The Santa Cruz area has  a lot of things that one can do that area good for your health. For some that is eating well, others yoga in it’s different incarnations. Others still, it is Pilates. For me Pilates with Avra Pirkle has been a fun and beneficial meeting of person and technique. She is a very positive person and easy to follow.

There is a great deal now through February 29th ( yes this is a long month) 2012 at the Agile Monkey in Santa Cruz. So for those of you who are new to Pilates, this introductory offer of 3 classes for only $99 is a great deal with instructor Avra Pirkle.

What I have found in working with Avra is a fun, attentive instructor who is in tune with my needs to strengthen my body. These private lessons are what I needed to get started on an overall stronger body and better posture.

Give a call to the Agile Monkey for Avra Pirkle at the Agile Monkey- Santa Cruz Pilates Studio | 128-A Pearl Alley, Santa Cruz, CA | 831-458-4125

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Cafe Rio is soon to be opening it is rumored this Wednesday. The venerable restaurant is going through a make over after a demise and change of ownership. Part of the demise was the construction on the esplanade, which is mostly done now,and the economy, and some menu changes.

There are signs of fresh varnish and paint which were glad signs of giving life to our beach side area. One restaurant helps support the other establishments and we will be glad to have their good food again to enjoy.

Cafe Rio has a nice courtyard that has been renovated a bit, which is always sought after on sunny afternoons for a nice cocktail by the beach or a place to have a beer after a good walk.

The patio is a great place to wait if you need to for the seating inside to open. I favor it over waiting inside at the bar.

It is rumored that the lovely red head Jeannie is the new owner of the place which should ensure it runs smoothly and people are greeted with a familiar face in a familiar place.

If this institution and being at the beach makes you dream of owning a Rio Del Mar beach home or Rio Del Mar ocean view condo, then this is where you can look. Or call us at 831-818-7524. Thanks, Gregg

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Monterey Home for sale- Spanish Charmer

867 Alameda Ave in Monterey is one of those houses that has it all. It is an updated Spanish style Monterey home.

This region has some great Monterey homes for sale and this one is one of the nicer ones and at a terrific price to.

As you walk to the home from the curb, you notice how nicely it has been kept. That is just the beginnings of things to come.

This home feels like a stately Monterey home the minute you walk inside. The tall ceilings of dark wood, the plaster work , the nice floors. This is one of those homes that attracts an immediate audience. Monterey homes have a wide variety of styles and locations, so find the home  you wish call your own at California Coastal Home.

So if you think you like Carmel, but find there is more going on in Monterey, this home has that great combination of the Carmel charm mixed with a Monterey Spanish style. This home was sure one of my favorites and is soon to be someone elses. So if you want to look for Monterey homes for sale, this would be a great place to see what is available. Sure Spanish style homes are available in every price point, but Carmel Charm mixed in is a rare treat.

To schedule an appointment to see Monterey homes for sale call us at 831-818-7524.

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Beer is one of those elixirs that has been around for millennium. It is simple drink that is fairly complex. Most Americans get their fill on the huge beer brands, but a growing number have been getting into craft beers.

These smaller quantity beers are largely local and many very seasonal. There are a tremendous of flavors that one can create and sample. The American Craft Beer Week, serves to highlight some of these for you and make you aware of the variety  you can choose.

Sometimes one has a friend who has made beer, other times it is getting a sample of variety at your local pub.

Here are some of the local pubs and breweries that you might want to seek out and sample some of their wares. Just as with wine, ingredients and the brewmaster play an important in the final product taste, alcohol content and color.

Read on some of the history of beer which dates back to times before the Egyptians.

Here are some of the local breweries and places you can  savor their goods. There are food pairing at places that go well with particular brews, so be sure to ask and let your taste buds a chance to try something new.

Get out and support your local brew pub and brewer.

Monterey Breweries and Pubs and other local ones

MBF Brewing Co

43 Twin Oaks Dr
Monterey, CA
Phone: (831) 521-7921
Type: Contract

Monterey Coast Brewing

100 San Juan Dr
Salinas, CA
Phone: (831) 772-9664
www.montereybrewing.com
Type: Brewpub

Peter Bs Brewpub (in the Portolo Hotel & Spa)

2 Portola Plz
Monterey, CA
Phone: (831) 649-2699
www.portolahotel.com
Type: Brewpub

Pub Discount: 20% off Food & Beverage

 

English Ales Brewery

223 Reindollar Ave Ste A
Marina, CA
Phone: (831) 883-3000
www.englishalesbrewery.com
Type: Micro

 

Santa Cruz Pubs and Breweries

 

Santa Cruz Aleworks

150 Dubois St
Santa Cruz, CA
Phone: (831) 425-1182
www.santacruzaleworks.com
Type: Micro

Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing

402 Ingalls St Ste 27
Santa Cruz, CA
www.santacruzmountainbrewing.com
Type: Brewpub

Pub Discount: Happy Hour All Day

Seabright Brewery

519 Seabright Ave Ste 107
Santa Cruz, CA
Phone: (831) 426-2739
www.seabrightbrewery.com

Type: Brewpub

Uncommon Brewers

303 Potrero St Ste 40H
Santa Cruz, CA
Phone: (831) 234-1486
www.uncommonbrewers.com
Type: Micro

Boulder Creek Brewing Co

13040 Highway 9
Boulder Creek, CA
Phone: (831) 338-7882
www.bouldercreekbrewery.net
Type: Brewpub

 

 

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Santa Cruz Beach Hill Condo Ocean View

Santa Cruz has some nice condos, but a luxury development like this one does not get done very often. This complex is only 9 units large, so you have a nice manageable complex. These units rarely come up as they are pretty unique.

This one is a 2 bedroom unit and is large, about 1600 square feet. It has spacious rooms and high ceilings.

Beach Hill in Santa Cruz is a great place to call home for your primary or vacation home. It is a leisurely walk to the Santa Cruz Wharf or downtown.

If you are thinking you would like to consider a Santa Cruz Condo, then here are some others to consider.

These here on Beach Hill have a great location and very nice floor plan.

If you are thinking this might be of interest, give me a call at

831-818-7524. Gregg

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Carmel California real estate is just as vulnerable as most other areas in California. There are earthquake fault lines all over the state that affect us.

