Home Source, February 13, 2026

ENERGY-EFFICIENT home upgrades for winter

Family Features

Taking steps to make your home more energy-e cient this winter isn’t just a smart way to lower utility bills, it’s also good for the planet. Whether you’re looking to stretch your budget further or shrink your energy footprint, small upgrades can transform your home into a more e cient, comfortable living space. While steps like unplugging electronics when not in use and letting natural light in through windows and skylights throughout the day are small habits that can add up over time, these cost-effective ideas can have a more immediate, noticeable impact.

Seal in comfort

Check for drafts around windows, doors and vents. Tiny leaks or openings can allow warm air to escape or cool outside air to enter. Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal gaps and maintain cozy indoor temperatures. Adding extra insulation in your attic or crawl spaces can also lead to a more

efficient heating system.

Update lighting

Switching to LED lightbulbs is a simple way to cut down on energy usage. LEDs not only consume a fraction of the electricity of traditional bulbs but also last longer. To save even more energy, consider pairing them with dimmers or motion sensors, which also add customizable comfort and style.

Replace outdated appliances

If your refrigerator, dishwasher or washer and dryer are 10 years old or older, consider investing in an energy-efficient replacement. Modern models are designed to use less water and electricity. Similarly, upgrading to a smart thermostat can make it easier to manage heating schedules automatically and adjust your home’s temperature while out and about.

For more ideas to make your home more efficient year-round visit eLivingtoday.com.

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California housing affordability improves from third-quarter 2025 and a year ago

California Association of Realtors News release

SACRAMENTO — Moderating home prices and cooling market competition lowered borrowing costs and allowed more Californians to qualify for mortgages and improve their chances of buying a home in the fourth quarter of 2025, the California Association of Realtors recently reported.

Eighteen percent of the state’s homebuyers could afford to purchase a median-priced, existing single-family home in California in fourth-quarter 2025, up from 17% in the third quarter of 2025 and up from 16% in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to CAR’s Traditional Housing Affordability Index. Despite recent gains, low affordability continues to challenge both buyers and sellers statewide.

The fourth-quarter 2025 figure is less than a third of the affordability index peak of 56% in the fourth quarter of 2012. CAR’s HAI measures the percentage of all households that can afford to purchase a median-priced single-family home in California. CAR also reports affordability indices for regions and select counties within the state. The index is considered the most fundamental measure of housing wellbeing for home buyers in the state.

The effective interest rate declined for the third consecutive quarter, dropping to its lowest level since third-quarter 2022. The average effective interest rate receded to 6.35% in fourth-quarter 2025 from 6.67% the previous quarter and was 41 basis points below the level 6.76% recorded a year earlier. Mortgage rates, which oscillated throughout the first six months of 2025 due partly to tariff-induced uncertainty, trended modestly lower in the second half of the year as the Federal Reserve’s rate cuts — or rather the expectations of the rate cuts — kick-started the decline. The

cumulative easing pushed the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate to a threeyear low at the start of 2026 before rising in recent weeks.

Entering 2026, the Fed opted to hold rates steady at its January meeting, but additional rate relief is expected later this year as softer economic growth is projected for the next 12 months. Lingering inflation risks and bond market volatility will continue to have an impact on borrowing costs, but costs should gradually come down by the end of the year, and housing affordability could see some slight improvement in the next 12 months.

The median price of an existing single-family home declined for the second straight quarter in the fourth quarter of 2025, falling 2.2% as market competition cooled — typical for year-end. On a year-over-year basis, California recorded its first annual price decline since the second quarter of 2023, falling 0.6% below the yearago level. As the market transitions through its seasonal off-cycle, home prices may remain soft for the next couple of months but should rebound as the homebuying season begins in late March/early April. Should mortgage rates ease further and economic uncertainty diminish, housing affordability could see incremental improvement for the first quarter of 2026.

A minimum annual income of $213,200 was needed in California to afford the $5,330 monthly payment, including principal, interest and taxes on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 6.35%. While the fourth-quarter 2025 annual required income was $23,600 below the record high set in second-quarter 2024, it still marked the 12th of the past 13 quarters with income requirements above $200,000. Monthly PITI declined modestly from

both the prior quarter (-4.7%) and a year earlier (-4.0%) but remained more than double the national average — a gap that has persisted since at least 2018.

More California households (28%) could afford a typical condo/ townhome in fourthquarter 2025, rising from 27% third-quarter 2025 and 25% in fourthquarter 2024. An annual income of $159,200 was required to make the monthly payment of $3,980 on the $650,000 median-priced condo/ townhome in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Compared with California, more than one-third (39%) of the nation’s households could afford to purchase a $414,900 median-priced home, which required a minimum annual income of $101,600 to make monthly payments of $2,540. Nationwide, affordability edged up from 36% in both the third quarter of 2025 and a year ago.

