Dani Fox Real Estate Team

Christmas in Central California

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‘Tis the season for all things merry and bright. This year it seems everyone has been eager and ready for the holidays earlier than ever. We asked our agents to tell us a bit about some of their holiday traditions as well as fun things to do here in the Central Valley and along the central coast. Let’s dig in to what they had to say: 

Must See Lights:

  • Everyone that has lived in the Central Valley for at least a year has certainly heard about Christmas Tree Lane – a Fresno Tradition since 1920. This is at the top of our “must see” list for Christmas light lovers. This year’s event is a drive-thru event only. Click here to get all of the details. 
  • Check out Fresno Chaffee Zoo Lights with live entertainment, and miles of lights to enjoy along with the animals of course
  • Holiday Fantasy of Lights Show at the Big Fresno Fair with special walking nights December 4th & 15th. Get full details here.
  • At Robbins Ranch in Exeter, there is a free drive-through light display that we can recommend taking a trip for. 
  • Davis Family Christmas light display in Fresno is musically animated and so much fun!
  • Check out these neighborhood light displays we think are worth checking out:
    • Neighborhood off of Court St. just north of Caldwell.   Blain Park
    • Eastoak Estates on Comstock and Houston and the surrounding area
    • Candy Cane Lane at Peach & Alluvial in Clovis

Must Do Events:

  • Vossler Farms is having their first ever Christmas Season at the farm with ice skating, lights, holiday hayrides, and more. 
  • Winter Wonderland in Downtown Hanford – another opportunity for ice skating! And more festive cheer to keep you in the holiday spirit! 
  • Ford Farms Country Christmas complete with photos of Santa and the Grinch, tractor rides, petting zoo, food vendors and crafts. Plan a trip for DEcember 4th, 11th, or 18th.
  • Merced’s Santa’s Workshop on 12/15
  • Mrs. Claus and You at the The Enchanted Corner in Selma
  • Doesn’t a horse drawn carriage ride sound ridiculously festive and Hallmark Movie-esque? Check it out  in Old Town Clovis on weekends in December
  • The Cambria Christmas Market is running now thru 12/23 and is such a fun and festive way to get some holiday shopping in with local vendors. 
  • The Columbia State Historic Park has A Miner’s Christmas running December 18th and 19th that looks like it will be a fun historic look back at Christmas during the gold rush days. 
  • Take a quick trip to the coast to Roaring Camp Railroad in Felton for their Holiday Lights Train
  • Jesus is the reason for the season and the best way to celebrate Jesus is to visit The Living Nativity in Riverdale December 22nd-25th

We also asked our agents about what they like to do year after year for the holidays. They told us a few ideas we think sound fun and encourage you to try out or incorporate into your holidays this year:

Fun traditions

  • Try making a new ornament for the tree and make sure to add the year to the back so it will be like a time capsule to un-earth every year
  • Lana, our Office Manager, tells us that every year the children in her family choose gifts to donate to other children.  She said that is warms her heart to see how happy it makes them when they are choosing a gift for another child
  • Raise your hand if you are on the matching Christmas Jammies train! We are and we love seeing everyone’s photos in matching family pjs
  • Have you ever had a Secret Santa? Such a fun thing to incorporate at the office or with siblings, friends, neighbors, etc…  
  • What about the classic White Elephant gift exchange? Can be so fun to see the wacky gifts people bring and then have to take home. 
  • Like the snow? Make a trip up to Shaver Lake and have that quintessential winter magic moment with a snow angel or snowman building.

