There's nothing like Santa Cruz County in the fall! If you have just moved here you are probably looking to find some community events to enjoy and help you get immersed in the culture of the area. These are also great events to visit if you are trying to get a feel for the area when you are interested in purchasing a Santa Cruz County home.
Fall in Santa Cruz County offers the best weather of the year and there are several fun things happening that are popular for a good reason. Here is a list of some of the most popular fall events in Santa Cruz 2023.
Wednesday night sailboat races
Let's start off the list with something fun at the Santa Cruz harbor, one of the most popular places in Santa Cruz County. This is something free to enjoy and spectate or you could make a fun night out at a waterfront restaurant on the harbor while watching the Wednesday night sailboat races. The Santa Cruz harbor is located at Fifth Avenue in Santa Cruz. It is free to watch the sailboat race and they do it weekly on Wednesday nights through the end of October.
Farm Tours
The weekend of October 7 and 8 is the Open Farm Tours Weekend. This year there are 15 Santa Cruz County farms participating. This is a chance to take a look at real working farms and see all of the interesting aspects of local healthy food production. Get in on activities like pressing apples and making...
If you are looking for a home in Santa Cruz County you could not have picked a better area of California to settle into! Okay maybe I am biased because I live in the area, but there are truly just so many reasons to love the Santa Cruz area. Trying to narrow down where you will purchase a home could be difficult because the county is full of amazing coastal towns and hidden forest oases.
Some potential Santa Cruz buyers might wonder what type of home they could get for a certain budget in different areas of the county. This is a great question that could help you decide what location you want to look for a home. I can certainly help you out with this question in many different towns in both Santa Cruz and Monterey County. Let's start with what $2M could buy you in the actual city of Santa Cruz vs. the town of Aptos.
Why are We Comparing Santa Cruz and Aptos?
When deciding to move to Santa Cruz County a majority of potential buyers are interested in purchasing a home in or just outside of the city of Santa Cruz. The town of Aptos is often considered to be the first alternative location when opening up a broader home search in the county. Let's Look at a $2M budget for both.
Buying in Aptos
Aptos is located east of Santa Cruz and is home to many of the most popular housing communities like Seascape and Seacliff, two of the most popular. Aptos is smaller than Santa...
Scotts Valley is a town inland in north Santa Cruz County that is a popular destination. It may not be right on the coastline but it offers its own desirable atmosphere of rolling hills and redwoods. It is a great location for those commuting into Silicon Valley and is also peaceful and relaxed making it a desirable spot for young families to settle. Scotts Valley is often a highly desirable location on many Santa Cruz County homebuyer's wish lists. If you are interested in Scotts Valley here is some information about some of the most popular neighborhoods of Scotts Valley
Glenwood Estates
Glenwood Estates is a smaller residential neighborhood with just a handful of properties best known for their large size and ample backyards. This is a very desirable neighborhood for families in the Scotts Valley area with very quiet streets and many other families to get to know. It is also close to the schools of Scotts Valley especially Scotts Valley High School which is just one block from the neighborhood.
Glenwood Estates is also a very quiet and peaceful setting as it is a neighbor of the Glenwood Open Space Preserve. The neighborhood is well-maintained and homes offer an impressive traditional style exterior. It is what you would expect to see from an ideal suburban community.
Granite Creek Estates...
Since 2020 the real estate market has been on a roller coaster. Currently, that roller coaster has shifted to an uphill climb for many Santa Cruz homebuyers. Facing a challenging market those looking to purchase a home in Santa Cruz or Monterey County may find themselves looking for different strategies to help them get into a home at an affordable price that they actually like.
The real estate market has been hard to navigate for many homebuyers here and across the country and understandably has caused a bit of buying anxiety. These challenges and stressful feelings can push some homebuyers to make decisions they feel are helpful but could actually be more of a mistake than a benefit to their homebuying process
Here are some of the homebuying mistakes we are seeing some Santa Cruz buyers being tempted to make.
Playing a timing game
Trying to time the market, meaning finding the perfect time to purchase a home, is like playing a losing game. Since many home buyers saw unbelievably low interest rates not too long ago some are thinking that they can wait it out and hold off for the perfect moment to come along to purchase a home. The truth is however that there is no ultimately perfect buying market condition for a home.
