Fair Oaks · Relocation
Relocating to Fair Oaks for the River, the Trees and the Room
Moving to the Sacramento region from out of the area? Get a local who knows the neighborhoods and can help you line up financing before you land.
Moving from the Bay Area? Compare home prices
Typical home prices here are the median sold price, existing single-family homes, August 2026. They are medians for context, not a quote on any one home.
| Place | Typical home price (median) | What it is known for | Getting to downtown Sacramento | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where Maggie works | ||||
| Sacramento County | $549,000August 2026, C.A.R. | The state capital, where the Sacramento and American rivers meet. Named the first U.S. "City of Trees" in 1978. | Downtown is in the county. SacRT Gold Line light rail runs from Folsom to downtown. | Moving to Sacramento County |
| Placer County | $692,500August 2026, C.A.R. | Roseville, Rocklin and Gold Rush Auburn, with the county reaching up I-80 to Lake Tahoe's north shore. | I-80 is the main route. Amtrak Capitol Corridor stops in Roseville, Rocklin and Auburn. | Moving to Placer County |
| El Dorado County | $690,000August 2026, C.A.R. | Sierra foothills to Lake Tahoe. Coloma is where the 1848 gold find set off the Gold Rush. | US 50 is the main route. El Dorado Hills sits on it at the Sacramento County line, next to Folsom. | Moving to El Dorado County |
| Yolo County | $648,000August 2026, C.A.R. | Davis, Woodland and West Sacramento, with farmland and the Yolo Bypass floodplain between them. | West Sacramento sits directly across the Sacramento River from downtown. | Moving to Yolo County |
| Bay Area and statewide, for comparison | ||||
| San Francisco | $1,875,000August 2026, C.A.R. | A city and county in one, at the tip of the peninsula. | Not yet published | For comparison |
| Santa Clara County | $1,900,000August 2026, C.A.R. | Silicon Valley. San Jose is the county seat. | Not yet published | For comparison |
| San Mateo County | $2,250,000August 2026, C.A.R. | The Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose, home to San Francisco International Airport. | Not yet published | For comparison |
| Alameda County | $1,285,000August 2026, C.A.R. | The East Bay: Oakland, Berkeley and Fremont. | Not yet published | For comparison |
| Contra Costa County | $875,000August 2026, C.A.R. | Walnut Creek, Concord and Antioch, around Mount Diablo. | Not yet published | For comparison |
| California statewide | $901,420August 2026, C.A.R. | The statewide median, for comparison. | Not yet published | For comparison |
Prices change monthly. Ask Maggie for current numbers on a specific area.
Sources. Prices: California Association of REALTORS®, county sales activity, August 2026. C.A.R. notes that medians shift with the mix of homes sold. Place facts and travel notes, checked October 2026: Sacramento, Folsom, Placer County, El Dorado County, El Dorado Hills, Yolo County, West Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Clara County, San Mateo County, Alameda County, Contra Costa County (Wikipedia). Drive times are not listed until a dated source is available.
Planning the whole move? Read the Sacramento relocation guide, with guides on the Bay Area move, Prop 19, downsizing, culture and healthcare.
What Relocating to Fair Oaks Gets You
People relocating to Fair Oaks are usually after more house, more trees and a river a few minutes away. The community sits on the north bank of the American River, about 11 square miles of hilly, wooded streets east of Carmichael.
The price gap with the Bay Area is still wide. MetroList closed sales for September 2026 put the median in ZIP 95628 at $632,500. The California Association of REALTORS® county reports in 2026 have put Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara medians well above that, so many Bay Area owners can buy here with equity to spare. We pull the current county figures for you when you plan the move.
You want to land on the right street the first time, with your loan ready before the moving truck is.
Plan My Move With Maggie
Why Fair Oaks Relocation Buyers Choose Surroundings
Buying from out of the area means trusting someone else's eyes. At Surroundings, those eyes belong to a broker who also understands lending and can arrange your loan if you want. Maggie B. Hopkins has been licensed in real estate since 2006 and has 23 years in real estate and lending combined.
Your financing can be approved before you fly in, so a weekend of tours can end in an offer. Video tours cover the homes you cannot see in person. We explain each part of Fair Oaks in terms you can check: the decade the house was built, the road to the freeway and the water district.
Our full approach is on the relocation page. For the wider region, see the Sacramento relocation guide.
