Lakeside city of Granite Bay, northeast of Sacramento
Set about 25 miles northeast of Sacramento and bordering Folsom Lake, the city of Granite Bay draws more affluent families and retirees to gated million-dollar estates, including members of the NBA Sacramento Kings. “Many live a resort-style life here,” says Shaun Alston, executive broker with Eagle Realty who’s been selling in the area for over 30 years. “They love being able to boat on the lake. It’s also quiet and tame here. There aren’t curfews, but everything shuts down around nine at night.” Alston adds that the area is so lush and wooded that it doesn’t feel like a new suburb to the city’s 21,000 residents. Highly rated school districts are also a major draw for Granite Bay.
Granite Bay has many style homes to choose from.
Boating is very popular on Folsom Lake in Granite Bay.
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Lake and beachfront activities, ballfields and golf
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, located at the base of the Sierra foothills, spans 19,500 acres and offers hiking and cycling to fishing and horseback riding, as well as, kayaking and swimming. Granite Bay Community Park toward the city’s southern end offers soccer, baseball and softball fields, walking trails with wetlands views and a tot lot. The Granite Bay Golf Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and Kyle Phillips, is a private 18-hole course with a clubhouse with two restaurants for social events.
Paddle boarding can be challenging and fun on Folsom Lake in Granite Bay.
The Granite Bay Golf Course is the most scenic courses in Granite Bay.
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Custom-built estates with lake views
The median sale price for single-family dwellings throughout 2024 was $1,225,000. Most are custom estates on up to 9-acre lots in gated communities, some with lake views. Built between the 1960s and early 2020s, these homes represent various architectural styles. “The classic Tuscan look is very popular here,” says Alston. “You also have French Mediterranean and mission-styles.” Prices range from around $1.1 to $6 million. Alston adds that there are manufactured homes here, but even those are in gated subdivisions. Ranch- and contemporary Craftsman-style homes on smaller lots have well-manicured yards and room for an RV or boat. Prices range from $575,000 to $975,000. Taxes are high here and land value has soared, which contributes to higher home prices.
This upscale home in Granite Bay with Tuscan styling has a real old-world charm.
For a more affordable home, there are a few manufactured home choices in Granite Bay.
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A pair of highly-rated school districs
Eureka Union School District earns an A from Niche and serves just over 3,100 students. The district offers the Extended Learning Opportunities Program, which provides after school enrichment opportunities, and has a high-performance record on statewide assessments. Roseville Joint Union High School District earns an A-plus from Niche. Private school options include Folsom Preparatory School and Merryhill Elementary School, and nearby higher education schools are Sierra College, Folsom Lake College and the Medical Career College of Northern California.
Granite Bay High School is a top rated school in Granite Bay.
Educational opportunities abound at Merryhill Elementary & Middle School near Granite Bay.
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Nearby shopping centers and a variety of eateries
Shopping centers line Douglas Boulevard, which extends west of the city, and sit about 9 miles west near the crossroads of Interstate 80 and the Roseville Bypass. Many contain big-box and grocery stores, along with retailers and department stores. Locally owned and chain restaurants range from casual to white tablecloth, featuring a variety of cuisine. Quarry Ponds Town Center in the city’s southern end features boutiques, a coffee shop and a cafe, with more eateries coming soon.
Hawks is a classy upscale dining establishment in Granite Bay's Quarry Ponds Town Center.
Big Box grocer Raley's has a great selection of produce and dry goods in Granite Bay.
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October hayrides and a local farmers’ market
Family-owned establishments host low-key events, including the Rickey Ranch Pumpkin Farm. Open throughout the month of October, the farm offers hayrides, haunted house tours and opportunities for kids to feed farm animals. From July through October, vendors at the Granite Bay Farmers’ Market in Quarry Ponds Town Center sell fresh produce and other agricultural products. Folks head into Sacramento for larger events and cultural celebrations.
Nearby interstate and bicycle-friendly roads
Granite Bay sits about 25 miles northeast of Downtown Sacramento and is within 10 miles of Roseville and Rocklin. Interstate 80 and the Roseville Bypass are a few miles west. The city doesn’t have public transportation. Many city thoroughfares have designated bike lanes or are bicycle friendly. The Sutter Roseville Medical Center is one of the nearest hospitals, and Sacramento International Airport is found roughly 32 miles west.
Decreasing crime rates and lower temperatures
Granite Bay does not have its own police force and is instead covered by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. Placer County’s violent and property crime rates are significantly lower than state and national figures, according to FBI statistics.
Residents of Granite Bay experience warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Rainfall typically happens in January and February, and windier months tend to be June and July. Alston says this area is usually about 10 degrees cooler year-round because it’s at a little higher elevation than Sacramento. The city is heavily wooded, which increases fire risks. According to Alston, most residents accept the risk and are willing to pay the high insurance prices, but some sell because they have trouble obtaining fire insurance.
Born in Sacramento and raised in Stockton, Cynthia is was always involved in sports and social events. After completing her undergraduate work from UC Davis and CSUS, she received her BA in Communications, got married and moved to the Bay Area where she worked for Nordstrom.
Distinguished by the company as a Customer Service All-Star, she helped open the Nordstrom store in Pleasanton. Her ability to care for clients, anticipate needs and go above and beyond were stand out skills.
Her husband’s education took them to Virginia where she began a 15-year career in outside sales for media companies including IMAX and Disney. She worked with radio and television stations building client success strategies. They moved back to Sacramento where she set sales records with KCRA Channel 3 and worked with area top advertising agencies.
All the while, Cynthia continued planning events and volunteering for various charities. She relaunched the Easter Seal’s Taste of Sacramento annual event for which she received the honor of Chairmen’s Award. Additionally, she began women’s monthly events at Bayside Church which grew to become the Thrive Women’s Conference.
In 2004, she decided real estate was her ideal career. “We had an unfortunate experience with a real estate agent,” Cynthia explains. “There was no communication and very little effort on her part. I had been taking care of clients for decades. I realized my unique skills could make real estate transactions the greatest experience possible for families and investors.”
With a focus on client care, communication and expert transactions, Cynthia has found her place as a top real estate agent in Placer County, Sacramento County and beyond. She manages vendors and home upgrade projects and has her certification as an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP). She is a multi-year Master’s Club member.
“My clients will not only have an expert, luxury experience, they will make a friend in the process!” Cynthia says.
When she is not touring Granite Bay homes with clients, you can find Cynthia golfing, wine tasting or having a ladies poker night! Her husband is a Sacramento attorney, and her daughter and son have started their careers and live nearby.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
