Red-tailed Hawk - The official bird of Cotati, CAIf you ever visit Cotati, CA, chances are you will see several Red-tailed Hawks patrolling the sky. They rule the avian population here, much to the dismay of pigeons and crows. The hawks will constantly taunt the other nesting birds, stealing eggs or worse.I noticed recently that I have a family of Red-tailed Hawks nesting in a tree near my back fence. They have a distinct, high pitched call, unlike any other bird common to Cotati. Last weekend, I was able grab my Nikon to capture this shot of a hawk resting on my back fence. This photo would not have been possible with an iPhone, a good camera is still a must.I have always wanted a close-up of a Red-tailed Hawk, and now I have it. Yes they are trouble makers in the avian world, but the... 07/06/2015

VA Mortgage Loans in Cotati CA and 100% VA Loans -the best loan program in the country! VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today for both honorably discharged Vets and active duty military personnel. Here are some of the great features of this fantastic program: - Up to 100% financing, with no down required. - No monthly mortgage insurance added to your payment. - More lenient credit qualifying standards than other types of mortgage loans. - Low rates compared to other loan programs. So how do you qualify for a VA Mortgage Loan in Cotati CA? The first step is to verify your eligibility. Eligibility is verified by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. You can work with an approved Cotati CA VA mortgage loan lender to order your COE quickly, ... 12/22/2014

    Lincoln Ave Condos Cotati CA   If you are in the market to buy a SINGLE LEVEL condo on the ground floor, you've come to the right place. I love these condos, they are the only true single level condo complex that I have come across in my 10+ years of selling real estate in Sonoma County.   Here is a list of why these condos on Lincoln Avenue are so great: All units are single level, two beds, 1 bath Units range from 808 to 920 square feet with spacious bedrooms Kotate park is across the street The only grocery store and post office in town is one block away The new Cotati Train station is six blocks away Sonoma State University is less than two miles away Downtown Cotati is 5 blocks away The Home Owner's Association does a super job of maintaining the complex The HOA dues are still... 12/02/2014

What's My Cotati Home Worth? August 2014 Cotati, referred to as the “Hub of Sonoma County”, only had 4 homes sell in the month of August, 2014.  This is partly due to a very low level of inventory which has caused high buyer demand and a rapid increase in values. Home prices in Cotati have increased 24% compared to median prices just 2 years ago.  As of this writing, the absorption rate is ... Read more about What's My Cotati Home Worth? August 2014. 09/16/2014

What's My Cotati Home Worth? July 2014   Single Family Residences:9 - Number sold in July63 - Average Days on Market$484,167 - Average sales price$440,000 - Median sales price$308 - Average price per square footCondominiums:2 - Number sold in July30 - Average Days on Market$257,000 - Average sales price$257,000 - Median sales price$222 - Average price per square foot Cotati has experienced a low amount of inventory which has driven Single Family Home and Condominium prices up 26% and 66% respectively from 24 months ago. As of the writing of this market report, the absorption rate is 1.85, meaning there are less than 2 months of inventory available in Cotati. If no new listings were introduced to the market, there would be no homes left for sale within 54 days. The absorption rate (# of ... 08/19/2014

Understanding the inherent danger of an attached garage     About three weeks ago, I was at a gas station paying way too much for gas when I noticed a mushroom cloud about a mile away. The lady pumping gas across from me asked me if I had heard the explosion. I hadn't, I had been driving at the time with my windows rolled up and the air conditioner blasting. The next day, my curiosity got the best of me, I had to find out what had caused the fire. It didn't take long. An explosion had taken place in the attached garage of this house ... which isn't there any longer. A fire had broken out and the residents fled while the father stayed behind wielding a water hose. Fortunately, he had enough sense to RUN when he saw the flames getting close to his acetylene tank. Kaboom. It made me realiz... 07/30/2014

8751 Fehler Lane Cotati CA - 3 bed 3 bath - $545,000       Looking for a updated, clean, 3 bed 3 bath home for sale in Cotati?   This 1990 beauty is located in a 13 home subdivision where, currently, ALL HOMES ARE OWNER OCCUPIED. As you drive up this quiet Cotati street, you will witness pride of ownership throughout the neighborhood. Every home has its own curb appeal, you'd think the whole subdivision was ready to go on the market!   Situated on a corner lot of almost 6,100 square feet, this Cotati home for sale boasts an over-sized garage (2 cars PLUS room for your projects), living space of over 2,000 square feet, three bedrooms, three bathrooms, formal dining room, family room, three fireplaces, and large utility room that has been converted into a bonus office!   If you would be O... 05/27/2014

