Success in Using Santa Cruz First Time Home Buyer Programs In a previous blog I wrote about the many different Santa Cruz First Time Home Buyer programs offered through Santa Cruz County & City of SC, Watsonville, Scotts Valley and Capitola. I have a recent success story in using the County of Santa Cruz Downpayment Assistance Program that I would like to share.  My clients were a young family, just had their first child in fact.  Their price range was about $250k and we were looking at homes in that range in the San Lorenzo Valley area.  We had found some OK homes but nothing to get too excited about.  I suggested that we look into some of the Santa Cruz first time buyer programs and recommended they speak with an excellent lender I work with that has the system dialed. The lender was ... 03/10/2011

 Always a fun experience to walk the beaches. It seemed so deserted yesterday when after the training session at Santa Cruz Home Finance my wife and I took a stroll on the beach at Santa Cruz. It is 'off season" but we didn't mind. I remembers many a day when I was a lad, that we were in that water waiting for the next wave. Memories are a wonderful place that we can allow ourselves to visit now and then. The boardwalk shops and rides were all closed but new life should come back to them this summer.                                                                         What a view they have from their patio. The weather was wonderful, we didn't need a jacket, just short sleeves, kicked our shoes off and took a walk in the sand and the surf. We ejoyed our lunch at Gilda's on the wharf.... 03/10/2011

Santa Cruz Home Finance is the newest addition to the 203k lending family of course located in Santa Cruz CA. They have been in business for many years as an FHA lender and feel the time is right for the 203k loan as so many homes in the area being sold have issues.  They understand the value of being able to offer the full 203k as well as the streamlined k loan products. The service and attention to the needs of their clients is very evident as I have been close to them on a 203k and have been able to see the passion and attention to detail the crew provides to their clients. You certainly will be well served to use Santa Cruz Home Finance for your 203k needs. It is hard to believe that there are Realtors and agents that still don't understand that this is an "as is" purchase or refina... 03/07/2011

In this highly competitive market it is vital that you receive the highest level of professional representation.  I am your enthusiastic advocate throughout your real estate transaction, and beyond.  I believe that customer service has no boundaries; that you deserve to have an agent at your side every step of the way. When you are carefully listened to, when someone takes the time to get to know you and to understand the circumstances of your move, then your wants and needs can be anticipated and efficiently met.  I hold myself to that standard, and strive to exceed your expectations.  Because of these commitments to you, I have been fortunate enough to be recognized in the top one percent of Coldwell Banker agents nationwide. I am in my eleventh year in real estate and have participa... 02/28/2011

Penthouse For Sale, Yacht Harbor Ocean View in Santa Cruz CA It may be a reainy day today in Santa Cruz CA and I am having a WARM Open House! 480 Alta Loma Ln Santa Cruz CA 95062 MLS#81106293 4 more INFO send text to 88000 with message CRUZ2 Serving home made chicken soup both Saturday and Sunday 1-4 PM.   The view is of the yacht harbor and the ocean you can see the sailboats in the bay!   Why not stop by or call me to talk about the real estate market. I am always able to send you a complete market anayisist of the prices of any homes in Santa Cruz.   The Yacht harbor is one of my specialities it has great restarants. The Crow Nest has the best views and on Wednesdays it is locals happy hour all day.   In the summer the sailboat races are on Wednesday's starting at 6:00 PM. 480 Alta L... 02/19/2011

Adding value to your home doesn't necessarily mean subtracting from your bank account. The trick is to be creative! There are several things you can do yourself, even on the smallest of budgets, which will improve the overall look of your home, while adding value at the same time. Here are a few favorite tips to help get you started: Hire a professional designer or Realtor® to look at your home. Having a professional-and fresh set of eyes-come look at your home is a great way to not only get new ideas, but establish a long term design goal so you can start plugging away. Have your home inspected. Home inspectors are usually called out when a home is going on the market, but why not reap the benefits when you are still living in the home? By having problems pointed out to you now, you c... 02/17/2011

As you know, the real estate market is ever-changing. Seasonality, economic conditions and the stock market all affect the ebbs and flows of the real estate market.   Even if you're not currently trying to buy or sell a home, it's important to stay up-to-date with what's happening in the real estate market so when the time comes to make your move, you can feel knowledgeable and confident about what you're doing. To help you easily stay updated, I'm pleased to tell you that I'm now providing real estate market updates via Facebook. In addition to posting local market statistics for all of my friends to see, I'm also sharing real estate articles from a variety of sources that I think people will find informative, interesting and useful. If you are interested in receiving my market update... 02/16/2011

