Santa Cruz County Home & Community Information: February 2010

SANTA CRUZ CONSTRUCTION - HOME REMODELS IN SANTA CRUZ, CA

Improve Your Home Construction - Located in Santa Cruz, CA

- General Contractor Jeff Peters - (831) 588-7467

Our Mission is to provide Quality Work On Time & On Budget

Offering Santa Cruz Construction services that include:

Kitchen & Bathroom Remodels - Decks, Fences, Custom Wood Trim

Interior/Exterior Paint - Room Additions - Full Home Construction

Home Entertainment/Movie Rooms - Tile Work

Any Home Alteration, Just Ask!

Call Jeff at (831) 588-7467 for a Free Estimate!

Please view our video slide show of photos of our work:

                Kitchen Remodel                                                                    Bathroom Remodel

Improve Your Home Construction - Santa Cruz Construction Services

Improve your home without the headaches!  Contractor Jeff Peters has 20 years of experience in construction.  He has made is a quest to learn all aspects of home building so that he can competently perform them at his jobs to save his customers time & money!

Call Jeff today at (831) 588-7467 or surfp@spcglobal.net for a Free Estimate

SANTA CRUZ SPANISH SPEAKING REALTOR

-Looking for a Spanish Speaking Realtor in the Santa Cruz County area?  I am Jessica Wallace, Realtor y Hablo Español! 

Most wouldn't guess that I do speak Spanish.  I  took high school and college Spanish courses but that doesn't really teach you the language.  The only way to really learn to speak a language (in my opinion) is trial by fire = total immersion.

I spent 1 year living in Granada, Spain as part of my University courses and I attended the University of Granada there.  Spanish dialects are different in all parts of the world and I definitely had to adjust to the type of Spanish spoken in Southern Spain.  Living in Spain was my first experience being outside of the United States and it taught me so much more about the world than I could ever read about in 100 years.  Seeing how other people and cultures live life is so interesting and really makes you think and understand in new ways.

My next Spanish immersion experience was in Argentina, I spent about a year in Buenos Aires learning a whole different type of Spanish.  I love the way Argentinians speak Spanish - it has so much style and grace.  Argentinian Spanish is influenced by Italian - there were many Italian immigrants to Argentina in addition to all the ones from Spain so you can really hear the Italian influence on the language in Argentina.  Did I mention I also speak a bit of Italian?    I spent 2 years living in Rome, Italy but that is another story . . .

I love to speak Spanish and help Spanish Speakers buy and sell homes in Santa Cruz County.  Siempre me pueden llamar a (831) 419-9345. ¡Hasta pronto!  Jessica - Santa Cruz Spanish Speaking Realtor

VILLAS OF CAPITOLA - CAPITOLA BEACH CONDOS

The Villas of Capitola is a condo complex located in Capitola off Clares St between Wharf Rd and 41st Avenue.  The Villas of Capitola are some the least expensive condos in Capitola.  Last year (2009) I helped a first time buyer purchase a condo there for less than $300,000 and we negotiated a credit from the seller for closing costs. 

The Villas of Capitola are simple condos in a nicely maintained complex with a pool and spa.  Most units are 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom condos of about 900 square feet with either a balcony or patio.  There are a few 3 bedroom condos as well.  

 A great thing about the Villas of Capitola is that they are an FHA approved condo in Santa Cruz County.  There are not many FHA approved condos in Santa Cruz County.  An FHA loan currently allows you have  downpayment of as little as 3.5%.   With the lower condo prices of the Villas of Capitola combined with being FHA approved this complex is perfect for First Time Home Buyers.  You really can live by the beach for less!

The Villas of Capitola is located walking distance to 41st Avenue which is the main commercial hub in Santa Cruz with the Capitola Mall and many shops and restaurants.  You can also easily walk to Capitola Village and Capitola Beach.

Contact me at (831)419-9345 for a list of available condos in the Villas of Capitola or other condo complexes in Capitola.

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 Dr.  When the waves get really big in Santa Cruz they cause a mist to form in the air, giving the day a slightly surreal feeling.

For photographers and scenery lovers, walking along the West Cliff Dr in Santa Cruz on a big wave day provides some great shots and scenes.

Santa Cruz is a surf town and weather you surf or not you cannot help but to be drawn to the ocean on a big wave day.  There are so many ways to enjoy the water like sailing, paddle boarding, kite surfing, kayaking, swimming or just walking along the beach it is just great to just get out there!

