of $235,000 by more than 20 percent.
The number of sales in April was 79 compared to 66 in March, accounting for a 19.7 percent gain in sales. There were 81 sales in April of 2017, the association reported.
The association said Lake County inventory levels grew from 5.3 months of inventory in March to 6.3 months in April.
Conventional loan financing was used in 45.6 percent of the transactions with FHA loans being used in 19 percent of the overall deals. Cash financing was used in 22.8 percent of the sales, LCAOR said.
“California as a state continues to struggle with affordability,” said LCAOR President Melissa Chapman. “Although prices are increasing here a report by the California Association of Realtors estimated that about 40 percent of the Lake County households could afford the quarterly median sales price of $266,000. The minimum qualifying annual income for that amount is $55,160.”
The same report from the California Association of Realtors showed that 31 percent of the California households could afford the statewide quarterly median sales price of $538,640 with a minimum qualifying income of $111,500.
Mortgage rates have been on the rise since breaking the 4.0 percent barrier in February.
The 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 4.47 percent in April, up from 4.44 percent in March and from 4.05 percent in April 2017, according to Freddie Mac. The five-year, adjustable mortgage interest rate also edged higher in April to an average of 3.66 percent from 3.65 percent in March and from 3.15 percent in April 2017.
LAKE COUNTY NUMBERS AT A GLANCE
April 2018
Median price: $284,000
Units sold: 79
Median days to sell: 37
March 2018
Median price: $279,500
Units sold: 66
Median days to sell: 42
April 2017
Median price: $235,000
Units sold: 81
Median days to sell: 57
The Lake County Association of Realtors, or LCAOR, reported the April median sales price for single family residences in Lake County rose to $284,000, the highest median sales price in more than 10 years.
The April median was 1.6 percent higher than the March median of $279,500, LCAOR said. On a year-to-year basis the 2018 April median topped the 2017 April median of $235,000 by more than 20 percent.
The number of sales in April was 79 compared to 66 in March, accounting for a 19.7 percent gain in sales. There were 81 sales in April of 2017, the association reported.
The association said Lake County inventory levels grew from 5.3 months of inventory in March to 6.3 months in April.
Conventional loan financing was used in 45.6 percent of the transactions with FHA loans being used in 19 percent of the overall deals. Cash financing was used in 22.8 percent of the sales, LCAOR said.
“California as a state continues to struggle with affordability,” said LCAOR President Melissa Chapman. “Although prices are increasing here a report by the California Association of Realtors estimated that about 40 percent of the Lake County households could afford the quarterly median sales price of $266,000. The minimum qualifying annual income for that amount is $55,160.”
The same report from the California Association of Realtors showed that 31 percent of the California households could afford the statewide quarterly median sales price of $538,640 with a minimum qualifying income of $111,500.
Mortgage rates have been on the rise since breaking the 4.0 percent barrier in February.
The 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 4.47 percent in April, up from 4.44 percent in March and from 4.05 percent in April 2017, according to Freddie Mac. The five-year, adjustable mortgage interest rate also edged higher in April to an average of 3.66 percent from 3.65 percent in March and from 3.15 percent in April 2017.
LAKE COUNTY NUMBERS AT A GLANCE
April 2018
Median price: $284,000
Units sold: 79
Median days to sell: 37
March 2018
Median price: $279,500
Units sold: 66
Median days to sell: 42
April 2017
Median price: $235,000
Units sold: 81
Median days to sell: 57
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Forty demonstrators were arrested at an animal rights protest Tuesday afternoon in Petaluma.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office received a call at noon on Tuesday regarding trespassers on the property of Sunrise Egg Farms on Liberty Road, according to Sgt. Spencer Crum.
Crum said it was reported that the animal rights activists had stormed the property, broken doors to chicken coops and removed chickens.
Upon arrival, the deputies were met by approximately 200 people setting up a coordinated protest. Crum said organizers of the demonstration demanded to be allowed access to the property and videotape what they perceived to be sick or improperly cared for chickens.
Management of the egg farm agreed to let an organizer come onto his property to view the chickens but negotiations broke down as protesters demanded that 20 people be allowed access with video cameras and to take any birds they felt were sick or injured, Crum said.
After three hours of negotiating, organizers felt they wanted to advance their cause and publicity by getting arrested. Crum said they cooperatively worked with deputies, advising they had 40 people who predetermined that they were going to be arrested.
The 40 protesters worked cooperatively with deputies and advanced onto the farm property and were all arrested without incident for trespassing, according to Crum.
A transport bus took them to the Sonoma County Jail where they will be booked and released on a citation to appear in court, Crum said.
Crum said deputies worked with the organizers and have taken a report, to be forwarded to the California Department of Food and Agriculture which regulates commercial chicken farms.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office received a call at noon on Tuesday regarding trespassers on the property of Sunrise Egg Farms on Liberty Road, according to Sgt. Spencer Crum.
