Santa Cruz Homes - 2009 Annual Report Well ... the data is in. We can now create a 2009 Annual Report on the state of Santa Cruz Homes sales. There are a number of positive indicators to report. •         For starters, the number of sales in 2009 was up 23.1% over the number of sales in 2008. •        The median price of a single family home in Santa Cruz County reached $560,000 in December. This was up 24.4% over December the year before. •         The year ended with the lowest amount of active inventory since March of 2005. •         Accordingly, the Days On Market indicator is at 97 days. This is the lowest it's been since 2004 when it was a strong Seller's Market. The chart below illustrates a relationship between Median and Average Sales prices as compared to the number of actual ... 01/11/2010

This custom contemporary home is located just 3 blocks from West Cliff Drive. A private courtyard surrounds the front yard, with dry stream landscaping and a stamped concrete walkway to the front door. Walk into the Italian-tiled entry, and to the sunny and light living room with a Bay window overlooking the courtyard entry, a gas log fireplace, and a wall of windows overlooking the backyard. The Italian tile continues through the dining room and kitchen. The dining room has two sections of glass windows with a French style door in between, and built-in glass shelving at either end. The gourmet kitchen has a Granite tile counter and work island. The Granite is detailed with hand made Annie Glass starfish. There are Maple cabinets, a built-in pantry, 2 ovens, Jen Air dishwasher, double c... 12/27/2009

WESTSIDE SANTA CRUZ OCEAN VIEW HOME FOR SALE SEARCH FOR SANTA CRUZ OCEAN VIEW HOMES FOR SALE!  This lovely Santa Cruz ocean view home for sale * located on the Westside of Santa Cruz was just constructed in 2009!  Brand spanking new for all you new home lovers.  Walk only 2 blocks from this ocean view home for sale to Beautiful West Cliff Dr, one of the best places to walk in Santa Cruz County.  Enjoy the lifestlye of living by the beach in Santa Cruz.  You can walk or ride your bike to shopping, restaurants, wineries, world class Mountain Biking, and our local Organic Brewery.  There are many types of ocean view homes for sale in Santa Cruz County, really something for everyone.  Go here to a current list of WESTSIDE SANTA CRUZ HOMES FOR SALE! The features of this Santa Cruz ocean view... 12/10/2009

Living in Santa Cruz County California For more than a century, Santa Cruz County's favored climate, beautiful scenery, and abundant leisure-time diversions have drawn new residents and vacationers alike. The county's seaside meadows and mountain forests hug the often-rugged coast at the northern curve on the Monterey Bay- about 60 miles south of San Francisco. Inland, the region borders on the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, which form a portion of the California Coast Ranges. Stretching over 439 square miles with a population of approximately 240,000, Santa Cruz is California's second smallest county after San Francisco and one of the state's oldest. Northwest of Santa Cruz, the county seat, fields are planted with brussels sprouts and artichokes or left for the native grasses, fle... 12/07/2009

This custom contemporary home is located just 3 blocks from West Cliff Drive. A private courtyard surrounds the front yard, with dry stream landscaping and a stamped concrete walkway to the front door. Walk into the Italian-tiled entry, and to the sunny and light living room with a Bay window overlooking the courtyard entry, a gas log fireplace, and a wall of windows overlooking the backyard. The Italian tile continues through the dining room and kitchen. The dining room has two sections of glass windows with a French style door in between, and built-in glass shelving at either end. The gourmet kitchen has a Granite tile counter and work island. The Granite is detailed with hand made Annie Glass starfish. There are Maple cabinets, a built-in pantry, 2 ovens, Jen Air dishwasher, double c... 10/30/2009

Late last week, Santa Cruz County was issued a tsunami warning following the quakes in Indonesia/Samoa. The beaches were closed for the day. These pictures were taken in the early evening, just before sunset on 18th Avenue, overlooking Santa Maria's beach. I believe that might be Jupiter in the picture below. 10/04/2009

