Sacramento Real Estate Agent - Michael Rehm
Sacramento Homes For Sale
Phone: (916) 233-7346
Sacramento, California: A Basic Overview of the Area
Sacramento is Spanish for “sacrament,” a Christian religious ceremony in which the recipient is believed to be receiving the divine grace of Christ, typically in the form of bread or wine during mass. In 1808, when the area was encountered by a group of Spanish explorers, one of them noted that “the air was like champagne, and we drank in the beauty of it. It is like the blessed Sacrament!”
And thus Sacramento, an area so beautiful that it immediately drew comparisons to divinity, was named.
As one of the largest cities in California and the ninth-largest capital city in the US, Sacramento has a population of a little over half a million people. It's fairly centrally located in the state. If you drew a straight line from Portland to San Diego, then Sacramento would land almost squarely in the middle (about an 8hr road trip to either destination and 12hrs to Seattle).
Although it's more than an hour's drive to the beach, citizens of Sacramento enjoy a bustling economy that's expected to grow faster than the US average.
Finally, as for the weather, Sacramento enjoys almost 270 days of sunshine per year, about 70 more than most cities in the US.
Median Home Values in Sacramento (and some Cost of Living Stats)
The median home value in Sacramento is about $330-400k, roughly one-and-a-half times as much as the median home value in the USA, which is currently about $215-250k. So, if you're coming from anywhere but the biggest cities in the United States, then Sacramento is technically a bit more expensive than what you're used to. Compared to the rest of California, though, Sacramento is downright affordable. The median home value for all of California recently surpassed $800k, according to the Sacramento Bee. For a property in the capital city, that's a great deal.
The cost of living is also about 1.2 times more expensive than that of the US more generally, according to BestPlaces, which compiles stats on groceries, health spending, housing, utilities, transportation, and more. One of the biggest contributors to that number, though, is a median home value that's so much greater than most of the US. The other factors are just about on par with the average cost of living, so if you can get a good deal on a home, Sacramento is one of the most affordable places you could stay in California.
Basic Amenities and Attractions: What is there to do in Sacramento?
- Old Sacramento State Historic Park
- California State Railroad Museum
- Crocker Art Museum
- American River Bicycle Trail
- California State Capitol Museum
- Sacramento Zoo
- B Street Theatre
And that's just a short list. There are many fun activities in Sacramento, as well as great breweries, fantastic, trendy restaurants and cafes, and a lively nightlife.
Conclusion
When an expedition of Spanish explorers first encountered the land we now call Sacramento, they likened it to the eucharist. That's why “Sacramento” literally translates to “sacrament.” It's a beautiful area with plenty of sunshine and a bustling economy.
Homes in Sacramento typically go for anywhere from $300-450k. With the median home value in California all the way up to $800k, Sacramento is one of the most affordable big cities in California to buy a home. For assistance with buying or selling in Sacramento, call Real Estate Agent Michael D. Rehm at (916) 233-7346.
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