Coming Soon! 3 bed 3 bath Cotati home for sale.    ***  Not on the market just yet, coming soon, coming soon, COMING SOON!  *** Looking for an updated, clean, three bedroom home for sale in Cotati that is in super condition? Luck has it, a home with that description will be coming on the Cotati real estate market very soon! This 1990 beauty is located in a 13 home subdivision where, currently, ALL HOMES ARE OWNER OCCUPIED. As you drive up this quiet Cotati street, you will witness pride of ownership throughout the neighborhood. Every home has its own curb appeal, you'd think the whole subdivision was ready to go on the market! Situated on a corner lot of almost 6,100 square feet, this Cotati home for sale boasts an over-sized garage (2 cars PLUS room for your projects), living space of ... 05/24/2014

ACTIVE Homes for Sale in Cotati CA - 12/3/2012   Eight ... count 'em ... there are only eight homes currently for sale in Cotati CA. Ever since January of 2012, there has been a buyer frenzy that has wiped out almost all available inventory. Home values have slowly but consistently risen while demand has surpassed supply. The median home price in Cotati as of today is $723,000 which is crazier still. If you are a buyer wanting to buy a home in Cotati CA you need to be able to see a property the moment it comes on the market and write an offer that same day. I'm a full time real estate broker who can show any available listing to you. Let's go see some homes ... fast!     12/03/2012

Coming Soon! Three homes on 7 acres in Cotati CA If you have had the desire to live on a country property, yet still be close to civilization, this property might be a great opportunity for you. Located on Derby road near the intersections of Highway 116 and Stony Point, you'll find three legal units and two large barns. The main unit is over 110 years old (circa 1900) and still looking quite grand. I'm not going to sugar-coat this one, the second unit needs some TLC and the third unit is currently boarded up. The perfect buyer will understand local regulations and the permit process. The super perfect buyer will know where PRMD is and how long it takes to wait in line to talk to a code enforcement employee. If you have all of that under your belt, you will do fine. I'm expecting this ... 11/30/2012

Candlelight Concert - December 7 2012 - Cotati CA   Absolutely FREE  -- 7:00 to 9:00PMChurch of the Oaks, Corner of West Sierra Ave and Page Street Church of the Oaks is once again sponsoring a free concert featuring vocal performances and beautiful holiday music. You need not stay for the whole concert, come and go at your leisure. The Church is small, the acoustics will amaze you. Church of the Oaks has served the community of Cotati since 1901. One of the coziest weddings I have ever attended was in this venue. If you haven't been already, the Church alone is worth the visit. But I guarantee you will enjoy the music as well. For more information, call (707)795-8624.   11/27/2012

The Chamber Crawl - December 6 2012 - Cotati CA     The Cotati Crawl is a social gathering that happens every Thursday night in downtown Cotati. Usually, the "crawl" is where you'll find mostly young Sonoma State University students. But this one week during the year, members of the Cotati Chamber of Commerce celebrate the holidays with a "Chamber Crawl" in a festive fashion. Every venue is within a block or so from one another, hence the ability to "crawl" to your next destination. Here is this years (loose) crawl schedule:   --  5:30PM - The 8 Ball, 8 Charles Street--  6:15PM - Spancky's Bar, 8201 Old Redwood Hwy (across the street)--  7:00PM - Cotati Yacht Club, 8099 La Plaza (one block away)--  7:45PM - Friar Tuck's Pub, 8201 Old Redwood Hwy (one block away)   This an evening to mix... 11/26/2012

Holiday Tree Lighting - December 5 2012 - Cotati CA       GATHER 'ROUND La Plaza Park in downtown Cotati for the annual Holiday Tree Lighting at 6:00PM. Our wonderful Public Works Department makes sure the lights are up and working for this annual event. Carols will be sung and a countdown ensues before the switch is pulled to activate the lights. After the oohs and ahhs, everyone heads on over to the Cotati Fire Station across the street to meet Santa. There will be cookies, hot cocoa, cider and holiday music. This is a great opportunity to get a photo of the little ones with Santa.   * Clip Art disclaimer ... unless we have really bizarre weather, there will NOT be snow on the ground :(   11/25/2012

