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Santa Cruz, CA Real Estate News

By Susan Bolster-Grant
(Sereno Group)
Santa Cruz Condos - Market Overview August 2010   The best that can be said about last year is its over! Condo sales were up 12.8% from 2008.The median price dropped 16% from 2008. The good news in all this is that prices bottomed out in the first quarter and started strengthening the last nine months of the year. The year ended with inventory at its lowest level since March 2005, a sign that prices should keep firming.Another positive indicator, as we start the New Year, is Days of Inventory, which is how long it would take to sell all the homes on the market at the current rate of sales, which ended the year at 97 days.  We have to go back to the boom years of 2004 and 2005 to see numbers that low.Buyers are out there, but they're looking for bargains. Which begs the question, what is...
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By Pete Cullen ~ Broker Associate, GRI,CRS, Serving The Entire Monterey Bay Area
(Bailey Properties, Inc.)
Santa Cruz golf courses provide the best setting for the game of precision and concentration, each golf course invites players the test their capabilities of club-to-ball accuracy. The world of golf is a unique balance of strength, technique and astounding patience. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or just picking a club for the first time, the smell of fresh cut grass and the thrill of a par four will keep you returning to the course again and again. Santa Cruz, California offers some of the best courses in California. One of the most popular courses is tucked away in the peaceful seclusion of the Santa Cruz Mountains, DeLavega Golf Course attracts golfers to play an 18 hole, par 72 course. DeLavega ranks as one of California’s top golf courses and once you see the amazing landscape,...
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By Jessica Wallace, Santa Cruz Realtor (831) 419-9345
(Coldwell Banker - Santa Cruz)
SANTA CRUZ 55+ SENIOR MOBILE HOME PARK - SORRENTO OAKS Santa Cruz has many lovely senior 55+ mobile home parks and Sorrento Oaks is one of the best.  This 55+ mobile home park is located near the Upper Yacht Harbor in Santa Cruz.  It is an easy walk to beaches, harbor, Crow's Nest Restaurant and more.  There are many fun activities nearby for Active Adults like kayaking in the Harbor, stand up paddle boarding, sailing, golfing, biking . . .        Sorrento Oaks Santa Cruz mobile home park 55+ that is owned as a cooperative park with low monthly dues.  The park has a nice clubhouse and is well maintained and clean.  Many of the mobile or manufactured homes have lovely gardens and plants outside.             There are a mix of styles of homes in Sorrento Oaks 55+ senior mobile home park. ...
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By Pete Cullen ~ Broker Associate, GRI,CRS, Serving The Entire Monterey Bay Area
(Bailey Properties, Inc.)
"Shakespeare Santa Cruz strives to cultivate the imagination, wit, daring, and vision that the greatest playwrights demand of artists and audiences alike." –Shakespeare Santa Cruz Acclaimed by USA Today as “one of the nation’s top ten most influential” Shakespeare companies, Shakespeare Santa Cruz has entertained audiences through a true repertory style since 1981. This professional company dazzles audiences with Shakespeare’s masterpieces that are performed on the University of California, Santa Cruz’s main stage and outdoors among the redwoods in Festival Glen. Each summer, professionals from all over the country flock to Santa Cruz to audition for roles in the four plays. This season, the wide variety of shows invites all spectators to experience the best of Shakespeare.   The four p...
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10 Questions to Ask Your Lender 1. What are the most popular mortgages you offer? Why are they so popular? 2. Which type of mortgage plan do you think would be best for me? Why? 3. Are your rates, terms, fees, and closing costs negotiable? 4. Will I have to buy private mortgage insurance? If so, how much will it cost, and how long will it be required? (NOTE: Private mortgage insurance is usually required if your down payment is less than 20 percent. However, most lenders will let you discontinue PMI when you’ve acquired a certain amount of equity by paying down the loan.) 5. Who will service the loan — your bank or another company? 6. What escrow requirements do you have? 7. How long will this loan be in a lock-in period (in other words, the time that the quoted interest rate will be h...
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By Pete Cullen ~ Broker Associate, GRI,CRS, Serving The Entire Monterey Bay Area
(Bailey Properties, Inc.)