Ocean, Sand & Surf & views to Capitola. Great room w/open beam ceilings, brick fireplace and walls of windows with big water views and sliding glass doors to the wrap-around deck. Open kitchen w/breakfast bar & clear story windows. Master bath upstairs. Dining area adjacent to living room. Master bedroom & bath upstairs. Outdoor stairway to downstairs w/two bedrooms and a bath. Most windows are dual pane. Large lot located at the end of a quiet cul de sac. Off street parking. Tons of potential for expanding. To directly access this property, use this shortcut:  http://www.fizber.com/california-buy-single-family-home-11648501.html 10/01/2009

Located 2 blocks from the beach at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac this home is immaculate.Freshly painted interior and new carpets. Sunny and bright this home has great light. The tiled entry opens to a reverse floor plan offering the living room, kitchen, sunroom and master suite upstairs and 2 bedrooms and one bath downstairs. The living room has open beam ceilings, skylight, marble tiled fireplace with wood mantle, track lights and ocean views.  The kitchen has white cupboards & new appliances, open beam ceilings, skylight, garden window and opens to the living room.  The enclosed sun porch has views of the ocean and walls of windows with Pergo floors and sliding glass doors to the wrap around deck.  The master bedroom is spacious with open beam ceilings, lots of closet space and has ... 10/01/2009

Charm abounds for this Westside single level home on a large 8232 sq. ft. lot. New paint, New windows, refinished Oak floors. Formal living room w/Oak floors, Brick FP & wainscoting. Remodeled kitchen with tiled floors, granite counters and work island, stainless appliances, new cabinets, recessed lighting. DR has sliding glass doors that open to the back Flagstone Patio w/Wisteria & arbor. Family room with high ceilings, Oak floors & French Door to backyard. Indoor laundry area. 4 BR & 2 BA Attached two car garage & extra storage. Private backyard w/lawn, vegetable garden area, sand box & Palm Tree. 3 blocks to the beach. Listen to the waves and hear the seals. To directly access this property, use this shortcut: http://www.fizber.com/california-buy-single-family-home-11648497.html 10/01/2009

The spacious living room has high ceilings, rock FP , & two sets of French Doors overlooking the backyard and greenbelt.  The formal dining room also has walls of windows, Oak wood floors & mirrored wall. The gourmet kitchen has Sly Stone counters, gas Jenn-Air cook top, stainless sinks and dishwasher, 2 ovens (convection and regular), hardwood floors, breakfast bar and room for a cozy table with bar area and skylight.  The office has walls of windows and a door that opens to the backyard and side deck, perfect for BBQ’s. The oversized master bedroom has high ceilings, a sitting area or exercise area  & French doors that open to the backyard, deck & spa.  The master bath has tiled counters, dual sinks and a large tiled shower/tub. The walk-in closet is spacious. There are French doors... 10/01/2009

Classic Queen Anne Victorian on Beach Hill with Ocean Views. 4 units. Entrance and halls have original natural wood paneling, stained glass windows, 10 foot ceilings, oversized doors. Units with Bay windows, built in hutches, wood floors, new windows. Unfinished Attic inclues Turret, ocean views, skylights and tons on potential. Upgraded with new windows, new roof, new electrical & foundation. Garages and offstreet parking. Laundry room. Walk to Beach & W.Cliff, Downtown Santa Cruz & close to UCSC. To directly access this property, use this shortcut: http://www.fizber.com/california-buy-duplex-triplex-multi-family-home-11648494.html 10/01/2009

A place on the ocean, a property with history, with 280 degree ocean views and magical sunsets; just steps to the surf and sand at Pleasure Point. Privately held since 1954, this coveted property has been enjoyed by five generations and is now offered to the public for the first time in 55 years. The clean architectural influence of the Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie School of design is undeniable; the floor plan is flexible and livable, with generous rooms and commanding ocean views from nearly every room. There are 3 bedrooms plus a den/office overlooking the deck that could be a 4th bedroom; a formal living room with masonry fireplace; dining room with dumbwaiter serving the second floor; spacious family room and game and dining area with cathedral ceiling, wet bar with refrigerator, Tra... 10/01/2009

