First Time Homebuyer Program in Santa Cruz This First Time Homebuyer Program offered by the City of Santa Cruz  is something I stumbled across while researching the Santa Cruz Rental Inspection Program.  When I saw the words First Time Homebuyer Program I felt I had to share.  The First Time Homebuyers in Santa Cruz have the opportunity to obtain a silent second from the City of Santa Cruz.  The loan could be used to supplement a First Time Homebuyer in Santa Cruz with additional down payment needed at closing.   First Time Home Buyers in Santa Cruz do have options and opportunities that sometimes we just stumble upon.  Mortgage rates are still at an all time low.  The inventory of homes offered for sale in Santa Cruz is healthy and there are many great deals.  Contact us if you want t... 08/21/2011

The City of Santa Cruz (not entire county) has recently approved a program where inspections will start taking place in home that have been identified as rentals.  Priority will be given to rentals with known code violations.  In coming months homeowners will be receiving a letter from the City of Santa Cruz about the program.  This link to the city of Santa Cruz answers many of the questions that homeowners have regarding theCity of Santa Cruz Rental Inspection Program. Search Santa Cruz Homes for Sale 08/17/2011

        Notice the crowded beaches here in Santa Cruz  West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz is a great place to take in the fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay.  Enjoy a bike ride or a walk on the path that runs along side the ocean then take in the wonders of Natural Bridges. There have been 271 homes/condos sold in the city of Santa Cruz YTD.  Homes/condos sold in Santa Cruz ranged in price from $169,050 to $2,900,000 with an average sales price of $623,744. Search Santa Cruz Homes for Sale  08/08/2011

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:  Th... 07/26/2011

July 11, 2011 I visited a beautiful Prospect Heights home with an English Garden peppered with hand crafted fountains. The owner has planted an orchard in the backyard with four to five different sitting areas, as well as a raised bed area for herbs and vegetables. Clearly, plants love Santa Cruz. We have a temperate climate, with fertile soil, and it’s rarely too hot, so a wide variety of plantings thrive. The area between the ocean and Prospect Heights, that angles its way up through Seabright as a bent cylinder, is commonly called the Banana Belt. I have asked the question for years; does the name reference the shape of the area on the map, or does it reference the growing of bananas? For decades the marine layer in Santa Cruz was thicker than it is now, but this one area, shaped lik... 07/13/2011

We have homes on the Eastside of Santa Cruz priced under $800,000 that would have sold quickly for much more. Four Hundred Six South Branciforte Avenue is a beautifully kept Victorian on a quiet corner lot with wrap around gardens (award winning roses), and two den/studies. I was really taken with this house; you get a choice of bedrooms, upstairs or down, and there are three different sitting areas, so it’s possible to have a big party that would have intimate pockets for discourse. This home is located in the Seabright area, which is sought after for its proximity to the ocean, and also its own shopping and entertainment district. You can also walk to downtown or the Boardwalk from here. And if you go south, you are within minutes of the Santa Cruz Wharf and Harbor. I’m surprised this... 07/13/2011

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... 07/07/2011

Santa Cruz is known for many things; the Monterey Bay, beautiful beaches, big waves, Natural Bridges, Monarch butterflies, the Santa Cruz Pier, and Lighthouse to name a few. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk celebrated it's 100th anniversary in 2007.  Since then there have been some milestones with the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk historic rides.  The Looff Carousel is celebrating it's 100th anniversary this year.  The Giant Dipper is the 5th oldest roller coaster in the nation and is still in its original location.   Both the Carousel and the Giant Dipper have been designated National Historic Landmarks by the U.S. National Park Service. Search for Santa Cruz Homes for Sale 07/06/2011

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   06/21/2011

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.   06/17/2011

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 e... 06/15/2011

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... 06/14/2011

FREE FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERTS AT THE SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK - SUMMERTIME The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk puts on FREE concerts on Friday nights during the summer.  The first concert is kicking off this weekend on June 17th!  The free Santa Cruz Boardwalk concerts take place on the beach at the Bandstand in front of the Boardwalk.  There are 2 Free concerts at the Boardwalk every Friday night, one at 6:30 and one at 8:30pm. Here is the 2011 Summertime Free Friday Night Concert Schedule: June 17th - Starship featuring Mickey Thomas June 24th - Eric Burdon and the Animals July 1st - The Family Stone July 8th - Great White July 15th - Loverboy July 22nd - Average White Band July 29th - The Edgar Winter Band August 5th - Gin Blossoms August 12th - Berlin August 19th - Santana featuring origi... 06/13/2011

