Sacramento, CA Homes For Sale

Homes for Sale in Sacramento, CA: What You Need to Know

Most people associate California with glamorous Hollywood and culturally diverse San Francisco. But if you're dreaming of living in the Golden State, you're better off avoiding the hype – and high cost of living – in popular coastal cities. Instead, choose inland Sacramento, the capital of California.

Sacramento Real Estate: The Cost of Living

Housing costs in Sacramento are reasonable compared with San Francisco, where the median home value is $1.3 million, or Los Angeles, with the median home value at $651,530. Sacramento's median home value of $355,030 is higher than Fresno's $218,392, but living in the state capital offers unique opportunities. California's progressive tax system means high state income tax for the rich, with a 12.3% rate for the top income bracket, and as low as 1% for the lowest earners. The good news is, California's average property tax rate of 0.79% is below the national average of 1.19%.

Job Opportunities in Sacramento

One of the best things about living in Sacramento is its access to well-paying jobs in state agencies. The state government, among the city's biggest employers, is well-known for its generous employee benefits. It provides a highly coveted pension, which most private companies no longer offer. In the private sector, Sacramento's biggest employers include Intel Corp., Kaiser Permanente South, AMPAC Fine Chemicals, and Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Residential areas near the state capitol offer an array of choices, from old, stately houses to condos and apartment buildings. You'll find Victorian- and Tudor-style homes in Land Park, and bungalows and starter homes in Tahoe Park. For urbanites, downtown Sacramento offers high-rise apartments such as Capitol Towers, The Cathedral Building, and 800JLofts.

Interested in the suburbs? There was a time when Folsom was known for its prison as popularized by Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues." Today, the city is popular for its gorgeous view of Lake Natoma, miles of hiking trails, and posh Palladio shopping mall. Folsom is also home to sprawling Intel and Micron campuses, making it a magnet for tech professionals, and driving its median home value to $643,000. Too high? You'll find attractive alternatives to make the best bang for your housing buck in nearby Fair Oaks, Citrus Heights, Carmichael, Orangevale, and Rancho Cordova.

Things to Do in Sacramento

The California State Capitol and Museum downtown is a must-see, especially the Governors' Gallery, where the portraits of Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger draw many tourists. Part of Sacramento's appeal is its proximity to San Francisco (86 miles away) for a full-fledged big-city adventure, South Lake Tahoe (85 miles away) for a boating excursion, and Napa Valley (59 miles away) for a wine-tasting jaunt.

Sports in Sacramento

Local NBA fans love the Sacramento Kings. For baseball fans, San Francisco is never too far to catch a Giants game. They also root for the Sacramento River Cats, the Giants' AAA affiliate, which plays at the Sutter Health Park.