BOULDER CREEK HOMES - HOME PRICES IN BOULDER CREEK, CA

Boulder Creek, Ca is a small town in North Santa Cruz County located in the San Lorenzo Valley area off Highway 9.  Boulder Creek has a quaint downtown with a few fun places to eat like Scopazzi's and a great local market, New Leaf. Boulder Creek is situated in a beautiful area in the Santa Cruz Mountains with State Parks nearby like Big Basin where you can see old growth redwoods. 

Prices of Boulder Creek homes are lower on average that home prices in Santa Cruz making it a great place for people to buy that want to be near the beach and beautiful mountains for less.  In 2009 the median price of a Boulder Creek home was about $320,000.  That is down from 2008 when the median home price in Boulder Creek was $428,000.

Graph of Median Prices of Boulder Creek Homes

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The number of Boulder Creek Homes sold has increased a lot over the past year of 2009 due to the decrease in home prices.  There have been many low priced foreclosures and short sales for sale in the Boulder Creek area attracting first time buyers and investors.  In 2008, 76 Boulder Creek Homes were sold and in 2009 the number of Boulder Creek homes sold increased to 104!

Boulder Creek offers some great opportunities for buyers and investors.  For those that like small town living but want to be close to beaches and metropolitan areas like San Jose, Silicon Valley and San Francisco, Boulder Creek is an area worth exploring.  For more information about buying a home or selling your Boulder Creek home please contact me at (831) 419-9345 or cjess4homes@yahoo.com

IS SANTA CRUZ ONE OF THE HAPPIEST PLACES IN THE USA?

I read an article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel today about a new Gallup poll that was just released.  This poll gauged people's happiness and well-being in different parts of the County.  As a Santa Cruz native I was not surprised to see that Santa Cruz County ranked high in the 'Happiness Poll'.  

What makes Santa Cruz County a great place to live?  Well let me count the ways. 

This time of year the weather in many parts of the Country is horrendous.  40 inches of snow, blizzard conditions, rain, hail . . .  Today is February 16th and it is 70 degrees in Santa Cruz!  Anyone jealous? :) 

This past President's Day weekend the warm, sunny weather had many out and about running, dog walking, surfing, relaxing at the beach.

Santa Cruz offers so many activities that we can enjoy year round like surfing, mountain biking, hiking, kite boarding, kayaking, sailing and the new favorite - stand up paddling.

Of course Santa Cruz has it's problems like anywhere but overall I feel very blessed to call Santa Cruz home.  Santa Cruz is a geographically stunning place with world class surfing and beautiful State Parks, lots of entertainment and is located close to cultural centers like San Francisco.  For more information about the Santa Cruz area please feel free to contact me anytime.

GOING SOLAR MAY BE EASIER THAN EVER IN SANTA CRUZ AND CALIFORNIA

If you thought going solar would be out of your reach, California and Santa Cruz are working to implement programs that can help homeowners Go Solar.  A recent article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel stated that a grant has just been finalized from the Federal Government to help make solar energy available to cash strapped homeowners.  This grant will pay for the administration costs for a new program that would allow a homeowner to finance the cost of going solar by adding it to the individual homeowners property tax bill. 

This program is slated to start by Summer 2010 in Santa Cruz County and would allow a homeowner to finance up to $35,000 to put solar in their home and allows businesses up to $75,000 to put in solar.  You would pay back this loan through your property taxes on a 20 year term with interest rates between 7-8%.  Considering the high cost of energy bills this financing for solar would most likely more than pay for itself for most homeowners.  In Santa Cruz County contact Allterra about going solar and what rebates and financing are available to you.

I think this is a great program, not only will more homeowners be able to go solar and help the environment, jobs will be created on a local level in Santa Cruz County.  In addition to solar installation,  financing may also be available for energy saving home alterations like new heating systems, windows and doors.  Now more than ever it pays to be green!  To see what the cost may be to install new window & doors and make your home more energy efficient contact Santa Cruz Construction.

WATSONVILLE CONDOS - CONDO VALUES IN WATSONVILLE, CA

Watsonville, CA is located in the southern part of Santa Cruz County between Aptos and Moss Landing.  There are many different condo and townhome complexes in the Watsonville area.  For first time buyers or investors looking to get into the Real Esatate market at a low price, a Watsonville Condo many be a good option for you.  In this post we will take a look at the prices of Watsonville Condos over the past year of 2009.

The median price of a Watsonville Condo is 2009 was just under $200,000.  This is way down from 2 years ago when the median price of a Watsonville Condo was $438,000! 

To the right you can see a graph of median prices of Watsonville Condos over the year of 2009.  Watsonville Condo prices are down about 15% over the year.

The number of sales of Watsonville Condos have really increased over the year of 2009.  In 2008, 84 Watsonville Condos were sold compared to 2009 when 114 Watsonville Condos sold.  The drop in condo prices in Watsonville has enticed investors and homebuyers back into the market so we are seeing more sales now. 