Key points from the Fourth-Quarter 2025 Housing Affordability report include:

• When compared to the previous quarter of 2025, housing affordability improved in the fourth quarter of 2025 in the vast majority of counties, declining in only three and unchanged in another three. Despite prices remaining near historical highs, 47 counties posted quarter-to-quarter affordability gains, driven by lower mortgage rates,

higher incomes, and softer home prices. When compared to a year ago, affordability improved in 46 of 53 counties, while prices in seven counties either declined (three) or showed no improvement (four).

• Lassen (57%) remained the most affordable county in California, followed by Trinity (44%) and Tuolumne (43%), where roughly two out of five households could afford a median-priced home. Of all counties in California, Lassen continued to require the lowest minimum qualifying income at $56,000.

• Mono County (10%) was the least affordable county in the state, followed by Monterey and Santa Barbara (12%), each requiring

a minimum income of at least $226,400. San Mateo remained the most expensive, with a minimum qualifying income of $507,600— the only county above $500,000 — followed by Santa Clara ($470,800) and San Francisco ($441,200).

• As borrowing costs eased late in the year, affordability improved across much of the state, though it remains historically tight. The largest year-over-year gains were in Trinity (+15 points), Humboldt (+8), and Glenn (+8), while affordability declined most in Lake (-5), Imperial (-4), and Napa (-1). Housing affordability in California stayed near its all-time low and continued to be a challenge for both buyers and sellers.

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home to Riverwood Estate! If you’ve been searching for privacy, views, and acreage without sacri cing comfort, this is it. Over 10 acres approved for horses and livestock, a circular re road providing defensible space, a covered back deck perfect for sunset views, and a lower-level workshop with a roll-up metal door for storage or hobbies. Private and peaceful, yet just minutes from Gold Hill wineries, the American River, hiking trails, and everything El Dorado County has to o er.

LEGACY RANCH: BOLD INTERIORS. UNEXPECTED DESIGN.

a strong connection to the landscape. The design features an expansive open floor plan, corrugated metal roofing with 6-inch gutters and accents, and distinctive copper elements woven throughout the estate, including chimney caps and custom interior detailing. Sustainability is integral, with alternative energy concrete slab floor and structural insulated panel walls, as well as a superior owned solar batteries, and a backup generator. Circulating radiant floor heating delivers year-round ciency and economy. The main home offers over 4,600 square feet of refined indoor/outdoor organized around an open courtyard with patio, pool, spa, gas fire pit, and built-in BBQ. Interiors suite bedrooms, an office, wood-cased dual-pane windows and a 16-foot walk-in vault with solid construction and built-in cabinetry. The interior experience is both bold and unexpected. #226004263 Offered at $2,900,000 www.SellingPlacerville.com