The trouble with emergencies and natural disasters is that they don’t announce themselves. As we saw with the recent tsunami that hit Japan, emergencies come upon us as we are pursuing our daily lives and we often have only minutes to make our escape or get to safety. Sometimes even the “safe areas” aren’t safe from mother nature

In the Carmel California area, we are prone to floods from the Carmel river. But emergency preparedness is similar, regardless of the weather, geographical characteristics, man-made dangers, or other conditions that disrupt our lives. This is one of those things that can’t wait until it happens to be prepared about.

The most important thing in a disaster situation is for you and your family to escape with your lives. The second most important thing is to be insured against property loss. It would be devastating to lose all the Carmel property you have accumulated over your lifetime.

If you own property of any kind, whether that is furniture, automobiles, a house, or commercial buildings, you should be insured against replacement costs. Take a look at your property and ask yourself what it would cost you to replace that property if it were destroyed. Make sure your insurance policy will cover that greater cost.Owning Carmel property has it’s own insurance considerations due in part to the high level of craftsmanship in many Carmel homes. With this level of skill and construction, replacement costs are much higher than in other areas, generally than even Monterey. Homes here are mostly custom, one of a kind.

In order to make filing an insurance claim as painless as possible, be sure to have a record of your property that is updated and kept in a safe place. To make a property inventory, describe the item, the year of its manufacture, serial numbers, if any, and store receipts, appraisals, photographs, or other documents that will back up the value of your claim. Keep these records as long as you have your property. Photographs, video files, and property insurance records should be updated every few years, and should be stored in a safe deposit box, an out of state location, or even online, using a site such as www.knowyourstuff.com.

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Monterey Condos…….For Sale or Rent….. the best easy living choice.

Think beach, think sun, think fun: think Monterey condos. They come in every shape, size, and location and there’s a Monterey condo with your name on it.

How long have you wanted to get out from under home maintenance? You know the drill: your weekend arrives and with it arrives a laundry list of home upkeep. If you have a pool, you have to clean it. If you have a yard, you have to mow it. If you have a roof, it needs new shingles, or a downspout, or a power vent. And if you have the money to have the work done for you, the work has to be supervised. Whoops. It’s Monday again, you’re at work, and you’re wondering where all that free time went. Who needs it?

In your Monterey condo, when the building needs upkeep, it gets done. But not by you, and you don’t have to supervise the work. That means you lock the door to your Monterey condo and you head to the beach, or out to shop, or to a great restaurant. When you come home, the work is done. When Monday rolls around, you have a smile on your face and a good tan. You had beach, sun, and fun, all thanks to the ease free living provided by your Monterey condo. You can search for the Monterey Condos that meet your price and location, from starter to ocean front. Monterey ocean view condos are a great value and a lovely place to call home. Give us a call at 831-818-7524 to see some today.

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What is Title Insurance and Why Do I Need It?

Note: It’s important to understand that title insurance will vary state by state. If you’re purchasing a home in Santa Cruz, title insurance implications will be different than if you’re purchasing a home in Austin.

If you are planning to purchase a home, it is a good idea to obtain title insurance coverage along with your purchase. In this way, you can be certain you are properly protected from financial loss in case there are any problems with the title in the future.

The unfortunate reality is that errors in property titles are more common than many people think. After all, titles are recorded and maintained by humans and humans are subject to making mistakes. Depending on the type of mistake that has been made, these mistakes can be quite costly to the person who has purchased the property. From mistakes in properly recording liens to errors in recording the actual dimensions of the land that is included within the property, a home buyer could end up with significantly less land or may even find himself having to pay on liens that he did not know about because of improperly maintained title insurance.

While there are many different types of title insurance available, the three primary types of title insurance include:

- Basic Owner’s Title Policy Insurance – protects against incorrect signatures, forgery, fraud, restrictive covenants, defective recordation and encumbrances

- Basic Lender’s Title Policy Insurance – protects against unrecorded liens, mechanic’s liens, unrecorded access rights and easements, defects and other documents that have not been recorded.

- Extended Owner’s Insurance – protects against building permit violations conducted by the previous owner, subdivision maps, living trusts, covenant violations by previous owners, structural damage caused by mineral extractions and a number of different types of forgeries and encroachments.

When negotiating the purchase price of the property you are considering buying, your real estate agent should include the cost of paying for title insurance. While the buyer usually pays for the lender’s coverage, it is not unusual for the buyer and seller to split the costs of the owner’s policy.

Once you have purchased a title insurance policy for your home, it remains in effect for as long as you own the home. If you plan to move within a couple years, you might want to consider asking the title company about binder coverage. While you will have to pay 10% more for binder coverage, the coverage is good for two years and can generally be extended at a later time if desired. The fee that is charged to the new buyer’s policy will be the difference between the price you sold the property and the price at which you purchased it. In this way, you can actually get a credit for the amount of coverage you purchased with your Owner’s Title policy.

About the Author:
Eric Bramlett is the broker & co-owner of One Source Realty, a boutique real estate company specializing in central Austin real estate and Steiner Ranch homes for sale.

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Are you considering are doing a short sale ?

For people who find themselves in a position where they may be needing to sell their home, one of the first questions I ask  is, did you refinance?

In California we have non recourse loans and deeds of trust. When one purchases a home there is usually a first mortgage and a second mortgage. The first mortgages are usually up to about $417,000 and the second’s above that value.

So a typical Santa Cruz real Estate purchase, the math would go something like this:

Sales price                                      $650,000

First Loan                                        $417,000

Second Loan                                   $168,000

Down Payment (10%)                         65,000

So in today’s market that home depending on location, may now be work $400,000-500,000 dollars. In most cases the second will usually get wiped out( they will not have any value left in the asset the loaned against), and will have a “short payoff” and generally get nothing or next to nothing unless they join the HOFA program.

So in today’s market, supposing that one is going to do a Santa Cruz short sale or foreclosure, how is one impacted with the above scenario?