The last thing we asked our DBRE family to weigh in with was some practical tips or advice to have a joyful holiday season… read through them – we think you will notice a theme:

Tips/Advice to enjoy the season

  • Take an hour or a day to catch up with family – no phones!
  • Turn on the Christmas music on your car radio ASAP
  • Spend as much time as possible with each other around the dining table eating, in the kitchen cooking, and in the living room fellowshipping. Don’t forget to give lots of hugs!!!! 
  • Slow down and enjoy your friends and family!
  • Always dress comfy, there’s always too much good food to pass, so wear those stretchy pants 😋😋
  • Enjoy the moments with your family, be present and Jesus loves you
  • Focus on people- NOT gifts, be present
  • Hurry up and get to the closest Dutch Bros to order Darian’s fav drink from their  holiday menu. He has some expert tips to make this the best drink of your life – he says you will thank him later 😉 
    • The Caramel Pumpkin Brule
      • You’ll want to add sweetener 
      • Lite pumpkin around the cup
      • And ask them to add  4 ounces of soft top

There you have it folks… lights to see, events to attend, traditions to implement and some reminders to make this the best holiday season ever. Did we miss anything? If you have a favorite neighborhood to visit for lights, or an event that you feel like everyone needs to do – let us know! 

Zestimates, Shmestimates…

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How Zestimates Cost Zillow Millions of Dollars

You may or may not have heard that Zillow recently announced that they were shutting down their home buying business, Zillow Offers and laying off 25% of their workforce. Let’s break down what this service intended (and failed) to do and why this failure is proving the point that every local realtor has been saying (maybe yelling?) for years, “ZESTIMATES ARE NOT HOME APPRAISALS!”

In 2018 Zillow began their iBuying program, Zillow Offers with the intent of getting home sellers  “stress free” cash offers on their homes. Sellers saw this as an opportunity to have a hassle free process, a way to eliminate agent commissions, as well as shave time off the process. While the iBuying process is quick – it would still cost sellers 5-7% of the sale in a “transaction fee”, which is a wash, as it compares to agent commissions.

This iBuying process, in theory, would eliminate agents and open houses because Zillow would purchase the home for what they decided to offer and then they would make minimal repairs and minor renovations to turn around and sell it for a profit. While the Zillow Offer and the Zestimates would differ (because the offer will take into account the money they will be putting into the home to get it ready to go back on the market) Zillow still used their Zestimate tool in order to put together their offer. 

Well, guess what happened? They were forced to sell the houses they had bought, for a loss. Not just in some markets, but in the majority of the markets where the service was offered. In the last three months alone, they lost $420,000,000 trying to flip the homes they had purchased.  How could that happen? 

Well, their CEO Rich Barton said, “Fundamentally, we have been unable to predict the future pricing of homes to a level of accuracy that makes this a safe business to be in.” 

How were they forecasting the home prices? Algorithms. Leaving it up to technology to determine the price of the homes and market prediction. As any “boots on the ground” Real Estate Agent will tell you, pricing a home has an incredible amount of nuance. Leaving it up to a computer that has no ability to adapt for nuances in certain markets is clearly going to lead to problems. 

This whole situation begs the question, are Zestimates at all accurate? Mike DelPrete, an iBuying Real Estate analyst, was quoted saying, “This is really a toy… This is to stimulate people’s interest in property.” We’ve said it before, we will say it again – Zestimates are not a home appraisal. And Zillow says on their website, “It is a computer-generated estimate of the value of a home today, given the available data. We encourage buyers, sellers and homeowners to supplement the Zestimate with other research, such as visiting the home, getting a professional appraisal of the home, or requesting a comparative market analysis (CMA) from a real estate agent.” So it is safe to say that Zillow has proven the point for us that Zestimates are not accurate.

Other popular iBuying sites (Redfin, OpenDoor, Offerpad, etc…) are still at it and we are sure that some form of this type of home selling will remain in our current landscape. There may be situations where using a service like this to sell your home makes more sense than a traditional method. As we mentioned, it can be a very quick process. There is also the appeal of not having to have your house “show ready” during the selling process. The convenience of it cannot be argued against. Depending on the situation you are in, it may make sense for you to go the iBuying route. Seeking professional guidance is the best way to get informed and discover which selling method will be best for you. 

