Santa Cruz County Home & Community Information: March 2010

Green is the New Black!  Green Homes & Eco Friendly Homes in Santa Cruz, CA

What is a Green Home?  Green building and green technology has really taken off in California.  Living in a place like Santa Cruz, CA where the mindset is very environmentally conscious, green living and green homes are popular.  In Santa Cruz there is not a lot of new home construcion so many homeowners look to retrofit their homes with green materials.

There have been new green homes and eco-friendly homes built in Santa Cruz.   There is small development of  new green homes for sale on Dawn Ln in Soquel.  They are built with sustainable materials and have solar panels and energy star appliances. 

In Capitola, this eco-friendly home was built partially out of hay bales!  Hay bale construction provides great insulation and is an eco-friendly material.  The home has a passive solar design as well as solar panels to take advantage of natural resources and energy.

What are some of the features of green homes that is different from a regular home?

First of all how a green home uses and gets it's energy is a focal point.  Most green homes have solar panels and on demand hot water systems.  By using solar and tankless hot water heaters you can have an electricity bill of $10 per month! 

Green homes or Eco Friendly Homes are built with sustainable materials and recycled materials.  Sustainable or recycled materials in Green homes can be bamboo floors, carpet made from recycled plastic bottles, soy spray foam insulation, fiber-cement composite roofs (some have a 50+ year life), and much more.  There are so many great products you can use to build your eco friendly home.  I recommend speaking with a local Santa Cruz General Contractor about constructing or remodeling your green home or visit Santa Cruz Construction.

Another feature in a Green Home or Eco Friendly Home can be water conservation.  Water Conservation is a priority in California and and is a great feature to have in a Green Home or any home.  You can use a rainwater catchment system to store rainwater and there are systems that recycle your greywater for other uses.  There is a great local company in Santa Cruz, Allterra, that provides water catchment systems and grey water systems for homeowners.  Contact Alterra and they can help a homeowner green their home with water systems and solar panels.

 Finding a Green Home or Eco Friendly Home in Santa Cruz is getting to be easier.  More and more people are using environmentally friendly materials to construct or remodel their home.  Solar panels are ever more popular, especially with some of the new tax incentives and solar financing programs.

For a list of Eco-Friendly or Green Homes for Sale in Santa Cruz County, please contact me.

 GATED COMMUNITIES IN SANTA CRUZ, CA - THE UPLANDS IN SEASCAPE

Santa Cruz County has a few gated communities - The Uplands in Aptos/Seascape is one of the finest.  Homes in the Uplands are mostly under 10 years old and of a high quality.  Most homes in the Uplands have spectacular ocean view or bay views. 

Homes in the Uplands Gated Community are custom homes built in several different design styles like Mediterranean, Contemporary, Spanish, Cape Cod . . .  There is an architectural style for everyone here.

 Many Seascape Upland homes have features like: granite kitchen, hardwood floors, plaster walls, wrought iron, top of the line applainces, guest quarters, ocean view balconies . . .

The Gated Community of the Seascape Uplands is located in the Aptos area of Santa Cruz County.  This part of Santa Cruz County is a bit quieter and reminiscent of Carmel with the geography and lovely beach & ocean view homes.  One can take long walks on uncrowded beaches, go to the local Mexican favorite Palapas, golf or play tennis at the Seascape Resort and have dinner or drinks there.  The community of Seascape and Aptos is great for Families and Vacation time, there are many 2nd home owners in Aptos/Rio Del Mar/Seascape.

The median price of homes in Seacape & Rio del Mar in 2009 was $720,000.  The Uplands of Seascape tends to have a higher price point, most homes start over 1 million. 

For a list of homes for sale in the Uplands Seascape or other gated communities in Santa Cruz, please contact me.

WESTSIDE SANTA CRUZ CONDOS - BAY TREE CONDOS BY UCSC

The 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. 

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 students as well as many others that just want to live near the beach.

For some parents of UCSC students, buying a home or condo near UCSC & Santa Cruz's Westside can make sense.  Their child/student can have a secure place to live and avoid the mad housing search.  Typically Westside Santa Cruz real estate prices have remained steady or climbed over a 4-5 year period so parents will ideally sell for a profit when their student graduates.  With homes and condos in Santa Cruz at record low prices, for many families of UCSC students now many be a good time to invest locally.  

The median price in of a Westside Santa Cruz Condo in 2009 was $392,500 which is way down from 2008 when the median price was $455,000. 

One option for lower priced real estate on the Westside of Santa Cruz is a small condo or townhome.  The Bay Tree Condo Complex off Bay St in Santa Cruz has great little condos, mostly 2 bedroom units and some 3 bedroom units.

The Bay Tree condo complex includes Peach Terrace, Castillion Terrace, Torrey Pine Terrace.  The Bay Tree Santa Cruz Condos are clean, secure and easy to maintain.  From these Santa Cruz condos one can walk to UCSC, bus lines, hiking, mountain biking trails, dog park. 

Bay Tree Condos in Santa Cruz are a great option for UCSC Students & First Time Home Buyers.

For a list of Westside Santa Cruz Condos and homes currently for sale please contact me. 

La Selva Beach Homes - Living in La Selva Beach, CA

La Selva Beach is sleepy little beach community located in Santa Cruz County, just south of Aptos and Rio Del Mar.  If you seek peace & quiet and uncrowded beaches, La Selva is the place for you!  La Selva is a great place to come to in the summertime to cool off from the heat of California's Central Valley.  Temperatures stay very mild in La Selva Beach due to the coastal fog, especially in the summer months.  The scent of eucalyptus trees fill the air mingled with ocean breezes. 

