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Congress just passed the most significant piece of housing legislation in nearly twenty years. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is heading to the President's desk, and most of what you'll read about it online is written for policy analysts, not homeowners. So I read through it and pulled out the parts that actually touch life here in Sonoma County. Here is the plain language version. Smaller mortgages are coming back For years, it has been genuinely hard to get a mortgage

Everyone keeps waiting for the “housing crash.” 📉 The reality is, we already had one. It was called the transaction crash, and it started in late 2022. Existing home sales nationally have dropped from over 6 million annually during the pandemic frenzy to roughly 4 million today, one of the slowest housing markets in nearly 30 years. 🏡 But a transaction crash does not automatically mean a massive value crash, especially here in Sonoma County wine country. 🌿 Yes, we’ve seen

By Tara Polley, Luxury Real Estate Broker | Sotheby's International Realty | Sonoma County, CA Finding the right real estate agent in Sonoma County is one of the most important decisions you will make in a property transaction. This is not a market where generalist representation serves buyers or sellers well. Wine country real estate involves agricultural land, complex zoning, fire risk considerations, estate property nuances, and a network of off-market relationships that o

By Tara Polley, Luxury Real Estate Broker | Sotheby's International Realty | Sonoma County, CA The luxury real estate market in Northern California occupies a distinctive position in the national landscape. Driven by proximity to the Bay Area's technology economy, the cultural prestige of wine country, and a persistent shortage of high-quality estate inventory, the market for homes above two million dollars in Sonoma County and the North Bay continues to attract well-qualifie

By Tara Polley, Luxury Real Estate Broker | Sotheby's International Realty | Sonoma County, CA Sonoma County is home to some of the most storied residential properties in Northern California. From Victorian-era farmhouses in the Sonoma Valley to craftsman estates in Healdsburg, century-old ranch compounds in Sebastopol, and Spanish Colonial properties in Glen Ellen, the county's architectural and agricultural history is woven into its real estate landscape in ways that buyers

By Tara Polley, Luxury Real Estate Broker | Sotheby's International Realty | Sonoma County, CA Buying a winery property in Northern California is a dream for many buyers, and Sonoma County is one of the most sought-after regions in the world to pursue it. But winery acquisitions are genuinely complex transactions that weave together real estate, agricultural business, licensing, and regulatory compliance into a single purchase. Here is a clear overview of what the process loo

By Tara Polley, Luxury Real Estate Broker | Sotheby's International Realty | Sonoma County, CA Buying a home in wine country is one of the most rewarding real estate decisions you can make. Sonoma County and the broader North Bay offer a rare combination of natural beauty, agricultural heritage, world-class culinary culture, and genuine community. But wine country real estate also comes with considerations that buyers from urban markets are often not prepared for. Whether you

An overview of where to buy a luxury home in Sonoma County by Tara Polley

Luxury in Sonoma County is not a single aesthetic or price point. It is a feeling. And depending on your priorities, that feeling lives in very different places across the county. Fountaingrove, Santa Rosa. This hillside community sits above the city with sweeping views of the Santa Rosa Plain and beyond. The estates here tend toward the contemporary, with large lots, high-end finishes, and strong community standards. It remains one of the most prestigious addresses in the co

Advice from Tara Polley, a top producing luxury realtor with 25 years experience