The Real Estate industry is changing and has been forced to evolve with the times. Despite the changes, we feel it remains true – a real estate professional that knows a local market will net sellers more money for their homes. Home valuation cannot be done with artificial intelligence – for now, it needs to be done with humans. As a Real Estate Brokerage, we pride ourselves on having a team full of local professionals that will be with you every step of the way. If you would like to read more about this iBuying topic, this is a great article that digs into the Zillow situation. We would also be happy to talk to you about the iBuying process and if it is right for you, even if it does eliminate our role in your journey. We want all of our clients and potential clients to do what is going to be best for them. 

The Real Estate Industry is Fueled by Coffee

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Here are the Best Places to Fuel Up in the Central Valley, According to the DBRE Family 

Something you may or may not know is that Real Estate Professionals drink 58% percent of all coffee consumed in the US. Hahaha… just kidding, just kidding! We do not have science backing our claim that we all have coffee coursing through our veins at every moment of everyday, only just some anecdotal evidence that would suggest we are coffee experts. So, since we are self proclaimed experts, we figured we would share with you our favorite local spots to grab a nice cup of joe. 

Our team here at Dani Blain Real Estate has a wide range of taste as it relates to their coffee shop of choice. From the neighborhood gas station, to making their own at home, and on to the old stand by of Starbucks – and more in between, we will take you through some of the responses we got when we asked about where they go to buy their favorite beverage. 

Starbucks is an easy place to love. They are easy to find, you always know that your order will taste the same from location to location, and there are plenty of options on the menu to be able to mix it up often. Lana, our Administrative Director, even has her own favorite Starbucks she likes best. The one on Caldwell and Demaree is her go-to… she loves that it has a drive-thru, its close to the office, and since everyone that works there knows her – they of course love her like we do! Her drink order is nice and simple, a hot Cafe Mocha – but when she is feeling like she needs an extra bit of some sweet goodness, she orders her Grande drink in a Venti cup, so she can ask for extra whipped cream. Genius! 

Some other teammates also called out Starbs as their favorite place to get coffee and they may have an order you can try – or shoot, you can even surprise them with their favorite drink, if you’d like! 🙂 

  • Daisy loves the Iced Shaken Brown Sugar Oatmilk Espresso (but be sure to ask them to hold the cinnamon and add an extra splash of oatmilk.) 
  • Before Steven Duck was a Realtor, he used to be a Starbucksf barista – so you can bet his order is not only good, but not too high maintenance for the crew member making the drink. He gets a Venti Cold Brew, Classic Syrup, and Light ice (another tip of the trade – less ice = more drink.) 
  • Jen, our Controller, likes the ever classic Iced Americano… plain and simple, just like she keeps things around the office for us. 
  • Lori is another oatmilk fan… she likes to get an Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk coffee, shaken – not stirred. (We added the not stirred part, because it was screaming to be added.)

Stepping outside of Starbucks and big chains, there are some great small coffee places here in the Valley you must try if you haven’t yet. 

  • Reece loves to hit up Vali Coffee on his way to his office with The Shawn Team at The Downtown Dream in Tulare. He says right now is the perfect time of year to try the Pumpkin Pie Cold Brew – and guess what? It is about to get a whole lot easier for him to grab a coffee from them, because they are going to be opening up a shop at the Downtown Dream! Stay tuned on their socials for more details. 
  • Odalys is a big fan of the Nitro Bike because not only can she get an amazing cup of Nitro infused coffee, but she also loves that every cup is supporting a small, local, family owned business. Her order sounds delicious – she gets an Oat Milk Latte with honey syrup and lavender… mmmm! 
  • Ruben loves him a good cold brew, and according to him, The Human Bean in Visalia does it best (they also have another location in Tulare.) Apparently, he is the ultimate expert here, because he tells us that his blood type is COFFEE (lol.) He recommends not only the cold brew, but the Java Chips and the Granitas as well, and says that the customer service can’t be beat. Go give them a try and tell them Ruben sent you. 
  • Lily runs on Iced Oatmilk Lattes and loves that Component Coffee Lab in Visalia makes a great one and also provides the perfect atmosphere to get a little work done – you should check it out, it really does have great ambience. 