One of the biggest mistakes a buyer could make is to not move forward with a home purchase currently in hopes that mortgage rates will drastically come down in the near future. Instead, it is better to ask yourself questions as...
The city of Santa Cruz has plans for expanding the downtown area of Santa Cruz and is beginning its planning by seeking input from those who live in Santa Cruz. They have begun their efforts by conducting an online survey and study to ask people in Santa Cruz what they think of the proposed plans for expanding the downtown area.
This initial downtown expansion project has plans of taking 29 acres south of Laurel Street and restructuring to make room for a 4-acre sports arena and an unspecified number of high-rise apartment buildings. This would displace the current businesses and homes that are already in the area. Without the projected revenue from the proposed new residential high-rise apartments building a new arena would not be economically feasible. The city is asking for insight from community members and is asking for opinions about the redevelopment of this area of downtown Santa Cruz.
Currently, the survey is only open until September 1 and is available in English and Spanish taking about 15 minutes to complete. The city says it plans to take the input gathered from this survey as well as hold a public community meeting about project plans later in September or October. They will use these insights as they make their decisions for restructuring this area of Santa Cruz.
Last year there was a proposal for the construction of 175-foot-high residential buildings which would be roughly 16 stories. When this plan was originally proposed there was pushback from the public which has led to the city Council attempting to scale back the original plans to include residential buildings with a height of 12 stories. These plans were amended and reconfigured at the beginning of 2023. The reconsideration...
As mortgage rates continue to remain higher than many expected or predicted some potential Santa Cruz County and Monterey County homebuyers might be searching for ways to find a home for a lesser price. Many of the most googled real estate searches have to do with finding homes at a lesser price such as how to find home auctions or what is the process of a home auction. If you are shopping for a Santa Cruz home, or Monterey County home, and are hoping to find something you truly love within an affordable budget there is good news. There are some strategies for purchasing a Santa Cruz home that can help you find the best deal.
Shop for more than one mortgage
It may be surprising but a majority of homebuyers still do not shop around for the best mortgage available to them. Or maybe you are one of the majority who might not be aware that you have the freedom to look into several different mortgage providers and types before deciding on the mortgage you will use to purchase your Santa Cruz home.
Your mortgage can greatly impact the overall payment and cost of your home purchase. Shopping around for more than one mortgage can find you better terms and a more affordable purchase price or interest rate. One of the easiest ways to shop around for mortgage options is to work with a mortgage broker. A mortgage broker does the shopping for their client and looks at all the current possible...
Santa Cruz County offers a vast array of different geographical climates and cultural atmospheres. Many people are aware of the amazing beach towns and surf culture of Santa Cruz itself as well as going just a bit inward into the hills and the redwood forests. What some people may not realize is that there is a hidden gem of wine country in the Aptos and Corralitos areas of Santa Cruz County.
A local hotel in Aptos has recently started offering a new program to showcase the many wineries in the area offering discounts and monthly events. This hotel is the Seacliff Inn. The Seacliff Inn operates under Hilton's collection of tapestry hotels which is an upscale collection of luxury accommodations. It is a great place for a staycation if you live in the Santa Cruz area or to encourage friends and family to come visit and stay. Every Thursday the inn offers a program called Wine30 which gives a 30% discount on 30 different wines on Thursdays. This is available at Sevy's Bar and Kitchen in the hotel and every third Thursday there is a Sip and Stroll event with outdoor dining live music vendors and wine served by a different local winery every month.
How Wine30 came to be
The Wine 30 program was created by the Sea Cliff Inn Director of Food and Beverage Steven Miller. He has been at the hotel for almost a year and discovered the...
Monterey Bay is located on the central coastline of the state of California. This coastal area offers some of the most amazing views and beautiful beaches in California. And just a little inland you will find some of the most gorgeous forested areas full of towering redwood trees and amazing hiking trails that bring you back to views of the beach.
We may be biased but this is quite possibly the best spot to settle into in the entire state of California. Who wouldn't want to be able to wake up with the sound of the crashing waves and the sun kissing their face? Even if you were just a few minutes inland from the shore you can be at the beach in minutes. The Monterey Bay area of California has some of the most amazing beach towns to settle into. Here are some of our favorites.
