How the Santa Cruz Affordability Guide Starts With Total CostA Santa Cruz affordability guide should look beyond the asking price of a home. Buyers also need to consider mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowners insurance, utilities, maintenance, possible association dues, and money for future repairs. Two homes with similar prices can create very different monthly expenses once these costs are included.A realistic budget should also account for inspections, closing costs, moving expenses, and improvements after purchase. Buyers who calculate these expenses early can focus on homes that fit both their housing goals and long-term finances.Start With a Comfortable Monthly Housing BudgetMortgage approval shows how much a lender may finance, but it does not automatically represent what ... 08/26/2026

Santa Cruz County Real Estate Market Trends ReportTrends at a GlanceSingle-Family Homes   Jan 25 Dec 24 Jan 24 Median Price $1,227,500 $1,250,000 $1,190,000 Average Price $1,361,710 $1,325,520 $1,267,480 Units Sold 66 83 53 Pending Sales 73 72 82 Active Listings 209 194 136 Sale/List Price Ratio 98.7% 100.1% 99.3% Days on Market 40 41 52 Days of Inventory 95 70 77 Condominiums   Jan 25 Dec 24 Jan 24 Median Price $819,000 $700,000 $729,000 Average Price $815,810 $702,847 $797,490 Units Sold 21 17 19 Pending Sales 24 19 23 Active Listings 74 62 46 Sale/List Price Ratio 99.3% 99.4% 98.2% Days on Market 41 40 39 Days of Inventory 106 109 73 Home Prices & Sales Up in JanuarySales of single-family homes in Santa Cruz County rose 24.5% compared to last January, with 66 homes sold. However, thi... 02/07/2025

October has brought a steady rhythm to Santa Cruz County’s real estate market, with stable pricing, a gradual increase in inventory, and a more balanced pace between buyers and sellers. Here’s what you need to know about the latest trends in the area.Average and Median Pricing TrendsIn terms of pricing, both single-family homes and condos/townhomes are showing consistency. Single-family homes hold a median price of around $1.4 million, reflecting minimal fluctuation month-over-month.Condos and townhomes are still ranging between $800,000 and $900,000, appealing to buyers seeking more affordable options than single-family homes.Days on Market (DOM) TrendThe median days on market (DOM) has seen a slight uptick, signaling a moderate approach from buyers. Single-family homes are averaging 1... 11/17/2024

What is Santa Cruz best known for?Santa Cruz, CA is situated on the idyllic coastline of Central California and is a perfect destination for enjoying a day off to its fullest. Best known for it's expansive beaches and high-stoke surf culture, there's plenty more to capture your attention in this beach town. Here's a tentative itinerary to enjoying your day to its fullest in Santa Cruz:Morning: Start with Scenic Views and BreakfastExplore West Cliff Drive: Start your day with a walk or bike ride along West Cliff Drive. Enjoy breathtaking ocean views while you stroll beside the Monterey Bay. Watch for epic surfers brave the waves from Lighthouse Point. The fresh sea breeze is a great way to kickstart your day and soak in the natural beauty of the area.Breakfast at a Local Café: After your... 09/30/2024

In August 2024, the Santa Cruz County real estate market continued to evolve, offering valuable insights for both buyers and sellers. Over the past month, we observed notable shifts in sale prices, listing trends, and overall market activity for both single-family homes and condos/townhomes. Here’s an in-depth look at the key highlights and trends shaping the Santa Cruz County real estate landscape:Average Price TrendThe average price trend for August shows a continuation of July’s stability. Single-family homes continue to hover around $1.5 million, following a slight correction earlier in the year. This suggests the market has found its footing after the sharp price escalations of 2022, with more measured growth now in place. Condos and townhomes, on the other hand, are showing steadi... 09/08/2024

On November 29th, 2021 - I was run over by a truck pulling a commercial trailer while riding my bike in a bike lane. It was a hit and run. I was permanently disabled that day and now live handicapped with titanium rods in the bone marrow of my left leg and hip. I'm blessed they miraculously caught the driver.I woke up in the hospital after 4 days and some surgery, and already I was seeing the world differently. With no feeling from the waist down, I feared the worst and thought I'd be paralyzed for life. Turns out it was the epidural and pain blockers.Thank God I survived that day and am able to tell the story today.  Here's why I titled this "Seeing the world differently" because it has multiple meanings and application. I saw the world so differently laying in the street in pain and h... 09/04/2024