A few others on our team had favorites that aren’t Sbux and also aren’t one of the mom&pop shops either. 

  • You will see Leo with a coffee in his hand almost always – but what you will notice about this coffee in his hand, is that it is a to-go tumbler from his HOUSE. Can you believe it? He makes his own coffee and he is all about it… from saving money, to making it just the way he likes it, it is a home brew all the way for him. His mainstay is a Cafe Latte with extra half and half, but he also likes to change things up from season to season. So next time you see him, ask what he brewed for his daily coffee fix. 
  • Travis’s answer was one of our favorites, because it is so perfectly him. He told us that every morning on his way out of the neighborhood, to start his day with a nice classic cup of coffee, he likes to go to the Valero in Shannon Ranch. He loves the staff and the ease of stopping in to grab and go. 
  • Ever hear the slogan, “America runs on Dunkin’?” Well, so does Matthew and a classic Iced Vanilla Latte is his old stand by. We have a feeling if our brokerage was on the East Coast, there would be way more people that had this answer – everyone on the other side of the country seems to love this place.
  • Davian is a member of the Dutch Mafia, as Dutch Bros. fans like to call themselves. He loves the customer service they provide and goes there so often he even has become friends with a number of them. He respects the way they do business and run each franchise and the way they pour into (pun intended) their employees. He also can’t get enough of this super specific drink – he gets a medium Nitro Cold Brew, 3x sweet with 2 pumps hazelnut, 2 pumps vanilla, and 4 ounces of soft top with a caramel drizzle – only on the soft top (we told you, it was super specific.) He says if you are stopping to do a Starbucks run, he’ll take a water. Haha! 

We had so much fun documenting the DBRE crew’s fav brews! Did we miss any of your favorite local places? What about the best coffee shops on the Central Coast? Speaking of, did you know that our Brokerage also serves the entire Central Coast? We have agents who specialize in this area and we love taking a break from the Central Valley heat and popping over to cool off at the coast. 

Why Choose Us When You are Ready to Buy or Sell?

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A few blog posts back we talked about the Top Ten Reasons Real Estate Agents Should Hang Their License with Us, but we would not be in business if it weren’t for our clients. While we do pride ourselves on being a Real Estate Brokerage that agents seek out and help us create the culture we have set out to establish, we also are very passionate about serving our clients and making sure we have agents who are going to go the distance and work hard for them.

We always have agents who are ready and able to assist potential buyers and sellers with all of their Real Estate needs. There are so many choices and options with over 200,000 active real estate agents in California alone, we know that chances are you know someone, or know someone who knows someone who is a Real Estate Agent. Why should you choose one of our agents over an agent with a different brokerage? Let us count the ways 🙂 

  • Did you know that agents are independent contractors and choose a brokerage to work under? We have found that the agents we attract, choose us because they appreciate and value our vision. They know we strive to always put people and relationships over the numbers, serve our team and clients well, and always do what we say we will do. The glue and energy at DBRE comes from our faith, hard work, and loving our real estate family well – birds of a feather flock together, as they say. 
  • DBRE agents are well supported. With a full team of professionals backing them up in every step of the process there is always someone who they can reach out to to find the right vendor, answer a question, or get expert opinions or advice for those tricky situations we have found throughout this current (wild) real estate market. 
  • In addition to the marketing they will do when it comes to selling your house, they also reap the benefits of our brokerage having its own marketing team that additionally markets all of the homes our agents are listing.
  • Unmatched personality and charisma… We have salt of the earth agents who are just all around great people. We are so proud of each of them and know that they choose to work under DBRE because integrity is of utmost importance to them. 
  • They support the community they serve. With multiple opportunities offered to them throughout the year to give back to their community through the giving the brokerage participates in, by working with one of our agents, you are working with someone who understands the value in giving back to the community where they work. 
  • A portion of every bought and sold home, property, or commercial space goes directly from the brokerage, directly back into the Central Valley and the Central Coast. You can read more here about all of the ways we support and give back to this community we live in and love so much.