Lets assume that you are now in a situation where you can no longer pay your obligations. There are a few choices that you have. One is a short sale and the other is a more deleterious pain that is carried longer, the foreclosure.Santa Cruz REO or bank owned properties are something that most don’t want to miss from a buyers standpoint, but you do want to miss as a seller. The whole thing really comes down to which choice you make when you change ownership. If you are pro-active and do a short sale or passive and get foreclosed on.

The whole key is “is your loan a recourse or non recourse ” loan?

What that means is that if you did not refinance your original purchase of  your primary residence, then you will have a “non-recourse loan” in California. What that means is if you have to sell in a short sale or foreclosure situation, the house was the sole collateral for the loan.

If you had refinanced, then you have a recourse loan. What is a non recourse loan?

So in a recourse loan is a debt where one of these exceptions did not occur:

Owner did not refinance the loan, pull out cash, do home improvements, take out an equity line and use it.

Seller was carrying back financing

Property is not a 1-4 units of which the owner is occupying one of them

The lender is not limited to the asset that secured the loan for redress and the  borrower may be liable for the “short” dollar amount of the short sale and other related costs.

If the lender chooses to foreclose, in California,using a trustee’s sale, then they waive the right to go after the borrower for the deficiency despite the fact the loan was a recourse debt.

The bank can go after the deficiency if they do a judicial foreclosure. This very infrequently occurs in California due to time and cost.

So to boil it down, if you have a loan other than the one you purchased the home with you probably have a recourse loan.

As with anything of this nature it is important to talk with the appropriate professionals, such as a real estate attorney, CPA or realtor versed in these matters.

Please do be proactive, give us a call for an appointment if you are in Santa Cruz County and are considering selling your Santa Cruz home.

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Valley Churches United Missions Fundraiser

Valley Churches United Missions is holding their holiday benefit dinner. This event goes toward helping the needy up in the San Lorenzo Valley. They do great work and this is a great way to have fun and contribute.

The event is being help at the venerable old institution of Scopazzi’s Restaurant.

The location of the restaurant is at 13300 Big Basin Way        ( Hwy 236) and is just up a block from Hwy 9 in the down town area on the right hand side.

This Gala Auction and social event is being held on December 2nd, a Thursday from 6 PM and onward. Tickets for this event are $55 in advance and $60 at the door. There are prizes and things you can bid on at the auction. There will be wine women and song, so come join this worthy event.

Call 336-8258  ext 221 for questions.

Better yet if you want to donate items or your time to this worthy organization that feeds and clothes many seniors and the poor, you can volunteer. In San Lorenzo Valley, there is not a better organization that helps so many in times of need. Can you clean out your closet or pantry and donate? It will be appreciated.

Donations Needed Cash, food, food vouchers, gift certificates new toys, cookies, senior gifts, Christmas trees, gift-wrap, poinsettia plants, new blankets, socks, jackets and teenage gifts.

Thank YOU, now come and have some fun!

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The Great Escape Wine Weekend in the Monterey

The Great Escape Wine Weekend in the Monterey are has begun and the weekend could not be shaping up to be more beautiful. The weather is going to be in the low 70′s and clear. The Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association is hosting this great event that showcases local wines.

With more than 50 wineries participating, you will be sure to find some great wines to your liking. There are 9 different Monterey county American Viticultural Areas.You will be able to go between Monterey, Carmel Valley, Carmel and the Salinas Valley wineries between 11-5 for most. There will be Wine Country Boot Camps starting Saturday and a variety of winemaker dinners that you can purchase individually. At the boot camp you can learn about wine making and understanding the process of making wines.

These will be going on in different areas. In Carmel Valley Chateau Julien will be hosting the event along with the Bernardus Lodge. Carmel Valley homes will dot the landscape as you drive around and no doubt arouse your curiosity. There is a good selection and some great values.

Be sure to check out the grand finale where you get to taste up to 30 different wines a the Clement on Cannery Row from 2-5. Get your Great Wine Escape Tickets and have fun. You can Phone: 831.375.9400 for more information.

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Three Tips To An Eco-Friendly Remodel Of Your Pacific Grove Home

It is not newsworthy to announce that energy bills are skyrocketing and scientists are scared about the effects humans are having on the environment. Someone says that everyday, but when was the last time you were given a few tips on what you can do about it in your Pacific Grove home? So, here are three ways that you can remodel your home and use eco-friendly products that will also increase the value of your Pacific Grove home.

Whether you are remodeling your current Pacific Grove home or considering buying a new one, changing the paint scheme throughout the home will eventually cross your mind. Paint is a well known environmental and health hazard because of the volatile organic compounds(VOCs) that it contains and slowly releases into the air of your home. These VOCs can cause cancer and are linked to ozone problems. Currently, there are several brands of paint that contain low or no VOCs. These paints are readily available and in the same price range as other paints.

Gregg Camp, a Pacific Grove home specialist, points to flooring as the next logical step in any green remodeling project. The floors that we walk on are made from chemicals or unsustainable wood sources. Today, there are many flooring options that are either made from sustainable woods or recycled products. Cork and bamboo make great flooring and offer noise reduction properties. Bamboo is a fast growing grass that is a great flooring source that is certified as eco-friendly across the globe. Natural linoleum uses recycled products and is easier to care for than the vinyl flooring that is frequently marketed as linoleum.

The next place, in your Pacific Grove home, that you can go green, is in your use of lighting. Lowering your dependence on artificial lighting specifically. Many people are intimidated by the possible cost and work related to installing solar lighting throughout their homes. Modern solar lights are not the huge ‘windows’ in the roof of your home that were a product of a bygone era. Today’s solar lighting options are as small as 12” in diameter and can be installed readily. Each can light up to 450 sq.ft. while filtering out 99% of the UV rays that are known to damage furniture and carpeting.

An eco-friendly remodel of your Pacific Grove home does not have to bring out the images of radical hippie utilitarian living that it did in the past. Part of green living is actually improving the air quality and energy usage in your Pacific Grove home. All that you are really doing is saving your self money and lowering your potential health threats. You can search for eco-friendly homes in Pacific Grove for features you will enjoy.

Gregg Camp, the author, is a Pacific Grove home agent and writes on senior topics as an SRES. He enjoys selling homes and condos as well as ocean view real estate, Carmel by the Sea real estate, Monterey Ca, ocean view real estate, Carmel Highlands real estate, Santa Cruz homes for sale, Carmel by the Sea real estate, and Carmel foreclosures.