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is possibly the most notable town on California's Monterey Bay coastline. Is most notable for its surfing culture when it comes to the water and is the spot of one of the most iconic and longest-standing boardwalks in America. If you love to surf this is the place to settle into as the surf culture in Santa Cruz earned it the name of the original "Surf City" in America. Santa Cruz is home to many point breaks and short breaks and is what some would say is the best surfing spot in America.
Taking a trip into the quaint downtown area of Santa Cruz will bring you into an artsy and relaxed...
The real estate market in Santa Cruz and pretty much everywhere for that matter has been interesting, to say the least, for the last few years. And while the market has calmed down a bit from the craziness we saw there are still quite a few things that keep the market at a challenging rate to navigate for some. This is because the inventory of homes for sale across the country remains low.
While this is still a seller's market in Santa Cruz it is important for a Santa Cruz home seller to price their home just right in order to have a successful home sale even as there are more buyers looking for homes than there are homes for sale. The best way to make sure you are properly pricing your home and set up for a successful home sale is to utilize the expertise of a local real estate agent.
Reasons why it is so important to list your home at the right price in Santa Cruz even in a seller's market
It sends a message to interested Santa Cruz buyers
Where the price of a home is set automatically leads potential Santa Cruz homebuyers to think things about the property. A home priced too low automatically raises questions about something being wrong with the home, or that something is too good to be true. If you price the home too high it can turn off buyers thinking you are being greedy as more buyers are savvy about the real estate market today than they were about a decade ago. And if you price your home too...
Monterey County California is one of the most beautiful areas of the state located centrally on the California Coast overlooking Monterey Bay. It is a neighbor to the always popular Santa Cruz County and is just a short distance south of the San Francisco area as well as Silicon Valley. There are many gorgeous beautiful towns that make up Monterey County, the most notable of course being the actual city of Monterey itself.
Here are some of the Most Popular Places to Live in Monterey County
Carmel By The Sea
Carmel is one of the most iconic and beautiful towns in Monterey County. The village looks like something out of a fairy tale. The homes within Carmel proper are kept within strict building codes and upkeep measures to ensure the the center of the city or village maintains its charm. Many of the homes you will find closest to the commercial downtown hub referred to as the village are cute cottages that seem like they were built for the likes of a theme park or movie tent.
Carmel has earned several best of titles including the best place to retire. Carmel is not the most budget-friendly town to live but it defiantly is the most picturesque.
Marina
Marina is aptly named because it is located right on the coast. It is a very popular place to reside for boat owners. It is also well-known as a great area for fishing or just hanging out on the beach. IT...
As potential Santa Cruz area homebuyers mature their wants and needs for purchasing a home in Santa Cruz County and beyond look a little different than they did when considering a home purchase in their 20s. What a home buyer wants from their home can change several times during a lifetime and as summer homebuyers begin to reach their golden years of retirement they may begin to think about purchasing a Santa Cruz area home where they can age in place.
What is aging in place?
The term aging in place is a term that describes purchasing a property that works for a buyer in their current healthy and independent state. This home is one that will also provide a safe and easily livable atmosphere as a person ages and might at some point become less mobile in their physical condition. It is a home that is perfect for now and also safe and livable for a person that may take on mobility and health challenges as they mature.
So how does a Santa Cruz home buyer look for a home in the Santa Cruz area that would allow them to comfortably age in place and not have to move into a new property once they begin to face the common physical challenges of aging? Read on to find some good tips about searching for a Santa Cruz home that allows you to age in place.
Tips for buying a Santa Cruz area home to age in place
Location
Aging in place may mean something specifically different for each maturing homeowner. For some, it could mean staying in their home and reconstructing it to comfortably live there for the rest of their days. For others, it may mean living in their same beloved geographical location while finding an easier...
Are you looking for a home in the Santa Cruz area nicely tucked into the woods near countless opportunities to enjoy the mountains and get outdoors, yet not too far removed from the best beaches in California and all within a decent commute to work? Then the Woods Cove neighborhood is worth a look.
Where is Woods Cove?