We know there are plenty of people out there right now that are either looking to buy or sell. We hope that you now feel confident to start and end your search for the perfect real estate agent, by selecting one of our amazing agents. You can read all about each of them here or you can visit our Instagram to see some of their reviews from previous clients. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you soon – please be sure to get in touch if you would like us to help match you with one of our excellent agents. 

Giving Back to Our Community

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One of the things we are most proud of is the way that we invest a predetermined (and ever growing) portion of our earnings into supporting our community. We love the way that each buyer or seller we work with is giving us another opportunity to make a difference in our community. At Dani Blain Real Estate we have built our brokerage from the ground up with giving as one of our foundational pillars. 

If you follow us on social media, or here on our blog, you have probably seen us mention some of the groups we support all over Central California. Our roots in this community are strong and we serve our clients well, so we can in turn serve our community well. Dani’s late husband, Kevin Blain laid the foundation for always giving back and when Dani created this brokerage after his passing, she knew she would continue the philanthropy that was close to her heart. 

At Dani Blain Real Estate we love that giving is a team effort and we love to see the way that our agents and their families participate. We have several charities and nonprofits in the community that we work with and support and look forward to continuing to do so – all because of our clients! Our clients  make it possible for us to support the agencies and nonprofits serving the specific needs of our local residents and making a difference in our community.

We have a strong conviction to help make sure that people in our communities have a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. Giving back to organizations that provide for those that are hungry, experiencing homlessness or need ministering are areas we will always focus on. Below are some of the great services groups we love:

  • One of our long term partnerships is with FoodLink Tulare County because they are incredible with their never ending fight to help combat food insecurity. Their mission is “to promote equitable and dignified access to nutritious, healthy food while also addressing the root causes of hunger through education, advocacy, and food systems change.” 
  • The work that Salt and Light Works is doing in the Central Valley is making a real difference for our neighbors experiencing homelssness. Their mission is to “cultivate community through dignified homes, jobs and healing for our neighbors experiencing homelessness in Tulare County.”
  • We have a super soft spot in our hearts for the Tulare Lighthouse Rescue Mission, who created a much needed women’s shelter in 2006 and then opened their men’s shelter in 2019. We love that they serve up the word of the Lord with the people they support. Their mission is “We embrace the poor and homeless with the compassion of Jesus Christ, as a beacon of hope and healing for a changed life, helping them to find their way home.”
  • You may remember our recent blog post where we highlighted the passion project of one of our very own agents, Dave Schlick and the nonprofit, The Village of Hope which was established for the indigenous people of the Mixteco village in southern Mexico. The work they are doing combines three of our greatest passions for giving – homelessness, hunger, and ministry. Their ultimate goal is to  “see the lives of staff, missionaries, and locals transformed into the likeness of Christ as the Village of Hope strives with passion and unity to rescue the lost, raise up disciples, and restore hope to the hopeless.” 
  • One of our most favorite opportunities for giving is with the Kevin Blain Memorial Scholarship program, where we award deserving graduating seniors scholarship monies to pursue further education or trade school. We gave out nine $500 scholarships to the class of 2021. You can read more about the program as well as about our recipients here.
  • El Rio Reyes Conservation Trust is a nonprofit regional California land trust whose mission is to safeguard the Kings River and its lands for future generations. The natural resources of the Central Valley are tremendous. Last year as fires burned threatening so much close to home we looked to support those organizations directly protecting resources and helping people displaced by the fires.  Read more about the last time we worked with them, in one of our previous blog posts. 
  • Youth for Christ or you may know it as Campus Life, is a community-based organization impacting the lives of teenagers throughout Tulare and Kings Counties. They serve as Gang Interventionists, Life Coaches, and Chaplains who meet the needs of students to help them be successful in life. It is their vision to “reach every young person throughout Tulare and Kings Counties with the Gospel, and partner with our local churches to disciple them to be like Christ.” They are currently serving in 41 schools throughout Tulare-Kings Counties and Dani Blain Real Estate proudly donated when they were experiencing multiple hardships during the height of the pandemic

