Chrysti Tovani
Founder of I Love Fair Oaks · Real Estate Advisor · Storyteller · Community Publisher
For more than 16 years, Chrysti Tovani has documented the people, places, businesses, and stories that make Fair Oaks feel like home.
Through I Love Fair Oaks, real estate advising, photography, and editorial storytelling, she helps people navigate transitions, build visibility, and feel connected to where they live.
I’ve been writing my whole life. And one day, that writing became a magazine.
More than 16 years ago, I started I Love Fair Oaks with a simple idea: create a place to tell stories about the community I love. I built it myself, from the ground up, including the design, the layout, and every technical detail. I attended WordPress and web design conferences to sharpen my skills, and for about six years I served on the board of the Sacramento Social Media Club, where I was part of the early conversations about digital publishing and community building.
Over the years I’ve personally written every article, taken every photo, attended local events, explored neighborhoods, shared hidden gems, and built real relationships with the people who make this place unique. One story at a time. One connection at a time.
Writing was never a business decision for me. It was part of who I am. And over time, those stories gathered readers, trust, and community, until one day I realized this had become something much bigger than I imagined.
“I needed a place to write. And this became a magazine.”Chrysti Tovani, Founder, Publisher & Writer
Every story on this platform starts with curiosity, a conversation, and a genuine desire to connect people to this community.
The voice, perspective, and storytelling behind I Love Fair Oaks are still very much my own. Every article is shaped by firsthand experience and real local knowledge. I show up. I ask questions. I take the photos. I write the stories.
I use modern tools to help with workflow, but the ideas, the interviews, the observations, and the heart behind the writing come from me. They always have. That’s what makes this feel different from a website that was simply set up to generate content.
Perspective is something that takes years to develop. And after 16 years of showing up for this community, I have a lot of it. That’s what you get when you read I Love Fair Oaks, and it’s what you get when you work with me.
The internet is entering a phase where attention is becoming cheaper and trust is becoming more valuable. That’s always been the foundation of everything I’ve built here.
Over the years I realized something important. Most small business owners know their story deeply. What they often struggle with is translating it into words and images that actually reach people and create a real connection. That’s where I come in.
Through I Love Fair Oaks, I’ve helped shine a light on the people behind the businesses, the cafe owners, artists, bakers, makers, restaurant owners, service providers, and entrepreneurs who give this community its personality.
I help local businesses become visible in a way that feels genuine, community-rooted, and lasting. Not through loud advertising or gimmicks, but through storytelling, connection, trust, and consistent presence.
Because places feel different when the people inside them are seen.
Fair Oaks has changed over the years. But the heart of it is still here.
That’s the part I’ve always loved capturing, the texture of a place that still has personality. Where neighbors run into each other at local events. Where business owners pour everything into their dream. Where people move from somewhere anonymous and discover a community that actually feels like one.
The village mornings.
The hidden neighborhood gems.
The local events where everybody runs into somebody they know.
The business owners pouring everything into their dream.
The feeling people get when they move here and realize this place still has personality.
Real estate has always been part of my story too.
I come from a family of real estate brokers. Over the years I’ve worked in nearly every facet of the industry, including mortgage, title, and brokerage. So when people who followed I Love Fair Oaks started reaching out to me for real estate guidance, it made complete sense. The same things that make someone a good storyteller, listening carefully, understanding people, and knowing the heart of a place, matter just as much in real estate.
I love helping people through the big moments. Buying a first home. Downsizing after decades. Helping a parent transition. Navigating an estate. These are not just transactions. They are chapters. And I take that seriously.
What makes working with me different is what I’ve spent 16 years building. When you sell your home with me, your property gets something no other agent in Fair Oaks can offer: a professionally written editorial feature, original photography, and placement on a platform that tens of thousands of people already love and trust. Your home gets introduced to the community the same way I introduce everything on I Love Fair Oaks, with care, with story, and with genuine local connection.
36 years in this community. 16 years documenting it. I know these neighborhoods personally. And I’d love to help you find your place in them, or help you transition to your next beautiful chapter.
“You are not just selling a house. You are closing a chapter.”
I wrote about this journey in my book, Downsizing with Intention, available on Amazon. It’s written to feel like a friend by your side, a warm and practical guide for anyone navigating the emotions and decisions that come with a major life move. And if you find yourself wanting more personal guidance along the way, that’s exactly what I’m here for.
Whether you’ve lived in Fair Oaks for decades, recently discovered the community, or simply enjoy following along with the stories, events, businesses, and people that make this place special, I’m grateful you’re here.
My hope is that I Love Fair Oaks helps you feel more connected to the community, discover something new, and appreciate the heart behind the people and places that make Fair Oaks unique.
Thanks for reading, supporting local, and being part of the story.
Voted Best of Fair Oaks
Best Design & Marketing · 2023, 2024, 2025
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