  It was 5:45 mid-week. A beautiful day on the coast (there aren't many that aren't - not bragging, it's just the way it is in Santa Cruz County). Anyway, I asked my little rescue pooch if he wanted to go for a walk . . . I knew I wanted to go to the beach, but which beach? Seacliff? A really long walk if you go left or right . . . no, Capitola? . . . too many tourists still . . . How about Twin Lakes & the Yacht Harbor? Yeah that's the ticket . . . The short drive was worth the effort. I parked in front of Twin Lakes Beach - the weather was still warm. We walked down to the Yacht Harbor, and outside the restaurants, a group of "oldies" were playing music and singing oldies. The volleyball courts were going full steam, and there was a sail boat race! Twin Lakes is one of the few beaches... 09/18/2009

A fast moving wild fire is forcing the evacuation of thousands in the Santa Cruz mountains. Due to a combination of high winds and drought conditions, this fire is becoming of great concern. I recently wrote  a blog  Is your property wildfire ready. Something you should think about especially in the west. One of the points made was the need for defensible space.  In large and fast moving fires like this one, there is little fire crews can do. A defensible space gives your home a fighting chance. Just listen to the reporters reports about having to write off homes. http://cbs13.com/breakingnews/santa.cruz.fire.2.1126596.html   Ensuring you have an escape route could mean the difference, when it counts the most. These fires are of great concern esp... 08/13/2009

02/25/2009

Santa Cruz Median Home Price Surprise?   Pick up the newspaper or watch the news on TV and you can't help but see how bad the news in the real estate market. However there are some areas in the country where property values have not been hit as hard as the central valley area of California. Certainly the Watsonville area of south Santa Cruz County has seen a major decline in home values comparable to central valley property values. However in comparison, many home owners in the prime areas of Santa Cruz areas like Aptos, Rio Del Mar, Capitola and Santa Cruz feel they have not taken the same decline in their property values. These prime areas have in the past have held their property values in even the toughest market downturns.   However based on median home values, over the last ten mo... 02/22/2009

People love to talk about the weather and I guess I fall in there too.  It has been absolutely beautiful summer weather here in Santa Cruz this week with 70+ temp.  I actually pray for rain/snow because we need it but it has been like skipping time and being in summer for a week in mid-January.  I walk my dogs several times a week on West Cliff Dr and it is packed right now!  So get out there and enjoy while you can. 01/15/2009

I wanted to comment on a positive trend I have noticed in my personal Real Estate business this year.  I service the Santa Cruz County in California which is a higher priced beach area just south of Silicon Valley and north of Monterey.  I was born and raised here and like many of my peers couldn't imagine living anywhere else.  I've tried it (I've lived in Argentina, Spain, Italy) but I always come home.  The geographical setting of the Monterey Bay is gorgeous, the community is great and there is just so much to do for every type of person. Being in a high demand, beach area our prices have been out of reach for most people and many of my peers that I have grown up with.  I am realitively young ( I just turned 30) and people my age with young families have not been able to find a way ... 01/13/2009

Shakespeare Santa Cruz Lives On!   A few days ago I reported on the potential demise of Shakespeare Santa Cruz. They needed to raise $300,000 in donations in one week, or they would have to shut down. I am happy to report that the were able to raise over $400,000, from 2,000 donors, many of them on the internet, and are therefore able to soldier on.  The entire Bay Area Theatre Community is breathing a collective sigh of relief. Now we can all help out by going to see their 2009 season next summer. I know I am looking forward to seeing this wonderful company again. 12/23/2008

Shakespeare Santa Cruz in Financial Trouble!   Shakespeare Santa Cruz, the 10th largest attended Shakespeare festival in the country, and a staple of the Silicon Valley theatre community since 1982 is in big trouble. The festival has an estimated 40,000 attendees every season at its' University Of California Santa Cruz outdoor amphitheatre , and is both critically acclaimed, and a  very popular summer destination. The festival is also a great employer of both local theatre talent and has a wonderful internship program that is a fantastic opportunity for theatre students from all over the country.   The Festival always operates with a deficit, despite its artistic successes, but University has always made up the deficit as it adds so much to both the theatre department and the university... 12/18/2008