  • Young Life and Young Lives is a very special organization to us and we support them whenever we can. In their work they “go to kids, build bridges of authentic friendship, and introduce them to Jesus Christ”. We especially get filled up by giving to their teen mom program, Young Lives,  where they focus on supporting pregnant and parenting teens through mentorship, community, and a life with Christ.

You have heard us say it before, and we know we will say it again… “we are blessed so that we may bless others”. Our brokerage was built on the ideas that we are here to serve our community, that when you succeed we do, and as your partnership serves us – we will always turn that back around and serve our community. Do you know of a local group that is serving our community that we should know about? We are always looking to expand our reach and help as many groups as we can – so if you have any ideas, please contact us! 

Giving Feature: A Village of Hope

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Before Dani Blain Real Estate came to life, we knew we wanted to create a culture of agents and team members who truly understand that we are not here just to help people buy and sell houses, but rather truly lead with our servant hearts. We believe we are blessed so that we can bless others. Giving back is at the forefront of our brokerage and as a real estate family, our agents participate in many of the giving opportunities that are ongoing within the brokerage each month. We even have some cases where our agents are the ones leading the charge! 

For the month of June we have proudly supported a non-profit called Village of Hope International. We are so proud and eager to support our agents who are working hard to help here in the valley and in places people need it most. For years David Schlick, one of our newer agents, has been traveling south of the border to not only volunteer and lead teams of missionaries, but to truly sow the seeds of hope for the indigenous people of the Mixteco village in southern Mexico. 

When he saw the poverty and need that this village was in, he and some other friends knew they had to do more. They saw what the local community center, The Village of Hope was doing to provide hope to the working poor (most of whom are farm laborers who make $12 to $14 a day) and wanted to expand the great work already happening, so in 2017 they started a nonprofit called the Village of Hope International.

They raise about $200,000 a year which funds a feeding program that serves more than a 1,000 meals a week, has two youth soccer teams, two churches reaching more than 500 weekly, a seminary, after school tutoring, literacy program, career training and home building. To date, the Village has built more than 240 homes of hope. These homes have a cement foundation, a main living space, two bedrooms, a loft and electrical. For about $6,000 they are able to build a house and radically transform life for a hardworking family.

David has set his sights and has a goal to fund 10 homes this year. Slowly but surely he is making it happen. But he knows he can’t reach this goal of 10 homes alone. We are happy to report that several local agents have given generously to help with this lofty goal. One agent has committed to funding one home a year. Another agent gave him a prequalified client which led to a sale currently in escrow. He has a photographer who is a former student who shoots all of David’s listings for free. David also works with other partners in the industry who donate all or portions of their service fees to support this cause.

We are so inspired by David and all of those who have contributed to the Village of Hope. If you would like to give or go on a 5-day home build trip  you can contact him at dave.schlick@gmail.com or (559)679-5733. We encourage you to visit his website that has even more info on his goals and mission to provide as much as he can for this community in great need.

Summer in the Central Valley and Coast… A Little Something for Everyone

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One of the reasons Dani Blain Real Estate loves to serve the Central Valley and the Central Coast is because we have the best of California right at our fingertips. Whether you travel north, south, east or west there is truly something for everyone. Get out and explore this summer… let us help you make a plan depending on your personality or your mood.

For Families

For a day full of hands-on learning and fun, you must check out the Fresno Discovery Center. There is a great grassy park area that begs for a picnic, and you can’t miss the incredible Deutsch Cactus Garden with over 250 succulents and cacti. If you are looking for some additional indoor family fun, go visit Never Bored for so many awesome family friendly ideas of things to keep busy in the Central Valley this summer.

