Found 13 blog entries tagged as Trends.

Imagine walking into your Santa Cruz home and turning off the alarm, locking your doors, opening the windows and starting your coffee maker, all with a few taps of your finger on your smart phone? What if you had a home security camera that you could monitor from anywhere and a motion sensor that would send you an email when your kids come home from school? What if you could open your blinds or unlock your home for a visitor, even from halfway around the world?

The technology that powers our home security systems is getting more and more sophisticated and in the future, our homes will be more responsive than we could ever imagine. Rather than a simple line of defense that keeps out burglars, it will be a completely integrated and custom designed…

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Buying Santa Cruz real estate is usually a long-term investment that will affect you for decades. When you are looking to buy a home, it is important to think about not just what you are looking for now, but what will be the most advantageous situation for you in the future.

Of course, it is impossible to predict the future accurately, as times change and unexpected events can occur. However, when you are buying a home, you should do your best to think about what your needs will be and how the area could change over time.

How Will Your Family Grow?

If you are a young couple buying a house together, think ahead to the next few decades and consider who might eventually live with you. You’ll want to make sure the house has enough bedrooms and a safe…

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Back in the 50’s and 60’s, you could just leave your house open and any Santa Cruz real estate agent could come in and show the home at any time. There were almost no security issues. Now, because of safety problems, we have the handy, dandy lock box.

Lock Box History

Attached to a door handle, gate, water or gas meter, lock boxes hold keys to a house for sale. They were invented in the 70’s, and opened by a key that your REALTOR possessed. In the 90’s, the electronic lock box replaced the older key model. The electronic type is what most property professionals use today to make sure your home remains safe while it's for sale.
In 2008, the electronic lock box took another big step forward in technology, and can:

• Alert as many as five emergency…

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The real estate market has started to recover from the downturn over the last few years, and more people are thinking about buying a place to live. An interesting trend seems to be developing. Instead of going for larger homes, many people are choosing micro-dwellings. Densely populated areas such as San Francisco and New York City are planning apartments that have approximately 300 square feet of living space!

Think this shrinking of real estate space applies only to multi-family dwellings? Think again. You can also find tiny single-family homes — some of which are even portable. If you’re still not convinced, read on to discover many of the factors drawing buyers to a smaller living space.

• A lower price tag - The cost of these Santa Cruz homes…

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The adage that a picture is worth a thousand words is truer today than ever.  Homebuyers are more likely to begin their search for a new home on the Internet.  As a result, individuals who have a Santa Cruz home for sale will increase the possibility of a quick sale by giving buyers a wide range of photos capturing the best features of the home.  Poor quality photos may have a negative impact on the sale of a home.  Following is a list of some of the more inviting photos that can be taken when selling your home.

1. A photo of the front of the home – This acts as an open door inviting the homebuyer in.

a. When taking a photo, make sure that you’re advertising your home and not the neighbor’s car or other items that are not related to the sale of the…

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More and more Santa Cruz homes have several generations living under one roof. Bloomberg News reported that, in 2010, 5.1 million households contained three generations, compared with 3.9 million a decade earlier. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of multi-generational families living together grew by 30 percent from 2000 to 2010.

Whether you have an in-law moving in to save money or an adult child returning after losing a job, you’ll appreciate a growing line of new homes marketed to multi-generational families. Here are some of the features you can find in this new generation of Santa Cruz homes:

• An attached one-bedroom suite with a private living area, bathroom and kitchenette. The suite has a separate entrance, its own garage and…

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More and more Santa Cruz homes have several generations living under one roof. Bloomberg News reported that, in 2010, 5.1 million households contained three generations, compared with 3.9 million a decade earlier. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of multi-generational families living together grew by 30 percent from 2000 to 2010.

Whether you have an in-law moving in to save money or an adult child returning after losing a job, you’ll appreciate a growing line of new homes marketed to multi-generational families. Here are some of the features you can find in this new generation of Santa Cruz homes:

• An attached one-bedroom suite with a private living area, bathroom and kitchenette. The suite has a separate entrance, its own garage and…

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