March 2010

Choosing the Right Santa Cruz Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home

Monday, March 15th, 2010 at 1:01am. 0 Views, 0 Comments.

Choosing the right Santa Cruz real estate agent for you is a vital task. This is someone who will be inside your home, interacting with your family and working with one of your most valued possessions—your home. You need to find someone you trust to take care of you and give you the best advice. So what should you look for in an agent?

• Personality. You need to get along with your REALTOR®. Interview Santa Cruz real estate agents. Get to know them. Do you trust them? Can you ask them questions? Are you comfortable around them? Be honest as you answer these questions. If something doesn’t feel right to you, trust your instinct.

• Work Ethic. Does your real estate agent return your calls within a reasonable amount of time? Do they answer your questions…

Choosing the Right Santa Cruz Home for You

Saturday, March 13th, 2010 at 1:01am. 1 Views, 0 Comments.

As you are looking for the ideal home for you and your family, you may find yourself trying to decide between two similar homes. You could have worse problems than this on your Santa Cruz home search, but how do you decide which home is better for you and your family?
Here are primary points to consider:

1. Location. This is where you are going to live. You need to consider how far away it is from work, schools, and shopping. You probably want to do as little driving as possible. A Santa Cruz home close to where you will be spending your time away from home may be the better choice for you.

2. Home repairs. What will you need to do to the home once you move in? Think about the time and money you will have to invest in the home before making your decision. A…

Buyer Beware: Worldwide, National, Santa Cruz Homes and Scams

Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 1:01am. 0 Views, 0 Comments.

Whether you’re looking at Santa Cruz homes, homes across the nation or homes abroad, there's always the possibility of getting caught in a scam.

Many potential homebuyers and renters choose to go it alone and find the home of their dreams without professional help. While this method of house hunting works for some it definitely doesn’t work for all, and the consequences often far outweigh the benefits. Yes, the same can apply for home sellers as well!

Real Estate Scams
Here are a few real estate scams to watch out for:

• Down Payment Assistance Programs are wonderful gifts for potential buyers of Santa Cruz homes. However, there are certain rules that have to be followed for this down payment gift to be legal. For instance, as a gift, the homebuyer doesn’t…

Benefits of a Green Santa Cruz Home

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 1:01am. 0 Views, 0 Comments.

If you’re thinking of building a new home, you should consider incorporating some green building practices or materials into your plans. Green building designs can include anything from using recycled materials to installing a rainwater collection system outside your home.

Here are just a few reasons why a green home is better for your health, your bank account and the environment:

• Better health. Surprisingly, indoor air pollution from toxic materials and cleaning products is usually far worse than outdoor air pollution. This aggravates conditions like asthma and allergies. Green homes tend to have better ventilation and fewer problems with mold and mildew. A simple switch to toxin-free building materials and cleaning products makes everyone breathe…

Before Painting Your Santa Cruz Home For Sale

Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 1:01am. 4 Views, 0 Comments.

Nothing makes a Santa Cruz home for sale look better than a new coat of paint.  Many people are intimidated by the thought of painting the exterior of their home, and hire someone else to do it.  But, you can do it yourself, with these easy steps:
 
Getting Your House Ready to Paint
The first thing that you’ll need to do is inspect the house.  Look at all the walls, under the eaves and around the doorframe and windows.  Check for peeling paint, mildew and rough surfaces.
You’ll need to gather a few tools before getting to the repairs and putting your Santa Cruz home up for sale:

• Power-washer
• 2-3” inch putty knife
• 2-3” inch pull scraper
• Wire brush
• Sander 
• Chlorine bleach

Preparing the Surface
Power-wash the walls so you'll have a clean surface.  You don’t…

Santa Cruz Home for Sale – Are You Obsessing?

Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 1:01am. 2 Views, 0 Comments.

 The national real estate market, state markets and city markets all seemed to be wrapped up in a nifty bundle that effect whether your Santa Cruz home for sale will have a buyer. With the news reports over the last two years about the pop of the housing bubble, homeowners everywhere essentially lost their minds.

Here are a few examples:

• Some homeowners panicked and immediately put their houses up for sale
• Some homeowners chose to walk away from it all, leaving their homes vacant and mortgages in default
• Some homeowners went into a flurry of home renovations, with the idea of selling
• National and Santa Cruz home for sale listings shot through the roof

The amazing thing isn’t that the real estate market seems to be stabilizing – that’s not the miracle.…

6 Tips to Reduce Stress While Selling Your Santa Cruz Real Estate

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 1:01am. 2 Views, 0 Comments.

Selling your home can be a stressful experience. Your home is one of your most valuable possessions and holds memories of your time there. However, you can survive the process of selling your Santa Cruz real estate. Here are some tips to make this time period smoother:

1. Remind yourself that this is temporary. This will pass. You will eventually find a buyer. You will have a contract. You will close the deal. Everything else is just part of the process and will eventually be a memory.

2. Use lists. Lists help you keep track of what you need to do and what you’ve already accomplished. You can’t forget something if you write it down.

3. Hire a Santa Cruz County real estate agent. Sometimes you just need professional help. You don’t have to go through this…

Buying Santa Cruz Real Estate: Money, Mortgages and Closing Costs

Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 1:01am. 6 Views, 0 Comments.

Because buying Santa Cruz real estate is one of the most important and expensive purchases you’ll ever make, it's worth the time to consider ways you can save money.  Here are a few ideas on how to save money on your mortgage and closing costs:

Pay Attention

You have to pay attention to how much the Santa Cruz real estate costs. You have to pay attention to how much the house is worth and how much more you may have to put in the kitty for any repairs that may need to be done. Use these details to negotiate.

Negotiate with the Seller

Negotiating with the seller is expected.  You already know you can negotiate on the price of the home, but did you know you can also negotiate who pays the closing costs?  In this buyer's market, it has become common to ask the…