$749,000

$750,000 4883 Can eld Cir

$810,299 7967 Stone Ranch Dr

$871,814 7850 Stone Ranch Dr

$899,000 3257 Chasen Dr

$908,906 7878 Stone Ranch Dr

$980,000 3300 Woodleigh Ln

$1,049,000 3184 Chasen Dr

226013210

225143486

225138155

225147066

225139619

226007586 $1,054,900 3810 Bilbao Ct

$1,090,000 3788 Hillsborough Rd

3274 0.41 225153701 SHINGLE SPRINGS $250,000 3104 Cambridge Rd #4C

1358 0.07 225079128

$550,000 2960

$875,000 2631 Wagner Pl 4 4 (3 1) 2660 0.19 225151731

$875,000 3660 Waldwick Circle 3 3 (2 1) 2714 0.31 225123345

$879,000 377 Platt Circle 4 3 (2 1) 2393 0.55 226005892

$879,000 1580 Daunting Dr 4 3 (3 0) 2285 0.15 226000055

$889,900 2616 Wagner Pl 4 4 (3 1) 3085 0.2 226004932

$890,000 1084 Bevinger Dr 4 3 (2 1) 2659 0.23 226004815

$900,000 3184 Montrose Way 5 3 (3 0) 3198 0.21 225153717

$900,000 5188 Garlenda Dr 5 3 (3 0) 2890 0.2 225148984

$905,000 407 Orange Blossom Ct 4 3 (2 1) 2285 0.35 226010564

$934,000 385 Esatto Pl 4 3 (2 1) 2669 0.29 225063474

$935,000 3560 Landsdale Way 4 4 (3 1) 2891 0.26 225153878

$938,000 2516 Gladwin Way 4 4 (3 1) 3085 0.17 226010388

$949,900 3190 Melrose Way 5 3 (3 0) 2890 0.18 225146265

$950,000 2296 Sailsbury Dr 5 3 (3 0) 2887 0.58 225154111

$960,000 2045 Vista Mar Dr 4 3 (2 1) 2425 0.33 226006646

$975,000 4730 Holliday Ln 3 3 (3 0) 2005 0.23 226012529

$975,000 211 Tarquina Ct 4 4 (3 1) 3068 0.25 226002241

$975,000 2354 Brannan Way 3 3 (3 0) 2005 0.18 226002176

$979,000 2060 Shef eld Dr 5 3 (3 0) 3137 0.26 225142549

$989,000 2059 Beckett Dr 4 4 (3 1) 3177 0.22 225116969

$1,025,000 4035 Meadow Wood Dr 4 3 (3 0) 2876 0.17 225134974

$1,050,000 634 Lakecrest Dr 4 3 (2 1) 3035 0.29 226008637

$1,074,999 6043 Southerness Dr 4 4 (3 1) 2686 0.18 225039485

$1,075,000 5222 Degas Way 4 3 (3 0) 2738 0.17 226013539

$1,100,000 681 Powers Dr 4 3 (2 1) 2796 0.45 226009452

$1,100,000 4093 Arenzano Way 4 3 (3 0) 3009 0.23 226008149

$1,100,000 2022 Ahoy Ct 4 4 (3 1) 3700 0.39 225085684

$1,149,000 9010 Hearst Pl 5 4 (4 0) 3904 0.31 226007242

$1,190,000 3533 Park Dr 4 4 (4 0) 3694 0.38 225145356

$1,198,000 3537 Landsdale Way 5 3 (2 1) 2734 0.28 226000101

$1,199,000 3530 Terra Alta Dr 5 5 (4 1) 3741 0.25 226005812

$1,250,000 5132 Thalia Dr 4 4 (3 1) 3036 0.51 226014711

$1,250,000 6117 Southerness Dr 3 3 (2 1) 2970 0.2 226011882

$1,275,000 5351 Florentino Loop 5 5 (4 1) 3741 0.39 226002777

$1,295,000 235 Almond Ridge Ct 4 4 (3 1) 3402 0.36 226010578

$1,300,000 2299 Loch Way 4 3 (2 1) 3272 0.95 225149379

$1,339,000 4155 Aristotle Dr 4 4 (3 1) 3056 0.78 225137944

$1,350,000 3063 Orbetello Way 4 5 (4 1) 4200 0.53 226010139

$1,350,000 310 Milazzo Ct 3 3 (2 1) 2888 0.51 226006403

$1,360,000 1047 Lassen Peak Dr 4 4 (3 1) 3013 0.29 225149996

$1,375,000 3058 Ridgeview Dr 4 4 (3 1) 3590 1.1 226005123

$1,375,000 3468 Rolph Way 4 5 (4 1) 3699 0.49 226004044

$1,375,000 701 Stanfel Pl 4 4 (3 1) 4019 0.211 225135001

$1,399,000 5015 Skellig Rock Way 3 3 (2 1) 2544 0.23 226011454

$1,415,000 6036 Penela Way 4 3 (3 0) 4003 0.25 225096025

$1,425,000 3036 Corsica 5 5 (4 1) 3800 0.44 225152275

$1,495,000

$1,595,000

$1,599,982

$1,649,950 100 Chardin

$1,650,000 3073 Orbetello Way

$1,664,000 1014 Hogarth Way

$1,695,000 5528 Sur Mer

$1,698,000 130 Lockwood Ct

$1,699,000 881

$1,750,000 4040 Hawk

$1,795,000 1620 Carnegie Way 4

$1,890,000 5563 Sur

$2,100,000 9588 Pamela St 4 5 (4 1) 3832 0.51 226001060

$2,199,000 4182 Greenview Dr 4 4 (3 1) 3781 0.69 226010457

$2,199,000 3321 Greenview Dr 4 5 (4 1) 4420 0.4 226004271

$2,199,000 1781 Rocky Springs Ct 5 4 (4 0) 4199 5 225111030

$2,290,000 3000 Corsica Dr 4 5 (4 1) 4554 0.5 226001622

$2,299,000 5520 Sur Mer Dr 5 5 (4 1) 4762 0.45 225102911

$2,388,000 4185 Greenview Dr 5 5 (4 1) 5250 0.61 226006268