For the Outdoor Enthusiasts

Camping, fishing, hiking, boating, and a beautiful pine tree forest – right here in our backyard. The Sequoia National Forest is home to Shaver Lake and is an outdoor lover’s dream! You can camp, stay at a nearby AirBnB, or just day trip in for quick fun in the sun-escape. 

For the Night Owls

Head on out to Fresno – after making reservations at Quail State, Fresno’s first and only rooftop bar. Open Wednesday – Sunday serving craft cocktails, farm to fork cuisine, and some of the best ambiance around. 

Speaking of rooftop bars and restaurants, The Elderwood at The Darling Hotel in Visalia does not disappoint! Five stories above town you are sure to see a gorgeous sunset and will enjoy local, seasonal bites, specialty cocktails and more. Make your reservation first!

For the Beach Lovers

The Central Coast has some of the best beaches in the Golden State – we may be biased… but they are incredible! You can stop at any beach from Pismo to Monterey and have a great day, however; Avila Beach is our go to recommendation. It’s half mile shoreline is family friendly and the nearby shopping, restaurants  and pier round it out as a perfect overall beach experience.

For the History Buffs

In the early 1900s Balsassare Forestiere settled in Fresno with dreams of becoming a citrus farmer. He spent 40 years of his life excavating and planting over 10 acres of citrus trees all underground. This summer be sure to make a reservation for a guided tour to see this incredible historic landmark.

For the Seriously Adventurous

About an hour north of Visalia you can be among the ultimate thrill seekers and add skydiving to your summer bucket list. Check out Skydive Madera to make a reservation for either a more traditional tandem jump, or you can even take a six hour class to jump solo – an Accelerated Free Fall. 

For Water Lovers

It’s no secret that the Valley gets HOT. What’s the best way to cool off? A day trip to the water park! Island Water Park in Fresno is a great option with a wave pool, lazy river, tube slides, body slides, and a huge kid area there is plenty to keep everyone busy and wet all day. 

Or try another favorite Ravine Water Park in Paso Robles. You can make it there and back for a solid day trip! New this year is the Jungle Treasure Mini Golf Adventure area. There is something for everyone!

Just a bit north of us, in Manteca, the Great Wolf Lodge officially opened this summer. It makes a great weekend getaway with the on property rooms and packages to get the full experience. 

Have a Great Summer

We hope summer of 2021 brings you lots of fun, laughs and memories. Whether you have lived here forever or are thinking of making the move here, summer time is a great time to explore all the Valley has to offer. It’ll be hot… just like the housing market around here! Speaking of… We are here for all of your real estate needs and hope you reach out to our team if you want to buy or list – we have got you covered. 

Central Valley Summer Harvest… Pick While the Picking is Good

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If you live here in the central valley or you are planning to relocate here, you probably already know that our agricultural land is abounding. We have a Mediterranean climate – warm-hot summers and cool, dry winters which makes our mountains remarkable and our ag lands more productive than almost any on earth. Late spring and summer harvests bring some of our favorite seasonal fruits and veggies. Let’s get into what our local farmers will be harvesting soon and see where we can get in on the action to make some memorable experiences and come home with the literal fruits of your labor!

Right now, we are at the tail end of cherry season and our central valley growers are producing cherries that are distributed around the world. Did you know that California is the second largest cherry producing state, only behind Washington? Cherries are not only delicious, but they are also chock-full of good-for-you vitamins and minerals, making them a brilliant addition to a healthy diet.

Be sure not to let cherry season pass you by – get them while they are still here!
Cherries
Check out:
Genesis Organic Farms, right here in Hanford. You can give them a call and set up an appointment for some fun you-pick cherry opportunities. A bit further north, you can check out:
Blooms in Lodi – their season wraps this week… book a spot to get out there before it’s too late.