July 2024 in Santa Cruz County shows a real estate market that's finding its balance, with steady home prices and more inventory coming into play. Whether buying or selling, it's a great moment to move into this beautiful coastal area.Pricing TrendsThe real estate market in Santa Cruz County remains competitive, with July 2024 seeing continued fluctuation in pricing. Single-family home median prices have stabilized around $1.4 million after a high in April 2024. Meanwhile, condos and townhomes are experiencing median prices of just under $900,000, reflecting consistent demand in these sectors.Market DaysHomes in Santa Cruz County are selling quicker than they did earlier in the year. The median days on the market for single-family homes have decreased, now averaging around 15 days, whil... 08/10/2024

The real estate market in Santa Cruz County showed notable trends in June 2024. Here’s a detailed look at the key metrics including inventory, prices, and sales performance for single-family homes and condos/townhomes.Inventory Trend for Santa Cruz CountyIn June 2024, the inventory for single-family homes saw a significant increase, reaching its highest level in recent years. This trend began in early 2023 and continued to rise steadily. For condos and townhomes, the inventory remained relatively stable, with a slight upward trend observed towards mid-2024.Santa Cruz County Median and Average Pricing TrendsThe median price for single-family homes in Santa Cruz County has shown a steady increase throughout 2024, peaking at around $1.4 million in June. This represents a recovery from the ... 07/13/2024

Santa Cruz County Average & Median Pricing TrendsIn May 2024, Santa Cruz County showed significant trends in housing prices. The median price for single-family homes stabilized around $1.3 million, reflecting steady demand. Condos and townhomes maintained median prices near $900,000.Jessica Wallace, a leading Santa Cruz Realtor with Coldwell Banker Santa Cruz, can guide you through these pricing trends to find your ideal home, whether you're looking for a House for Sale in Capitola, CA, or other nearby areas.Median Days on Market Trend in Santa Cruz CountyThe median days on the market for single-family homes and condos in Santa Cruz County fluctuated, peaking in early 2023. As of May 2024, homes spent about 10-15 days on the market, indicating a relatively brisk sales pace. If you're se... 06/14/2024

Overview of Santa Cruz County Real EstateApril 2024 saw vibrant activity in the Santa Cruz County real estate market. Jessica Wallace is the #1 agent at Coldwell Banker Santa Cruz. She explores the key trends and changes in the market.Pricing Dynamics: What's the Market Trend for Homes in Santa Cruz?In April, prices fluctuated. Homes in Santa Cruz peaked early in the year. Then, they stabilized. This change showcased the market's reactiveness. Meanwhile, condos and townhomes in areas like Aptos and Soquel saw minor increases. This reflects growing interest in cheaper housing options in Santa Cruz County.Market Exposure: How Long Are Homes Staying on the Market in Santa Cruz?The median days on the market for single-family homes saw big early-year changes. They were due to seasonal shifts... 05/14/2024

In March, Santa Cruz County's real estate market really picked up.  I am seeing more homes sell with multiple offers so far this year than last year.  Single-family homes reached a median sale price of $1,215,000.  Homes are selling quickly at a median of 15 days on the market.  Many homes are selling with more than one offers and for over the asking price. Key Market Indicators: Single-family homes in Santa Cruz County sold for an average of 101% of the listing price, signaling robust demand. The median sale price for single-family homes was $1,215,000. It kept rising, as seen in recent months. Properties are selling quickly. The median days on market (DOM) is 15 days. This suggests that listings are being snapped up rapidly. Inventory levels slightly increased, providing more options ... 04/10/2024

BEFORE & AFTER - HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR HOME TO SELL FOR MORE MONEYBY JESSICA WALLCE - YOUR SANTA CRUZ REALTORAs a real estate agent, my ultimate goal is to help my clients achieve the highest possible price for their homes. And I’m proud to say that I achieved just that with this special Westside Santa Cruz home.When I first saw this property, I saw its true potential. It was clear to me that with the right updates and a bit of TLC, this home could really shine. It was built in 1950 and had never been sold before. There were so many cool vintage elements that I wanted to enhance and stay true to the character of the home. BEFORE - KITCHEN AFTER KITCHEN We started with refinishing the hardwood floors that were hidden under the old carpets. This small update alone made a world of differen... 04/17/2023

 Hi everyone, my name is  Jessica Wallace, your Santa Cruz Realtor and today I’m gonna go over the top 5 mistakes that people make when selling their home in Santa Cruz County. Tip number 1 is not properly preparing and staging your home for sale. Looks aren’t everything but they count for a lot when you’re selling your home. The photograph looks so much better when  you have  a home that is staged. So any vacant home should definitely be staged.  If you are living in your home, we can still work with the items that you have and may bring in a couple of more days to accentuate all the great features of your  home and decluttering is essential and depersonalizing your home when you’re marketing it for sale. Tip number  2 is not doing inspections of your property up front before it goes o... 06/02/2021

