Every year in this area, we go through the exact same seasonal cycle. First, we spend months complaining about the cold, the rain, and the gloomy gray skies. We long for sunshine. We dream about summer vacations. We stand outside during a random 63-degree February afternoon wearing shorts and acting like winter is officially over. At least I do.
Then the first 90-degree day arrives, and suddenly everyone forgets everything they said three weeks earlier. “It’s too hot.” “This heat came out of nowhere.” “I’m already over summer.”
Out of nowhere? We live in the Sacramento region. Summer didn’t sneak up on us. That’s like being surprised Costco is crowded on a Saturday.
Personally, I love warm weather. I’ll take sunshine and long evenings over cold mornings any day. But even I must admit there’s something almost impressive about how quickly people pivot from “I can’t wait for summer” to ““Why does it feel like the surface of the sun outside?”
Summer around here also means parents suddenly spending half their lives driving between baseball fields, swim meets, camps, dance recitals, and Lake Tahoe weekends. Apparently, every year we collectively forget what happens when you’re sitting at a youth baseball tournament at 2 p.m. on artificial turf wondering whether your folding chair might spontaneously combust. By the third inning, an air-conditioned open house begins to feel less like real estate and more like emergency shelter.
Of course, one of the best parts of this time of year is baseball season. Baseball has always been known as the “Boys of Summer” sport, and now Sacramento-area fans have something unique to experience. For the second season in a row, the former Oakland A’s are temporarily calling our region home while sharing Sutter Health Park with the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.
I’m a Bay Area native and grew up in the East Bay, so I’m a lifelong A’s fan — and Raiders fan, but that’s a story for another day. I still remember summer afternoons at the Oakland Coliseum — the smell of hot dogs, the drums echoing from the outfield bleachers, and convincing myself every season that the A’s were somehow going to surprise everybody and make a playoff run – like the old days.
Now that the A’s are here, it still feels strange saying that Major League Baseball is happening just down the road in West Sacramento.
The River Cats have long been one of the great local entertainment options around here. Affordable tickets, beautiful views, warm summer nights, and that classic ballpark atmosphere make for a fun evening. Add Major League Baseball into the mix, and suddenly our region has become an even bigger summer destination for sports fans.
Of course, attending a summer baseball game around here also requires a certain level of commitment to heat management. Day games can quickly turn into endurance competitions between the sun and the fans sitting along the third-base line. There’s always that optimistic person who says, “It’s only 92 degrees. It’s dry heat.” That same person is usually searching for shade by the third inning while holding an overpriced lemonade the size of a flower vase and reconsidering every life decision that led them to sitting in direct sunlight for three hours.
Still, this is the season that a lot of us wait for all year long. Longer evenings. Backyard barbecues. Folsom Lake weekends. Patio dinners. Farmers markets. Outdoor concerts. Baseball under the lights. The minute temperatures hit the 80s, every backyard in Folsom and El Dorado Hills suddenly transforms into a combination of barbecue restaurant, sports camp, and neighborhood social club.
And while summer brings baseball season, it also tends to bring increased activity to the local real estate market. Families often try to move before the next school year begins, and buyers continue searching for homes with the features that matter most during Sacramento summers. Pools, covered patios, mature shade trees, solar systems, newer HVAC units, and energy-efficient windows remain high on many buyers’ wish lists throughout Folsom and El Dorado Hills.
Looking at market activity through April 2026 compared to the same period last year, both communities continue to show steady but more balanced conditions. In El Dorado Hills, the average sold price softened slightly from about $1.10 million to $1.05 million, while Folsom saw prices rise from approximately $787,000 to just over $804,000. Inventory has also increased modestly in both communities, giving buyers a few more choices than they had during the highly competitive market of recent years. Overall, the market continues to feel steady heading into summer, with healthy activity levels and pricing that has remained relatively stable.
Until next time, stay cool, enjoy the Boys of Summer, and if you’re headed to a baseball game this season, remember that sunscreen may now qualify as essential survival equipment.
I’m Pat Quan. I live and work in the area and enjoy helping people make thoughtful real estate decisions when the time comes. And with a little planning — and a good Realtor (I happen to know one) — the next move can go smoothly. 916.812.4341 |www.PatQuan.com|pquan@cbnorcal.com| CA DRE #01918240
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