  Santa Cruz , California is the largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946. It is located on the northern edge of the Monterey Bay, about 72 mi (115 km) south of San Francisco.  The county is a strip about ten miles (16 km) wide between the coast and the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains at the northern end of the Monterey Bay. It can be divided roughly into four regions: the rugged "north coast"; the urban City of Santa Cruz, Soquel, Capitola, and Aptos; mountainous Bonny Doon, San Lorenzo River Valley; and fertile "south county", including Watsonville. Agriculture is concentrated in the coastal lowlands of the county's northern and southern ends. Most of the coastline is flanked by cliffs.   In the ... 06/11/2011

WESTSIDE SANTA CRUZ HOME SALES - MID YEAR REPORT 2011 It has been a busy year for Westside Santa Cruz Home sales so far.  The Westside of Santa Cruz is a highly desireable area because it has great weather (less fog than other coastal neighborhoods), it is located close to UCSC making the Westside of Santa Cruz a great rental market.  Also for those who commute from Santa Cruz, the Westside is a good location because it takes out the Fishhook and Highway 1 traffic. So we are half way through 2011 and there have been 45 home sales on the Westside of Santa Cruz (closed escrows) The average home sale price on the Westside is about $650,000.  This is much higher than Santa Cruz County as a whole, where the median home sales price in April was $445,000, according to a recent article in the S... 05/31/2011

The Alfaro Winery located in Corralitos California is proud to host a wine tasting event and dinner at the Ma Maison retstaurant in Aptos on June 2. The event is featuring a pre-dinner tasting of the 2010 Alfaro Rose' Pinot Noir, and 2009 Alfaro "Lester Family Vineyards" Pinot Noir.  They encourage attendees to bring a bottle of your favorite Santa Cruz mountain pinot noir to share, or wines are available for purchase there from their extensive wine list.  The events menu is as follows: First Course:Burgundy Pate' Persille'served with spring mix saladEntree:Braised Lamb ShankNew Zealand lamb with garlic & rosemary sauceProvencale tomato and haricots cocoORWild King SalmonSun dried tomato BernaisePomme "Pont Neuf" and organic seasonal vegetableDessert:Candy Cap Mushroom Creme Bruleewith... 05/25/2011

The world (well, maybe not world, but definitely Californian) Famous surf museum atop Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, CA will be celebrating 25 years of history this Friday, the 27th. The museum was started by various surf clubs in Santa Cruz in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse (a young surfer who died had this lightouse constructed in memory) to preserve the surf culture and history of our beautiful city. It seems as though this  has worked out well, for Santa Cruz was also named an International Surf Preserve just earlier this year. Santa Cruz has a long history of being one of the first areas of the mainland to indulge in surfing, with special artifacts proving this within. There are special artifacts within detailing the first sight of Hawaiin princes surfing the opening of the mouth... 05/25/2011

JAMES DURBIN PLAYS AT THE SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK Last Thursday most Santa Cruzians were bitterly disappointed when James Durbin was eliminated from American Idol.  We knew that if he had stayed on we would be treated to a concert at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk by James Durbin.  Since he was not in the top 3 we knew that was not going to happen now . . . But for the first time ever American Idol allowed James Durbin his Hometown day in Santa Cruz anyways! Saturday morning it was in the Santa Cruz Sentinel that James Durbin would be playing 3 songs at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, preceded by a parade from Downtown Santa Cruz to the Boardwalk.  James came out of the Louden Nelson center and signed many autographs on his way to his convertible and parade.   The crowd for James Dur... 05/17/2011

The Santa Cruz Sentinel posted yesterday that James Durbin of American Idol will indeed be performing at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk May 14th at 5:00 PM penidng the competition. The Santa Cruz, CA local has gone through the contest of American Idol with flying colors as the one of four contestants in the running. If he make it to the final three, Santa Cruz will be hosting one of the Fox channel's biggest shows. This event will provide for a large celebration in Santa Cruz, CA, and we can expect American Idol fans from all over Northern California coming down for the day to celebrate. This may be one of the larger events the city of Santa Cruz has had, and will definitely be so for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. And with the show being free and a 'first come first served' seating ar... 05/09/2011

 Santa Cruz Real Estate Market Looking Up Watch this video for the latest news from Your Real Estate News Channel. This is from the RISMedia's Real Estate Information Network Press Releases     There are 19 new listings today with the price range of $175,000- $1,295,000. The lowest price of $175,000 is for land on Freedom Blvd in Watsonville. There are 4 new condo listings one each in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Soquel & Capitola. That leaves 14 homes newly listed today.         The inventory of homes has been very going down since October of 2010 when the number of homes for sale dropped below 1200.  As a result of low inventory we have been getting multiple offers. Buyers are bidding on the low end homes under $500,000 and they will even offer all cash or slightly more money if they are ... 05/06/2011