 La Selva Beach Homes range from little beach cottages to multi -million dollar ocean front homes.  There are several lovely oceanview condo complexes in La Selva Beach like the Pajaro Dunes.  You can find some amazing oceanviews there at less cost than a home.  Cannon Del Sol is another La Selva Beach condo/home community featuring a common area pool and tennis courts and oceanview homes & condos.

There is also a lovely gated community in La Selva Beach - Los Barrancos.  This gated community sits on a hill above the beach giving many of the homes ocean views and there is a nice path to the beach.

In 2009 the average price of a La Selva Beach home was $782,500 and the average price of a La Selva Beach condo was $576,000.  There have been some great buys in La Selva Beach where you can find oceanviews for less.

La Selva Beach is a place to get away from it all and a great place to own a second home or vacation home.  The miles of uncrowded beaches are wonderful to walk or jog and have bonfires & picnics.   It is an invigorating and refreshing environment.  Contact me for a list of La Selva Beach homes & condos currently for sale or for more information about the area.

Capitola Shores - Capitola Condos by the Jewell Box

The Capitola Shores Condos are located in Capitola, CA between the Jewel Box and 41st Avenue.  The Capitola Shores is a group of condos set up in individual buildings with 4 units in each one.  Most buildings have a single level condo which is a downstairs unit & single level upstairs unit plus 2 upstairs/downstairs units.  Most condos are 2 bedroom, 1 bath about 900 square feet with carports.

The Capitola Shores Condos offer some of the lowest priced Real Estate in Capitola.  For those looking to live near the beach in Capitola without paying our typically higher home prices, the Capitola Shores is a good option for you.

The Capitola Shores Condos were built in the 1970's.  There are green spaces for children to play and a pool area.  The Capitola Shores condos is walking distance to 41st Avenue which has the Capitola Mall, Whole Foods, shops and restaurants.  You can also walk to Capitola Village & Beach.  This is a great complex for seniors and Capitola vacation home buyers as it is low maintance and in a very convenient location.

Life in Capitola, CA is tranquil and has a small town feel.  Capitola is a great place to raise a family or retire.  There are a myriad of activities for young people like Capitola Jr LifeGuards in the summertime, surfing of course, great mountain biking nearby, soccer camps, golfing and more!  For both kids and adults it is fun to be involved in the Capitola Community and events like the Capitola Begonia Festival and Capitola Art & Wine Festival. 

Capitola, CA has many other nice condo complexes in various prices ranges.  We even have some oceanview condos and townhomes.  Contact me for a list of available Capitola Condos for sale or start here to Search for Capitola Homes & Condos.

TRANSFER YOUR PROPERTY TAX BASE - GOOD INFORMATION FOR SENIORS DOWNSIZING IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Ahh Property taxes, twice a year all homeowners get to write a nice check to their local tax assessor's office. In California, property taxes are based on the sales price of your home and cannot go up more than 2% per year thanks to Prop 13 passed in 1978.  This means if you purchased your home in Santa Cruz in 1985 for $150,000 your property taxes are going to be Much Less than someone who purchased a similar home in 2006 for $650,000.

For seniors and people over 55 looking to downsize in Santa Cruz, transferring your original property tax base to your new home is going to save you A LOT of money.  Proposition 60 allows people over 55 to transfer the assessed value from their original home to their new home.  For example:  You bought your home in 1985 in Santa Cruz County for $150,000.  In 2010 you decide you want to downsize.  You sell your home for $650,000 and buy a small condo for $400,000 in Santa Cruz County.  Since you bought in the same County and a property of lesser value than your original home you are able to keep your assessed property value from your original home and save $$$.

Proposition 60 is great for seniors looking to downsize.  Here are a few quick guidelines to see if you can qualify to transfer your property tax base:

*You must be 55 or older

*Both properties must be Primary Residences

*You must buy and sell in the same County.  Some Counties in California allow you to transfer your tax base from another County but as of now Santa Cruz County does not.

*You must buy a home of equal or lesser value than your original home.  Let's say you sell your home for $600,000, you cannot buy a new home for $800,000 and transfer your property tax base to it.

*The replacement property must be purchased within 2 years of the sale of the original home.

For more information and to see if you qualify to transfer your property tax base contact the Santa Cruz County Assessor's office. 

If your are thinking about downsizing and would like to know the value of your home and options for buying a smaller home please contact me at (831) 419-9345

55+ Adult Communities in Santa Cruz

 CAPITOLA KNOLLS - CONDOS IN CAPITOLA

The Capitola Knolls is a condo complex located between New Brighton State Beach and Capitola Village.  This ia larger condo complex in Capitola of 164 units linked by pathways and green space.  There is a spa and pool and many nice landscaped areas for kids to play.

The Capitola Knolls offer lower priced Real Estate options for those looking to buy a home or second home in Capitola.  Most condo units have 2-3 bedrooms and 1 or 1.5 baths.  They have carports and some storage areas.  If you are looking for a low maintaince get away near Capitola Beach, the Capitola Knolls condos is a good option for you.

From the Capitola Knolls you can easily to walk to the Capitola Village, Capitola Beach and New Brighton State Beach which is a great place to jog and picnic.  Capitola is a destination location with weekly free outdoor concerts in the summer and fun events like the Capitola Art & Wine Festival and the Capitola Begonia Festival.  Life in Capitola has a small town pace.  It is a place where you can really get to know your neighbors and be involved in the community.

Capitola Knolls condos is also near New Brighton Elementary School making it a great location for those with school age children.  They will love to play at New Brighton and Capitola Beaches as well!

Contact me at (831)419-9345 for a list of available condos in the Capitola Knolls or other Captiola Condos for Sale.