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Santa Cruz home owners are getting a boost just where they need it, in retail. Marshall is a discounter that will be taking over the old circuit city store in Santa Cruz, off of Commercial Way.

This will help boost employment as well as provide another value prices retailer to the county. With the employment and employment tax, Santa Cruz government will be positively affected. This in turn will alleviate some of the fiscal burden Santa Cruz home owners face in paying taxes to support government.

As with any new Santa Cruz home owner, furnishing your home is one of the joys of a new space and place. What can you find or need to furnish a room? There are always things needed for the bathroom, kitchen space, pantry jars, runners, door mats. If you have purchased Santa Cruz homes before, you probably have too much stuff. For new home owners this is sort of fun finding the great deals and looks that will personalize your new home. Congrats and spend wisely. With your new purchase you will no doubt find stores like Marshalls a great value nearby.

The store will be open most days at 1664 Commercial Way,Santa Cruz from 9:30-9:30 most days. This new store will employ about 60 people. Toys are Us is just next door so you might be able to do a one stop shopping this Christmas. Wouldn’t that be nice!

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Well the time is drawing near and I am going to be doing my Alzheimers walk, and need some walkers or sponsors. Will you help me fight Alzheimers.

This disease saps life, drains emotions and life savings. You can help improve the lives of all involved. During the walk you can see Rio Del Mar beach houses, Seascape resort ocean view condos and dolphins. The walk is fun and good exercise. People of all walks of life, no pun intended participate in this event. It is on the 25th of September and is a great cause. Alzheimer’s robs people of their memories, leads to tremendous family care costs, financially and emotionally. It can be cured with your help. Please support me in this walk.

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Santa Cruz real estate……. where the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk lives

Millions of tourists visit the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk each year, but Santa Cruz real estate owners love to have fun too, and not just when they have out-of-town guests. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is one of California’s most beloved theme parks amusements, consistently ranking in the Top 10 for California theme park attendance. Over three million people flock to this coastal wonderland and among them are many regulars–the Santa Cruz real estate owners who enjoy great weather year round in a fun, funky, beach town that has it all.

Santa Cruz real estate owners like to take their out-of-town visitors to the Board Walk where they can have fun with more than 30 rides, four arcades with both vintage machines and hundreds of modern video games, a game deck, 26 games of skill, 30 food vendors, an electronic shooting gallery, indoor miniature golf and over 15 gift shops with everything from beachwear to sunglasses and jewelry.

Most Santa Cruz residents have their own favorite rides. Some swear by the Giant Dipper. Some old timers may remember fondly that it used to cost 15 cents– but no longer. The 74 year-old wooden classic still draws Californians by the thousands each year at $3 a ride. The best thing that Santa Cruz real estate owners and visitors like is the view of Monterey Bay when they climb up to the top and just before the gut wrenching drop at a top speed of 55 mph. Some Santa Cruz real estate owners are proud of the fact that the Giant Dipper was featured in movies such as “Sudden Impact” and “The Sting,” ’The Lost Boys,” and “Dangerous Minds!”

More than 55 million riders have enjoyed the classic wooden coaster which was built by Arthur Looff in 1924. The Giant Dipper is now the 5th oldest roller coaster in the U.S., continuously operating in its original location.

Feeling brave? Try out the Boardwalk’s newest ride, the new Haunted Castle. Get ready for a spooky adventure as you spiral down into the dark dungeon deep below the Boardwalk.

Luckily, homes in Santa Cruz don’t come with dungeons, and if you come here to look at Santa Cruz real estate  be sure to visit the city’s famous Boardwalk.  Santa Cruz real estate can give you the ride of your life with the best journey in this beautiful city on the Monterey Bay. Call us at 831-818-7524 to see some great Santa Cruz beach homes!

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The Wharf to Wharf is a fun tradition with some 50 bands playing along the way. It is like a serpentine figure writhing along the coastline. The way lined often like a parade route.

Some may favor a location near the Yacht Harbor bridge or from one of the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor homes or from the Crows Nest working on a bloody Mary. Others will no doubt like to be by the water. My preference is a place like Pleasure Point. This cute community is all about the water and the surf. With a long unobstructed view of the water, this is where I liked to watch. The runners going by and the water in the background. If you owned a place like this, these Pleasure Point Ocean View apartments you would be in the thick of things and not have to go anywhere and could have plenty of friends over to enjoy the view and the music. See the video an you will know what I mean. For info call Gregg at 831-818-7524.
Pleasure Point Ocean View Apartments

This is a great place for those who like the water and the views.

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The Capitola Wharf to Wharf is always one of those fun events. It brings together local community members as volunteers, runners and friends who like to line the race, many in their Santa Cruz ocean view homes. This is always a number of bands that play along the way to add to the fun of the event. There are walkers, joggers and downright fast runners. Many ringers come in from other nations or states for the prize money and frequently it is one of these world class athletes that takes home the loot. So while they leave with the money we still keep the prized memories of the event.

Capitola oceanview homes have a great view along Prospect, as the runners come down Cliff Street from the Opal Cliffs neighborhood down hill to the finish line. This is a sold out event most years and is a lot of fun. The Capitola Wharf is a fun place have lunch after a run. Really it is a nice place for a drink to to watch the sunset or take a boat out and go fishing with you family after the race.

The Capitola Wharf to Wharf race is held in the morning. It is usually overcast as our summer days usually are in the mornings, which is perfect running weather. For those who like to line the race course from the Santa Cruz Beach Hill area of the boardwalk all the way along East Cliff Drive through Pleasure Point to Opal Cliffs and into Capitola, the scenery is all gorgeous. Along the way the ocean is just off your right shoulder, while many lovely homes will dot both sides of the street.

The Wharf to Wharf Race is a benefit to our local schools and sports and has a significant positive impact on getting our youth engaged in sports.

Here is a map of the course that is sort of fun to check out. The race is a 10K event ( 6.2 miles) and does not have much of a hill component.

If you want to have fun and play in a group or want to do some side show, contact the site as this is a fun participatory event for many. Play your tambourines, strum on your guitar, or play your bag pipes.

