Home Inspection 
There are currently 12 blog entries related to this category.
How Buying Santa Cruz Real Estate is Like Running a Marathon
Friday, August 20th, 2010 at 1:01am. 8 Views, 0 Comments.
It's true. There are a lot of parallels between buying a piece of Santa Cruz real estate and running a marathon.
The Starting Line
At first, there is excitement. The idea of buying a new home pulses in your veins and you can't wait to get started. You're like a runner in the blocks just itching to begin. Your muscles twitch in anticipation with every piece of Santa Cruz real estate you see. That's when the real adrenaline rush kicks in.
Start Out Slowly
Keep to a steady, consistent pace and you’ll make it to the finish line. There's so much to do before you can get your Santa Cruz real estate. Home appraisals, inspections and financing to apply for…
You start to think about all the 'what ifs,' like what if you don't get the financing, what if something…
Buyer’s Market? Santa Cruz Real Estate Agents to the Rescue
Friday, June 25th, 2010 at 1:01am. 24 Views, 0 Comments.
“Buyer’s market” means that the buyers have the upper hand; there’s more supply than demand. When it comes to selling your home, it’s safe to say that you’re competing in one of recent history’s toughest real estate markets. This is a true buyer’s market, where supply far outweighs demand. So how do you go about selling your home in these conditions?
Interview Santa Cruz Real Estate Agents
Don’t pick an agent based on looks. An agent who drives an expensive car may very well just be someone who lives beyond his or her means. Instead, create a list of the top Santa Cruz real estate agents in the area and interview them. Ask:
• About their experiences in selling homes in your area this year and last year – not in years gone by
• What they’d recommend to make…
Santa Cruz Real Estate: Fight Mold Before Buyers Run
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 at 1:01am. 28 Views, 0 Comments.
Spring is the rainy season for many parts of the nation and, for those areas where spring doesn’t bring rain, summer does. Rain brings mold, mold grows on your Santa Cruz real estate and buyers run. Of course, if it doesn’t rain, there’s always humidity, which can also cause mold and mildew in the home.
How do I know if I have mold?
Well, for example, if you get up in the morning, walk into your living room and find a swimming pool where your couch used to be, you might have mold once the water dries up. Of course, if you have swimming pool in your living room every spring, you can always use it as a selling point… “Living room boasts natural, seasonal pool!”
On the serious side, mold is often indicated by a musty, often sharp smell in the home. You also…
Santa Cruz Real Estate, Buyers and Technology
Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 at 1:01am. 39 Views, 0 Comments.
Technology has improved our lives over the last ten years, but it’s also caused some problems along the way for Santa Cruz real estate buyers.
As a buyer, you naturally want to take advantage of every tool and service available to make it easier to find the home of your dreams. However, the Internet, which is one of the most common places for people to shop for Santa Cruz real estate nowadays, has also become a place where the unscrupulous hang out. You can’t believe everything you read online, even when it comes to shopping for homes online.
If you’re trying to find a home, here are two things you need to be aware of:
Home Valuation Sites
Many potential buyers find an interesting home and then research the home value. This is commendable and just plain…
High Santa Cruz Foreclosures Equals Great Deals
Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 1:01am. 47 Views, 0 Comments.
The extension of the homebuyer’s tax credit, as well as the expansion to include upgrade homebuyers, has a lot of people looking for their dream home. Many are looking for that dream home in the listings for Santa Cruz foreclosures. Why?
The Law of Supply and Demand
Quick marketing lesson: every market is dependent on the law of supply and demand. When the demand for a product is higher than the supply, prices go up. When there’s more product than demand, prices go down.
This is what’s happening now, especially with Santa Cruz foreclosures. Around the U.S., the supply of homes has doubled in the past two years, reaching as high as a ten-month supply. While homebuyers have been reluctant to buy a foreclosure in the past, people are starting to rethink the…
Buyer’s Guide to Your Santa Cruz Home’s Appraisal Terms
Saturday, February 13th, 2010 at 1:01am. 53 Views, 0 Comments.
If you're getting a mortgage on a home, your lender will require an appraisal. This is performed by a licensed appraiser who evaluates your home and determines its value. Here is a guide to your Santa Cruz home’s appraisal terms.
• Age: The actual age of your home is how long since your home has been built. The effective age is the adjusted age of your home based on improvements and repairs.
• Adjustments: Comparison Santa Cruz homes are usually not exact replicas of your home. The appraiser will make adjustments for things like premium views or swimming pools to bring the home values closer together.
• Appraisal: This is the estimated value of your home based on the appraiser’s documentation.
• Comparison approach: A type of appraisal in which your home is…
4 Things That Can Stop You from Closing on a New Santa Cruz Home for Sale
Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 11:10am. 80 Views, 0 Comments.
Purchasing a Santa Cruz home for sale, especially as a first-time buyer, is incredibly exciting. However, just because your offer is accepted doesn’t mean the deal is done. Lots of things can still cause the deal to fall through. Here are just a few things that might slow or stop your purchase:
1. Termites – Most lenders will insist on having a pest inspection to make sure termites or carpenter ants haven’t seriously damaged the home. Even if your particular lender doesn’t require an inspection, it’s best that you get one done anyway. If the pest inspection shows there is a severe problem, you can either ask the seller to pay to have the problem fixed or walk away if your purchase agreement allows it. At less than $100, a pest inspection is definitely worth…
How to Buy Santa Cruz Real Estate For Sale By Owner
Thursday, July 9th, 2009 at 10:13am. 87 Views, 0 Comments.
There are a few misconceptions about buying Santa Cruz real estate for sale by owner (FSBO).
Seller Isn't Serious
Some buyers think that the seller isn’t serious about selling the house, that they’re just testing the market. While this is true in some cases, most sellers will accept an offer that is close to the asking price at any time.
Sometimes Santa Cruz real estate for sale by owner will sit on the market for a while. This may be because the owner is not open to negotiations on the sale price. More often, it’s because the owner doesn’t have the experience showing homes to potential buyers that a real estate agent does. A typical owner isn’t likely to have the time to properly market the house. If there aren’t enough buyers looking at the house,…
A Great Santa Cruz Real Estate Agent Can Help You Find the Best Homes for Sale
Saturday, June 13th, 2009 at 1:13pm. 87 Views, 0 Comments.
Finding a home may seem like a simple ordeal. There are ads all over the internet, and your local newspaper probably has pages of listings. So why bother working with a Santa Cruz real estate agent?
Your real agent isn't going to help you just find homes for sale; they're going to help you find the perfect home. So what does a Santa Cruz real estate agent know that you don't know, and how can they find the best homes for sale?
Intimate Knowledge
Finding a Santa Cruz real estate agent who specializes in the area where you want to buy is especially helpful because they have intimate knowledge of the homes for sale. The agent also knows the locale and can give you tips about schools, crime levels, shopping and other necessities.
MLS Searches
While you can view…
Prepare For Your Santa Cruz Home Inspection
Monday, May 25th, 2009 at 8:01am. 106 Views, 0 Comments.
Few things can derail your plans to sell your Santa Cruz home like failing a home inspection. Most states require that a home inspection be completed and turned over to the buyer before the contract is finalized.
To prepare for your Santa Cruz home inspection, you’ll want to thoroughly clean your home. It’s also a good idea to examine all the appliances to make sure they're in good working condition.
What Will the Inspector Do?
You may be surprised to learn that the inspector will turn on the stove and test the dishwasher and garbage disposal. They'll make sure the furnace and air conditioning systems work. You’ll want to clear out the area around the furnace and hot water heater because the inspector will need a few feet of space towork in.
If you plan to…