 Hi everyone, my name is Jessica Wallace, your Santa Cruz Realtor and I am here with your latest update on the Santa Cruz housing market. It’s almost May of 2021 and I have to tell you, it’s crazy out there! Everyday I am looking at the hot sheet and I am seeing what’s selling and  honestly, it’s blowing my mind. The housing crisis in Santa Cruz County has gone up dramatically, even in the last 6 months. So what’s going on here is the classic story again of supply and demand. We do not have nearly enough homes for sale in Santa Cruz County to satisfy the demand of everybody that wants to be here. Right now, it would take only one month to sell all the homes that are on the market in Santa Cruz County. So we have a one month supply of inventory.A balanced market is a 6-month supply, we h... 05/19/2021

 Hi guys! It’s Jessica Wallace, your Santa Cruz REALTOR. I wanted to tell you briefly today about Proposition 19 in California and what it can mean for you and your family.One of the things that Proposition 19 will do is that if you are over 55 and you own a home and you sell it and you move somewhere else in California you get to keep your property tax basis with you.A lot of people that are older in California have owned their homes for decades sometimes. They have very low taxes, property taxes, and now you could take those property taxes with you to a new home.So it’s gonna allow people over 55 to move a little bit more freely throughout the state and keep their nice low property taxes.Another thing that Proposition 19 does that is totally different from the 55 and over is that the ... 04/29/2021

 Hi Guys, it’s Jessica Wallace here, Santa Cruz REALTOR. I wanna give you a brief update about where we stand in February, 2021 in the Santa Cruz housing market.This is the most extreme seller’s market I have ever seen. What’s causing that is high buyer demand and also very very low supply of homes.We are at one of the lowest I’ve ever seen, at 135 homes currently active on the market in the entire Santa Cruz County. What this is causing is home prices to rise dramatically.In January, 2021 our average home price reached $1,244,000 in Santa Cruz.A year ago, in January, 2020 our average price was 965,000. So home prices have gone up a lot. And what this extreme lack of inventory is causing is many multiple offers on any property that is well-priced.And it’s not just 3 offers or 5 offers, ... 04/28/2021

Bringing a special NonProfit a bit of Awarness.  Beach Neighbors Spotlight Beach Neighbors is featuring BirchBark Foundation (BBF) is a unique thread in the safety net of our central coast community. They are both an animal welfare and human service organization, striving to protect and honor the critical human-animal bond that brings happiness, wellness, and love to many.  Dr. Merrianne Burtch, a veterinarian practicing locally for 28 years, started the foundation in 2013 to provide three critical programs to help pets and their families: financial resources, education, and emotional support.BirchBark works with local veterinary clinics to provide financial assistance to low-income families with pets in a fixable, life-threatening, or life-compromising crisis. All of the lives they sav... 04/15/2021

Beachfront Home Buyers Guide in Santa Cruz, CAWe provide a comprehensive guide people can use to identify ways to get the best deal for beachfront homes in the city of Santa Cruz, California. Buying a home is one of the most financial investments a person will make in his or her lifetime. You'll want to get as much information as possible to ensure you get a good deal. Beach property hunting is a unique experience since the homes are in such high demand and have varying laws and regulations you'll have to consider. If you have any questions about the process of buying a home, let us know, and we'll be glad to help.Check out our original blog post at https://ambermelenudo.com/.Fees and CostsAll home buyers planning to make a purchase will want to consider other fees associated with a pro... 11/26/2019

Best Schools in Santa Cruz, CABest Elementary SchoolsHappy Valley Elementary SchoolHappy Valley Elementary School is the top-performing elementary school in the district. The school has 132 students and offers classes between the 1st and 6th grade-level. The average Mathematics test score of the school is 74% while English test score is at 84%.Brook Knoll Elementary SchoolBrook Knoll Elementary School is an awarded early learning center and one of the best performing schools in the Scotts Valley Unified School District. The school has 550 new enrollees for its classes between the 1st and 5th grade-level. The school has an average test score of 74% for Math and 73% for English.Tierra Pacifica Charter SchoolTierra Pacifica Charter is a private educational institution providing advanced ac... 09/06/2019

Beaches in Santa Cruz, CASanta Cruz, like many other cities in California, offers beautiful beaches facing the Pacific Ocean. These beaches provide ideal family-friendly outing opportunities where you can enjoy sunny days with family or friends. If you are planning to go out, our post offers a helpful guide on excellent options you can consider visiting.Check out our original blog post on https://ambermelenudo.com/. Seacliff State BeachSeacliff is the perfect getaway if you're looking for a quiet place to relax on the beach. The narrow stretch features beautiful cliffsides with fantastic ocean views and a lovely pier with various shops and restaurants. The beach is pet-friendly with areas you can have your dogs run around and have fun. Main Beach and Cowell BeachMain Beach and Cowell Be... 07/31/2019