Found 14 blog entries tagged as Lauren Spencer.

The beach community of Aptos, California is a special region, showcasing the beautiful Monterey Bay and breathtaking redwood forests. We're pleased to present 3 spectacular beach homes for sale in Aptos, listed with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. These homes offer the best of ocean views, quick beach access, and refreshing sea breezes to create the ultimate atmosphere of relaxation.

621 Beach Drive

This open concept, 2-story home on 621 Beach Drive sits along the coast of Monterey Bay, with beach access through a private passage. With gleaming pine floors, exposed beam ceilings and a wall of windows overlooking the sparkling ocean, this home is a gem that deserves a closer look. The gourmet kitchen features custom cabinetry, state of the art…

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Buying a luxury waterfront property in Santa Cruz is an exciting time, even for experienced homebuyers. Waterfront properties in Santa Cruz are more sought after because they are a rarity, in turn this means that working with someone who is knowledgeable is even more important. That being said, there are a few rules of thumb to consider when buying a waterfront luxury property in Santa Cruz:

1. Find a real estate agent that specializes in waterfront properties

Purchasing a Santa Cruz waterfront home can be complex, so working with someone who is knowledgeable about the area and has experience dealing with waterfront luxury properties is a key success factor. Having an expert available to help you with your search can help you change course from…

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The Beginning

On July 23rd in 1973 a handful of locals got together for the first race and since then the event has grown dramatically. Today the Wharf to Wharf race has gained critical acclaim as being the one of the ‘Best Little Road Races in California’. Every summer on the fourth Sunday of July, thousands of runners and spectators alike come to Santa Cruz for the annual six-mile (or 10K) race, dubbed ‘Capitola-by-the-Sea’. It starts at Main Beach in Santa Cruz and finishes in Capitola.

Popularity of Wharf to Wharf

As the race grew in popularity, so did its business profile. As one of the biggest events of the summer, it is hugely beneficial to local businesses. It’s estimated that eight million dollars is infused into the economy of Santa…

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Habitat for Humanity Builds Homes for Local Families in Santa Cruz CountyHabitat for Humanity Santa Cruz is a great non-profit organization that sets out to create affordable housing to low income families in need. This is an independently operated and locally funded chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Homes are built for local residents using donated supplies and community man-power. Qualifying families who live and work in Santa Cruz County will receive affordable homeownership with a zero percent mortgage from the HfHSCC; however, this is not a giveaway program. Applicants must prove a need for housing, provide a down payment and be able to make monthly mortgage payments. With local support, this program allows deserving residents of Santa Cruz County to gain economic stability and build a brighter future for their children.

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Did you know that, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, 10% of air leaks out of the average house through the windows? Also, an estimate by Energy Star states that homeowners could save an annual 7-15% on their energy bills by replacing their own windows with more efficient models.

If you live in an old home, it might not be possible to replace all of the windows in your home. However, there are still many simple and cheap things that you can do that will help to insulate your windows.

Apply Rubber Weather Sealing
At your local hardware store you will be able to find some inexpensive strips of rubber weather sealing that is self adhesive. You can cut a long strip down to fit your window and then peel it off and stick it to the frame in order…

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How do you know what happens to your documents when you put a piece of paper in the trash? It can be difficult to know who is seeing it and what they are doing with it.

It isn't very common to burn trash anymore; therefore you can be sure that your paper garbage or recycling is likely to pass through several hands on its way to a landfill or recycling center 

Step-by-Step Your Documents Can Get Pilfered

Every step that occurs once the trash leaves your control has risk that someone will find personal information they can use to cause you harm. One way to safeguard personal information is to shred it before it goes into the trash.

Shredding devices are available at most office supply stores. Cross-cut shredders provide more security than…

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The kids are back in school, the weather is getting cooler and your yard is covered in a layer of fallen leaves. Yep, it’s that time of the year again, but don’t think of fall leaves as a chore. They can be a useful resource for fertilizing your lawn or even decorating your home for autumn.

Finish The Raking
It’s tempting to just let the leaves lie in the yard. It’s good fertilizer anyway, right? Wrong. You should rake everything up as soon as the trees begin to look bare, or else risk the blanket of leaves smothering your lawn over the winter season. Gather them up in plastic bags and put them to use.

Refuse To Rake Leaves
If you can’t bring yourself to pick up a rake, you do have an alternative. Wait until the leaves are dry and crunchy and fire up…

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Buying a home is an emotional process. You spend countless hours searching for the right property, qualifying for a loan and completing what seems like an endless stack of paperwork. All this takes its toll on you, and can leave you feeling stressed and anxious. Rest assured, you will survive this frustrating time.

If you start to feel that things are getting a little too hectic or you’re taking frustrations out on coworkers or family, then take a deep breath. Here are five tips to help you relax and have some fun during the process of buying Santa Cruz real estate.

1. Choose your REALTOR carefully.

Finding the right property professional can relieve a lot stress. Be sure to find one that is constantly in communication, has great references and…

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Selling a home is simple, right? Homeowners do it by themselves all the time. While this might seem to be the case, it takes a lot of organization, experience and time to sell a house quickly and at the right price. It might be tempting to venture out on your own, but first you should seriously consider the benefits of hiring a Santa Cruz real estate agent.

Many sellers navigating the market by themselves become frustrated when it comes time to figure out a listing price, negotiate bids, deal with legal paperwork and just find enough time to manage it all. That’s when a professional’s expertise can save you from selling stress. Below is a list of marketing measures Realtors take to have you quickly closing on your home.

• Multiple Listing Service…

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