  Thanksgiving is a day for being thankful. I can only imagine these turkeys on parade were thankful for not being chosen for the dinner table. Truthfully, I would have waited until the day AFTER Thanksgiving just to be safe. Strut your stuff, you turkeys. You have a 365 day reprieve. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 11/21/2012

Today is the day ... Cotati's Fall Community Cleanup. If you have items to dispose of that won't fit in your regular garbage can, you might be able to drop them off today at the Cotati Park n' Ride on St. Joseph's Way. Materials Accepted:- Wood and yard waste- Household trash- Non-Freon appliances (washers, dryers, dishwashers, water heaters, stoves)- Scrap metal- TV's- Computers and electronics Materials NOT Accepted:- Batteries- Freon appliances (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners)- Mattresses or box springs- Pressure treated wood- Tires- Anything with a gas engine- Bricks, concrete, rocks, stumps, dirt or sheet rock- Hazardous waste I'll be participating in the cleanup, I have a satellite dish that will fit nicely in the scrap metal bin and an electric weed eater (it finally ... 11/09/2012

Benefit Dinner for little Beau Tilghman - Sunday Nov 11, 2012 Beau Tilghman is just 14 months old. A couple of months ago, Beau's family noticed that he had stopped walking and had reverted back to crawling. Then he stopped crawling and would just roll over. Then the rolling stopped altogether. The family took Beau to the doctor several times during these adjustments, just to be told that they couldn't find anything wrong. Something WAS wrong though, seriously wrong. Beau was found to have a tumor that was pressing against his brain. He underwent and survived a 13 hour operation to have the malignant tumor removed. Beau is now undergoing chemo treatments at Oakland Children's Hospital for the next 6 months. Right now, Beau is a very sick little boy. His young parents are struggling wit... 11/09/2012

Treats for Chickens, a chicken supply business, recently opened up shop in Cotati CA. If you ask proprietor Dawn Russell, she chose the location because "Cotati is just so stinkin' cute". I mean, after all, how many cities do you know of that has a flock of free-range chickens roaming around downtown? Drive into Walgreen's parking lot and you'll literally find yourself "playing chicken" with chickens just to find a parking space. Treats for Chickens aims to be the premier supplier of treats, food supplements, nesting materials and more, particularly for urban and suburban families. And the timing couldn't be better. Santa Rosa, the largest city in Sonoma County, just passed an ordinance allowing chickens to be raised in backyards within city limits. Dawn has been working for years to c... 11/02/2012

Looking for something to do today? How does FREE sound? Cotati is having its 32nd annual Jazz Festival in downtown La Plaza park and several surrounding venues from Noon until 7:00PM. It's supposed to be 95 degrees today, so bring your sunscreen and perhaps a spray bottle to keep you cool. There will be plenty of food, drink and entertainment. Grab a lawn chair or a blanket on your way out of the house and you will be set. Have fun!     06/16/2012

Ever thought of working and living in a small little town on the edge of Wine Country? Are you a resident manager with experience in HUD Administration? Charles Street Village is a charming 48 unit Seniors complex in downtown Cotati. The residents of Charles Street not only just live there, they love to get involved with the care of the premises, grow vegetables, have potlucks and just plain old socialize. In exchange for rent free occupancy of a two bedroom unit in the complex, your enthusiasm and commitment towards Burbank Housing's mission of providing quality and affordable housing to low income individuals of all backgrounds is your best character trait. Built in 2001, these units are in great shape and when I say charming, I mean CHARMING! Check out these links to read more about ... 04/26/2012

  Cotati Station is one of the newest communities in Cotati, just a few blocks away from Sonoma State University. Aptly named for the its proximity to the future commuter train station, these townhomes are perfect for a busy family or SSU students who prefer to live off campus. This 3 bedroom (plus huge bonus room!) townhome is currently available for rent for $2400.00 a month. With 1700 square feet of living space on three levels, this modern townhome affords privacy and comfort. Unlike most condos for rent in Cotati, this townhome also has a full size two-car garage. Your trips to the laundromat will be over when you rent this unit. A Whirlpool washer and dryer are conveniently situated on the second level, near the kitchen and two of the bedrooms. The spacious master suite occupies ... 02/06/2012