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Housing

Napa is a city known for its quality lifestyle. There are many neighborhoods, each with its own distinct character. In “old town,” there are tree-lined streets with many old homes restored to their former grandeur. On the north side of town are 1960s subdivisions, such as Bel Aire and Springwood, with curving streets and cul-de-sacs. To the west is Browns Valley, an eclectic area, large in size, which offers everything from WWII-age housing to very recent large executive-type homes. South along the Napa River are marina-style homes and condominiums at River Park or executive-type homes at the Napa Yacht Club, many with frontage on the river or a tributary and private docks.

For the “country club” minded, there is Silverado Country Club and Resort, with its world-famous golf and tennis facilities, which has premium-priced homes and condominiums surrounding its 36 holes of golf. To the northeast is a unique, rural subdivision Circle Oaks, each on a 1Ú4-acre. Situated in an area of Valley Oaks and Madrone trees, the setting offers a true country feel. And closer to Lake Berryessa, a lake view area, homes are offered at entry-level prices. For the economy-minded, first-rate mobile home parks with homes of varying prices are in place. Several of them are legally designated “senior” parks (age 55 or older).

Recently, several new apartment complexes have opened with luxurious interiors, beautiful amenities and convenient floor plans. The Reserve at Napa Senior Apartments is an affordable apartment community in north Napa for Seniors 62 and over. Conveniently located just west of Highway 29 at the Redwood Road/Trancas off ramp, Hawthorn Village Apartments is close to work, abundant shopping and many fine restaurants. Discover the natural beauty of true wine country living at Montrachet Apartments. Ideally located in the premier north Napa neighborhood of Big Ranch (Trancas and Soscol Ave.), Montrachet provides immediate access to all necessary conveniences and vineyard areas provide several vista points for dramatic views of the Sonoma-Napa Mountains and Atlas Peak.

Located within a quiet, single-family neighborhood in the midst of the Napa Valley, Quail Run Duplex Homes offers luxurious duplex home living and is conveniently located within walking distance of shopping, parks, schools and the Napa River Trail.

Buying a pre-owned home is like buying a used car. You wouldn’t buy a used car without taking it to your mechanic for inspection, so why would you consider buying a used home without having a home inspection? With a house being the most expensive purchase most of us make, being aware of any potential costly repairs or safety concerns is imperative. Between the time an offer is made on a home and the final close of escrow, the home inspector checks the house from the roof to the crawl space – operating all mechanical items to make sure they work, checking for leaks and dangerous conditions – giving the purchaser peace of mind and a clear understanding of any additional hidden expenses.

Determining the condition of the structure, the home inspector creates a report outlining fire, safety, health, electrical, structural and plumbing areas of concern.

Not to be confused with a real estate appraiser who determines the value of property, the home inspector informs the potential buyer of the condition of the property. In addition, a home inspection isn’t a municipal inspection, which determines building code compliance.

“A pest inspection of the home just isn’t enough. We hired a Home Inspector, when purchasing our home in 1998, who pointed out several maintenance items that if we paid attention to them now would save us in costly repairs later,“ said Lisa Batto, a homeowner. “The inspector even found a broken tile on the roof that if not repaired might have caused long term damage to the home. I wouldn’t consider buying a home without having an inspection.”

Not all home inspectors are equal. For instance, Annie Madden, inspector with About the House Inspections is a Combination Dwelling Inspector, and as such is a qualified building, mechanical, plumbing and electrical inspector. She is the only HUD approved inspector in the area and also is the only local inspector certified by the California Safety Assessment Program, a state program to assist in emergencies or disasters. For a complete listing of home inspectors, turn to the Business Directory and look for the category Building & Home Inspections.

A home inspection is an integral part of the purchase process when buying real estate. Although there is no licensing in California for home inspectors, it’s wise to request credentials when hiring an inspector to make sure the inspectoris qualified to do the job.