Buying a Home in Rocklin, CA

Rocklin, California, has become one of the most sought-after cities for those wanting to buy a home in the Sacramento metro area. Known for a great school district and a small-town feel, Rocklin also has proximity to some of the region’s best shopping, dining, and entertainment while still being far from the hustle and bustle of downtown Sacramento. 

Rocklin offers both suburban and rural areas, so choosing the right home based on your personal needs and wants is essential. 

Rocklin Stats

According to Niche.com, Rocklin is rated as the #6 Best Suburb to Live in the Sacramento Area. It has a population of 64,835, the median home value is $481,900, and the median household income is $98,566. 

Pros and Cons of Living in Rocklin, CA

If you’re thinking of buying a home in Rocklin, California, we’ll save you the time of making a pros and cons list. 

Starting with its location, you’ve got Sacramento to the southwest, Folsom Lake to the east, and as you go up the Highway 80 corridor heading toward Truckee or Reno, Nevada, as soon as you pass Roseville, you’ll be in Rocklin.

As Rocklin borders Roseville, you have lots of great shopping only 10 to 20 minutes away, depending on where in Rocklin you live. But if you work in Sacramento, you’ll have a 30- to 45-minute (or more) commute via I-80, depending on rush-hour traffic.

A big advantage of Rocklin is that many of the houses are in lovely, master-planned communities that feel like living in a little village. The closer you are to the 80 and 65 highways, the more convenient it is for shopping and entertainment. 

In the northeastern part of Rocklin, which borders Loomis and Lincoln, it becomes more rural, and you’ll have a 15- to 20-minute drive to the grocery store, mall, and other shopping areas. When you’re deciding which side of Rocklin you want to live in, think about how close you want to be to those conveniences.

Watch our mortgage pros, Aaron and Jennifer, break down the pros and cons of living in Rocklin on our YouTube channel:

Buying a Starter Home in Rocklin, CA

Compared with many communities in the Sacramento area, buying a home in Rocklin definitely has a lower cost of entry than other popular suburbs in this area, such as Folsom, Elk Grove, and El Dorado Hills.

Rocklin offers many single-family homes for sale in the $500K to mid-$600K range built in the 1980s. This is great if you’re looking to purchase a starter home that offers tremendous value, especially compared with what it would cost you to rent. 

In this video, Aaron and Jennifer run the numbers on a recent listing to demonstrate the lower cost of buying in Rocklin, California, compared with other Sacramento suburbs:

Rocklin, CA: Shopping, Dining, and Entertainment

If you’re looking for a house in Rocklin, the phrase “Shop ’til you drop” doesn’t apply to just your home search. If shopping and entertainment are important factors in your quality of life, you should know that Rocklin borders several major meccas that offer limitless options. 

The Roseville Galleria has a lot of high-end retailers. Then you have big-box stores like Costco, grocery stores like Whole Foods, and entertainment venues like Dave & Buster’s. You’ll find everything you need just a short drive away.

To learn more about the dining options in and around Rocklin, Aaron and Jennifer give you the rundown on their favorite restaurants in this video:  

Preparing to Buy a Home in Rocklin, CA

A desirable location like Rocklin, California, combined with the current low-inventory housing market, means that the best-prepared buyers will be the most successful in landing their dream home. But success doesn’t start with finding the perfect house. 

Before you even start your home shopping, the first step is making sure your finances are in order and getting pre-approved for a mortgage. Once you have your pre-approval letter in hand, you and your real estate agent can move quickly on making an offer.

Having a mortgage pre-approval beforehand is a must when buying in today’s Sacramento metro real estate market. Aaron and Jennifer explain the process in this short video: 

If you would like to buy a home in Rocklin, the mortgage pros at New Way Mortgage can help you find the financing that best fits your situation. Give us a call today at 916-465-6639.