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....

For several decades spring has been the peak time to sell and purchase real estate all across the country. This could be because the weather is better and more people are looking to get out and ready to make adjustments as they come back into more hours of sunlight and great weather. The benefit to spring is that more people are looking for homes and the weather allows you to show your home in a better light as well.

As more inventory comes to the market this means sellers will have a bit more competition in the spring selling season. While inventory is still what is considered low there is a bit more competition than there was over the past few years. It is a great idea to make sure your home looks its best even when selling in peak real estate season.

Here Are some tips for preparing your Santa Cruz home for a spring sale

Clean, clean, clean, and clean again

One of the best ways to show that your home is in great condition and has been well cared for is to make sure it is as deeply cleaned as possible. The cleaner your home the better it is going to show when people come to take a personal tour. The best route for getting this executed is to consider investing in deep cleaning from professional maid services. Often when we live in our homes we get super comfortable in them and don't realize some areas of hidden dirt. Hiring deep cleaning services for both the inside and outside of your home can make it feel like a completely different and seemingly...

Deciding on when the right time to sell your home is can be very complicated. There are several different important things to consider and sort through before officially putting your home up for sale. Then there is also the current state of the real estate market to consider as well.

Some homeowners are wondering with the recent cool-off in buyer demand if now is still a good time to sell their home. But there are other questions that are important to ask yourself as a homeowner when you are ready to move out of your current home. A recent survey conducted by Fannie Mae titled September 2022 Home Purchase Sentiment Index shows that around 59% of Americans still believe it is a lucrative time to sell a home.

Here are some things to consider when deciding when to sell your home

Should I sell my house during this time?

There are headlines of a cooling market and rising mortgage interest rates causing buyers to back out of home ownership plans but the real estate market is still favorable for sellers. There's still a demand from buyers as well as a short supply of homes for sale. These numbers may be smaller than they were a year ago they are still more favorable than pre-pandemic numbers. Homes are still selling at the top of their fair market values.

Real estate market conditions determine a good time to sell

Historically peak selling season for real estate is in spring and summer and as such many homeowners put their homes up for sale at this time. But there are many more factors in the real estate market that homeowners should consider when it comes to making the decision to list their home for sale.

Mortgage...

If your home is lacking in the curb appeal department it is still possible to sell it. It may not be possible at this time for you to present your home in its best light and sell the home you want to sell so you will have to sell the home you have. Maybe you do not have the funds to fix up your home or are rushed into moving to your next destination. Whatever the reason for being unable to fix up your home it is still possible to sell it.

Sell the home on the traditional market.

You can list your home on the traditional market even if it isn’t in the best condition. What you will need to do is make sure that when you list the home it is clearly stated the home will be sold in as-is condition. In most cases, selling a home without fixing it up on the traditional market will take longer to sell then if you were to fix the home and have it show-ready. You will need to appeal to just the right buyer that is looking for a project home or one they would not mind putting some work and extra money into. It is wise to price your home accordingly to reflect the need for extra care and work on the part of the new homeowner. Usually, this means discounting the price of your home from fair market value.

Sell to a cash buyer

This is a great option for those homeowners who cannot fix up their homes and need to sell their homes quickly. A reputable cash home buyer will be able to give you an all-cash offer within a...

This comfortable single level lower Westside Santa Cruz is just a 5 minutes to Natural Bridges Beach and West Cliff Drive. Hop on your bike and go wine tasting at the Swift Street wine district, after a day of surfing at Natural Bridges. As you enter the private courtyard, you'll notice this home is set up for enjoying the fine weather here by the coast. Lounge around the fire pit, sipping wine in the afternoon, or roasting marshmallows. The vaulted ceiling gives one these sense of being light and spacious as you enter the living room to start working on dinner in the remodeled kitchen. The master suite is spacious enough for a king sized bed, and has access to the outdoors and hot tub in the back yard. The other 2 bedrooms have a queen sized beds in them.The saltwater Jacuzzi tub, included, is heated to a pitch-perfect 101 degrees year-round, for a warming way to end the evening after a day of enjoying the events and activities that Santa Cruz has to offer. Call Gregg, 831-818-7524 for more information.

Today’s housing market has presented home sellers with an incredible opportunity to sell their homes for an increased value over what they would have been worth a few years ago. It’s also created an intensely competitive arena for homebuyers to outbid each other and secure their own home. This level of competition creates an interesting predicament for sellers to rule out lesser offers in favor of more appealing offers.

Contingencies like home inspections and appraisals are just a couple of the more common types. Another common contingency a buyer will often use is the condition that their current home must sell first before they can close on a deal and move into a new home. While it’s perfectly understandable for a buyer to include this contingency, it can be a nuisance to some sellers who are anxious to sell their home fast and move along. If you’ve ever found yourself in this scenario or are concerned about what to do should this happen, consider the kick-out clause.

The Kick-Out Clause allows the seller to continue listing their home on the market if a buyer has a home-sale contingency in the hopes that another offer will come through from a buyer without this requirement. There are benefits to both the buyer and the seller with having a kick-out clause in effect.

For the seller, a kick-out clause helps because it makes it a little easier to get a home sold without having to depend upon...

The single most reliable source for an estimated market value for your home is a Realtor. Contact me for a detailed evaluation of your property.

How can I sell my home fast?

There are many aspects that come into play for the correct answer to the question " How can I sell my house fast, " for your house. Factors such as price point in a given area, amount of new home competition, market timing and the economy. We'll stick to the general things that apply most all the time.

How Can I Sell My Home Fast in Santa Cruz?

1. Price your home to sell today not in a month. People forget buyers look at value, competition, and are well informed with all the information available on the internet. If you're not getting traffic or activity that's a key sign the price isn't attractive to a buyer.
2. Clean it up and make it shine. A neat and clean home with clean carpets and refinished floors makes for a positive impression of a well cared for home. I can't tell you how often "dirty" negatively affects the price and speed of a sale, but I've heard about it a lot in my 30 years as a Santa Cruz real estate agent and broker.
3. De-clutter. We forget that we've accumulated a lot of stuff over a number of years.The move might be because you need a bigger house? Regardless a buyer wants to know that their "stuff" will fit.They want to open cabinets and closets, and not have it overflowing so that they need to put their shoulder against the door,just to shut it. Garages are important too. Clean those out,...

If you are planning to buy a home in Carmel, CA, you will want to make sure that any property you wish to invest in is thoroughly inspected. A home inspection can be conducted to check for structural damage and other factors that might influence your decision to purchase. Whether you choose to perform the inspection yourself or hire a professional home inspector, here are a few of the main things that should be inspected when checking out a property.

Roof Quality

The roof should be carefully inspected to look for things like missing tiles or cracks that might allow water to leak into the home. If the roof is severely damaged or outdated, you may need to invest a considerable amount of money in repairs if you wish to purchase that particular property.

Pest Damage

Pests can cause extensive damage to homes, and sometimes this damage is not easily seen right away unless the property is thoroughly inspected. Rats, mice, squirrels and other rodents can chew through wires and cause major damage to the electrical system. Termites can eat away at the wood and cause significant structural damage. A home inspection will also help to identify the presence of bed bugs, wasps and other potentially hazardous creatures.

Plumbing

The state of the pipes, fixtures and other plumbing system components can greatly affect the overall quality of the home. You will want to make sure that every part of the plumbing system is up to standard and that there are no cracks or other signs of damage that could lead to major problems. You may even...