Wildhorse, Davis: Neighborhood Guide

Wildhorse is the neighborhood in the northeast corner of Davis, east of Pole Line Road and north of Covell Boulevard. It wraps around the public Wildhorse Golf Club, and its eastern edge is a strip of protected open space that separates the city from Yolo County farmland.

That layout is what sets Wildhorse apart. A large share of its homes back onto the course, the greenbelt or the open space instead of another backyard.

The Wildhorse Greenbelt winds through the neighborhood and connects to the Davis Greenbelt and the Green Meadows Greenbelt. LocalWiki describes landscaped sections with paved paths, benches, playgrounds and fitness stops. The South Wildhorse Greenbelt is a U-shaped section reached from Moore Boulevard, with a grove of Canary Island pines that locals call Pinecone Park.

The Wildhorse Agricultural Buffer is the protected open space along the eastern edge, between the homes and the farmland. It has a gravel path, an entrance just north of East Covell, and habitat for burrowing owls on its eastern side. Wildhorse Park, at 2620 Duchamp Street on the eastern edge of the neighborhood, has a play structure and a grassy area.

Wildhorse is mostly single-family homes, built as a planned subdivision around the course. Location inside the neighborhood moves a price more than almost anything: on the course, on the greenbelt, next to the buffer or on an interior street.

A home on the edge comes with its own questions. On the course, ask about stray balls, the course's irrigation and mowing schedule, and any easement along the back fence. Next to the buffer, ask what the neighboring farmland is used for, because working fields bring seasonal dust and equipment. Neither is a reason to pass on a house, but both belong in the walk-through.

Some Davis homes were sold through the City's affordable homeownership program and carry resale limits. If a price looks low for the size, check the title for a deed restriction before you get attached.

Buyers should ask what the house backs onto and walk the lot line. A course lot, a greenbelt lot and an interior lot can be the same house at very different prices. Davis Joint Unified School District serves the city. Confirm the assigned school with the district directly. Maggie, as a mortgage broker, compares loans across lenders so the payment is clear before you write. Start with buying a home in Davis.

Sellers should show what the house faces, in photos and in the listing. Buyers pay for the open space, so make sure they see it. Read selling your home in Davis or check what your Davis home is worth.