Bagpipers on my Alzheimers walk

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Monterey Ca is like most cities. The forth of July is a time for fun and celebration. Like many cities in the nation, things need to be kept in check financially. Having a parade though is one of those things all like and many can participate in, but that and the fireworks have gone away this year. So while that is a bit of a shame, I think all of us can appreciate trying to run the city government fiscally. So you can visit other local events from Carmel to Santa Cruz. Aptos for one will be hosting the “Worlds Shortest Parade”, which is always a bunch of fun. Monterey will be holding a Lawn Party, which should be fun.

So while we can celebrate by decorating the house, family car or dog in the old red white and blue, the spirit of independence is often lost. I frequently am thankful to the men and women of the generations that gave the ultimate sacrifice.

We often forget the meanings of the events we celebrate, but I think this one is for fun and should be something kids get the message that liberty and freedom come with costs and sacrifice. Not saying this needs to be a full blown history lesson for every 5 year old, but I think the importance of the event has been glossed over in the selling of stuff. We Americans are good at buying stuff and sometimes forget the ideas behind the events. Have fun, let me know what your thoughts and memories of the 4th of July are or should be.

These are times that I hope not to get the Monterey real estate call where someone wants to see something. Usually we have company over or if I need to show a place people have the house full.

Houses in Monterey are decked out, spiffed up, the umbrellas are in the yard and the barbecue’s are going. Who wants to clean up or vacate for anyone but a friend?

Let me know your favorite things you did this forth that were better or different without the parade and fireworks. Have fun, be safe.

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Betty’s Burgers

The west end of 41st avenue has turned into the food destination for the casual diner looking for a good meal. Pleasure Point now has about half a dozen restaurants or food joints all in close proximity to each other. For Pleasure Point real estate owners, this nice to be able to walk or bike to. For company it is a casual good meal, close by.

The choices, and not all, are Canton Restaurant, a longstanding local favorite Chinese restaurant, back after a hiatus in lovely new building, designed by James Leung and built by his brother Conti. The Canton Restaurant has a nice feel and is different from another local favorite, Taqueria Vallarta. This local Mexican chain serves a really good burrito,and ( you can get whole wheat, spinach, tomato tortillas) the other dishes you expect, and walk away full without killing your wallet. Hanks at the hook is the anchor and also has a nice feel with a different menu. There is Pink Godzilla Sushi too and Naka Sushi.

Betty’s Burgers just opened their second local location at 1000 -41st Ave, Santa Cruz. 41st Avenue is a weird street, some parts are Santa Cruz (Live Oak) and other parts of it are Capitola. This Betty’s Burger location was ready after an extensive remodel of an old bank that sat for awhile. Santa Cruz commercial real estate has a round of vacancies and they jumped on the opportunity to join the crowd as food businesses down here seem to be doing fine.

Nearby to Opal Cliffs, Live Oak and the Capitola area, the newest addition seems to have a full parking lot when I go by. I found an opportunity to go by and had a wait of about 10 minutes. They have indoor and outdoor seating. There are about 10 hamburger selections with the last 2 or 3 being fowl or even fish. There is even a veggie burger for those who can stand the smell of hamburgers, but can’t bring themselves to eat a nice half pound of beef.

I had the (Pleasure) Point Grinder, which has mushrooms, bacon and blue cheese. They have my favorites fries, sweet potatoes as well as regular. I had the onion rings which was good size and were served hot and were good. I also had a 12 ounce blackberry shake. That too was good and they have about half a dozen other flavors as well. All in all a good meal. Really the whole day’s calories in one sitting for me. The price was a bit stiff for a lunch on a regular basis, but it seems they find a steady market. Their other location on Murray in Seabright seems to be doing a good business as well. With there really not being anyone in this market space, I think they will do well. A  real hamburger joint always is in vogue with the young crowd, and the sort of throw back, but reasonable sized menu should make the place a favorite with all going away full and satisfied.

The place has a nice interior, sort of reminded me a bit of the old Pontiac Grill, but a bit more modern. The building looks fresh and inviting with a summer crowd that is sure to enjoy the outdoor patio.

So if you are contemplating a Live Oak real estate purchase, being close to shopping and eating establishments like Betty’s Burgers can help you live a big green and get some exercise going to this local favorite hangout. Ride your bike or walk on over for a burger.

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Senior Real Estate Specialists(SRES)

Seniors Enter the Housing Market

Senior Real Estate Specialists, or SRES for short, are REALTORS® who have received specialized training in order to better serve clients who are senior citizens. To receive this designation one must learn about some of the legal and tax aspects that are involved when a senior is buying or selling a home, as well as the emotional ramifications of moving later on in life. Senior Real Estate Specialists can guide seniors through the process of selling their home, finding a new house that will meet their needs, and can empathize with the emotions involved with the entire process. Like any subject from a doctor or a repairman, a specialist is better able to help you and your loved one make the transition from the beloved family home to one that is more fitting for the current needs.

While selling a home can be stressful for people of any age, it is a particularly difficult experience for older sellers. They may have lived in the neighborhood for many years, and raised their family in the home. There are many years of memories to pack up and leave behind, which can lead to a great deal of sadness and anxiety about the future. As with our current economy, confidence and having a clear sense of direction makes for a better outcome.

In addition to saying goodbye to the past, seniors must think about the future as they look at potential new homes. Do they plan to move again, or is this where they plan to spend their remaining years? If this is their final move, then the house needs to accommodate any physical limitations that the person may incur later on, such as relying on a walker or a wheelchair to get around. It is helpful to consider the family tree for which maladies maybe in the lineage, in making this choice. The doorways and hallways need to be wide enough to accommodate mobility devices, and the house itself should ideally be one level. As our bones and muscles begin to weaken, some may find stairs to be difficult, and even dangerous.

Another concern is yard size. Seniors need to keep in mind that while they can currently tend to a large garden, and mow the lawn, they will not always be able to be so active. They need a property that will be manageable in size as they get older. For some, the resources of a gardener, can be a burden as well as worrying about all the lovely plants that once adorned the yard.

