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There are currently 10 blog entries related to this category.
Santa Cruz Homes for Sale: A Case of Cold Feet
Thursday, August 12th, 2010 at 1:01am. 12 Views, 0 Comments.
While those who own Santa Cruz homes for sale are worried about the real estate market, some buyers are getting good deals. However, there are plenty of people on both sides of the market with a case of cold feet.
For instance, some with Santa Cruz homes for sale took them off the market. Others, who’ve thought of selling, haven’t.
The same can be said for buyers. Many potential homebuyers change their minds or still worry over that age-old question of, “Should I or shouldn’t I?”
Two Cases of Cold Feet
A 26-year old with a steady job, good paycheck and good credit, sums it up for many potential buyers. “My job’s steady and my credit is good. I keep watching the houses that go up for sale, thinking I could go ahead and buy, but then the ‘what if’s’ pop into…
How to Set a Kitchen Renovation Budget on Santa Cruz Homes
Sunday, July 25th, 2010 at 1:01am. 19 Views, 0 Comments.
There are many Santa Cruz homes currently for sale. An obvious question you must ask yourself in today’s market is how to make your home stand out.
Whether you’re a real estate investor wanting to flip several Santa Cruz homes or a homeowner selling your current home, one of the top ways to increase your home’s value is remodeling the kitchen. The kitchen is the central meeting place of the American family and people want it to be modern and up to date.
Do a Price Comparison among Santa Cruz Homes
Your renovation budget is one of the primary concerns to take into account before you begin. The current value of your home, as compared to other homes in your neighborhood, is one way to determine how much you should spend on your kitchen renovation.
- Higher…
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…
How to Choose Paint Colors to Sell Your Santa Cruz Real Estate
Thursday, March 25th, 2010 at 1:01am. 44 Views, 0 Comments.
When you’re ready to sell your Santa Cruz real estate, you want to make sure it's attractive to potential buyers. A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your home, but with all the paint colors available to you, you may wonder which colors are best.
There are two primary things to consider:
1. Function. What is the room primarily used for? Some rooms are easy to label. After all, there are only one or two uses for the kitchen or bathroom. But what about great rooms or family rooms? Rooms like that are most often used for relaxation and recovery from a busy day, and, therefore, should be painted in soothing shades of blue or green. Busier rooms, like the kitchen, can handle stronger colors like red, orange, or bright yellow.
2. Size. Generally, the smaller…
Before Painting Your Santa Cruz Home For Sale
Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 1:01am. 49 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…
3 Reasons to Have Your Santa Cruz Home Built With Sustainable Design
Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 10:20am. 76 Views, 0 Comments.
Some potential homeowners just don’t want a pre-lived in Santa Cruz home. They’d rather have their house built to their own specifications. They want a home that fits their needs exactly. If this is you, I understand and would like to help by giving you a glimpse into the future of home design.
The Future of Design
Thinking of the future might bring ideas of fantastic scientific miracles like smart houses that vacuum themselves. While building your Santa Cruz home and having it wired as a smart home may be a good idea, think, also, about sustainable design. Here are just a few reasons why sustainable design is a great idea:
1. Government mandates and incentives – Under the current administration, sustainable design is a big thing. In fact, many cities are…
How Can You Get Incentive Money, if You’re Not Selling Your Santa Cruz Real Estate?
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 11:11am. 79 Views, 0 Comments.
Not everybody is dealing with the worry of buying or selling Santa Cruz real estate. Some are quite happy where they are, have no intention of moving, and selling is the last thing on their minds.
However, there are a lot of incentives out there to do something in Santa Cruz real estate, and many are itching to dip into those incentives. So, if you’re not selling or buying, what can you do? Here are a few ideas:
Upgrades
Upgrades are something you can do to your home at any time. However, with the many government incentives out there, you can upgrade your home to be more energy efficient for less. For example, thanks to federal tax credits, you can install solar panels or a geothermal heat pump and get 30% back once you file your federal taxes.
Instead of…
Weekend Green Projects for Your Santa Cruz Home
Sunday, September 27th, 2009 at 1:01pm. 106 Views, 0 Comments.
Are you looking for something to do around your Santa Cruz home this weekend that will also help the environment? Why not do a quick green renovation at home. Incorporating green products and practices in your home save our natural resources and are better for your health. Here are a few simple projects you can work on this weekend.
1. Floors. You can easily replace the floor in a room during a weekend. Bamboo and cork floors are excellent environmentally-friendly choices because they are renewable sources. They come in a variety of colors and styles so you can find something that will match your current décor.
2. Paint. Painting a room is a quick and easy way to change its look. However, traditional paint is loaded with toxic fumes that can aggravate…
4 Places Santa Cruz Real Estate Agents Say, “Don’t Go Cheap!”
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 at 10:23am. 95 Views, 0 Comments.
As most Santa Cruz real estate agents will tell you, remodeling, decorating or repairing your home can go a long way towards getting it sold. For that matter, it can add value to your property in case you want to sell later – that is, if you don’t choose the wrong places to buy cheap:
• Windows – Never buy a window based on which one is cheapest. You want windows that look good, and, as most Santa Cruz real estate agents will recommend, you want energy-efficient windows. During 2009 and 2010, you may be eligible for a Federal Tax Credit for Energy Efficiency of up to $1500 when you purchase Energy Star windows.
• Paint – Paint is one of the biggest places people skimp when it comes to cost, and a big no-no. Cheap paint may take several coats to look…
5 Fourth of July Safety Tips for Santa Cruz Homes
Saturday, July 4th, 2009 at 1:01am. 90 Views, 0 Comments.
The Fourth of July is an exciting – and delicious - time of year for owners of Santa Cruz homes. There’s swimming, grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, and, of course, fireworks. While the lights are pretty and it’s a blast to set them off, a moment of carelessness can ruin a good time. Following this list of common – and not so common – safety tips will help ensure that you have a safe and happy July 4th.
1. Get rid of the weeds around your house. Although most Santa Cruz homes are well taken care of, a lot of them have a little bit of weed growth here and there. Making sure the weeks are cut short (less than 3 inches) or destroyed will lower the risk of stray sparks setting them on fire.
2. Water your roof and the ground around your house. Stray…