Stretching 276 miles down the California coast, the Monterey Bay National Sanctuary exemplifies some of the best marine life the United States offers. Beginning in the north of Marin and extending South to Cambria, this federally protected coastline is considered a marine national monument and is protect for research, education and public use. In one of the most lush and rich parts of the MBNS resides the exceptional city of Santa Cruz. The city host some outstanding marine research and recreational facilities. Among the most prestige marine laboratories in California, UC Santa Cruz Long Marine Lab is home to highly advance marine biology and ecology research program. The facility attracts scientists from all over to explore within labs, which contain running seawater systems, large mar...
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By Susan Bolster-Grant
(Sereno Group)
Luxury Tour at a Great Price   Chamber Travel- Bali and Java     Second Departure - Oct 6      The intrigue and elegance of the Chamber's Bali and Java trip are now available on a second departure date, October 6. This second departure is identical to the September 2 tour. It features the same remarkable price - as low as $2,590 (plus fuel charges and taxes) per person, double occupancy for 12 days including air, lodging, transfer, guided tours, and many meals. .  Why have so many of the Chamber 900 former travelers chosen to go to Bali? Here are some very good reasons: World heritage sites like Borobudur and Prambanan, reflecting the Buddhist, Hindu, Moslem, and Christian heritage of these cultures and the remarkable history of their architectural monuments. We'll visit the largest Bu...
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By Pete Cullen ~ Broker Associate, GRI,CRS, Serving The Entire Monterey Bay Area
(Bailey Properties, Inc.)
Pleasure Point is the ultimate beach town with world class surf and funky cottage style homes. Its a very desirable place to live with the most attractive homes selling for over 5 million. Like most of Santa Cruz County there is a broad mix of styles and structure which also provides for a wide price range. Overall most properties in Pleasure Point don't stay on the market long. One of my listings on Palisades was only on the market for two weeks before getting offers over the asking price. Pleasure Point is a world famous surf spot hosting an array of contests from beginner to the professional level. Other surf spots in the Pleasure Point Community include Sewer Peak, First Peak, Second Peak, Once in a Whiles, 38th Ave, the Drain Pipe, the Hook, Santa Marias, and Wind and Sea. Pleasure...
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By Pete Cullen ~ Broker Associate, GRI,CRS, Serving The Entire Monterey Bay Area
(Bailey Properties, Inc.)
If you have ever been to Santa Cruz, California, you surely remember the uniqueness of Pacific Avenue and the downtown area. Downtown Santa Cruz has an awesome mix of shops with an abundance of locally owned businesses. Santa Cruz has always had a wealth of talent, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit and the community is welcoming, having the "keep it local" spirit. A recent addition to downtown Santa Cruz, Nextspace, is a place where this entrepreneurial spirit can thrive. Offering space to work and services, its a great situation for a small business owner trying to get their ideas off the ground and running. During the day, downtown Santa Cruz can be lined with shoppers and people grabbing a bite to eat while a wealth of lounges and great restaurants makes for great nightlife acti...
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By Pete Cullen ~ Broker Associate, GRI,CRS, Serving The Entire Monterey Bay Area
(Bailey Properties, Inc.)
With this blog I will be continuing my tour of the beach-side communities in Santa Cruz County. At the edge of town on the westside of Santa Cruz lies a hidden gem for locals and out-of-towners alike. The Swift Street Courtyard is an excellent destination for some local wine tasting, organic brew, baked goods and grabbing lunch. A full day could be spent in and around this complex due to of all its amenities. The Swift Street Courtyard is a wine connoisseur haven including Bonny Doon Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, Vino Tabi, Pelican Ranch Winery, MJA Vineyards, and Sones Cellars with Hillcrest Terrace Winery just across the street. This complex provides award winning wine tasting and the convenient layout makes it even more desirable. Whether you leisurely stroll through or hav...
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By Pete Cullen ~ Broker Associate, GRI,CRS, Serving The Entire Monterey Bay Area
(Bailey Properties, Inc.)
