The Ridge Report - October 2020 Berry Creek
Well 2020 continues to be quite the dynamic year, and with state, local and national elections right around the corner, 2020 promises to be interesting right until the last moments. We have seen many changes in our real estate markets over the past 10 months with major changes to the way we have to operate as Realtors--mostly due to Corona Virus protections--and it seems as though many of these changes may be here with us to stay.
Real estate on the Paradise ridge continues to be challenging as there are only 22 homes actively on the market in Paradise and only 31 in Magalia. Sales have been fairly brisk considering the limited inventory with 17 homes under contract in Paradise and 19 in Magalia. Additionally, 11 homes sold in Paradise in the past 30 days and 19 sold in Magalia during the same time. When we look at lot or vacant land sales the numbers are a little larger with 207 active on the market in Paradise and 69 in Magalia, 99 currently pending in Paradise and 13 pending in Magalia with 67 having closed escrow in the last 30 days in Paradise and only 15 in Magalia during the same period.
On an uplifting note, the town of Paradise released new numbers yesterday and reflect 1,265 building permit applications have been received, 1,120 permits have been issued and the 390 homes have reportedly been completed. Butte County provides similar information and has reported that inside the campfire burn scar there have been 378 permit applications received, 290 permits issued and 91 homes have been “finaled” or completed. This is all good news for rebuilding the areas devastated by the 2018 wildfire. While we have long way to go in the recovery, these are all great steps in the right direction.
Whether you are looking to buy or sell in our home communities of Paradise, Magalia, Chico and Oroville or in our favorite home away from home in the Lake Almanor area or even Tehama county we are here to assist in any way possible.
Warren Bullock is the Listing Manager of the Chari Bullock Real Estate Team and American Homes And Land Real Estate in Paradise located at 5580 Almond St. EMAIL;Warren@ChariBullock.com, 530-413-0041
I love that piney little Sierra foothill mountaintown of Berry Creek. The General Store. The Volunteer Fire Department. The School. The Pie Festival. The Community Park events. The community spirit that brings the people out to listen to music, to buy craft fair goods, to donate time and money to support their town. Now the Bear Fire has ripped through and pretty much wiped out the town of Berry Creek. Gone are the store, the school, the Fire Department, the park, and the peoples’ houses. But I can attest to the fact that the community spirit is alive and healthy. The people are determined to bring back Berry Creek.
I know about the people’s determination to bring back Berry Creek because I know Will, a guy I refer to as the Mayor of Berry Creek. Will is the organizer of events. He’s the guy that stands at the microphone and addresses the people at the events, reminding them of the next upcoming events. He’s the guy that sets up the sound system at the events because it’s his sound system. He lives and breathes Berry Creek. My first foray into Berry Creek was in the year Nineteen Eighty-something. I had a client, Barry, looking for land to buy. He was from the Bay Area, retiring, a widower, and he wanted seclusion. Most of my weekends for a couple of months were with Barry, cruising the back roads. Looking for the right country property. Barry and I had been up into Forest Ranch, Cohasset, Paradise, Butte Creek Canyon.
“Too crowded!” was Barry’s refrain. He found an ad in the newspaper. “Check this out! he said.” The ad read ‘40 acres with a stream and no neighbors for miles. $19,000’. “This sounds great!” said Barry.
I called Jack, the Realtor with the ad. Jack said, “Yeah, well that one’s alright, but I know a guy willing to part with two nice parcels with big trees and water to boot. Unlisted. You know Berry Creek?”
I didn’t. But I do now. The last time I saw Barry, we closed escrow on his land. He said,
“Don’t tell anyone where I am and don’t come visit. After 40 years in the East Bay rat race, I’m going off the grid.”
Later forays into Berry Creek I was with my band. We’ve played annual gigs there for years. My favorite gigs. As weet spot. The Pie Festival! It’s a fundraiser for the local Fire Department, and Mayor Will sets up the sound and hosts a day of entertainment by local bands, dance troops, speakers, and fun. The pine trees are spaced like columns in a giant airy cathedral. Pies by the hundreds, homemade by the Berry Creek people are on sale. The sweet smell of the pies mixes with the sweet smell of the pines, and the music drifts through the mountain air as the people visit the crafts booths, buy the foodie goodies, and mix and mingle all day long.
Then there’s the Music in the Park series on the Elementary School land, just up the road from the Fire Department. The Berry Creek people built a stage under the tall pines and cedars just downhill from the school, with lumber milled from the local trees, two-inch-thick by 10-inchwide planks. We stood on that stage the last gig we played in Berry Creek, a couple of months ago, in July, our first gig back since the Covid shutdown. The people came out, social-distanced, and kicked up the dust, dancing to the music. Talk about fun. Talk about good air. And about fifteen degrees cooler than the Valley.
I haven’t been back to Berry Creek since the Bear Fire, but I’ve talked to Mayor Will. Berry Creek is coming back. They have the will as well as Will. We need to help. Right now, I’m looking at Rusty, the great Border Collie mix dog that lived through the fire as his world burnt down. His owner is a friend of our family, who lost his home and has been put up in a motel room arranged and paid by the Red Cross. We don’t know how Rusty made it through that fire. He must have had the WILL.
Doug Love is Sales Manager at Century 21 in Chico and would love to hear from you. Call or text 530-680-0817. Email dougwlove@gmail.com. See more columns at lovesrealstories.com.