You can find Woods Cove just off Graham Hill Road in the Scotts Valley area of Santa Cruz County. This area was once part of Henry Cowell's land along with all of the land that the college UC Santa Cruz sits on. You can find it neighboring the horse show grounds at Santa Cruz Horseman's Center on Graham Hill Road and is north of the San Lorenzo River which makes up the southern boundary of the community. It is also within walking distance of Henry Cowell Park.
It is a relatively newer residential development that broke ground in 2003 and finished construction around 2005. Homes were built by Standard Pacific Development. The development features luxury properties tucked into the gorgeous wooded area of Santa Cruz County between Scotts Valley and the Pasatiempo Golf Course and neighborhood.
Homes in Woods Cove
The main developer had large...
We are pretty biased but we love all of the cities in the Santa Cruz County and Monterey County areas that make up the northern portion of Monterey Bay and Central California. But it is not just us that has recognized the amazing attributes of living in this area. Two small towns in the area we service Los Gatos, and Carmel by the Sea have made Strategistico's list of 12 Best Small Towns in California to Raise a Family in 2023.
The methodology behind Strategistico's list of best small towns to raise a family
Before looking at both Los Gatos and Carmel by the Sea and revealing what place on the list they made it is worth mentioning how Strategistico arrived at their rankings. Let's share what Strategistico used as a ranking system to determine California's best small towns to raise a family.
This helps you to see that they didn't just pick their favorites there was actually some research and fact-finding into what might create an atmosphere for the best place to raise a family. They used a number of different categories to measure what might be important to a small family when it comes to deciding on a location to live. The categories they looked at included the quality of the public school system, crime rates, distance to larger cities in California, attractions and things to do in the area and close by, and the overall affordability of living in the area.
To determine a town's actual rating they looked up various different resources like researching...
Santa Cruz County is a beautiful spot on California's central coast on Monterey Bay. It is not the largest county in the state or the most densely populated but it packs a huge list of things to do and attractions that draw millions of people to come visit every year and several to even consider a move to this amazing beautiful California gem.
Some of the most notable identifiers of Santa Cruz County are the iconic Santa Cruz boardwalk, the mountains, and the amazing redwood forest. What some people may not realize is the county is dotted with five amazing golf courses, some would call them the hidden gems of the county. If you love golf and have just moved to Santa Cruz or are considering a move to Santa Cruz you have just found one more reason to love it here.
These are the Best Golf Courses in the Santa Cruz Area
Boulder Creek Golf and Country Club
The Boulder Creek Golf and Country Club is located on Big Basin Highway in Boulder Creek California. The town of Boulder Creek is in the inland portion of Santa Cruz County tucked into the Santa Cruz Mountains about 13 miles northwest of the city of Santa Cruz and just 21 miles southwest of San Jose and the Silicon Valley along Highway 9. ...
The town of Salinas California is about 45 minutes south of Santa Cruz in Monterey County along the Monterey Bay of Central California. It is nicknamed the salad bowl of the world for its rich history and farmland that helped the area become the most thriving economic portion of the country during the 1920s. Today it is still a beautiful area with plenty of agricultural thriving properties. And has also grown as a desirable place to live.
If you are interested in moving to the Salinas area he may be wondering what the best neighborhoods in Salinas have to offer. Let us walk you through some of Salinas's current most popular neighborhoods to help you get a feel for the real estate here
Most popular neighborhoods in Salinas California
South Salinas
The south Salinas neighborhood is located in none other than the southern portion of Salinas. This area offers a good mix of both commercial and residential areas making it an awesome location for anyone hoping to be minutes from restaurants and other modern amenities.
South Salinas offers a majority of single-family homes with some apartments and condos sprinkled in. The median home price currently as of 2023 and South Salinas is $667,500.
Santa Rita
Santa Rita offers a very eclectic mix of housing options from townhomes to condos to single-family homes and even some apartment properties. Not only are the property types varied the age and architectural types are vast as well. It is easy to find a home that fits your needs and your style preferences...
There are many beautiful properties all around Santa Cruz County and several of them have great landscaping and amazing gardens. One thing that Santa Cruz homeowners have increased their interest in is growing their own food in their own yards. Sometimes growing delicious food can attract unwanted guests that would like to feast on it.