(May 18th) The Amgen Tour of California is coming through Santa Cruz today as stage 3 of the 8 day race. Over 120 world class cyclists left San Francisco at 11:15 this morning and the first racer is expected to finish between 3:20-4:00. This afternoon cyclists will be ripping through town coming down from Bonny Doon through the Westside before finally coming to a day's end at the Boardwalk. The event is a great excitement to residents as this is the largest cycling event in America and the style of the race is compared to the infamous Tour de France with a route of about 800 miles. The event began on May 16th in Nevada City and will come to a close on May 23rd in Agoura Hills. It was initially to be held in February but was postponed do to the rain. It was rescheduled at the same time a...
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By Jessica Wallace, Santa Cruz Realtor (831) 419-9345
(Coldwell Banker - Santa Cruz)
WESTSIDE SANTA CRUZ CONDOS - BAY TREE CONDOS BY UCSCThe upper Westside of Santa Cruz, CA is arguably one of the best places to live in Santa Cruz with the sunny climate and pleasant neighborhoods.  Westside Santa Cruz Homes and Condos tend to be higher on average than other parts of Santa Cruz County because there is a demand here; many people want to own homes or rent homes on the Westside of Santa Cruz.  Visit here to see a current list of Condos for Sale on the Westside of Santa Cruz!UCSC (University of California at Santa Cruz) is located on the upper Westside of Santa Cruz.  There almost 20,000 students at UCSC and this creates a huge demand for housing during the school year.  Rents on the Westside of Santa Cruz remain some of the highest in the nation because of the influx of stu...
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By Caroline Huising
(Huising)
Price: $529,000 FIZBER.com ID 15268907 Single Family with 2 bed, 1.0 bath, in 2158 Burr Court Santa cruz, CA, 95062 http://www.fizber.com/15268907/ 2158 Burr Court - For Sale By Owner Property Details: Type: Single Family Address: 2158 Burr Court, Santa cruz, CA, 95062 Sq footage: 963.0 Floors: n/a Bathrooms: 1.0 Bedrooms: 2 Year built: 0 View full property details and seller's contacts. View more California homes for sale. Homes for Sale by Owner. Description: Upgrades include new roof, new paint, new carpets, new linoleum & new light fixtures. Living room has a brick FP w/gas starter and wood mantle. Dining area opens to the backyard & patio. Oak cabinets, new vinyl floors & tiled counters in the sunny kitchen. Two large bedrooms with cedar floors in the closets & overlook the back y...
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By Caroline Huising
(Huising)
Price: $629,000 FIZBER.com ID 15172603 Single Family with 3 bed, 2.0 bath, in 519 Park Way Santa cruz, CA, 95062 http://www.fizber.com/15172603/ 519 Park Way - For Sale By Owner Property Details: Type: Single Family Address: 519 Park Way, Santa cruz, CA, 95062 Sq footage: 1075.0 Floors: n/a Bathrooms: 2.0 Bedrooms: 3 Year built: 1910 View full property details and seller's contacts. View more California homes for sale. Homes for Sale by Owner. Description: Vintage Cottage with white picket fence. Completely remodeled from top to bottom. New windows, new carpet, new tile, new fireplace, new kitchen cabinets, Granite counters and Stainless appliances, new bathroom, new crown moldings & new paint. 3 BR/ 1 BA 1075 SF, 7797 SF lot. Quality updates. The living room has a Slate & Glass tiled ...
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By Jessica Wallace, Santa Cruz Realtor (831) 419-9345
(Coldwell Banker - Santa Cruz)
SANTA CRUZ ON A BIG WAVE DAY When a big ocean swell hits Santa Cruz the whole aura of the town seems to change.  There is a heightened level of excitement even if you are not a surfer for some reason, it must be contagious.  Santa Cruz is a quintessential surf town.  We have so many surf spots and different types of waves for every level.  When a big ocean swell hits and the waves are breaking people flock to the beaches and bluffs to watch the surf.  Just up the coast at Mavericks a couple weeks ago a big wave surf contest was held, over 20,000 people came to watch the waves and surfers that Saturday. The photo on the right was taken at Steamer's Lane.  You can see all the people gathered at the point to watch the surfers and swell.         It's Beach near the Lighthouse on West Cliff ...