I met some of the nicest people in Santa Cruz a few weeks ago and they are now doing the Full 203k and the Streamlined k from Santa Cruz south to include Salinas, Watsonville, Capitola, Aptos, etc and down as far as Monterey as I understand it. It is always good to see more good people who have a wonderful reputation and a great following who have been in the business for many years "get it" about the 203k. I find it rewarding. So on that note a hearty welcome to the 203k world to Santa Cruz Home Finance.  During the Loma Prieta earthquake lots of homes fell off their foundation either towards the street or straight back towards the rear yard due to a lack of any shear wall protection. I saw another one of these homes in another area that had no bolting of the foundation and no shear wa... 02/15/2011

SANTA CRUZ BEACH HOME FOR SALE - PLEASURE POINT COTTAGE  MOANA WAY, SANTA CRUZ* Best priced Beach Home in Santa Cruz for sale!  This Pleasure Point home is charming and just steps to the Ocean and World Class Surfing.  Pleasure Point is an great place to live for those who enjoy surfing, biking, walking on the beach and having a real community feel.  This Santa Cruz Beach home for sale is located 1 block to the beach in a fantastic neighborhood.   The layout of this Santa Cruz Beach Home for sale is ideal.   Each bedroom has their own bathroom and they are separated the living and kitchen area so it makes a nice dual living situation.  Each bathroom has a skylight and are light and bright.       This charming Santa Cruz Beach Home for Sale was built in 1931 and has a real period feel wi... 02/09/2011

HOME PRICES IN PLEASURE POINT, SANTA CRUZ Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz is a classic Northern California Beach town infused with surfing culture.  Homes for sale in Pleasure Point are really a mixed bag.  There are the tiniest of beach cottages and ocean front multi million dollar homes. Over the past year, the average home price in Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz was $820,000.  Of the homes sold in Pleasure Point, the average square footage was just under 1,500.  That is an average price per square foot of $566! Here is one of the best priced Santa Cruz beach homes for sale.  Buying a home in Pleasure Point you are buying into a lifestyle not just a home.  Pleasure Point in a highly desirable area for those who want to live in an area with a real community feel, where you can walk to all ameni... 02/07/2011

I have passed by this cliff several times, but I can't recall a time driving by when there were so many surfers on one day!  It was about 1pm in the afternoon, on an overcast day. Makes you think...  Does the surfer on the wave get mad at the surfer paddling that is in their way...  Or is the paddler mad at the surfer on the wave coming right at them...  Just sayen' I ended up taking a few more pictures, since there were so many! This spot is just north of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, CA.  Santa Cruz is about 40 or so minutes south of SF on the coastline. Just on the other side of the pier, is the boardwalk. Hope your superbowl Sunday was awesome! :) Chris 02/06/2011

Me and my son Ryan at Natural Bridges State Park, in Santa Cruz, CA last weekend. Natural Bridges is a state park with tide pools, that are great for searching over and finding neat things.  Parking is $10, and there are facilities.  It is a short walk across the beach to the rocks, and it is an easy climb.  Be sure to check the tide schedule, to go when it is low tide.  AND don't forget the sunblock and easy walking shoes.  It can get slippery. :) Chris 02/02/2011

A day at Natural Bridges State Park, just North of Santa Cruz, California with my son Ryan... Walking amid the tide pools, it is not often you get so many great creatures in one picture!  From starfish, to sea anemones, to mussels, sea grass and sea weed. Caught a seagull watching the waves, just like me. A Snowy Egret waiting to catch the fish, or crab that happens to wash in. Natural Bridges is a state park that has what seems to be a mile of tide pools to explore, and of course take pictures!  Make sure you check the tide schedule, to get the best chance to find some great stuff. :) Chris These were taken with my same old Cannon hand held digital camera with a 10 times zoom, and 10 mega pixels.   01/30/2011

Lenders from anywhere actually can benefit form the FHA 203k loan program by being prepared for the volume if they do some simple things. 1) Build your team wisely. Don't wait  until you have some orders before you seek your "203k consultant". Interview them and see what they do for you to make these happen faster. If all they do is provide a bid spec and a draw request, I would keep looking. We have trained a good number of consultants across the nation since 1995 and we always teach them to "provide more than you expect".  2) Be prepared in your "back office" for the underwriting portion before you get your first order. Our consultants nationally will provide you with a more consistent product for your underwriting staff so you "know" that all of the pieces are there when you get the ... 01/30/2011

