The City of Sacramento is the hub of a four-county metropolitan region. Its dynamic business sector, international airport, expanding public transportation system (including Light Rail), affordable housing, and growing cultural, educational, and medical facilities serve the needs of 1.5 million people. If you take a closer look you'll see a collection of strong, vibrant communities in which to live, work, and play.

We enjoy professional ballet, opera, theater, outstanding museums, one of the best small zoos in the country, and the NBA's Sacramento Kings. Each year the city hosts the world's largest Dixieland Jazz Jubilee, and many other recreational, entertainment and cultural activities.

Two of California's largest rivers - the Sacramento and the American - converge here. The big city lights of San Francisco, the extraordinary beauty of Yosemite National Park, and world-class skiing at Lake Tahoe are all within a comfortable drive, and offer a wide variety of recreational and cultural activities.

Elk Grove is one of the fastest-growing towns in Sacramento County - it's family-oriented, an easy commute for Sacramento workers, has excellent schools, and a wide variety of housing, from starter homes to ranch estates. The Laguna Creek area is the newest development in Elk Grove, and has added a major new dimension to the community. Elk Grove's population is diverse in ethnicity, income levels and age. These attributes and more have attracted a continuing influx of homeowners who are looking for a comfortable, affordable lifestyle, close to metropolitan living, yet without the congestion, overcrowding and expense.

As more businesses make their home here, inhabitants will be able to live and work in Elk Grove with a minimal commute. And of course, as the population grows, so does the retail and service industry. Elk Grove residents have close access to several major health-care facilities, shopping, recreational facilities, and much more.

Its ability to retain that small town feeling is what makes Elk Grove special to its residents. Despite its close proximity to Sacramento, Elk Grove has remained quietly independent, and a conscious effort has been made to maintain the community's character. The local decision-makers have taken steps to ensure that the natural beauty of the area remains intact by establishing numerous parks and wildlife reserves. In fact, one the highest priorities of the Elk Grove Community Services District is to provide quality parks for its residents.

Many homeowners overlook the mortgage payment as a tool for financial management. They get the mortgage, move in, make the payments, and pay off the loan eventually. Smart homeowners know that by properly adding to their monthly payments, even by a small amount, they can substantially reduce the term of their loan, not to mention the total interest they will pay. In fact, prepaying one full year of a standard mortgage can save thousands of dollars in interest. The key is to do it properly and to find the right lender for whom prepayment is not a problem.

More progressive lenders allow the option to add money to the monthly payment which goes directly to the principal. How much should you add? It's largely a personal decision, and it depends on your cash flow. But be mindful of the fact that the mortgage interest rate is probably the lowest interest loan you will find, so don't short yourself with prepayment only to run up credit card debt!

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