Crum said it was reported that the animal rights activists had stormed the property, broken doors to chicken coops and removed chickens.
Upon arrival, the deputies were met by approximately 200 people setting up a coordinated protest. Crum said organizers of the demonstration demanded to be allowed access to the property and videotape what they perceived to be sick or improperly cared for chickens.
Management of the egg farm agreed to let an organizer come onto his property to view the chickens but negotiations broke down as protesters demanded that 20 people be allowed access with video cameras and to take any birds they felt were sick or injured, Crum said.
After three hours of negotiating, organizers felt they wanted to advance their cause and publicity by getting arrested. Crum said they cooperatively worked with deputies, advising they had 40 people who predetermined that they were going to be arrested.
The 40 protesters worked cooperatively with deputies and advanced onto the farm property and were all arrested without incident for trespassing, according to Crum.
A transport bus took them to the Sonoma County Jail where they will be booked and released on a citation to appear in court, Crum said.
Crum said deputies worked with the organizers and have taken a report, to be forwarded to the California Department of Food and Agriculture which regulates commercial chicken farms.
A bill to assist wildfire survivors underinsured after losing their home has passed the California Senate.
Senate Bill 894, authored by Sen. Bill Dodd and sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, will help wildfire survivors and homeowners in a number of important ways as they begin to rebuild their lives after a disaster.
"This is an important bill that will not only assist current wildfire survivors, but will also help to jump start the rebuilding and economic recovery process," said Commissioner Jones. "Residents who have lost everything are struggling to recover and rebuild their homes and lives. This bill will provide much-needed protections and improve chances for recovery."
SB 894 provides survivors the option to combine various coverages within their homeowner policy to offset any underinsured amount in their primary dwelling.
This provision would only be triggered in the event of a total loss following a declared disaster where the survivor is underinsured in their primary dwelling or Coverage A.
Underinsurance is not only a financial blow to disaster survivors, it is economically devastating to communities because, as one of the most challenging obstacles to loss recovery, it causes claim settlements to be delayed.
SB 894 would extend policy renewal protections for survivors retroactively to July 1, 2017 to alleviate the burden on survivors who find it impossible to get new coverage during the planning and rebuilding phase of the recovery.
Under this bill, survivors would be able to renew their insurance policy twice, which would cover two years after the loss. The bill would also extend the amount of time to collect living expenses from two years to three.
Both provisions reflect the reality that it takes most survivors more time than currently permitted to rebuild or replace the total loss property.
The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 24-11 and now moves on to the State Assembly. Only one Democrat opposed the bill.
Senate Bill 894, authored by Sen. Bill Dodd and sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, will help wildfire survivors and homeowners in a number of important ways as they begin to rebuild their lives after a disaster.
"This is an important bill that will not only assist current wildfire survivors, but will also help to jump start the rebuilding and economic recovery process," said Commissioner Jones. "Residents who have lost everything are struggling to recover and rebuild their homes and lives. This bill will provide much-needed protections and improve chances for recovery."
SB 894 provides survivors the option to combine various coverages within their homeowner policy to offset any underinsured amount in their primary dwelling.
This provision would only be triggered in the event of a total loss following a declared disaster where the survivor is underinsured in their primary dwelling or Coverage A.
Underinsurance is not only a financial blow to disaster survivors, it is economically devastating to communities because, as one of the most challenging obstacles to loss recovery, it causes claim settlements to be delayed.
SB 894 would extend policy renewal protections for survivors retroactively to July 1, 2017 to alleviate the burden on survivors who find it impossible to get new coverage during the planning and rebuilding phase of the recovery.
Under this bill, survivors would be able to renew their insurance policy twice, which would cover two years after the loss. The bill would also extend the amount of time to collect living expenses from two years to three.
Both provisions reflect the reality that it takes most survivors more time than currently permitted to rebuild or replace the total loss property.
The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 24-11 and now moves on to the State Assembly. Only one Democrat opposed the bill.
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A Cal Fire firefighter injured in the Monday fire that destroyed the Middletown Hardester’s Market is recovering, authorities reported Tuesday.
Cal Fire identified the injured man as Justin Costa, who is a paid call firefighter with the South Lake County Fire Protection District and also a Cal Fire employee. He’s assigned to Middletown Fire Station No. 31.
The agency said that on Tuesday Costa remained hospitalized at UC Davis Medical Center’s burn center in Sacramento, where he was transported via air ambulance the previous day.
Costa, who was said to have suffered second- and third-degree burns, is reported to be in fair condition. He is alert and talking, and is surrounded by his family and fellow firefighters, Cal Fire reported.
