Latest local news briefs include the latest report on the housing market in Citrus Heights, Metro Fire responding to a Friday-night blaze at a Citrus Heights home, a report showing rental rates rose by 11% last year in Citrus Heights, and more.
REPORT: Rental rates rose by 11% in Citrus Heights, region
Citrus Heights kept pace with a rapid rise in regional rental rates during 2017, according to a report by ABC 10 on Friday. The reported cited data from the real estate site Apartment List, which showed Citrus Heights rent rose by 11% in 2017, compared to the statewide average of 6.5%. Other cities in the region saw double-digit increases as well, including Sacramento and North Highlands at 11%, and Folsom showing a 10% increase in median rent rates.
ABC 10 reported that the median price of a two-bedroom apartment in Sacramento currently runs just over $1200 and contrasted the price with San Francisco’s median price of more than $3,000 for a two-bedroom rental. According to a rent analyst cited in the report, Sacramento is expected to continue fast rental growth in 2018, citing growth in the area’s renter population and limited housing available. (See report)
Data: Citrus Heights home sales increased slightly during November; prices up vs. prior year
Monthly home sales in Citrus Heights increased slightly from a total of 97 homes closing escrow in October up to 102 homes in November, according to the most recent data reported in The Sacramento Bee last week. Compared to October, median home sale prices dropped by 2.9% in the city’s 95621 zip code and dropped by 1.8% in the 95610 zip code.
Latest year-over-year comparisons show prices in Citrus Heights were still up from 2016 prices, with the city’s 95621 zip code showing home sale prices rose by 13.5%, from an average of $270,000 in November 2016 up to $306,000 for the same month in 2017. In the 95610 zip code, which covers the eastern half of Citrus Heights, home sale prices rose somewhat less, increasing from an average of $309,000 in November 2016 up to $325,000 in 2017, a difference of about 5%. Carmichael and Fair Oaks saw changes similar to Citrus Heights during the same periods. The Sacramento Bee’s report included data for sales of detached single-family homes and also included price comparisons of homes sales of all zip codes in the Sacramento region, through November. (See full report)
Metro Fire douses Friday night blaze at home near Twin Oaks Avenue
Metro Fire crews had a busy day on Friday, responding to a total of five structure fires in their service area, concluding with a house fire on Lee Drive around 9:30 p.m., located off of Twin Oaks Avenue. Photos from the incident were posted on Metro Fire’s twitter account, showing firefighters on a roof of a two-story house with smoke in the air, broken windows, and fire hoses leading inside the home. The agency reported the home had been safely evacuated, with no victims located inside following a search. Although no cause of fire was listed for the fire on Lee Drive, Metro Fire said winter months account for half of all building fires nationally, and the fires are often caused by cooking, electrical and heating-related activities.
More briefly:
Fee increase. Business licenses and renewals rose by $3 on Jan. 1 due to a new state law, AB 1379, which increased an existing $1 fee to $4 in order to fund a program related to construction and disability access. Fees now range from $79 to $125 for new licenses and $54 to $125 for annual renewals, depending on business type. (read more)
Firefighters attacked. Firefighters responding to a home fire on Glenn Avenue in Citrus Heights last Sunday were reportedly attacked inside the home by a man with a knife. The story was later picked up by news agencies as far as New York.
Planning commission. The commission will not meet as tentatively scheduled on Jan. 10, according to Planning Division Manager Colleen McDuffee. The commission’s next meeting is listed on Jan. 24 on the city’s calendar.
