Santa Cruz County Home & Community Information

SEABRIGHT HOME VALUES - MARKET REPORT 2011

 Seabright is a great neighborhood in Santa Cruz, CA filled with charming craftsman, victorian, and beach bungalow homes.  People love to live in Seabright and be able to walk to Seabright Beach, Betty's burgers, the Seabright Brewery, Java Junction, La Posta . . .  Seabright is a classic California beach neighborhood. Home values in Seabright have remained fairly strong compared to many other areas over the past few years.

Let's take a look at Seabright, CA home values in 2011:

 There were about 38 homes sold in Seabright in 2011 with an average sale price of $753,000.  The highest priced home home sold in Seabright in 2011 was a 4500 SF oceanview, craftsman style home that sold for $2,660,000, all cash.

The lowest priced home sale in Seabright in 2011 was small, 2 bedroom foreclosure that sold for $360,000 on Frederick St.

Last year about 45% of all home sales in Santa Cruz county were short sales or foreclosures.  In Seabright this rate is much lower.  There were 3 Seabright foreclosure sales and 2 short sales in Seabright in 2011, which means that the percent of distressed home sales in Seabright is only 10%.  That is pretty great compared to the rest of the county and the state. 

Seabright is a highly desireable area.  There are full-time residents, commuters, and vacation home owners.  It is a great place to live and vacation and there is a large buyer pool for this area.

Contact me for more information about home values in Seabright, market trends, homes for sale in Seabright and community information.

WESTSIDE SANTA CRUZ CONDOS – Market Report 2011

The Westside of Santa Cruz is a great place to live, you are close to beaches, walks on Westcliff Dr, Santa Cruz Downtown, the Boardwalk, shopping and entertainment.  Westside Santa Cruz condos are great for first time home buyers and families of UCSC students.

Here is the Sales Activity Report for Westside Santa Cruz Condos 2011:

Westside Santa Cruz condo sale prices are down slightly in 2011 to an average of $312,000.  In 2010, the average price of a Westside Santa Cruz condo was $360,000.

The number of Westside Santa Cruz condo sales is up just a bit, there were 44 closed escrows in 2011, compared to 42 Westside condo sales in 2010.

The highest priced Westside Santa Cruz condo sale in 2011 was a 3 bedroom, ocean view condo on Beach Hill that sold for $690,000.

The lowest priced Westside Santa Cruz condo sale in 2011 was a small 435 SF, bank owned condo that sold for $170,000.

In 2011, 9 Westside Santa Cruz condo sales were short sales and 11 were REO or foreclosure condo sales.  This means that almost half of all Westside Santa Cruz condo sales were distressed sales.  This has attributed to lower sale prices for Westside Santa Cruz condos.

Buying a condo on the Westside of Santa Cruz can be a great option for first time home buyers, UCSC students and families.  Contact me for more information about condos and homes for sale in Santa Cruz.

WHALE WATCHING IN SANTA CRUZ, CA

We took a little zodiak out in the Monterey Bay today to enjoy our 80 degree October Weather in Santa Cruz and were lucky enough to come across Humpback Whales.  I have been whale watching in Santa Cruz years ago but on a gorgeous day with glassy water is a special treat.

We were able to get close to the pair of humpback whales and saw them come up many times over about 1 hour.

Set against the back drop of the Santa Cruz mountains and coast, whale watching in Santa Cruz can provide some excellent photo opportunities.

There were a few whale watching boats out today as well as kayakers, stand up paddlers, and fishermen watching the whales in Santa Cruz.

If you are looking to buy a home or second home in Santa Cruz read my article Santa Cruz Beach Homes for Sale.

WESTSIDE SANTA CRUZ SUMMERTIME HOME SALES REPORT 2011

Summer is winding down now in Santa Cruz and we are hoping for a sunnier Fall with less fog!  Fall can be one of the best times of year in Santa Cruz.  The Westside of Santa Cruz has some of our best weather in the County in my opinion and is also one of the stronger real estate markets in Santa Cruz.

