Santa Cruz County Home & Community Information

LIVING IN HISTORY - VICTORIAN HOMES IN SANTA CRUZ, CA

In the City of Santa Cruz and throughout Santa Cruz County you will find many lovely Victorian Homes.  In Santa Cruz City many Victorian Homes are located close to Santa Cruz's Downtown area on the tree lined Walnut St, Lincoln St, Chestnut, Church, Union and Locust Ave.  Santa Cruz was first incorporated as a town in 1886 and many of these Victorian Homes date to the 1880's and before.  For a current list of Santa Cruz Victorians for sale go here:  Victorian & Craftsman homes for sale in Santa Cruz

'Victorian Home' is actually a misnomer because 'Victorian' refers to a period not a style.  The Victorian period was from about 1840-1900.   There were many architectural styles during the Victorian period like Queen Anne, Gothic, Romanesque, Italianate, Second Empire.  What we now refer to as 'Victorian Homes' are mostly a mix of some of these architectural styles of the Victorian Period.  In Santa Cruz you will find Victorian Homes that are a blend of these styles.

This Santa Cruz Victorian Home off West Cliff Dr has a classic wrap around porch and beautiful ornate trim details.

     You can find this Santa Cruz Victorian Home on Walnut St near Downtown.  The elaborate trim and decorative work shows the influence of the EastLake style with the jigsaw brackets and lathe shaped porch columns.

Located off Mission St in Santa Cruz in this Victorian Home one can see elements of the Second Empire Style with the high, boxy Mansard Roof, bay windows and small entry porch.

  Santa Cruz Victorian Home features elements of the Queen Anne style of architecture with the turret over the entryway, elaborate trim, steep roof and bay windows.  Many Victorian Homes are painted in bright, flashy colors earning them the nickname "Painted Ladies"

For those that love older homes and Victorian Homes, Santa Cruz offers many options and there are Victorian Homes for sale in Santa Cruz.  Owning and caring for a Victorian Home will take extra time and money compared to owning a newer home.  Living in a Victorian Home connects you to a time past and you will usually have to live without some amenities that new homes have like walk in closets, kitchen/living room combos, spacious garages.  Many times newer homes try to replicate the look and feel of 'Old World'  & Victorian homes but they can never have the same feel as a true Antique Home no matter how much money you spend to build it.

I live in a 1920's Craftsman home in Santa Cruz myself and I love all the charming details and comfortable, classic feel of the home.  I have had many clients prefer to buy older homes and Victorian Homes even though they will be more work; most feel that it is worth it to live in a piece of history.  Go here to see Victorian  & Craftsman Homes for sale in Santa Cruz and feel free to contact me at (831) 419-9345 for more info. 

Read my related article:  Santa Cruz Craftsman homes for sale