Good Real Estate Investments in California's Central Valley (Fresno/Clovis Area)

There is a beautiful gated community in east Clovis, located near the base of the Sierra Nevada Foothills called Quail Lakes. There are custom-built homes on the lake itself and other semi custom homes, built by the Quail Lakes builder, which are in the "Cove Area" and built adjacent to the water. About half of the homes are built away from the lake itself but a short walk brings you lakeside.

The lake itself, has won awards for being the best lake for its size in California. It has a policy of "catch and release" for fishing. Sailboats and other non-gas-powered boats may be used on the lake and in the cove waterway.

There is a clubhouse and pool available to all residents and their guests. Several parks are included in the various neighborhoods. There are also boats available for the resident's use. There is a charter school (elementary), at the south part of the community. The school is in the well-respected Sanger School District. The landscaping on the grounds is beautifully kept up.

The community was started about nine years ago and is about 2/3 built. All of the homes should be finished within the next three years. Most of the homes are occupied by home owners.

Quail Lakes is less than 10 minutes from Clovis and nearby shopping centers. It's about 20 minutes from downtown Fresno, the airport and other Fresno locations. Fifteen minutes gets you into the foothills towards Shaver and Huntington Lakes.

Homes in this area have doubled and tripled over the last few years, and, unfortunately, some home owners now find themselves over-extended and must sell their homes in order to prevent foreclosure.

This is a terrific opportunity for home buyers. Especially if you come from Northern or Southern Californian where you can sell a home for much more money than you'd need to purchase another home in this area. And, the home in this area would probably be larger than the home you sold in the northern or southern parts of the state.

The Tower District & Old Fig Garden - Fresno

These are two of my favorite neighborhoods in town. The Tower District boasts many craftsman homes dating back to the early and mid 1900's. Each home is vastly different from the one next door or across the street and adds to the charm of the neighborhood.

Many Tower District homes are located within walking distance of the "Tower District" itself, once a place of lovely antique shops. Most are gone now, but the main area (Olive Avenue) is a place of trendy restaurants and shops. Sequoia Brewery is a great place for Sunday brunch or just a cool brew, Piemonte's Delicatessen is packed at lunchtime as patrons patiently wait in line for their Italian sandwiches. Cuca's is a small but excellent Mexican eatery.

Old Fig Garden is wonderful. Van Ness Avenue is the largest street, part of it with a grass island down the middle. Large homes, each different from the next, and with large front, side and back yards line both sides of the street. However, there is a disadvantage to living on Van Ness itself; from Thanksgiving to New Year's, it's the site of Christmas Tree Lane, and almost every night during the holiday season, it's blocked off to through traffic. You would have to park off of Van Ness itself or, once in for the evening, not go back out. Better to live on one of the side streets to avoid the biggest part of the crowds which throng Christmas Tree Lane nightly.

Again, the homes here are considered very reasonable, especially to those relocating from northern or southern California. Whether you purchase a home as an investment or choose to live in it, you'll not be sorry you bought in either of these neighborhoods.

Woodward Lake

Another lakeside community, this time located in the North/central part of Fresno near Woodward Park. This area offers mature landscaping with large beautiful single story custom homes on large lots.

The lake allows "catch and release" fishing and non-powered boats. There is also a club house and pool or resident usage.

It's located less than ten minutes from the Fashion Fair Mall and the Riverpark and Bellagio shopping areas. Fifteen minutes from downtown Fresno, the airport and most Fresno or Clovis locations.

From anywhere in Fresno or Clovis, Yosemite National Park is about an hour and a half drive. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are also within an hour to two hours away. Millerton Lake is 30-40 minutes from Fresno &/or Clovis and there are many excellent golf courses located in this area.

Because of the lower cost of housing, many companies have chosen this area to build and/or move into this area. (The Gap located its distribution center here.) The economy does well, although it's partly because of all the construction in the area during the last few years.