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...
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...
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...
Santa Cruz homeowners in the golden years of their life may be wondering how they can gift their home to their adult children. Doing so is not as cut and dry as just letting them move in as you are aging or after passing on like it was way way back when. No matter the way that you gift a home to an adult heir of your estate, the tax collector will be waiting to collect on their new "fortune."
The most common way of gifting a child a home is to have children inherit the home after the owner passes on. In some cases, parents are turning their homes into actual gifts before they pass on as they make plans to move to a home more suited home to this stage of their life. In some areas, this is a good plan, but in some locations around the country the gift is considered a type of sale and the property taxes then increase to current levels.
There are two little-known ways that may be a smarter way of dealing with tax payments when gifting a home. These methods include a parent financing their child purchasing the home from them and/or selling the home at a significant discount. Before jumping in and choosing these methods it is always wise to look at all of the details and how they would pertain to your specific home gifting. In some cases they may be more helpful in others they may cause more headaches.
"Gifting" a Home to a Child Through Parent Financing
This method can help children to get financing for the purchase of a home when it may be difficult for them to qualify for a mortgage right now. They can also take advantage of purchasing a home through a lower interest rate and helps a parent to benefit from...
Purchasing a home in Santa Cruz and the surrounding Santa Cruz County is no budget purchase. Purchasing a home is one of the largest expenses many people will pay for in their lifetime. So it is very easy to see why people want to make sure they are purchasing a home that is the way they want it and expect it. When inventory is low finding that home you have pictured in your dreams may be difficult. In some cases, it might mean that the home is just outside of your budget. So what is a Santa Cruz buyer to do if they can't find a home that they love?
Ask yourself if it is possible to wait a bit
The real estate market is an ever-changing beast all across the world. There is no market that stays in the same conditions continuously. They are always changing whether it is home prices, the amount of available inventory for sale, or what location is most desirable. There is a whole slew of factors that can change how the real estate market conditions are at any given time. If you are unable to find a home that you truly love and want to invest a large amount of money, it may be best to sit down and write out what you will not settle for or let go of when purchasing a new home. It may mean that you might be better off waiting until the number of homes for sale has increased. If you are not in a rush or need to purchase a home in the next few months waiting may be the best option for you.
The good thing is you don't have to wait it out all alone...
