Santa Cruz County Home & Community Information: April 2009

CAPITOLA, CALIFORNIA - BEACH HOMES FOR SALE IN THE BEST BEACH TOWN IN THE WEST!

Capitola, California a small beach town of about 2 square miles and permanent population of 10,500 is located in Santa Cruz County and has recently been named one of the Top 20 Small Towns in the West by Sunset Magazine.  I spent about half of my childhood on Capitola Beach and grew up in the area so I know it well.  Growing up in a place like Capitola with it's natural beauty, architecture reminiscent of a small Italian beach town,  great waves, excellent food, small town everyone knows everyone feel it is easy to not understand and appreciate what you have, you take it for granted.  After leaving at 17 for University and living other places, traveling the world I now know how lucky I am to have grown up in Capitola and Santa Cruz and to live here now.

 Capitola beach homes for sale range from small beach shacks (525 SF) built decades ago to top of the line Ocean View designer beach homes for sale, traditional suburban neighborhoods like the one surrounding New Brighton Middle School, some small newer developments, Ocean View condos  . . .  A variety of prices as well, some of the lowest being  2 bed/1 bath condos in walk to the beach locations at about $250,000 (they were selling for almost double that at the peak of the market).  Some of the highest priced Capitola Beach Homes for sale are in Depot Hill, an area perched above Capitola Village fronted by lovely Victorians and home to some of the most beautiful Ocean View beach homes for sale in Santa Cruz.  Another great neighborhood is the Jewel Box (many streets have names like Emerald, Opal, Garnet).  Home prices range from $600,000 to 3 Million Dollars in this neighborhood.

Average prices for Beach Homes for sale in Capitola are some of the highest in Santa Cruz County, making it hard for younger local people to get into the market here.  With the price drop in the past couple years more locals are able to buy in Capitola and I think that has been a great thing for our community.  With the variety of Real Estate available and activities for all ages Capitola really is one of the best places to live on the California Coast.

For more information about Capitola and Santa Cruz Real Estate call me anytime at (831) 419-9345 or click here to Contact Me.   Click here to Search for your Beach Home 

For lower priced Capitola Real Estate read my post about Capitola Condos for Sale ~ Jessica

Santa Cruz Real Estate

SANTA CRUZ RENTAL MARKET 5TH MOST EXPENSIVE RENT IN THE NATION!

This is a follow up to a previous post I wrote about the Santa Cruz rental market in January.  In a report that came out this week Santa Cruz has the 5th most expensive rents in the Nation!  I know that we have a strong rental market but I was surprised at this.  According to the study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition to afford an average rent 2 bedroom apartment a Santa Cruz worker must earn $30.58 per hour.

The most expensive metropolitan area rental market, according to the report, is Stamford, Conn. A renter must earn $32.75 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment there. The San Francisco rental market ranked second at $31.88 per hour, followed by Honolulu rental market at $31.37, Westchester County, N.Y., at $30.96,  followed by Santa Cruz in 5th place at $30.58 per hour.

With these type of rents and home ownership affordability being the best in decades it is time to take a serious look at buying a home.  Interest rates and negotiating buyer concessions are really helping people get into homes they could not have dreamed of owning 2 years ago. 

To search for your Dream Home or Investment Properties in Santa Cruz including Foreclosures click here: Search For Property in Santa Cruz

As Realtors we come across some very interesting situations, no transaction or home is ever the same, and problem solving skills and creative thinking are a requirement for this profession.  I love it because it is challenging and rewarding, never a dull moment!

I recieved this email from a Home Inspector I use often,  Glenn Stewart with Pacific Coast Inspections (866-570-1222) .  It made me smile so I thought I'd share it with you:

Mystery of the Sagging Bedroom Floor   A bedroom had been added-on to a 55 year old house. I noticed as I walked across the floor that there was a discernable slope towards the center of the room. I carry a large steel ball bearing that I placed on the floor at the wall... As I watched the ball bearing roll slowly across the floor, it began to roll in a spiral pattern at the center of the bedroom... Very odd I thought.  This bedroom had its own exterior crawlspace access. When I first enter a crawlspace, I use my spotlight to ensure that there are no shining eyes looking at me. What greeted my eyes this time was a support post, attached to a concrete pier and footing about 8 feet away... that was floating in space!   As I crawled over to the 'hole' and peered down, I took the photo below. It was an abandoned redwood septic tank where the lid had collapsed... Obviously after the bedroom had been constructed.   The floating post and pier had been placed in the center of the bedroom crawlspace... And now you know why the ball bearing spiraled in the center of the floor due to the hanging weight of the concrete.   As I drove back home after the inspection, I wondered how they would repair this situation... I had visions of a cement truck unloading its load of concrete down a chute centered over the hole.

Jessica Wallace, www.YourSantaCruzRealtor.com

(831) 419-9345