News

Jul 08, 2023

Sacramento condo has million

A Fair Oaks condominium that just hit the market takes in million-dollar views

A Fair Oaks condominium that just hit the market takes in million-dollar views extending from the American River to the downtown Sacramento skyline — without the multi-million-dollar price tag of other cliffside residences.

The 1,850-square-foot condo sitting on the bluffs over Sailor Bar is listed for $825,000.

Fairly nondescript curbside, the two-level residence dramatically unfolds front to back. The home is entered through a large, peaceful, tropical courtyard. The interior presents a Spanish-style decor with ancient peach travertine flooring throughout.

The condo's custom interior design, craftsmanship and extensive, hand-placed mosaic tile work was all done by longtime owner Rick Crandall, a charismatic Sacramento area artist, designer and actor.

Crandall, who grew up in Fair Oaks, bought the 1970s condo at 8748 Bluff Lane for $500,000 in 2005, and proceeded to immediately gut the place.

"(These condominiums) are always really clean in here, but it was so dated," Crandall said. "I didn't look at that — I looked at my canvas. I said, ‘Oh, that wall is coming out, that wall is coming out, that shower is going to get ... so that's what I did."

A lot of walls were knocked down to give the condominium large open living spaces.

"It's really interesting to me how you have a bazillion-dollar view and in the master shower was a 2-foot window, Crandall said. "I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I knocked out the whole closet, took out the shower, put in a 4-by-5-foot window, a Jacuzzi tub that stays hot, so that became a big, huge open bathroom. Downstairs, you knock out a living room wall where you can see from the kitchen through to the river. That's what I did."

Listing agent Angela Gitt of Lyon Real Estate said the spectacular view makes the property "pretty rare" in the Sacramento area, let alone Fair Oaks.

"That kind of a panoramic river view, and to get it at a price point that is pretty affordable by river-view standards, makes it really unique," she said. "There are very few communities like that where you can have that kind of a view and not spend $3 million.

"Just to be on top of the bluff like that and to see, literally, from the Sierra to the downtown skyline, it's pretty amazing," she added.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom home has an updated kitchen with Thermador gas range, granite slab counters and knotty alder cabinets. Crandall installed a unique wine closet that is a work of art itself, starting with the grape and vine ironwork on the door.

Two private balconies — one off the living room, and the other off the open-concept primary bedroom suite — take in spectacular sunsets, city and parkway views, abundant wildlife, the breezes and sounds of the river and even the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Crandall's condo is located at The Bluffs in Fair Oaks, a community of 114 units that is somewhat hidden. The community offers residents a swimming pool, tennis courts, sauna, spa, clubhouse — and a couple of peacocks wandering the streets. Lake Natoma, with opportunities for hiking, biking, picnicking, canoeing and kayaking, is nearby.