So how did the Westside of Santa Cruz homes sales fare this summer?  Let's take a look:

In June we had 20 closed Westside Santa Cruz home sales with an median home sale price of $676,700

In July, Westside Santa Cruz saw 17 homes close escrow, with an median home sale price of $675,821

In August there were 18 Westside Santa Cruz home sales with an average price of $672,006

You can see the average Westside Santa Cruz home sale price was consistently around $675,000 throughout the summer of 2011.  This is much higher than Santa Cruz County as a whole where the median home sale price in August 2011 was $490,000.

You can tell the Westside of Santa Cruz has a stronger real estate market than other parts of the County by looking at the average days on market as well.  During the summer of 2011 the average days on market on the Westide of Santa Cruz was 65 whereas in Santa Cruz County the average days on market was 90, so homes are selling more quickly on the Westside.

The Westside of Santa Cruz offers great weather for walks on West Cliff Dr, surfing, events and dining Downtown Santa Cruz, proximity to UCSC, great commute location and more making it a popular choice for home buyers.

Go here to Search Santa Cruz homes for sale!

Contact me anytime for more information about living in Santa Cruz, schools, financing, buying a foreclosure or short sale, community events  . . . I am happy to help!

*All statistics from MLS listings . com

THE CORE's SANTA CRUZ RUN SWIM RUN

Have you always wanted to do a run swim run from Santa Cruz to Capitola?  Here is your chance!

The Core's 8th Santa Cruz Annual Run Swim Run  takes place August 2nd at 6am sharp, meet at the Santa Cruz wharf.

The Run Swim Run is a fantastic event that takes you on a jog and swim along the beautiful beaches and waves of Santa Cruz, CA.

The Santa Cruz Run Swim Run is scheduled to take place during extremely low tide so it is possible to do this event.  It is a unique and fun way to experience the Santa Cruz coastline.

Proceeds from the run swim run will benefit the Core which is non profit youth organization that helps mentor and provide positive experiences for the youth of Santa Cruz.

For more information and to register for the run swim run visit:  The Core Run Swim Run to Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ FIXER HOME FOR SALE ON HUGE LOT!

606 Rodriguez St, Santa Cruz

 Santa Cruz fixer home for sale on huge lot (almost 17,000 SF) is located on Rodriguez St, just off 7th Avenue.  You are minutes to Highway 1, Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor and beaches. 

The older farmhouse is a fixer home and has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.  It is livable now but needs work - this property is a contractor's special!  There are also 2 detached out buildings with water, electricity and sewer.  They can be used for a workshop, gym, office, bonus room . . .

Detached outbuilding:

Another great potential for this Santa Cruz fixer home for sale on a huge lot is to do a lot split.  The seller had plans and permits to do a lot split so you can build a whole other home here = Developer opportunity!

This fixer home is a Gardner's Dream.  The 17,000 huge lot will afford tons of space for gardening and you are right in town!  This is an ideal property for those who want space to roam but don't want to drive to the mountains to get it.

Imagine the possibilities: 17,000 huge lot, fixer home, 2 detached out buildings, plans for a lot split . . . 

Priced to sell at $569,000

Listed by Jessica Wallace & Dan Maloney, Century 21 Lad - Call (831) 419-9345 for more info

Go here to see all Fixer Upper homes for sale in Santa Cruz

FREE MOVIES ON THE BEACH AT THE SANTA CRUZ BOARDWALK

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk offers FREE movies on the Beach in the Summertime on Wednesday nights.

Come down to Santa Cruz main beach in front of the Boardwalk with a blanket and a picnic dinner and enjoy these free movies on Wednesday nights.

Here is the lineup for the Santa Cruz Boardwalk's Free Movies on the Beach (most are 1980's classic movies!)

