In today’s environmentally conscious world, more homeowners are looking for property with green characteristics. Not only is an eco-friendly house better for the environment, but it also cuts down on the cost of utility bills. If you’re about to purchase a Santa Cruz home and want to go green, see below for a few eco-friendly features you should include on your checklist.

Proximity to public transportation or work

Taking a bus or a bike to work instead of driving can really reduce your carbon footprint, so definitely take into consideration a house’s location. Insurance companies might even provide cheaper rates to owners who live close to public transportation.

Quality of insulation

Look for a house that is insulated well at the right rating…

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There are many reasons why a mortgage loan for your Santa Cruz real estate could be declined. It doesn’t have to be the end of your real estate dreams. Here are a few things to consider if you’ve been turned down for a mortgage:

Loan-to-Value Ratio
The loan-to-value ratio (LTV) is the percentage of the appraised value of the Santa Cruz real estate that you are trying to finance. For example, if you are trying to finance a home that costs $100,000, and want to borrow $75,000, your LTV is 75%.

Lenders don’t like a high LTV. The higher the ratio, the harder it is to qualify for a mortgage. To reduce the percentage, you can save up a bigger down payment. Some lenders may approve the loan if you buy mortgage insurance, which protects the lender in the…

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Staging is the art of preparing your Santa Cruz home for sale before showing it to prospective buyers. The point of staging is to highlight the house’s strengths, downplay its weaknesses and make it more appealing.

With the right decorating techniques, you can win buyers over the moment they step through the door. Below are a few staging tips to help make your house irresistible to potential buyers.

Put everything away

The first step is to put away anything that is not essential. This will open up the house so that it appears more spacious. Even if you have to rent a storage unit, finding a new home for all of your family’s projects and debris should clear some space and help buyers imagine their own stuff in your Santa Cruz home for sale.

Get…

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With the housing market still making a comeback and many people renting homes, now may be the right time to invest in Santa Cruz real estate as rental property. The additional income could make it a solid investment if you are looking for something long term. When looking for rental property, here are several factors to consider to ensure your investment is profitable.

Financing

If you plan to take out a mortgage to purchase the property, be sure to check your credit report through the three major credit bureaus and clean up any errors. If your score is low, you’ll need to work on improving your credit rating to get the best interest rate on your loan. In addition, consider that you may have periods without a tenant, so plan ahead to cover payments…

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When you are looking to buy a Santa Cruz home, it is important to keep in mind that no real estate price is set in stone. There is always room for negotiation, and with the right techniques you can end up saving thousands of dollars on your dream house.

However, it can be tricky to get the right reaction when you are negotiating. An offer that is too low can cause the seller to dismiss you, which will leave you disappointed and empty-handed. Here are a few tips that will help you to haggle your way to the best deal.

Find out the seller’s motivation
If they really need to move and sell the property, it will be easier to convince them to negotiate on price because you will have more bargaining power. For example, they might be relocating for a job or…

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Buying Santa Cruz real estate for the first time is a very exciting step in life. It is likely to be one of the biggest financial commitments that you make, so it’s very important to navigate the purchasing process wisely.

Many first-time homebuyers make rookie mistakes that bring on negative consequences and a lot of frustration. Outlined below are common errors homebuyers make, so you can learn from their missteps and avoid them yourself.

Buying more than what you can afford
Just because the bank says that it will give you a certain amount for a mortgage doesn’t mean that you have to choose a house at the very top of this price range. Many people get carried away and close on an expensive house. Then they find it difficult to keep up with their…

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Anyone preparing their Santa Cruz home for sale can get focused on all the little updates they need to make before it’s ready to be put on the market. However, once the property is listed, they usually just sit back and wait for the offers to roll in — which can be disappointing.

For a fast sale, real estate agents know that the work never stops. Below are insightful tips from property experts to create buzz around your house and get it sold quickly!

Bait buyers with visuals
Most buyers do their preliminary searches online, so this will be their first impression of your place. Hire a Realtor that uses a professional photographer. Or, take it one step further and make sure a virtual tour video is made — the extra effort might clench the deal.

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With spring right around the corner, you might be thinking about sprucing up your Santa Cruz home. However, it may not yet be time to work in the garden or on other outside endeavors. If cabin fever is setting in, this is a great time for indoor improvements to brighten your living space and get you warmed up to work outside when the seasons change.

Whether it’s over-stuffed closets or cluttered garages, everyone has problem areas on their property. Maybe you just need to give some attention to an area that has not been touched in a while. Whatever your vision, now is a fantastic time to tackle an indoor project. Below are a few ideas to get you started. Maybe you can even get the kids to lend a hand!

Organize that closet
Clear out the things you…

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If you have a Santa Cruz home for sale, it is important to appreciate the significance of first impressions. When potential buyers drive up to your property and take their first look at your front door, they will instantly be drawing conclusions about your house.

When you are trying to entice a buyer to fall in love with your house, you must consider the curb appeal of your Santa Cruz home for sale. This term describes the way your house looks from the outside or while standing on the curb.

What they see inside could either support or alter that original conclusion, but there is no way to erase a first impression. In fact, some surveys show that curb appeal can affect a buyer’s decision even more than price or square footage. Below are seven simple…

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