Santa Cruz Green Real Estate 
There are currently 21 blog entries related to this category.
What Future Buyers Are Looking For In Santa Cruz Homes for Sale
Sunday, July 11th, 2010 at 1:01am. 26 Views, 0 Comments.
Owners of Santa Cruz homes for sale are wondering, “What are buyers looking for?” This is especially true if the home has been on the market for a while. Well, homeowners aren’t the only ones. Several companies, including Better Homes and Gardens and Avid Ratings, the exclusive research provider for the National Association of Home Builders, have researched this question.
So, what are buyers looking for in national and Santa Cruz homes for sale? In a 2010 Avid Ratings homebuyer’s study, over 22,000 homeowners, who bought their homes in the past nine years, provide some clues. In short, the study says practicality beats out extras any day.
The days of formal dining rooms, oversized backyard patios and community clubhouses are gone. Swimming pools aren’t that…
How to Identify Your Perfect Santa Cruz Real Estate Agent
Monday, May 10th, 2010 at 1:01am. 41 Views, 0 Comments.
When you begin your search for the perfect house it usually starts with a search for the perfect Santa Cruz real estate agent. A good agent can help you with every aspect of buying a home.
They know the proper price ranges, what properties are available that match your needs and all of those pesky legal details required for closing. Your Santa Cruz real estate agent will keep things moving and make sure deadlines are met and everything goes smoothly.
Here are four tips to help you choose a real estate agent:
Meet Them Face to Face
Perfect harmony should be as instantaneous as love at first sight. You simply know you hit it off with someone, or you don't. Don't fight the feelings if you have doubts. Even the best Santa Cruz real estate agent isn't going to…
Buying or Selling Green Santa Cruz Real Estate
Monday, April 12th, 2010 at 1:01am. 53 Views, 0 Comments.
“Going green” can mean something as simple as using recyclable paper bags from the grocery store to something as complex as buying green Santa Cruz real estate. A greener world is a dream for many people. Even without promotions pushing consumers towards healthier choices and better living, a shift in consumer minds has begun.
What does this have to do with Santa Cruz real estate? Simply this: If you’re a buyer trying to find a green or energy-efficient home, you may be surprised to learn that you could run into some difficulty. And, if you’re selling your green home, you may not get the results you expect.
The Problem with Green
Energy-efficient and green homes are still a fairly new market. In fact, it’s still considered a niche market. This not only…
Benefits of a Green Santa Cruz Home
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 1:01am. 50 Views, 0 Comments.
If you’re thinking of building a new home, you should consider incorporating some green building practices or materials into your plans. Green building designs can include anything from using recycled materials to installing a rainwater collection system outside your home.
Here are just a few reasons why a green home is better for your health, your bank account and the environment:
• Better health. Surprisingly, indoor air pollution from toxic materials and cleaning products is usually far worse than outdoor air pollution. This aggravates conditions like asthma and allergies. Green homes tend to have better ventilation and fewer problems with mold and mildew. A simple switch to toxin-free building materials and cleaning products makes everyone breathe…
Green Building Still Running High for Santa Cruz Homes
Monday, January 11th, 2010 at 3:55pm. 55 Views, 0 Comments.
At the beginning of 2008, it was predicted that green national and Santa Cruz homes would not only become a steady trend, but would also become the nationwide norm. As the home building industry struggled with economic upheaval, the building of green homes was one sector that kept growing.
Energy Star Designations
As of December, 2009, over 1 million homes have received the Energy Star designation since the program’s inception in 1995. Despite the many foreclosures, the glutted housing market and drowning homeowners, 75,000 more homes gained the Energy Star designation in 2009, raising the numbers to 1,024,200.
In 2007, 12% of single-family homes in the U.S. were Energy Star homes. In 2008, the numbers had reached 17%. Although the reports have yet to come in…
How Do I Update My Santa Cruz Home to Make It Greener?
Sunday, December 27th, 2009 at 3:27pm. 70 Views, 0 Comments.
There are many different ways to update your Santa Cruz home to make it more eco-friendly.
• In your Santa Cruz home, install ceiling fans and thermal windows. Ceiling fans are low energy, cost effective ways of cooling your home without using the air conditioning. Thermal windows offer insulation from outside heat and cold.
• Use foam caulking around any cable lines or cords leading to an exterior wall. This will provide insulation against temperature changes.
• In the winter (or in climates that are cool year round), use the natural sunlight during the day. Opening the drapes and allowing the sun to come in decreases the amount of energy needed to light and heat your home. Closing the drapes at night adds another layer of insulation against…
What Does It Mean To Go Green in Your Santa Cruz Home Construction?
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 10:12am. 79 Views, 0 Comments.
Working to have a safe Santa Cruz home environment is important to everyone. We want our children to have safe water, clean air, fresh food and a healthy earth for their future.
One area where you might consider decreasing your impact on the environment is in your own home construction.
There are several ways you can have a safe and clean green home construction.
• Find a “green” builder to help with your Santa Cruz home. Search the Internet for professional green builders. It takes a special contractor to coordinate the elements of home building to ensure maximum energy savings. Buying green materials is just one step toward having a green home. To achieve ultimate efficiency, the different structural parts of plumbing, electricity, gas lines, and…
3 Ways to Improve the Indoor Air Quality of Your Santa Cruz Real Estate
Sunday, November 29th, 2009 at 2:19pm. 69 Views, 0 Comments.
When people think of environmental concerns, very seldom do they think of their home environment. Mold spores, carcinogens, allergens and more can fill up your Santa Cruz real estate and create a bad environment. Here are a few ways to make sure your indoor air quality is as good as it can be:
• Check for mold. Mold has a distinctive odor; somehow, it manages to smell both wet and dry, as well as musty. It can grow around windows, in the bathroom and in your air ducts. For windows, bathrooms and small areas within your home, you can clean the mold yourself wearing protective gear and using the right mold cleanup methods.
• Check the ductwork. Mold, dust, insect parts and other small to microscopic pollutants settle in ductwork and then, when the air is…
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…