Senior Real Estate Specialists also have experience dealing with the financial issues that may come up for seniors, including reverse mortgages, estate taxes,trusts and more. These agents can assist seniors with the paperwork and contractual issues that may not have existed the last time the senior was in the real estate market. All of these items in addition to selling and moving can be overwhelming, especially if the person is moving to a new area. Having an SRES by your side can be immensely helpful. As a Santa Cruz SRES, helping bridge the transition with an adult child and a parent allowing their “kids” to help is a touching and rewarding experience.

Senior specialists also know that not all seniors are the same. Baby boomers have different priorities than older seniors, and even then, everyone has individual requirements. These REALTORS® are trained to respect each seller as an individual, and to not make assumptions about their needs. Call one today and start working on your plans for change.

Gregg Camp is an experienced Santa Cruz real estate broker who has spent more than 20 years working in the beautiful Santa Cruz home market. Search for homes with a Santa Cruz Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) and view property listings at PropertyInSantaCruz.com.

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History of the Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster-Santa Cruz,Ca. Home of the boardwalk

A Santa Cruz home is more than a place to hang your hat. A Santa Cruz home is also the place where historic entertainment attractions lie just outside your door.

Early development of Santa Cruz’s beach began in 1865 when the first of several public bath houses began providing amenities for enjoying the sand and ocean. A dance hall, the Neptune Casino, opened in 1904, but less than two years later this attempt to expand seaside entertainment to Santa Cruz fell victim to a kitchen fire that soon engulfed the entire structure. Plans were quickly made to rebuild. The Coconut Grove and Boardwalk officially opened in June of 1907. Since then, Santa Cruz homeowners have seen their local boardwalk honored with listings on the National Register of Historic Places not once, but twice.

The Boardwalk’s Looff Carousel was erected in late summer of 1911. Each horse was hand carved with a unique facial expression, a real horsehair tail, and agate eyes. When a hurricane damaged many Santa Cruz homes in September of 1938, the carousel ponies broke loose. Fortunately, all of them were recovered in nearby sand dunes where many of them had been buried by the stormy surf. The horses that you can ride today are a combination of many originals and a few replacements that were salvaged from other amusement parks.

The Giant Dipper, a wooden roller coaster built in 1924, also survived that storm and many since then. It undergoes constant maintenance, has had its trains replaced several times, and got a new facade in 1976, but it still delivers old-fashioned fun. Both the Carousel and the coaster were recognized by the U.S. National Park Service and designated as historic landmarks in 1987.

For those who own a Santa Cruz home, family entertainment is never more than a few minutes away. Yet many folks travel hundreds of miles to visit this last historic seaside amusement park on the West Coast.

If you live here in a Santa Cruz, home is where your heart is, be it at the beach or the boardwalk. This is such a fun place that has memories for all generations. There are things all year round for Santa Cruz homeowners, that it is often the free concerts or other events that bring us back and the fun simple rides like the Santa Cruz carousel horses that get us back on to have fun again.

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I was reading recently where there was a survey of smart phone users on their response to advertising on their cell phones. While I find more of my Santa Cruz real estate customers are using their smart phones out in the field to look up property, I think many of us are going to have concerns about receiving advertising on them.

According to the survey by Compete , 36 percent of smart phone users said that they would be most interested in receiving grocery coupons, while others indicated diverse interests. Many found an interest in being able to use scannable barcodes (29 percent) to check the price of an item,while others found offers to save on leisure items(26 percent), movie theater offers and promotions (26 percent) of interest. A newer concept to many in the public area location-based ads via SMS (21 percent) and travel website coupons (20 percent), depending on where you are. For instance if you are near a Starbucks, an add for that store might pop up and draw you in, not that you need much urging at the moment. Regular SMS ads, which some of us receive frequently on our cell phones, were in fact the least desirable. Only 15 percent of the respondents expressed interest in receiving them that way.

So it seems that with targetable advertising technology that you may soon be able to go by a real estate listing and have the info for the house be broadcast to you. That sort of thing was available in the 80′s with you driving by the Santa Cruz home of interest and tuning your car radio on to the station ,and receive the home information  while seated in your car.

If you are looking for the up-to-date Carmel real estate listings, this is the place to do so. You can find them on your smart phone and give us a call to set up 1an appointment. Call Gregg at 831-818-7524

PropertyinSantaCruz.com won’t be sending advertising, but you can get Santa Cruz  or Carmel real estate on your phone if you have an I-Phone or some other smartphone. I find many more Santa Cruz agents are able to communicate more quickly with their client as they are able to get their e-mail on the fly instead of being tied to a computer. Soon we shall all find new ways to communicate and businesses with you and you with them.

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Pacific Collegiate School is a highly sought after school. Housed in the old Natural Bridges Elementary School on the west side of Santa Cruz, this unassuming place is getting top marks for education.

So while they have slipped from their lofty heights, Pacific Collegiate School is still a school can hang their hat on with pride. So it was with that history of doing well, that it does not surprise me to hear a lottery was needed to get into the school. Mind you, this is not a school for slackers, but those who are dedicated to working hard,and excelling in school. Schools like people, are different. We all don’t learn the same way, for that reason there are many choices for people to have their kids schooled. Since schools and students are tested in a standardized fashion, it is a relatively easy means to measure up so to speak.

The educational opportunities in Santa Cruz can be numerous. I have a list of quite a few of them with their websites or contact information.

This year they had drawing of about 250 names from a pool of 550 to find who is eligible to enroll for the next 2010-2011 school year for 7th graders. Applicants for grades 8-12 will be added to a waiting list. This was a record number of applications for the school, which goes to show the strength of interest for the education of Santa Cruz kids, even in a tough economically challenged year.

If you are lucky enough to get your kid into PCS, you may want to be in a west side Santa Cruz home so they can have the exercise and pleasure of walking to school as we did as kids. Physical exercise is as important as mental exercise and walking in the beautiful west side of Santa Cruz is a good thing to do.

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If you are resident of a Santa Cruz mobile home park, you probably know the issues that have been brewing for years with different parks around the county. Capitola mobile home park owners are in a bit of a fix and tizzy.

The basics are this. At one point in time it made economic sense for a land owner to get the zoning approvals and do all the site work and rent out the spaces in mobile home park. This provided a good return and filled a need for those looking for an inexpensive retirement location or vacation place. Capitola mobile home parks were desired, as in many places, for being cheap.

