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Expert insights, local market updates, and practical tips from Monica Franks, your trusted real estate partner in Merced and the Central Valley.
Expert home selling advice from Monica Franks, REALTOR serving Merced County since 1999. Tips for sellers and homeowners in the Central Valley.
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Past monthly reports, preserved.
Market Update September 2026
The September 2026 Merced real estate market update: the county median rose to $439,740 in August, up 5.1% year over year, while sales rebounded 22.6% month over month and inventory keeps rising.
Market Update August 2026
The Merced real estate market in August 2026: median price $410,000, down 5.0% from June. July sales up 39.5% year over year, the largest gain in California. Read the full analysis.
Market Update July 2026
The July 2026 Merced housing market remained a seller's market with constrained inventory. Merced County median home price $431,400 in June, with sales up 53.6% year over year. Read the full analysis.
Past reports, preserved by week.
Seasonal Nature Report: Week of October 13
Fall color was building near Merced: black oaks, bigleaf maples, and dogwoods turning along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley, sandhill cranes arriving at the refuge, and fall-run Chinook moving up the river.
Seasonal Nature Report: Week of October 6
Fall color was just beginning near Merced: high-elevation aspens along Tioga Road near peak, the first sandhill cranes at Merced National Wildlife Refuge, and the Sierra first-snow watch.
Previous weeks, preserved by week.
Lake & Water Activities: October 12-18 Week
Last week's best water picks near Merced: by-appointment kayak rentals at Lake Yosemite, swim beaches at Lake McSwain and Lake McClure, free Merced River swimming at Briceburg near Mariposa, and Hensley Lake day use, with hours, costs, and official links for October 12-18, 2026.
Lake & Water Activities: October 5-11 Week
The week before: kayak rentals at Lake Yosemite, swim beaches at Lake McSwain and Lake McClure, and free Merced River swimming at Briceburg near Mariposa, with hours, costs, and official links for October 5-11, 2026.
Past reports, preserved by week.
Farmers Market Report: Week of October 15
Five farmers markets were open the week of October 15-21, 2026: the final Old Town Atwater market on Thursday, Merced and Turlock on Saturday, October 17, and Mariposa on Wednesday, October 21, with days, hours, locations, and what was in season.
Farmers Market Report: Week of October 8
Four farmers markets were open the week of October 8-14, 2026: Merced and Turlock on Saturday, October 10, and Mariposa on Wednesday, October 14, with days, hours, locations, and what was in season.
Previous weekends, preserved by week.
Weekend Weather Outlook: October 16 to 18
The October 16 to 18 Merced weekend weather outlook: sunny and dry all three days with afternoon highs from the upper 70s to the upper 80s, warmest Saturday, and crisp overnight lows in the mid-50s, per the National Weather Service forecast for Merced.
Weekend Weather Outlook: October 9 to 11
Last week's Merced weekend weather outlook: sunny and dry all three days with afternoon highs from the low 80s to the low 90s, warmest Friday near 94 degrees, and crisp overnight lows, per the National Weather Service forecast for Merced.
Every weekend, preserved by week.
What To Do This Weekend: October 30 to November 1
Halloween weekend in Merced County, October 30 to November 1, 2026: the farmers markets, the Lake Yosemite family race, the Merced Main Library Boo Bash, final pumpkin patch nights, and free community gatherings, all verified against official sources.
What To Do This Weekend: October 23 to 25
The weekend before Halloween in Merced County: Zoo Boo at Applegate Park Zoo, the Cops for Critters car show and trunk-or-treat, the Downtown Turlock Ghost Walk, and farmers markets.
What To Do This Weekend: October 16 to 18
A mid-October weekend in Merced County: a mariachi concert, the Fall Blitz car show at Castle Air Museum, and the Condit Country Benefit.
What To Do This Weekend: October 9 to 11
An early-October weekend in Merced County: the trout derby at Lake McSwain, two Saturday farmers markets, and the first flashlight nights of the season at the R.A.M. Farms corn maze.
Every week, this series publishes a fresh guide to the weekend in Merced, Atwater, Turlock, Winton, and McSwain, and past editions stay live under the Weekend Guide category on the blog.
Every Brunch Spot of the Week, by week.
The best brunch in Merced County, picked fresh each week: well-reviewed restaurants, cafes, and diners serving weekend brunch across Merced, Turlock, Atwater, and nearby Central Valley destinations.
Every Hidden Gem of the Week, preserved.
Lesser-known local favorites across Merced County and the Central Valley, labeled by week: independent shops, scenic overlooks, historic spots, and small eateries most people have not discovered yet.
Every best date night pick, by week.
The best date night in Merced County, picked fresh each week: well-reviewed restaurants, wine bars, and tasting rooms across Merced, Turlock, Atwater, and nearby Central Valley destinations.
Every Coffee Shop of the Month, by month.
The best coffee in Merced County, picked fresh each month: independently owned coffee shops across Merced, Turlock, Atwater, and nearby Central Valley communities, with signature drinks, atmosphere, hours, and links.
Monica Franks
With 27 years of real estate experience and 800+ homes sold, Monica combines deep market knowledge with a polished, confident approach that sellers trust.
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