It's getting close to Halloween, and families across the nation are slowly but surely decorating their Santa Cruz homes.  The spirit of the season is in the air, the leaves are changing colors, and pumpkins are going up for sale. 

It's time to carve!

Picking Tips

• Make sure your pumpkin has a stem; it won't last very long if it doesn't.

• The pumpkin needs to have a flat bottom so it won't roll.

• No holes or soft spots, because they'll rot.

• Choose a light-colored pumpkin for easier carving, or a dark colored pumpkin for a longer lasting decoration.

Pattern Tips

On the steps of Santa Cruz homes everywhere, pumpkin faces sprout fangs and witches ride their brooms.  Maybe you want your carvings to stand out, though.  Here are a few things to…

1370 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

If you’re looking at buying a Santa Cruz condo, you need to be aware that there are condominium associations that oversee condo developments just like there are homeowner’s associations that oversee subdivisions.  However, they may not work the same and can vary widely from condo to condo.  Here are a few things you need to ask the association before signing that contract: 

1. What’s the ratio of owner-occupied to tenant-occupied units?  More owner-occupied units means better marketability if you want to resell.

2. Do the assessments rise with inflation?  This doesn’t sound like a good thing, but matching assessments with the rate of inflation means the ability to build reserves for any future repairs.

3. What does the assessment cover (trash…

1626 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Sometimes, just sometimes, it seems that people don’t really want to sell their home.  They put the “Santa Cruz Home for Sale” sign up in the yard and then steadily push potential buyers away.  If you don’t want to sell your home, here are a few ways to get rid of the nosy buyers:

1. Open houses – Especially if you’re using a real estate agent, your home will be open to the public (i.e. buyers).  The best way to discourage these buyers is by making sure you’re there to point out all the flaws and issues you’ve had while living there.  They’ll eat it up and walk away.

2. Curb appeal – Weeds can cover up a beautiful lawn like nobody’s business.  Putting away the lawnmower, garden sheers and weed eater is an excellent way to ditch potential buyers.

3. …

1087 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

You don’t have to!  Many sellers are turning away buyers for their Santa Cruz real estate because the buyer can’t get the necessary financing.  Understandable, but remember, the downturn in real estate has definitely made it a buyer’s market.  Simply put, you may have trouble finding another one. 

So what’s the “holy grail” of options?  What can you do to sell your home when nobody can afford to buy it straight out?  It’s called “owner financing”, or “Owner Will Carry” in real estate terms.  In other words, you finance the sale.  It’s not the end-all, be-all answer, but it’s worked for many as a win/win situation, and here’s why:

• Maintenance – Owner financing isn’t the same as “rent to own”.  Once the contract is signed, you no longer have to worry…

1215 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

It’s October, which means Halloween is just around the corner. Are you still struggling to come up with great decorating ideas for your Santa Cruz home? Have no fear; your real estate agent is here to help. Here are a few ideas that will take away those holiday Halloween jitters:

1. Nothing says “Halloween” like twitching fingers, growling werewolves and hovering demon skeletons. Thanks to today’s technology, you can turn your decorations into a hellish wonderland with animated Halloween props. Build a graveyard and have a rocking tombstone or a creeping skeleton to snatch up visitors.

2. Everybody has the standard jack-o-lantern on the front porch. As Halloween nears, they crop up everywhere. This year, try something a little different. There are…

2354 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

There’s at least one good thing about the drop in the dollar and it’s boosting the real estate market.  Many high-end Europeans are now looking toward the U.S. for a vacation home or permanent resident, and that could mean big hope for your Santa Cruz home for sale.  However, this also means a different way of selling. 

Stage a Benefit

No open house for high-end buyers.  Host an event instead – maybe even a benefit dinner for a worthy charity.  Let people come and view the property, but give them an avenue to mix and mingle as well.  In addition, they get to see how the house handles a bunch of guests.

Showcase a Chef

If you have a gourmet kitchen (or two), check with chefs that would like to showcase their cooking abilities.  This creates an entire…

1420 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Selling a home isn’t easy, especially now.  Yet some homeowners believe they can stick a “for sale” sign in the ground and have the house off the market within a few days. 

While FSBO (For Sale by Owner) sales do occur, four out of five homeowners still use a Santa Cruz real estate agent.  Why?  Because selling your home on your own is hard work, and even more importantly, statistics prove that real estate agents get homes sold faster and for more money than FSBOs. 

If you’re not sure what you should do, here are a few things to think about:

FSBO

Sometimes, for sale by owner purchases are a good deal for the homeowner.  That doesn’t mean you should just jump in, however.  FSBO might be a good thing for you if:

1. It’s a seller’s market
2. You don’t…

1298 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Being eco-friendly is an important issue to most people today. Making your home as energy efficient as possible makes sense on many levels, but do you know it makes sense when it comes to federal tax credits too? They're not small incentives either. These tax credits are another major reason to be serious about going green in your Santa Cruz home.

Tax Credits for Existing Homes

Making your home energy efficient will benefit you whether you are planning to stay in your home for years to come or you are considering selling in the near future. Prospective buyers will react favorably to eco-friendly installations.  It will also help move your Santa Cruz home faster and get a better price.

In 2009 and 2010, you could get major tax incentives for going…

1930 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Want to go green but afraid it won’t work for condos in Santa Cruz?  Get rid of your worries, because it’s definitely possible.  It just takes a little thought!

1.  Go Energy Star – Anytime you get a chance, use Energy Star appliances, lighting, heating and cooling equipment.  When it’s time to replace something, look for the Energy Star option.

2.  Use a power strip – Many people have a slew of chargers and electronics.  Instead of plugging them directly into an outlet, use a power strip and then turn the power strip off when the electronics aren’t in use.

3.  Get an energy audit – If you get an energy audit you can find out how your insulation and heating and cooling equipment is working compared to the condos in Santa Cruz.  If it’s not up to par,…

1427 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

If you’re buying Santa Cruz real estate, you might start worrying about your credit score.  Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths about that score, and many individuals actually end up making things worse by following them. 

Read this list of common credit score myths and be in the know before talking to a lender:

1.  Close out your credit cards.  This is a big no-no, especially when you want to buy Santa Cruz real estate.  Closing out your older credit cards, especially, can actually make your credit score drop.

2.  Lower your credit limits.  Lowering your credit limits can hurt your credit score.  Part of your credit score is based on how much credit you have available.

3.  Get good credit by paying all your cards in full.  If you’re buying a…

1434 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post