Your dog wants this house. She may feign disinterest; he may pretend he doesn’t care a jot about “house-hunting” (whatever that is). But Rancho San Rafael Park at the end of her block? Its twenty-acre off-leash dog pasture—a four-minute stroll from his bed? Not only will his canine nonchalance vanish, he’ll go berserk at the word “walk” and make friends faster than you will. ***Less avidly—but just as fast—you’ll be on the freeway when you’ve got to be elsewhere. But most days you’ll stay right here: walking the kids along arboretum paths or to the new playground in five minutes, or to the drop-off gate at the elementary school in six. And if the idea of your driveway being a trailhead is appealing, the Peavine trail system begins just beyond the park, linking you to miles of riding above the valley. Ready to sit? Try the back patio with a steaming mug or a cold bottle, looking at open sky in the space where most people have a neighbor’s kitchen window, because this lot backs onto a private road with an actual farm beyond. ***The location alone makes the property special. But within this small enclave of just twenty-two homes, opportunities are rare—none has come to market for almost five years. Most of the surrounding neighborhood was built when Eisenhower was president; it is established, nostalgic, sometimes charming—but the houses are often old and small. This one arrived a little later—2002—and enjoys the benefits of youth. Like high ceilings and a great room that handles a quiet evening as gracefully as a lively gathering, never feeling too vast or too small. Beyond that, there is extra space for whatever life requires—play space, work space, or simply one tidy room you can close the door on. And because quiet space now often means “go outside,” you’ll appreciate that the backyard’s eastern exposure lets the house provide a windbreak and shade, keeping the patio comfortable all season long. Sit awhile (we’ve provided the chairs) and imagine it: you and someone you love, the dawn sky filled with balloons during the races, or our spectacular northern Nevada clouds almost every evening. (None were available for our photoshoot, but we’re sure some will be along soon.) ***Pleasant reveries never include improvements budgets, so a lot has been done: there is new interior paint, carpet, and baseboards; plus (because I know some of you care) it’s wired for fiber-optic. And the former dog run on the south side has been repurposed as a raised bed garden because “dog run” is an oxymoron. So, obviously, it’s the dog’s dream house. But we’re pretty sure you’ll be happy here, too.