If you miss cherries, then be sure to plan ahead to get in on the apricot and nectarine season!
Apricots and Nectarines
You can head on out to:
~ Little Brothers Farm (897 West Lincoln Avenue, Fresno, CA 93706. Phone: (559) 260-0224. Email: littlebroapricots@yahoo.com)  for some farm fresh apricots. Nectarines more your thing?
~ Rancho Notso Grande (5051 12th. Avenue, Hanford, CA 93230. Phone: 559-269-1152. Fax: 559-589-0420. Email: ranchonotsogrande@gmail.com) has nectarines as well as all types of berries, flowers and walnuts. 

Speaking of berry picking… Who doesn’t love some amazing summer time berries? You can get them all over during the summer, but they always taste better when they are hand picked by you!
Berries
Check out:
~ Mountain Brook Ranch (17971 Auberry Road, Clovis, CA 93612. Phone: 559-299-8141. Email: bhook45@hotmail.com) for berries, veggies and apricots.
~ Naylor Organics (38918 Road 64, Dinuba, CA 93618. Phone: (559) 824-0811. Alternate Phone: (559) 824-3780. Email: naylor.organics@gmail.com) has a little bit of everything, from berries to peaches and nectarines and even plums, this certified organic farm will not disappoint!

You can see  a full list of other U-Pick farms and ranches here at Pick Your Own.

Living in the central valley and laying in the middle of California – halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, we have a little something for everyone, be it big city or rural community. Come visit the valley and you will not be disappointed. Live here and enjoy the fruits and vegetables harvested right from your own backyard! To learn a little more about the counties we specialize in, please contact us.We are here for any of your real estate needs… we look forward to connecting with you.

The Short List: Service Provider Recommendations

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Sometimes finding a good service provider can be like finding a needle in a haystack. There are so many ways research businesses online, on sites like Yelp or Angie’s List, but sometimes you wish someone would narrow things down even further for you. Well, all of us at Dani Blain Real Estate are happy to do just that for you. We have spent decades in the Central Valley sourcing and vetting the best of the best for all of your home servicing needs. We are so happy to have this short list of providers to refer you to and know that you will love them as much as we do. 


Contractor/Construction Services

Payton Construction Inc. is our go to for anyone in need of a solid Contractor. Be sure to check out their Facebook Page to see all of the amazing work they are doing right here in the Central Valley.
Phone: 559-280-4066

Flooring:

We love our pal Greg Gibson at Flooring Liquidators in Tulare. You can email him or give him a call at 559-804-1004 to take care of all of your flooring needs.

Handyman:

Give Adrian Jimmez Mata a call at 559-331-5491 and he will be able to fix or repair anything for you in the Central Valley. 

House & Carpet Cleaning:

Service Master by Beneveto is your one stop shop for all of your cleaning demands. From emergency and biohazard cleaning, tile and grout service to upholstery cleaning and even mold and odor remediation servicing – Service Master by Beneveto has you covered. 
Phone: 559-266-4357
Facebook Page 

Locksmith:

Doyel Pope at Key Evidence Lock and Safe in Visalia can help with more than just a lockout – they do it all for both residential and commercial services including security and camera systems. 
Phone: 559-805-5110
Email: dpope@keyevidence.com

Painter:

Joey Ochoa in Tulare is the last painter you will ever need – we know you will love him like all of our shared clients always do. Give him a call at 559-759-2076 for more information. 

Roofing: 

Call Daniel at Stoic Roofing 559-483-0258 – he is kind, professional and beats most other rates! He will not disappoint. 

3R Construction is a full service construction company – and another of our go-to roofers, Tim is a great guy!
Phone: 559-303-0587 
Email: three.r.construction@hotmail.com
Facebook Page 


We hope this list of our Dani Blain Real Estate approved service providers helps you on your next home project. We know how important it is to have someone you can trust and rely on – and we also know that no one has time to sort through all of the options out there. It is truly our pleasure to be able to recommend these top notch service providers to you and we hope that you reach out to them and tell them your friends at Dani Blain Real Estate sent you!