Santa Cruz Condos 
There are currently 34 blog entries related to this category.
Helping Your Santa Cruz Real Estate Agent Get You into a New Home
Sunday, March 21st, 2010 at 1:01am. 0 Views, 0 Comments.
Buying a home is often considered one of the most stressful things you will do in your life. Unless you're a real estate investor, you will most likely experience home buyer stress.
You can help your Santa Cruz real estate agent find you a home, and successfully close the deal, if you are as prepared and knowledgeable as possible. Here are a few tips to help you be ready and make your transition as painless and stress free as possible.
Have all of your financial records in order. This includes:
• Income records: You usually need two recent pay stubs. If you are self-employed, it will get trickier. Want to be even more prepared? Get pre-approved for your mortgage.
• A clean credit report: Make use of those free credit reports and check for errors,…
National and Santa Cruz Homes for Sale – Economists Predict Housing Shortage
Friday, March 19th, 2010 at 1:01am. 1 Views, 0 Comments.
As a real estate agent for Santa Cruz homes for sale, part of my job is keeping up with current real estate news. Most of the time, I’m largely unsurprised by the news that comes across my desk, but this little tidbit blew me away.
For two years now, we’ve seen mass foreclosures, people walking away from their underwater mortgages and warnings that there’s more to come. Foreclosure numbers reached all time highs, housing prices have reached all time lows and half the country is unemployed. It’s enough to make a homeowner with one of the Santa Cruz homes for sale have a mental breakdown.
However, in February, the news went out, flooring most in the real estate industry: severe shortage of property predicted by the middle of 2011. This may sound unbelievable. …
Does Your Santa Cruz Real Estate Team Know What They’re Doing?
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 at 1:01am. 1 Views, 0 Comments.
If you’re thinking of buying Santa Cruz real estate, now is the time to take advantage of this buyer's market.
Back in the “good old days,” (a few years ago) it was easier to qualify for a loan, with one-page loan applications, stated incomes and “no doc” (no documentation, meaning nothing had to be proven) loans. There were amazing loan programs, like 125% loan on the purchase price with no down payment.
Now, buying Santa Cruz real estate is more burdensome. No more “no doc” loans; lenders want every piece of documentation you can come up with. So then, why is it the best time to buy? And what does this have to do with your real estate team?
Although the current loan situation isn't ideal, it’s worth the effort to find a home you can afford. Here are two…
Choosing the Right Santa Cruz Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home
Monday, March 15th, 2010 at 1:01am. 1 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. 1 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…
Before Painting Your Santa Cruz Home For Sale
Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 1:01am. 6 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…
10 Ideas to Save Money and Make Your Santa Cruz Home Greener
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 3:40pm. 17 Views, 0 Comments.
Saving money and going green are both hot topics right now. So, I'm sure you've already heard the tips to turn off water while brushing your teeth, turn off TVs and computers and swap out old light bulbs for the new energy-saving versions.
Here are 10 new ideas to help you save money and make your Santa Cruz home greener.
1. Swap stuff. There are hundreds of online sites where you can get furniture, books, CDs, DVDs and even a place to stay for free by swapping stuff with other people. And, I'm not just talking about Craigslist. Two of the most popular and easy to use swap sites are Paperbackswap.com and SwapaDVD.com.
2. Recycle your cell phone. According to the EPA, if the 100 million cell phones no longer being used by Americans were recycled,…
Thinking About Buying a Santa Cruz Condo? What You Need to Know
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 11:25am. 11 Views, 0 Comments.
If you’re thinking about buying a Santa Cruz condo, it’s imperative that you know what you’re getting into, and how the past year has changed things. The rules and regulations for condominium mortgages have changed a lot in 2009…
In April, the two government-run mortgage companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, tightened their guidelines for those looking to own a Santa Cruz condo or any multi-family home. The restrictions make it harder for potential buyers to get financed through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which makes a mortgage more expensive.
The April policy requires that the condominium association and operations be evaluated, as well as your credit qualifications. The new requirements touch on subjects such as:
• The association’s insurance
• Financial…
Holiday Candle Safety in Your Santa Cruz Condo
Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 1:24pm. 31 Views, 0 Comments.
More festive candles are used in your Santa Cruz condo during the holidays than at any other time of year, so it’s important to review the safety rules. Here are few tips to keep your condo safe:
Candle Placement Preparation
It may sound silly, but you need to prepare before you light that candle. First figure out where you want to place the candle in your Santa Cruz condo.
• Find a heat resistant surface.
• Make sure there aren’t any books, papers, curtains, or bedding nearby.
• Watch out for flammable holiday decorations.
• Keep the candle away from windows and vents, and check for signs of a draft.
• Place the candle where children and pets can’t reach and where it isn’t likely to be bumped into.
Getting Ready to Light the Candle
• Before burning…