July 6th - The Lost Boys (as this movie was filmed in Santa Cruz this is a great movie to go to)

July 13th - Ghostbusters

July 20th - Top Gun

July 27th - ET

August 3rd - Raiders of the Lost Ark

August 10th - Back to the Future

For those of you looking to make Santa Cruz home or a second home read my article: Santa Cruz Beach Homes for sale

SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN BREWERY WING DING COOKOFF

The 4th annual Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery Wing Ding Cookoff is taking place this weekend, June 18th, 2011.

I have attended the past 2 years and the Wing Ding Cookoff is not to be missed by chicken wing connoisseurs or excellent organic beer lovers!

The entrance fee for the Wing Ding cookoff is $20 for all you can eat chicken wings, a souvenir Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery pint glass and 2 beers.  There will be live music this year The Down Beats and Western Skylarks.

The Wing Ding Cookoff will take place from 4 to 8 pm at the Westside Santa Cruz Farmer's market at the end of Western and Mission St.

CROW'S NEST THURSDAY NIGHT BEACH BBQ

It's that time of year again - The Crow's Nest Thursday Night Beach BBQ is back starting June 16th with local favorite band Sambada.

The Crow's Nest Thurday Night Beach BBQ starts at 5:30 and goes until sunset.  A BBQ dinner is served on the beach accompanied by live music.  The setting is beautiful, right on Twin Lakes Beach by the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor.  Admission is FREE and there is a bar and food available.

Here is the June 2011 Schedule for the Crow's Nest Thursday Night Beach BBQ:

June 16th - Sambada

June 23rd - Extra Large

June 30th - Ribsy's Nickel

July 7th - Harry and the Hit Men

July 14th - Extra Large

July 21st- Serendipity Project

July 28th - Ribsys Nickel

August 4th - Wooster!!

The Crow's Nest Thursday Night Beach BBQ runs through end of August, I will add the bands as they are scheduled.

For those of you looking to make Santa Cruz home or a second home read my article:  Santa Cruz Beach Homes for sale

CITY OF SANTA CRUZ RESIDENTIAL RENTAL INSPECTION PROGRAM

The City of Santa Cruz passed a Residential Rental Inspection Program Ordinance that officially started this year, January 2011.  Like it or not, it has begun.  So what is the City of Santa Cruz Rental Inspection Program and how will it affect property owners and landlords in Santa Cruz?

The Residential Rental Inspection Program applies to all owners of one or more residential dwelling units located in the City of Santa Cruz.  The program does not apply to:  Legal Additional Dwelling Units, rooms rented out in an owner-occupied single family residence, motel or hotel units, units already inspected by another government entity for housing and safety standards.

The City of Santa Cruz will begin sending out letters to properties they believe are rentals to notify owners starting in phases this summer 2011.  For the first 3 years of the program the rental inspections will only take place on rentals which are already known to be in violation of any codes.  Landlords will still be required to register and pay program fees ($45 annual registration fee & $20 per unit for inspection or self certification)

What is the purpose of the City of Santa Cruz Residential Rental Inspection Program and what will inspectors be looking for?

The primary purpose of the rental inspection program is to find any unpermitted dwelling units, renting of spaces not intended to be habitable, and unsanitary, substandard, overcrowded housing conditions.  If you have a converted garage or illegal unit this program is intended to find it and either have the structure removed or you could try to get it permitted.

Per the City of Santa Cruz the inspectors will be looking for unpermitted units and substandard living conditions but are NOT going to focus on unpermitted construction and construction which is not code compliant unless is is a neighborhood nuisance.

This City of Santa Cruz rental inspection program will affect landlords and tenants alike.  There will be additional cost for a rental property owner as well as the hassle for landlord and tenant of these inspections.  There is no doubt that there are many unpermitted units in the City of Santa Cruz and with the inevitable elimination of these extra rental units I would expect that rents in the City of Santa Cruz will increase and housing for UCSC students and other renters on the Westside of Santa Cruz will be much harder to find.