Our Relocation Process for Fair Oaks
- A call before the search. We talk about where you will work and how often you go in. A state job downtown, a hybrid Bay Area job and an office in Folsom each point to a different side of Fair Oaks.
- Loan first. You get a pre-approval before the search, so a listing agent takes your offer seriously from out of town. Any rate we quote comes with its APR.
- A short list by street. We match your list to the Village, the bluff streets, the Sunrise and Hazel side or the Madison corridor and send video tours. The method is in learning what your budget buys.
- One focused trip. You tour the finalists and sign a written buyer representation agreement, as California requires, with compensation set by that agreement.
- Escrow from anywhere. Inspections, appraisal and loan approval run inside the contract deadlines. You can sign with a notary where you live.
Local Context Before Relocating to Fair Oaks
Fair Oaks is unincorporated, which surprises many newcomers. There is no city government. Sacramento County handles planning and roads, the Sheriff handles law enforcement, Sacramento Metro Fire covers fire calls, and separate special districts run water and parks. Your tax bill will list several of them.
The roads decide your commute. Sunrise Boulevard and Hazel Avenue run south to U.S. 50, and Madison Avenue runs west to Interstate 80. The Sunrise bridge is congested southbound in the morning and northbound in the afternoon. The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey put the average Fair Oaks commute at 29.7 minutes. Since July 1, 2026, state workers have been back in the office four days a week, so the U.S. 50 drive is a daily question for anyone with a state job.
The homes have some age. The median Fair Oaks house was built in 1977, and about 72% are detached single-family homes, according to the same Census survey. Budget for inspection findings that come with a 50-year-old house.
What you get in return is room and river. The American River Parkway trail runs 32 paved miles from Discovery Park to Folsom Lake. Fair Oaks Village has its 1901 Red Bridge, its rebuilt amphitheater and its free-roaming chickens.
One Team for the Move, the Home and the Loan
When you are moving from out of the area, a one-stop shop saves real time. One call covers the search and the mortgage, with one team and one plan, so you are not coordinating an agent and a loan officer from hundreds of miles away.
Maggie is a licensed mortgage broker who shops loans across a network of approved lenders, so you see competitive options rather than one bank's offer. Explore options before you sign anything. If you have a lender back home you trust, you are free to bring them.
A few Fair Oaks costs catch newcomers off guard:
- A supplemental property tax bill arrives months after closing and is mailed to you.
- Water service usually comes from the Fair Oaks Water District rather than a city utility.
- Insurance can run higher on homes with older roofs or large trees close to the house.
- Your Bay Area equity may need a plan, whether you sell first or carry two homes for a while.
Ask us for a property tax estimate on any Fair Oaks home you are considering. Any rate we quote comes with its APR, and approval depends on your full application.
Plan Your Move When Relocating to Fair Oaks
Relocating to Fair Oaks goes better with a local who can answer the loan questions too. Start with our Fair Oaks guide, or compare relocating to Roseville and relocating to El Dorado Hills.
When you are ready, book a call with Maggie from wherever you are now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fair Oaks part of the City of Sacramento?
No. Fair Oaks is an unincorporated community in Sacramento County, about 11 square miles on the north side of the American River. The county governs it, and special districts provide water, parks and fire service.
How do people commute from Fair Oaks to downtown Sacramento?
Most drive U.S. 50 by way of Sunrise Boulevard or Hazel Avenue, or Interstate 80 by way of Madison Avenue. The Hazel light rail station is the closest stop, and the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey put the average Fair Oaks commute at 29.7 minutes.
How do Fair Oaks prices compare with the Bay Area?
Fair Oaks usually costs far less. MetroList put the 95628 median at $632,500 in September 2026, and the California Association of REALTORS® county reports put Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara medians well above that. We pull the current county numbers when you plan your move.
Can I buy in Fair Oaks without visiting first?
Yes. We send video tours, your loan can be approved before you travel, and documents can be signed with a notary where you live. Most buyers still visit once to see the finalists.
Loans are arranged by Maggie B. Hopkins, NMLS #349517, at Surroundings · DRE #02220140 · NMLS #2528307. All loans are subject to credit approval and underwriting, and this page is not a commitment to lend.
Fair Oaks
What relocation looks like in Fair Oaks
Fair Oaks Village, the bluffs above the American River and wooded streets east of Carmichael.
Fair Oaks is an unincorporated community on the north side of the American River, with a historic village center and wooded, hilly streets.
Relocation: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Surroundings?