SANTA CRUZ HOMES SALES - REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT Looking back at Santa Cruz County Homes Sales over the past 2 years we have seen some changes, both good and bad.  Comparing 2009 to 2010 in the Santa Cruz Real Estate Market may tell us a bit about where we are heading for 2011. With the First Time Home Buyer tax credit last year and record low interest rates, First Time Home Buyers made up a lot of the Santa Cruz home buying market.  Even with those incentives there were still less Santa Cruz Home Sales in 2010 than in 2009.  In 2010 there were 1588 home sales in Santa Cruz County.  In 2009 there were slightly more Santa Cruz homes sales - 1754. A positive trend in the Santa Cruz Real Estate Market comparing 2009 to 2010 is that the average days on market has gone down.  In 2009 the a... 01/17/2011

  Sweet Beach Retreat! Prime Pleasure Point - 4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths! 2911   Calla Drive,  Santa Cruz  95062         offered at $775,900 Year Built 1962 Sq Footage 2002 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 Floors 2 Building Style Traditional Neighborhood Name Pleasure Point Zoning R-1-5-PP Parcel Number: 028-293-012 Parking None Lot Size 4661 DESCRIPTION Wowza! Prime Pleasure Point - a hop, skip, and a jump to the waves and some of the best surfing around! This updated custom home is loaded with amenities such as radiant heat floors, granite counters, and custom wood cabinets. The stately master suite boasts a private balcony and a wall-mounted fireplace - complete with peeks of the ocean! Luxury size, location and amenities, incomparable value!   Location: 2911 Calla Drive Santa Cruz 95062 (map) Cross... 01/11/2011

 There is a lot to do within walking distance of any house.  Seabright beach is sheltered from the prevailing wind and fog you routinely get in San Francisco and Monterey.  Our summer temperature, generally in the 70s, is perfect for those folks escaping hot and humid summer weather elsewhere yet don't want to be in the cold and wind that is common to many other areas of the coast north of Santa Barbara. Seabright NeighborhoodThe Seabright Neighborhood itself is an attraction. This is a unique place to enjoy walks or bike rides. The "Point" is a wall of limestone between the San Lorenzo river and Seabright Beach. Walk out to the end and you'll see a beautiful view of the Boardwalk, Seabright Beach, the Santa Cruz Wharf, the mountains and the two lighthouses here in Santa Cruz. Walk the ... 01/11/2011

Yet another reason to own real estate here in the  Santa Cruz Mountains!   I enjoyed a gourmet meal of Chantrelles over wild rice last night, thanks to the generosity of a close friend.    I have to admit I was happy to wake up this morning! - collecting wild mushrooms takes skill and knowledge.   To learn more about these delicious wild edibles, go to the fair this weekend! http://www.scfungusfair.org/ 01/07/2011

SANTA CRUZ OCEAN VIEW LUXURY FORECLOSURES HOMES FOR SALE While the majority of foreclosures in Santa Cruz have been on the lower end of the real estate market, there have been a few ocean view luxury foreclosures that have sold recently.  These Santa Cruz ocean view foreclosures can offer a deep discount for bargain home hunters that want to buy a luxury or higher end home.  Sometimes the discount on these luxury foreclosures can be $500k + or more. I predict that there will be more Santa Cruz ocean view foreclosures in the coming year.  For someone looking to buy an ocean view home in Santa Cruz this will be a great opportunity to buy a luxury home for much less.  For information about Santa Cruz ocean view luxury foreclosure homes for sale or ones that will be coming on the market, co... 01/05/2011

HOMES FOR SALE IN PLEASURE POINT, SANTA CRUZ, CAPleasure Point is a neighborhood located in Santa Cruz, adjacent to Capitola starting at 41st Avenue and going north from there.  Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz is a quintessential beach neighborhood steeped in the surfing culture of Northern California.  The Pleasure Point neighborhood is a mix of Santa Cruz locals and visitors.  Homes for sale in Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz range from small beach cottages to ocean view multi million dollar homes.   The types of homes for sale in Pleasure Point vary widely.  The lowest priced home sale in Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz in 2010 was a small 2 bedroom beach bungalow that sold for $420,000.   The highest priced home sale in Pleasure Point in 2010 was an incredible 5 bedroom, ocean view luxury home tha... 12/28/2010