Fast forward 30 or 40 years and the property values of Capitola homes have gone up dramatically. Right now, being an anomaly for Santa Cruz home values, they climbed to heights not ever imagined. This means the underlying land values have skyrocketed up in value.

So now mobile home park owners are trying to get a better return on their investments want to sell the parks for market value of the land. The value of the land, particularly of the Surf and Sand Mobile home park in Capitola has risen dramatically as Capitola home prices have escalated and the land is under-utilized from a value standpoint. The land is much more valuable as housing. Frankly in my opinion, if there weren’t so many votes at stake, I think most any city would prefer the tax revenue that these Capitola oceanview homes would generate.

So the issue comes down to residents who have purchased their coaches now wanting to purchase the park if they can afford it, and the seller wanting to get the highest and best value for their investment. Now I know that the sellers of these mobile homes, when this park issue was not in the air, were steadfast in getting the highest value for their mobile home. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, it is uncomfortable.

Hopefully both sides can come to a place that works for both. There is in my opinion undeniably higher value given to a location with ocean views and a location close to the water. Who wouldn’t like to be close to Capitola village? As the old real estate adage, location, location, location is a big function of value, that cannot be discounted in my opinion. Here is an interesting article that may shed some idea of value. Turner Lane is a nice little park, but no where near as close to the ocean.

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Cafe Rio was a local tradition at Rio Del Mar beach. Pat had built it up over many years, then as with so many business owners sold it to retire, but probably carried a note on the sale. Pretty normal in many cases, though not totally desirable for all parties. He does still own the real estate.

The new owner made the mistake in my limited opinion of changing the menu, which meant eliminating some of what the locals had come to like. I know of several people who didn’t like those changes and didn’t go back. I would think the thing to do was to add some things and see what your sales count were for the different items, but I am not a restaurateur. So while that may have contributed to slower business, I think Wall Street greed was one of the big factors. Why you ask. If Wall Street hadn’t strong armed the security ratings agencies, AM Best, Moody’s and Fitch to rate crap loans as AAA rated securities, the banks would not have continued to sell them to public. With out those loans the Rio Del Mar Beach real estate market and other across the nation would not have become so heated.

Image all the cars replaced by dirt and construction equipment

As it was with the market imploding, little business like Cafe Rio started wilting as people were not out having their weekly or monthly dinners or lunches. With negative mortgages, lack of jobs and a major fear of the market, people contract. Recession make people withhold what they normally do.

So the final straw that killed them in my opinion WAS THE CONSTRUCTION WORK. I live near by and drive by and it was a mess. No doubt one has to work sometime and winter is better than summer, the reality is now one want to go where there is no parking or to look at piles or dirt, piping, and construction equipment. So I do think the county has a responsibility to pay the businesses for their loss of business. I had a similar occurrence in Live Oak where we were impacted by construction.

What are your thoughts? Should government ( that is us folks) pay for the loss of business that is inflicted on a business owner? I think so.

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There are a lot of advantages to owning a Santa Cruz beach house. Whether you are a savvy investor or just a person looking for a beautiful place to live, a Santa Cruz beach house may be just what you are looking for. The view of the ocean is spectacular and there are several state parks nearby that provide a variety of outdoor activities and experiences. The weather is always mild; summer temperatures are generally 70-80 degree degrees Fahrenheit and rarely falls below 45 which makes it comfortable year round.

Looking for a Comfortable Place to Live?

If you are looking for a comfortable place to live or vacation, a Santa Cruz beach house is a great idea. Whether you are looking to call this place home or just a home away from home, your beachfront dwelling offers a peaceful retreat with the smell and sounds of the ocean surrounding you. Many people who have moved from the more unpredictable climates of the Midwest enjoy not having to worry about whether they will need shorts one day and a winter jacket the next, because every day is mild and comfortable in Santa Cruz.

Is Buying a Home These Days an Investment?

It almost seems difficult to call most real estate purchases these days “investments” because the market is so volatile, but buying a Santa Cruz beach house is still a good investment for two very important reasons:

1.The prices on Santa Cruz beach houses have remained higher while other house prices have dropped and historically these houses have continued to increase in value.

2.There is always a demand for beachfront rentals in California, so you can keep it rented out almost as often as you would like. A rental home like this is a good source of residual income.

Finding a stable real estate investment these days is difficult, but not impossible because purchasing a Santa Cruz beach house is still a wise investment.

Where’s the Beach?

There are over 29 miles of gorgeous beaches in Santa Cruz County and each has its own unique features and beauty. Some of the popular Santa Cruz beach houses may be found in Rio Del Mar, Bonny Doon, Lighthouse Point, Sunset and Twin Lakes, but there are so many that it can be difficult to choose. The beaches are also surrounded by state parks so you never have to worry about the area becoming too populated, because these cannot be developed, and you are always assured a good dose of nature at your beachfront home.

Just another Day at the Beach

Breathtaking ocean views, mild year-round temperatures and beautiful state parks are just a few of the reasons to consider purchasing a Santa Cruz beach house. Other considerations may include the wider variety of eco-friendly homes available and the warm friendly neighbors with their laid-back California attitudes or the great investment potential. Whether you are looking for an investment, a full-time home or a vacation get-a-way, you may want to consider looking at a Santa Cruz beach house.

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As the winter swiftly moves into top gear and with most of the US receiving heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures, it’s only wise to beat the drop in temperatures by turning up the thermostat, shutting the doors and windows and, if possible, to light up a fire. However, considering the climbing heating costs, its important to plan and wisely choose a heating method as soon as possible – obviously when choosing a viable heating method; there are a number of variables that factor into that decision – climate, efficiency, size of the house and availability are just to name a few.

Regardless of whatever heating method you bank on; it can safely be said that “cost and affordability” are by far the biggest concerns for families all across the US. So the next logical question is, what can we do to beat the dreaded chill without spending too much? Here are some quick answers:

Take a good look at your windows: Believe it or not but windows are a money pit when it comes to wasting heat – its only wise to lake a good hard look at your windows and try to spot any gaps, cracks, drafts and leaks. If you spot too many of these, then it would be a financially viable idea to replace your old windows altogether. Yes, replacing your windows with higher efficiency windows will cost you more upfront; but in the long run it will save you a good amount of money in terms of heating costs. If you cannot replace your windows (for any reason) then try to look for a work around via which those cracks, leaks and drafts can be plugged.