Costa was reported to have been on the first fire engine to arrive on Monday afternoon at the fire at Hardester’s Market and Hardware, located at 21088 Calistoga St. in Middletown.
Cal Fire said the fire was reported at approximately 2:17 p.m. Monday.
The California Highway Patrol said Officer Efrain Cortez was at the scene when firefighters arrived, and he saw Costa emerge from the back of the building after having been partially engulfed in flames.
Cortez and another firefighter pulled Costa to safety and rendered aid. The CHP said Cortez suffered minor injuries, including first-degree burns to his right hand and smoke inhalation. Cortez later was treated and released at Adventist Health Clear Lake.
A total of 65 firefighters from around Lake County and the region responded to battle the fire for more than five hours before it was finally contained, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire/South Lake County Fire received assistance from Kelseyville Fire, Clearlake Fire, Lakeport Fire, Northshore Fire, Calistoga Fire Department, Williams Fire, Colusa Fire, West Sacramento Fire, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Caltrans and Callayomi Water District.
On Tuesday Cal Fire said it has dispatched a Serious Accident Review Team to investigate the incident.
Overnight, most of the structure had been taken down by an excavator in order for firefighters to access the portion of the building that continued to actively burn.
On Tuesday, firefighters remained on scene to investigate the cause of the fire, which was reported to have started in the back of the 18,000-square-foot building in the compressor room.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Cal Fire said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said fire personnel are expected to be at the fire scene until Wednesday.
On Tuesday the only road closure remaining in place was at Washington Street between Wardlaw and Young Street, the sheriff’s office said. All other businesses in the area at that point were open and operating at their normal business hours.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Cal Fire identified the injured man as Justin Costa, who is a paid call firefighter with the South Lake County Fire Protection District and also a Cal Fire employee. He’s assigned to Middletown Fire Station No. 31.
The agency said that on Tuesday Costa remained hospitalized at UC Davis Medical Center’s burn center in Sacramento, where he was transported via air ambulance the previous day.
Costa, who was said to have suffered second- and third-degree burns, is reported to be in fair condition. He is alert and talking, and is surrounded by his family and fellow firefighters, Cal Fire reported.
Costa was reported to have been on the first fire engine to arrive on Monday afternoon at the fire at Hardester’s Market and Hardware, located at 21088 Calistoga St. in Middletown.
Cal Fire said the fire was reported at approximately 2:17 p.m. Monday.
The California Highway Patrol said Officer Efrain Cortez was at the scene when firefighters arrived, and he saw Costa emerge from the back of the building after having been partially engulfed in flames.
Cortez and another firefighter pulled Costa to safety and rendered aid. The CHP said Cortez suffered minor injuries, including first-degree burns to his right hand and smoke inhalation. Cortez later was treated and released at Adventist Health Clear Lake.
A total of 65 firefighters from around Lake County and the region responded to battle the fire for more than five hours before it was finally contained, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire/South Lake County Fire received assistance from Kelseyville Fire, Clearlake Fire, Lakeport Fire, Northshore Fire, Calistoga Fire Department, Williams Fire, Colusa Fire, West Sacramento Fire, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Caltrans and Callayomi Water District.
On Tuesday Cal Fire said it has dispatched a Serious Accident Review Team to investigate the incident.
Overnight, most of the structure had been taken down by an excavator in order for firefighters to access the portion of the building that continued to actively burn.
On Tuesday, firefighters remained on scene to investigate the cause of the fire, which was reported to have started in the back of the 18,000-square-foot building in the compressor room.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Cal Fire said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said fire personnel are expected to be at the fire scene until Wednesday.
On Tuesday the only road closure remaining in place was at Washington Street between Wardlaw and Young Street, the sheriff’s office said. All other businesses in the area at that point were open and operating at their normal business hours.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – On Monday night firefighters continued the work to fully extinguish and mop up a fire that destroyed a longtime Middletown business’ flagship store.
South Lake County Fire Protection District reported that the Middletown Hardester’s Market and Hardware store, located at 21088 Calistoga Road, was a total loss as a result of the fire.
The fire was first dispatched at 2:20 p.m., just minutes after it was reported to the Cal Fire Emergency Command Center, officials reported. It was reported to have started at the back of the building, in the compressor room.
On Monday night, South Lake Fire told Lake County News that firefighters were still fighting the blaze, which continued to actively burn in the building’s interior.
Firefighters couldn’t get to the areas where the fire continued to burn due to safety reasons, specifically, because the building has partially collapsed, the district said.
Fire units from around the county responded to the incident, which injured a firefighter and a California Highway Patrol officer, and taxed the town’s water resources to the point where incident command had to bring in additional water trucks.
Sheriff Brian Martin, who was at the scene throughout the afternoon and into the evening, said it appeared that all employees and customers had safely evacuated the building.
