Santa Cruz County Home & Community Information

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 is a 55+ mobile home park that is owned as a cooperative park with low monthly dues.  The park has a nice clubhouse and is well maintained and clean.

There are a mix of styles of homes in Sorrento Oaks 55+ senior mobile home park.  There are some older double wide homes, some have been very nicely remodeled.  There are also newer manufactured homes that feel like a real home.

For seniors and people over 55+ thinking of downsizing to a smaller home or mobile home Sorrento Oaks can be a great option.  It is a nice community and clean park with low dues located right by the Yacht Harbor.  Go here to read about other 55+ Adult Communities in Santa Cruz. 

Contact me for a list of senior 55+ homes for sale or to see what your home is worth.

Santa Cruz Wharf to Wharf Race - A Beautiful Run through Our Coastal Town

One of my favorite events in Santa Cruz will be taking place on Sunday July 25th - the 38th Annual Wharf to Wharf.  Is is a 6 mile race that starts at the Santa Cruz Wharf and ends at the Capitola Wharf.  Race starts at 8:30 am. 

The Wharf to Wharf is a festive Santa Cruz event that features many bands along the run and some fun costumes and outfits. 

The Santa Cruz Wharf to Wharf Run is a scenic 6 mile jaunt through our California coastal town.  You start by the Boardwalk and pass through the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor on your way to Pleasure Point.  The last part of the run takes you through the Opal Cliffs neighborhood where you will see some lovely Capitola beach homes.

The Wharf to Wharf Race ends at the Wharf in Capitola and Capitola Village.  There are some great places to have breakfast after the race like Gayles Bakery.  It is always fun to spend the day in Capitola Village afterward relaxing on the beach or surfing, maybe having an after run drink on the patio at Zelda's. 

Search for Santa Cruz Homes

4TH OF JULY EVENTS IN SANTA CRUZ

The 4th of July is one of my very favorite holidays and I love to spend it in my hometown of Santa Cruz, CA.  You can't beat being at the beach on the 4th of July and having a BBQ with friends and family.

Santa Cruz is a destination location for the 4th of July.  Locals and tourists alike flock to the beaches and parks to enjoy the sun and the many events that Santa Cruz offers for the 4th.

Here are some of the highlights for the 4th of July in Santa Cruz:

The Worlds Shortest Parade in Aptos!  This is such a fun time for kids and adults.  The parade starts at 10 am at Soquel & State Park Drive.  After there is festival at the Aptos Village Park with activities for all.

Another Family Friendly 4th of July Event is held a Roaring Camp RailRoad.  Starts at 11 am and features BBQ and games.

For the athletes out there you can participate in the Santa Cruz FireCracker Race - You can choose to do a 10k, 5k or 1k run from Harvey West Park to the Upper WestSide Santa Cruz neighborhoods. Santa Cruz Firecracker Race

For an 'Old fashioned 4th of July' head to Wilder Ranch up Highway 1 from Santa Cruz.  Dress in a period costume and take part in a sack race or cakewalk!  Wilder Ranch 4th of July Celebration

Scotts Valley hosts it's own 4th of July Celebration and the city puts on a great Fireworks Show - starting at 9:15.  Afternoon activities at the Skypark include music, food, bounce houses, carnival games.

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

Santa Cruz Home Search

SOQUEL CONDOS - THE SOQUEL KNOLLS CONDOS

The Soquel Knolls Condos are located in Soquel, CA which is located in Santa Cruz County right by Capitola.  Soquel has a quaint downtown area filled with antique shops, bakery/Bagelry, several great restaurants like Tortilla Flats and Star of Siam.  You can walk to downtown Soquel from the Soquel Knolls Condos.  These Soquel Condos are also located near Capitola Village and Capitola Beach. 

The Soquel Knolls Condos are located off Wharf Rd and perched on a hilltop with mountain views.  Up away from the road this Soquel condo complex gets good sun and ocean breezes.  It is a quiet and safe location for kids with lots of green space.

In the center of the Soquel Knolls Condos there is a lovely hot tub and pool for relaxing and gathering with friends and neighbors.

The Soquel Knolls Condo units are 2 and 3 bedroom units, usually with 1.5 bathrooms and a small patio.  Most are 2 levels but there are a few single level condo units.  These condo units are easy to maintain. 

This is a great commute location for those working in the San Jose area or Silicon Valley as the Soquel Knolls Condos is right by Highway 1.  Soquel and Capitola are great communities for kids and families; Soquel Elementary School, Soquel High School are nearby and walking distance.  These Soquel Condos are some of the lower priced Real Estate that you can buy in the Soquel & Capitola area making it a great place for Seniors, First Time Home Buyers and Investors.

For a list of of Soquel Condos for Sale or to see how much your property is worth in the current market, please contact me.

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.

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

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!