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By Caroline Huising
(Huising)
Price: $749,500 FIZBER.com ID 14469007 Single Family with 3 bed, 2.5 bath, in 201 Cardiff Place Santa cruz, CA, 95060 http://www.fizber.com/14469007/ 201 Cardiff Place - For Sale By Owner Property Details: Type: Single Family Address: 201 Cardiff Place, Santa cruz, CA, 95060 Sq footage: 1839.0 Floors: n/a Bathrooms: 2.5 Bedrooms: 3 Year built: 1980 View full property details and seller's contacts. View more California homes for sale. Homes for Sale by Owner. Description: Immaculate Contemporary home with new tile, new carpets, new paint & mostly all new dual pane windows. The tiled entry opens to the formal living room. Adjacent family room with open beam ceilings, brick fireplace with wood mantle and gas starter, and windows that overlook the backyard. The dining room has room for a l...
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By Caroline Huising
(Huising)
Price: $510,000 FIZBER.com ID 14469006 Single Family with 2 bed, 1.0 bath, in 210 May Avenue Santa cruz, CA, 95060 http://www.fizber.com/14469006/ 210 May Avenue - For Sale By Owner Property Details: Type: Single Family Address: 210 May Avenue, Santa cruz, CA, 95060 Sq footage: 672.0 Floors: n/a Bathrooms: 1.0 Bedrooms: 2 Year built: 1938 View full property details and seller's contacts. View more California homes for sale. Homes for Sale by Owner. Description: Saltillo tiled walkway leads to the front door of this Mediterranean Charmer. Oak floors throughout. Living room has new dual pane windows & gas wood stove. The country kitchen has built-in China cabinets, gas stove, custom tiled counters, backsplash & a French door to the backyard. The front bedroom has an original arched windo...
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By Jessica Wallace, Santa Cruz Realtor (831) 419-9345
(Coldwell Banker - Santa Cruz)
LIVING IN HISTORY - VICTORIAN HOMES IN SANTA CRUZ, CAIn the City of Santa Cruz and throughout Santa Cruz County you will find many lovely Victorian Homes.  In Santa Cruz City many Victorian Homes are located close to Santa Cruz's Downtown area on the tree lined Walnut St, Lincoln St, Chestnut, Church, Union and Locust Ave.  Santa Cruz was first incorporated as a town in 1886 and many of these Victorian Homes date to the 1880's and before.  For a current list of Santa Cruz Victorians for sale go here:  Victorian & Craftsman homes for sale in Santa Cruz'Victorian Home' is actually a misnomer because 'Victorian' refers to a period not a style.  The Victorian period was from about 1840-1900.   There were many architectural styles during the Victorian period like Queen Anne, Gothic, Romanesq...
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By Jessica Wallace, Santa Cruz Realtor (831) 419-9345
(Coldwell Banker - Santa Cruz)
55+ ADULT COMMUNITIES IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA For seniors and people over 55+ in Santa Cruz County there are a many adult communities 55+ for you.  In Santa Cruz City there is a lovely historic building that houses a co-op condo residence called Piedmont Court located on High St in Santa Cruz.    Built in 1912 Piedmont Court exudes period charm and is a beautiful and comfortable place to call home.  Piedmont Court is made up of 1 bedroom and studio units.  A 1 bedroom unit in this Santa Cruz 55+ adult community sold in December 2009 for $210,000.            Another Santa Cruz County adult community 55+ is located in Watsonville, the Adult Village.  This is an adult community of about 600 single family homes, mostly 2 bedrooms and single level.  This adult community 55+ is located withi...
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By Jessica Wallace, Santa Cruz Realtor (831) 419-9345
(Coldwell Banker - Santa Cruz)
WESTSIDE SANTA CRUZ 2 BEDROOM HOME FOR SALE IN FANTASTIC NEIGHBORHOOD! *This home SOLD in July 2010 *  For information about other Santa Cruz Homes for sale or to see what your home is worth call Jessica at (831) 419-9345 or email cjess4homes@yahoo.com Westside Santa Cruz 2 bedroom Home for sale is located in an excellent neighborhood on the Upper Westside of Santa Cruz close to UCSC.  Mira Vista Dr is a quiet street with lovely properties, this would be a great family home with the nice backyard and there is room to expand up or out.  Expanding up would have potential ocean views! and increase the home's value. This Westside Santa Cruz Home for sale features 2 bedrooms, 1 recently updated bathroom, 2 car garage and a great backyard with fruit trees.  This is a classic clean home built ...
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