Santa Cruz Real Estate

Benefits of a Green Santa Cruz Home

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 1:01am. 0 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…

Before Painting Your Santa Cruz Home For Sale

Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 1:01am. 2 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…

Santa Cruz Home for Sale – Are You Obsessing?

Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 1:01am. 2 Views, 0 Comments.

 The national real estate market, state markets and city markets all seemed to be wrapped up in a nifty bundle that effect whether your Santa Cruz home for sale will have a buyer. With the news reports over the last two years about the pop of the housing bubble, homeowners everywhere essentially lost their minds.

Here are a few examples:

• Some homeowners panicked and immediately put their houses up for sale
• Some homeowners chose to walk away from it all, leaving their homes vacant and mortgages in default
• Some homeowners went into a flurry of home renovations, with the idea of selling
• National and Santa Cruz home for sale listings shot through the roof

The amazing thing isn’t that the real estate market seems to be stabilizing – that’s not the miracle.…

6 Tips to Reduce Stress While Selling Your Santa Cruz Real Estate

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 1:01am. 1 Views, 0 Comments.

Selling your home can be a stressful experience. Your home is one of your most valuable possessions and holds memories of your time there. However, you can survive the process of selling your Santa Cruz real estate. Here are some tips to make this time period smoother:

1. Remind yourself that this is temporary. This will pass. You will eventually find a buyer. You will have a contract. You will close the deal. Everything else is just part of the process and will eventually be a memory.

2. Use lists. Lists help you keep track of what you need to do and what you’ve already accomplished. You can’t forget something if you write it down.

3. Hire a Santa Cruz County real estate agent. Sometimes you just need professional help. You don’t have to go through this…

Buying Santa Cruz Real Estate: Money, Mortgages and Closing Costs

Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 1:01am. 5 Views, 0 Comments.

Because buying Santa Cruz real estate is one of the most important and expensive purchases you’ll ever make, it's worth the time to consider ways you can save money.  Here are a few ideas on how to save money on your mortgage and closing costs:

Pay Attention

You have to pay attention to how much the Santa Cruz real estate costs. You have to pay attention to how much the house is worth and how much more you may have to put in the kitty for any repairs that may need to be done. Use these details to negotiate.

Negotiate with the Seller

Negotiating with the seller is expected.  You already know you can negotiate on the price of the home, but did you know you can also negotiate who pays the closing costs?  In this buyer's market, it has become common to ask the…

FAQs on Tax Credits for Buying Homes for Sale in Santa Cruz

Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 1:01am. 3 Views, 0 Comments.

Thousands of potential buyers of homes for sale in Santa Cruz are now homeowners, thanks to the first-time homebuyer tax credit. You could be eligible for a tax credit if you bought a home in 2009 or plan to buy one before April, 2010.  But which one are you eligible for?

If you have two or three hours to spend reading the information about the homebuyer tax credit, you'll be able to figure out if you're eligible.  But, most people don’t have the time or patience. To shorten your learning curve, here are a few tips, pointers and frequently asked (and answered) questions about the tax credit:

Three Kinds of Homebuyer Tax Credits
There are actually three kinds of tax credits:

1. The original first-time homebuyer tax credit, enacted in 2008, covers the homes…

A Seller's Market?

Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 1:01am. 6 Views, 0 Comments.

A Seller’s Market? Hard to believe, but many homes drawing multiple offers again as listing shortages continue

My how things have changed in just one year! A year ago at this time, many homes were languishing on the market as buyers stayed on the sidelines, worrying about their jobs, the sharp decline in their 401k accounts, and whether housing prices would ever rise again. Today, many of those buyers have swallowed their fears and are out in force once again, spurred by an improving economy, a solid recovery in the financial markets, and federal home buyer tax credits that will expire this spring.

While no one claims the housing market is out of the woods yet, an unusual dynamic is occurring in many communities around the Bay Area:  Despite the choppy…

Want an $8000 Tax Credit? Buy a Santa Cruz Home for Sale Now

Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 1:01am. 7 Views, 0 Comments.

Last November, when Congress approved an extension on the first-time homebuyer tax credit, potential homebuyers who missed the original deadline were excited. It was another chance to buy a Santa Cruz home for sale and receive an often badly needed $8,000 on their tax return.

Real estate agents were excited as well, because the tax credit extension expanded to include “upgrade” buyers – those who wanted to replace their current home with a bigger one. The possibility of selling a home was higher than it’d been in a while. However, expansion to include upgrade buyers wasn’t the only change.

If you’re hoping to buy a Santa Cruz home for sale and take advantage of the tax credit before the new 2010 deadlines, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Two dates…

FHA Changes the Rules for Buying a Santa Cruz Home for Sale

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 1:01am. 12 Views, 0 Comments.

The FHA, or Federal Housing Administration, has helped many a homeowner buy a Santa Cruz home for sale by providing mortgage insurance through FHA-approved lenders. However, a change in policy, announced in January, may make it harder for those with poor credit.

Before we talk about FHA's change in policy, let's cover a few of the basics about the FHA and how it might help you buy a home for sale.

What is the FHA?
The FHA is a government agency that provides mortgage insurance to approved lending institutions.  It assists homebuyers by providing mortgage insurance to lenders to cover most losses that may occur when a borrower defaults.  This encourages lenders to make loans to borrowers who might otherwise not be able to get a loan.

What is an FHA Loan?
An FHA…

How Live-In Stagers Can Save Your Santa Cruz Home For Sale

Sunday, February 21st, 2010 at 1:01am. 8 Views, 0 Comments.

If you have a Santa Cruz home for sale and it’s sitting vacant, it's a perfect target for vandals. The signs are obvious, such as uncut grass and lights that never come on. In fact, a vacant house doesn’t just look vacant; it feels vacant.

Vandals aren’t the only problem for a vacant home for sale, however. The other problem is that a vacant home usually sells for less and sits longer than a well maintained, occupied home. So what’s the solution?

Well, if you live close by, you can visit the home, cut the grass, turn the lights on and keep it maintained. However, if this is more trouble than you’d rather go through, there’s another option – a live-in home stager.

You’ve probably heard or read a slew of information about home staging. If you haven’t, home…