In Watsonville there are some very nice affordable condos for sale now.  Please feel free to contact me for a list of Watsonville Condos for sale.

* All Stats and Graphs from Clarus Market Metrics and MLSListings.com

10 EASY WAYS TO GREEN YOUR HOME

For many in Santa Cruz living in an environmentally conscious way is a priority.  Our homes and the way we use them have a huge impact on the environment.  Green homes and green building has become very popular in California and Santa Cruz.  For those looking for ways to make their home more Green here are a few simple ways to do so:

1.  Replace your old appliances with new Energy Efficient appliances.  Make sure to look for the Energy Star sticker.  Consider replacing your hot water heater with a tankless hot water heater - big energy saver!

2.  When repainting your home use low VOC (Volitale Organic Compound) paint.  Most commonly sold paints have toxins and solvents in them that are harmful to your home's air quality.

3.  Conserve Water - replace your old toilets with low-flow toilets and use low-flow shower heads.  There are new dual flush toilets out now that save even more water.  Consider putting in a rainwater catchment system. In Santa Cruz County, Allterra is a great local company that can help a homeowner do this.

4.  Replace your old single pane windows with double pane windows.  Replacing windows can be a big cost but well worth it in the long run.  These new double paned windows will insulate your home cutting down on heating and air conditioning costs.  Weatherstrip and caulk to plug up air leaks in your doors and windows.  Call your local Santa Cruz General Contractor to find out the cost of replacing your old windows.

5.  When putting in hardwood floors use bamboo instead of wood.  Bamboo floors look great and are made from a renewable resource.

6.  The old standby 'Put on a Sweater' when the temperature drops instead of cranking up the heater to 75 degrees.  If you have an older furnace consider replacing it - the newer ones are up to 25% more efficient!  Seal up those heating ducts.

7.  Replace all your light bulbs with Energy Efficient bulbs.  They use much less energy and last up to 10 times longer!  Remember to turn off lights in rooms you are not using. 

8.  Garden Green - use compost instead of fertilizer.  Don't overwater and water before 8am and after 6pm.  Reconsider putting in that new lawn - use drought resistant native landscaping instead.

9.  Recycle - Recycle - Recycle  In Santa Cruz County you can recycle almost everything now in your home refuse so take advantage and cut down on the landfill.

10.  If you can - go solar.  Installing solar hot water panels is a start and if you have enough $ you can install enough solar panels to power your whole home. 

In Santa Cruz County there are Green Homes for sale and properties that have some features of Green Homes.  Contact me for a list of these properties or more ways to Green your home.

CORRALITOS HOMES - HOME PRICES IN CORRALITOS, CA

Corralitos is a small area in Santa Cruz County of about 9 square miles between Aptos & Watsonville.  Much of Corralitos lies in the Santa Cruz Mountains and land nearby.  There are several great wineries in Corralitos including Alfaro Vineyards and Windy Oaks Winery.  Also there are the world famous Corralitos sausages found at the Corraltios market - make sure to try these!  Agricultural crops are grown in Corralitos as well including many types of berries and apples.

Corralitos is a beautiful, tranquil part of Santa Cruz County.  Corralitos homes can range from Mountain estates with vineyards to old farmhouses and everything in between.  Most Corralitos homes do come with a bit of land so for those looking for more peace and quiet this is a good part of Santa Cruz County for you.

Prices of Corralitos Homes have dropped in the past few years.  In 2007 the median price of a Corralitos Home was $830,000, in 2008 the median home price was $596,500 and in 2009 the median price of Corralitos Homes dropped to $475,000.  The drop in home prices has a lot to do with the amount of low priced foreclosures selling and less of the large estate homes with acerage selling that go for over 1 million.

GRAPH OF MEDIAN PRICE OF CORRALITOS HOMES 2008-2009

Because Corralitos has a pretty small population the # of Corralitos Homes sold annually is not a lot.  In 2009, 21 Corralitos homes were sold and in 2008, 26 homes in Corralitos were sold.

Recently the # of Corralitos homes for sale on the market has dropped slightly so there is less inventory.  If this lack of good inventory persists perhaps we will start to see the median price of Corralitos homes start to stabilize.  Also the average # of days on market has dropped from 204 DOM in 2008 to 135 days on market in 2009.

Graph of # of Corralitos Homes for Sale by month 2008 -2009

For advice about selling your Corralitos Home please feel free to contact me directly at (831) 419-9345.

For those interested in Buying a Corraltios Home there are many types of beautiful properties in the Corralitos area in various price ranges.  Contact me for more information and start here to Search for your Corraltios Home !