You would also want to make sure your heating elements are squeaky clean. Perform frequent maintenance and regularly replace the filters so that the chances of a break down are minimized – doing this will also ensure your heating system runs less frequently; thereby pulling down heating costs.

If you want to save money on heating then you should set your thermostat timer so that it does not run while there is no one at home. You can easily plan for the heat to turn on a few minutes before you reach back home – similarly you can plan for the heat to turn off as soon as you leave for work.

Most energy companies offer monthly, weekly or quarterly payment plans in which they would offer to average out your energy costs and then based on the numbers, they would offer a monthly or quarterly plan. This is a good idea if your energy consumption is consistent and predictable – if not, you will end up paying a “square up” fees if you go over the anticipated average.

Paying for heating can be very expensive in the winters and that is why it is absolutely pivotal for you to pre-plan for the winters in advance. Allocating a certain budget towards heating every month is a good idea and will lessen the impact of heating expenses in the winters.

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Returning back to the nest… gracefully.

The unemployment rate in the US reached a 26 year high in October when it crept past the dreaded 10 percent mark. With over 16 million Americans unable to find jobs, more and more parents are finding their children returning back to the nest – and why not; since mom’s and pop’s house is probably the only place for these downsized and right-sized young adults to turn to where paying the utility bills, putting food in the refrigerator, cable TV and getting the laundry done etc does not cost a mini fortune. The fact of the matter is that these trying economic times have made moving back to the nest not only a financially viable option but in fact for millions of Americans it has become the only option.

However, moving back in with the folks could be anything from a seamless process to a very intricate and bumpy one. Therefore there are a few things which one should think over before making a final decision. For example, it’s a good idea to ask yourself what kind of relationship you have with your folks – the dynamics of a family seldom change with time – so if your parents were controlling, nagging, probing, irritable or aggressive, there is a very slim chance that they might have changed since you moved out. Keep that at the back of your mind.

Secondly, notice whether or not the folks have downsized their house and whether or not they still have room enough to accommodate you? It’s absolutely pivotal to know if there are other brothers and sisters still living with mom and dad – if yes, then it’s good because the folks would still be in “parenting” mode and therefore having another son or daughter around wound not really make much of difference. However, it will be a totally different and complicated story if none of your brothers and sisters have been living with the parents for a very long time.

It’s also a good idea to make a mental inventory of what you can do for your parents while you are living with them – can you mow the lawn, shovel the snow, cook, do the plumbing, the electrical work, buy the groceries etc? Look for ways to add value to the house and to save your parents some money.

Also moving back in with your parents is not the same as sharing a house with friends and roommates. There may be restrictions, rules and regulations that they would want you to adhere to. Sincerely ask yourself if you are willing to comply and give up some of your liberties, if need be.

From a parent’s standpoint, what they may want to see is your effort to make things work. Go back to your academic education or learning a new skill or language, cut your spending as much as humanly possible, tell them how exactly do you plan on getting back on your feet, keep them updated on what you are doing, respectfully listen to their suggestions and advice and thank them for their patience and support. Last but not least, when you eventually move back out, send them a sincere “thank you” note – it would mean the world to them.

“Don’t be discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.”

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Do you often begin your day by looking for misplaced stuff and after a couple of hours of hysteric searching and getting ready for work you find yourself chaotically running out of the house with your energies already drained? What a way to begin a Monday morning? If this is true for you, then you are not alone and all that’s really required is some personal organization – yes, personal organization may not be an earth shattering priority for you as yet; but it can save you a lot of day-to-day suffering in the forms of late arrivals at work, missed meetings and un-kept appointments. When all these little day-to-day stresses and “time-stealing” mis-happenings are added up; you will realize that these are the very reasons why your life is out of true and therefore not conducive for any big positive changes – after all life is more than just looking for that missing sock.

Those who don’t care to de-clutter their homes and their lives, tend to be easily distracted and always striving to make it on time as opposed to those who choose to take a more methodical and systematic approach to living. The tips mentioned below are intended to help in de-cluttering your home – doing so will ultimately result in a drastic decrease in your stress level and a drastic increase in your ability to get more done everyday.

Tip – 1: First, divide the contents of your closet into three categories – one for the stuff you frequently use, the second for the stuff you sometimes use and the third for the stuff you never use at all. Out of the two garbage bags, make one a “donation bag” and the the other a “throw away bag”. Take everything in the third category (the “never use” category) and put it either in the donation bag or the throw away bag – use your best judgement to decide what is worth donating and what should simply be trashed. Usually people would hang onto useless stuff just because it reminds them of someone, something or sometime. Be strong. Put it in the bag. Other times people would hang onto something just because it is “cute” or “adorable”. Be strong. Put it in the bag.

Once you are done with your closet, move onto the other clutter centers and use the same strategy. Continue to move from one clutter center to the other until you have done away with approx 30-40 percent of your stuff.

Tip – 2: If you like to collect stuff as a hobby (like shoes, ties and designer clothes etc) then be sure to dedicate a separate space for those items and limit those shoes or ties to that space only. It is definitely not a bad idea to spend some money on a few storage containers. Keep little things, which can easily be misplaced, together. Similarly, you will save a lot of time and peace of mind if you keep smaller things together. Usually people would succumb to the temptation of not putting things back from where they got it – this is a big clutter-creator and a definite no-no. Don’t fall for that. Be strong. Put it back in its place NOW.

Tip – 3: Learn to use your space in the best possible way. Putting away seasonal items (especially huge and bulky ones like blankets and quilts etc) is one good way to get the proverbial ball rolling.

Similarly, use that extra storage space to good use by putting your extra toilet paper, towels, travel bags, CDs, books (that you don’t use very often) and idle electronic stuff in them – and be sure to store away similar stuff together with the heavier stuff at the bottom of the pile.

A healthy and organized house is the bedrock for a healthy and organized mind. Remember and live by the old saying, “A place for everything, and everything in its place”.

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