Companion planting can help keep pests out of your Santa Cruz garden
Some Santa Cruz homeowners prefer to use a more natural method to keep pests out of their gardens. One of the ways to do so is with companion planting. Companion planting though not commonly talked about has been around for a long time as a method of keeping unwanted insects and pests from gardens, especially where vegetables are concerned.
What is companion planting?
Companion planting is the practice of planting two or more different types of plants next to each other or near each other so that they can benefit from one another. The goal for the benefiting from each other is better growth, an increase in the number of edible products from the plant, and keeping out pests. In some cases, companion planting has even attracted other helpful insects to act as predators for common pests that would damage plants.
It can take a bit of research to discover what plants work well together as companion plants and it may also take a little trial and error in your planting. There are some plants that may thrive by being next to a companion while the other part of the pair is not benefiting from...
Let’s start with the measures you should consider taking well before moving day. First, it’s important to research the area you’ll be moving to ahead of time. Look up any regulations in place for pets, such as neutering requirements or restricted dog breeds, and make sure your pet is a good fit. Next, take a tour of the neighborhood. Search for good places for walks and any potential safety hazards for your canine companion.
Infographic created by Moving Proz, a professional moving company.
Contact my office at anytime for all Santa Cruz real estate and homes for sale
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The first step in moving is to fully declutter your home. Once you’ve successfully decluttered, it’s time to dispose of the unwanted objects. Donation is a worthy route, and more can be put to good use than you might think. For instance, tattered linens and towels can be donated to animal shelters or used as a green alternative to packing supplies. Other examples could be giving old DVDs and books to the local library or helping a family in need with toys and clothing that your kids have outgrown. For more tips, please check out the below infographic.
Infographic created by Big League Movers, a long distance moving company in Memphis TN.
Contact my office at anytime for all Santa Cruz real estate and homes for sale
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Curb appeal is important to your Santa Cruz home. Whether you are getting ready to sell your Santa Cruz property or you just want to update it and make it more appealing from the outside boosting your home's curb appeal can help add value and attract more buyers. One of the best ways to boost curb appeal is with a fresh coat of exterior paint.
Selecting the colors for the outside of your home can be very difficult. There are literally countless different color options you could choose from. But if you are choosing to paint the exterior of your home because it is past time and you are getting it ready to sell there may be some exterior colors that are more popular than others and may help attract buyers to your home in droves.
Selecting just one color can be hard enough but putting it together in a complete color scheme along with the window trim and the front door can be even more difficult. Here is the latest insight into the most popular exterior paint color combinations to boost your home's curb appeal.
Exterior home color combinations that catch a buyer's eye
Putty and Gray
You may have heard it said that the latest trend for exterior home colors are bright bold hues. While this is true, there is something to be said for a classic neutral look because it fits every home type and into every setting. It is especially great for classic older homes which there are many in the Santa Cruz area. Using tones of putty as the main color and gray for the accents such as shutters with white trim is a nice classic look that will never go out of style.
Gray and blue
Gray and...
Carmel by the Sea has long been a highly desirable destination to not only live in but to visit. It is one of the most beautiful locations along the California shore. With that comes an increased interest in people interested in purchasing homes for vacation purposes. A new way of owning a vacation property is fractional ownership.
What is fractional ownership?
Fractional ownership is a somewhat new term in the vacation home ownership world. Though the term is new, the actual concept has been around for some time. Fractional ownership is essentially a group ownership of a vacation property. Group ownership has been around for years most commonly through owned trusts, nonprofits, and other legal arrangements.
Fractional ownership is unique in that companies purchase homes in desirable vacation destinations and then fix up the homes, furnish the homes, and expertly decorate them. Once the home is ready to sell they will divide the property into individual shares. Depending upon the size of the property it is often sold between eight and 12 individual shares. This means that eight individual owners or families now have a stake in a new vacation home. This model of fractional ownership is said to be making vacation properties in highly desirable destinations a more affordable and attainable reality.
When shares are sold in a fractional ownership home there is a legal framework of the co-ownership created often times through a limited liability corporation or LLC. This LLC will hold the title on the deed to the property receiving it from the selling company....