However, a Cal Fire firefighter was reported to have received second- and third-degree burns in the incident, with a CHP officer who helped rescue him suffering minor injuries, Martin said.
Calistoga Road – or Highway 29 – in front of the store and county roads behind it are expected to continue to remain closed through the night while work continues, according to South Lake County Fire.
Martin said there was discussion at the scene about bringing in an excavator overnight to dismantle the building, with the exception of where the fire started.
That’s what happened later in the night, when the equipment was used to knock down part of the building to get at the fire. Flames could still be seen coming from the store’s interior at that point.
The store had survived the Valley fire – as had its sister stores in Hidden Valley Lake and Cobb – and its owners had kept it open to help serve the community as the fire continued to burn around it. The Hardesters also received a Stars of Lake County Award for their efforts to help the community in the wake of that fire.
Fire grew quickly
Middletown resident Monica Rosenthal had stopped in at the store on Monday afternoon to do some shopping.
“It didn’t seem to be overly busy,” she said of the store, noting there was a dog waiting for its owner out front, people eating at a table alongside the store and a few people in the checkout lines.
She said she was at the front of the store in the produce department when the fire alarms started to go off.
At that point, a California Highway Patrol officer came into the building and was looking around, Rosenthal said. Then a staffer came from the store’s office and asked employees to gather outside at the phone booth and customers to exit the building.
Rosenthal, who was parked in front of the store, said it appeared at that time that the fire would be handled quickly. So she set aside her basket, got in her vehicle and left to go to the post office, expecting she would simply come back and be able to finish shopping after she completed some errands.
However, as she was returning from the post office a short time later, she could see flames from the back of the store, where the CHP officer had moved his vehicle.
Then, a large amount of black smoke suddenly started coming everywhere out of the store, not just the back. Rosenthal said firefighters and equipment then arrived at the back of the store.
“It went up pretty fast,” she said.
Fire officials said the first responding units from Cal Fire and South Lake County Fire arrived to a well-established fire located at the rear of the store in the compressor room.
Firefighters made an “aggressive interior attack” to stop the fire, however district officials reported that fire conditions rapidly expanded, leading to one firefighter suffering serious burns.
The firefighter, reported to be a Cal Fire employee, was flown to UC Davis Medical Center for treatment, officials said.
South Lake County Fire said mutual aid was requested from all Lake County agencies. It put out the call for any available engines shortly after 2:30 p.m. as well as agencies in Colusa and Napa counties.
Shortly before 3:30 p.m., with firefighters reported to be losing water pressure, incident command requested four water tenders to help continue fighting the fire, based on radio reports.
Firefighters at the scene also reported concerns about propane tanks off of Washington Street behind Hardester’s being vulnerable.
While the Hardester’s Market building itself is reported to be a total loss, fire officials said there was no damage to the surrounding structures.
“It’s really sad. It’s just heartbreaking,” said Rosenthal, who has shopped at the store throughout the 25 years she’s lived in Lake County. Her husband Dave said he’s been a customer since 1972.
She noted the Hardester family’s generosity to the community and the fact that they have many longtime staff – some who have been with them up to 30 years.
Martin said the fire left 80 employees suddenly out of work.
The family’s efforts to be good neighbors hasn’t been forgotten.
Following the fire, area residents were expressing their support for the Hardester’s on social media and discussing the need to help them rebuild.
Lake County News was unsuccessful in reaching Grant Hardester on Monday evening for comment.
However, a social media post stated that he said the community can help by shopping at the other Hardester’s stores.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Kelseyville Unified School District announced that Dr. Joseph Richardson has been selected as the newly appointed board member for the Kelseyville Unified School District.
Richardson’s selection resulted from a process that began in late April following the death of longtime trustee Dr. Peter Quartarolo, as Lake County News has reported.
Dr. Richardson, who has resided in Kelseyville since 2006, graduated from Indiana University where he was a member of the wrestling team and competed in the Big Ten Conference.
As a former Division I student-athlete, Dr. Richardson understands the importance of putting academics before athletics. He would eventually pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a physician and graduate from Indiana University School of Medicine.
He moved to Kelseyville for its clean air, good people, small town hospitality and slower pace of life. He said Kelseyville has grown to become more than a place to call home.
In his own words, “It is a place where neighbors don’t just know each other by name but they welcome you and look after each other.”
Dr. Richardson has a strong passion for education. He has been involved in medical education as a clinical instructor at several universities to nurses, medical students and residents, who are young physicians in training.
He has been involved in several medical research projects in academics and in the private sector. Recently, he was selected as an Oral Board Examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology. He also serves as a consultant for the Medical Board of California.
Richardson strongly believes in giving back to our community and there is no better way to achieve that then through service.
As a board member, he plans to help prepare the community’s children to be competitive in our ever changing world by creating an atmosphere that supports our teachers, administrators and staff.