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            <guid>http://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/safeguard-your-santa-cruz-home-with-a-house-sitter.html</guid>
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            <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
            <title>Safeguard Your Santa Cruz Home with a House Sitter</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Have you ever thought about hiring a house sitter for your Santa Cruz home?&nbsp; If youre going on an extended trip, hiring a house sitter could prevent potential problems.&nbsp; Here are the basics you need to know about house sitters.

What are the benefits of having a house sitter?

&bull;&nbsp;Its safer.&nbsp; If you are going out of town for any length of time, your Santa Cruz home is statistically less likely to be burglarized if its occupied.

&bull;&nbsp;Youll save on insurance fees.&nbsp; If your home is empty for over 30 days, you may not be able to buy homeowners insurance for it or the insurance may be very costly.

&bull;&nbsp;Your pets can stay in their home.&nbsp; Your pets are going to miss you, but at least theyll be more comfortable in familiar surroundings.&nbsp; Theyll also have less risk of infections such as kennel cough.

&bull;&nbsp;Your home is maintained.&nbsp; Whether you have a garden or in-door plants that need to be watered, your house sitter is there to take care of it.&nbsp; He or she can also cut your grass and get leaks fixed.&nbsp; Imagine the mess youd come home to if your ice maker sprung a leak!

How much do house sitters cost? 

The cost of house sitters depend on how long you want them to stay in your Santa Cruz home and what you want them to do for you.&nbsp; For example, you can have the house sitter stay overnight or make daily visits.&nbsp; 

Some house sitters care for your home in exchange for free lodging.&nbsp; For those who charge, daily rates start as low as $15 and go up from there. If you want your dog cared for and walked daily, youll pay extra for those types of services.

How do I find a house sitter?

If you have friends or neighbors whove used house sitters, ask them for referrals.&nbsp; You can also use a house sitter referral service such as House Sitters America or House Carers.

Need help finding a house sitter?&nbsp; Give me a call at (831) 662-6522 or send me an email at Lauren@LaurenSpencer.com.

For more information, please visit my website at www.MySantaCruzRealEstate.com.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Sun, 24 Jul 2011 23:01:00 -0700</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/perks-of-a-pre-approved-santa-cruz-home-loan.html</guid>
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            <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
            <title>Perks of a Pre-Approved Santa Cruz Home Loan</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Looking to buy a new house? Do you have a specified budget in place? Are you going to need to take out a loan? In such a tumultuous real estate market, there are many frustrating financial hurdles that you need to jump before you can purchase your Santa Cruz home. However, with a pre-approved loan you could reduce stress and move in quicker.



A pre-approved loan is when a bank provides you with an amount they would be willing to lend you for a Santa Cruz home and a period of time for which this offer is good. They determine this amount based on several criteria that you must provide and prove, such as your current income, bank statements, income tax returns and credit history.



&nbsp;

&nbsp;



Perks from pre-approval 

&bull;&nbsp;Know what you can afford Using a mortgage calculator, you can see an estimate of the monthly mortgage payment to help you determine if it is within your budget.&nbsp; By obtaining a pre-approved loan, youll know exactly how much money you can spend on a house.

&bull;&nbsp;Gain credibility  Real estate agents and sellers take you more seriously if they have proof that you can come up with the money to purchase the property.

&bull;&nbsp;Save time  When you know exactly how much you can spend, you wont waste your time looking at houses out of your price range. This allows you to spend more time scrutinizing the houses you can afford.

&bull;&nbsp;Close quicker  With a pre-approved loan, youve already completed part of the time consuming work toward getting your mortgage. Without pre-approval, you might endure heartache if you find your dream Santa Cruz home, but cant find the funds. 



If youre searching for a Santa Cruz home without a pre-approved loan, stop wasting time. Analyze your income, talk with a lender and get pre-approved before beginning the house hunt. 

&nbsp;



Need a referral to a reputable mortgage provider?&nbsp; Give me a call today at 831-662 6522 or email me at Lauren@LaurenSpencer.com





&nbsp;







For more information, please visit my website at www.MySantaCruzRealEstate.com.
&nbsp; 






















Links:



&nbsp;



How to Get a Pre-Approved Home Loan
&nbsp; 
Free Annual Credit Report
&nbsp; 
Mortgage Calculator
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:01:00 -0700</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/5-easy-steps-to-taking-a-vacation-without-leaving-your-santa-cruz-condo.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/5-easy-steps-to-taking-a-vacation-without-leaving-your-santa-cruz-condo.html</link>
            <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
            <title>5 Easy Steps to Taking a Vacation without Leaving Your Santa Cruz Condo</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
These days, the thought of taking a vacation can lead to more stress than relaxation. So instead of worrying about booking hotels, buying plane tickets and taking time off work, enjoy a wonderful vacation without leaving your Santa Cruz condo. 

1.&nbsp;Turn off the news. Rent a video instead.

This is a great way to escape for a while without all the hassle. Think of places you've always wanted to go, but couldn't. Rent travel videos of a few of the places you'd like to visit and sit back, relax and let your mind wander.

2.&nbsp;Get lost in your favorite novel.

Do you enjoy the world of mystery, romance or even science fiction? Well, now's your time to relax in your Santa Cruz condo and get lost in another world. Just visit your favorite bookstore or library ahead of time and stock up on some good reads.

3.&nbsp;Send the kids to the grandparents.

There's never been a better time to let kids bond with family than the present. Pack up their favorite toys and goodies and send them on their way. Remember  you're on vacation!

4.&nbsp;Take a bubble bath

Instead of hopping in and out of the shower, take some time and revisit your bath tub for a long, refreshing bubble bath. Light some scented candles, put on soft music and just let stress drift away. 

5.&nbsp;Get a massage

You may be thinking you'd need to leave your property for this, but you don't! Plenty of massage therapists make house calls. Book one in advance and have him or her visit you on your vacation at your condo.

When you're thinking of your next vacation, take some time to explore your own surroundings. With a little planning, a lot of imagination and a bit of creativity, you can enjoy a wonderful, affordable vacation in the luxury of your own Santa Cruz condo. 

Tell me about your stay-at-home vacation.&nbsp; What did you do?&nbsp; Did you enjoy it as much or more than an &quot;away&quot; vacation?&nbsp; Post a comment here and help us all learn how to vacation at home.

&nbsp;

LINKS:

Good reads

Bubble bath

Massage therapists
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:25:00 -0700</pubDate>
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