$2,449,000 4930 Greyson Crk 5 5 (4 1) 4634 0.6 225147323

$2,499,000 2001 Salmon Valley Ln 5 5 (4 1) 4179 8.16 226011401

$2,950,000 3268 Bordeaux Dr 5 6 (5 1) 5084 0.52 226008543

$2,950,000 3215 Bordeaux Dr 4 4 (3 1) 4433 0.46 226001711

$3,100,000 4805 Moreau Ct 5 6 (5 1) 7144 0.73 226011087

$3,149,900 4934 Breese Cir 5 6 (5 1) 4669 0.71 226008182

$3,199,000 4245 Raphael Dr 4 6 (4 2) 4406 0.54 226003771

$3,250,000 721 Shoreline Pointe 5 5 (5 0) 7381 1 225096863

$3,299,000 4160 Raphael Dr 5 7 (6 1) 5379 0.52 225129104

$3,499,000 325 Kimberlite Way 4 5 (5 0) 4717 0.52 226007176

$3,500,000 4150 Raphael Dr 4 5 (4 1) 4602 0.53 225114344

$3,500,000 4000 Errante Dr 4 6 (5 1) 6245 0.58 225101925

$3,795,000 4838 Moreau Ct 5 6 (5 1) 7319 0.76 225139670

$3,850,000 1022 Via Treviso 4 4 (3 1) 4407 1.04 226005076

$3,900,000 4573 Greenview Dr 4 6 (4 2) 4523 0.52 226011688

$3,900,000 4141 Greenview Dr 5 7 (5 2) 7365 0.51 225111741

$3,950,000 101 Powers 7

$3,995,000 1000 Aqua Haven Ct

$4,499,999 2070 W Green Springs Rd

$4,500,000 2040 W Green Springs Rd

(6 2) 9421 0.77 226011063

224094194

225125566

$4,998,000 4918 Moreau 6 6 (5 1) 5833 1.13

$734,440

$795,000

Residential Homes

12701 RESIDENTIAL HOMES

Residential Homes

12702 RESIDENTIAL HOMES

SPRINGS

1109 0.15 225129895

$449,000 818 Blue Bell Ct 3 2 (2 0) 1720 0.19 226005496

$449,000 2940 Anderson Way 1 1 (1 0) 586 0.12 225111979

$465,000 3458 Coon Hollow Rd 3 3 (3 0) 1670 4.86 225113176

$479,900 3607 Wamego Rd 4 3 (3 0) 2064 1.73 225124266

$489,000 949 Bliss Ct 3 4 (4 0) 2113 0.21 226003099

$499,900 2842 Northridge Dr 3 2 (2 0) 1886 0.36 226012216

$525,000 2320 Pintail Ln 4 2 (2 0) 1247 0.24 226013377

$525,000 850 Blue Bell Ct 3 2 (2 0) 1844 0.21 226006595

$560,000 2655 Mona Dr 3 3 (2 1) 1980 0.53 225100956

$565,000 2822 Winesap Cir 3 2 (2 0) 1418 0.214 226005243

$575,000 1531 Jeffrey Ln 3 3 (3 0) 2410 0.34 225148391

$575,000 3031 Rising Hill Ct 3 3 (3 0) 1952 1.11 225104250

$580,000 2970 Texas Hill Rd 2 2 (2 0) 1760 2.31 225153754

$599,000 810 Phillip Ct 3 2 (2 0) 1758 0.06 226012143

$625,000 2840 Winesap Cir 4 3 (3 0) 1881 0.16 225089404

$634,000 2350 Big Canyon Creek Rd 4 3 (3 0) 2657 1.28 225135318

$634,999 1131 Bush Ct 3 2 (2 0) 1723 0.47 226005035

$640,000 1110 Madrone Ln 3 3 (3 0) 2363 0.51 225078746

$400,000 6290 El Dorado St

$455,000 5505 Crossbill Ln

$540,000 6275 Crystal Blvd

$549,000 6335 Pollock Ave

1520 2.17 225154018

$555,000 2261 Sand Ridge Rd 2 3 (2 1) 1388

$609,000 4627 El Dorado Rd

$649,000 6560 Crystal Blvd

$749,900

226010968

225064451

226009572

225142488

$429,000

$495,000

$580,000

2808 11.06 226000270

$850,000 3059 Squirrel Hollow 3 3 (2 1) 2191 12.46 225067885

$850,000 6432 Happy Valley Rd 4 3 (2 1) 2710 20 225051607

$877,000 415 Carriage Lantern

Residential Homes

12801 RESIDENTIAL HOMES

CEDAR GROVE

Residential Homes

12802 RESIDENTIAL HOMES

Residential Homes 12902 RESIDENTIAL HOMES

in one side while renting out the other side to pay for most of your mortgage. Very convenient location with lots of parking. Owner is willing to rent back parking space to make your Gross income over $50,000 per year. One unit was just nished last year and is completely new inside, upgrades include, Granite counters, new cabinets and Luxury Plank Vinyl ooring. the other was refurbished about 3 years ago. The Roof is re retardant and only 4 years old. The Electric panels and Ductless HVAC were replaced about 4 years ago. This is turn key! The exterior has newer Hardi-plank siding and new windows in front, and the entire home was freshly painted about 3 years ago. Think that Gold and the stock market has run it course, This is an investment that yields, monthly income, appreciation, leverage, equity build up and tax bene ts.