Selling your home in a highly desirable market can be an exciting feeling, but a nervous one as well. You want to take full advantage of the hot market and get the most money you can from selling your home.

Even in a white hot market like Santa Cruz, there are still things every seller and REALTOR® needs to know before listing a property. There are a number of ways to maximize your return when selling your home, and by missing a few of them, you might not make as much money as you could have.

Lauren Spencer is a REALTOR® with nearly 35 years of experience selling homes. She knows the real estate game and the Santa Cruz market, which gives her a unique perspective and well-earned reputation for knowing the best way to sell your home in a seller’s

Whether it’s your first home or your fifth, people need someone they can trust to help sell it.

Trust comes from talent, experience, and knowing exactly what tools and strategy a property specialist will use to help sell your house.

Listing and selling a home in today’s competitive Santa Cruz real estate market is an art form, and one that Lauren Spencer is incredibly skillful at. In addition to her negotiation skills, she has fine-tuned her marketing techniques over the last 35 years to be able to net the absolute highest price for every one of her clients.

Here are some of the specific ways that Lauren Spencer is able to market your Santa Cruz home.

Pre-sale Cosmetic Consultation of the Home

The cosmetic consultation of the home is a

The fantastic Santa Cruz community -- and all that it has to offer -- has made it the dream place to live. Now, due to the global pandemic, more people are working from home than ever before, which begs the question -- if you can work from home, why not work from Santa Cruz, California?

According to a PEW poll conducted in October 2020 by the PEW Research Center, about 7 out of 10 workers say their job can be done remotely, and are now teleworking all or most of the time. The way we work has changed, and it has allowed many of our home offices to be located wherever we want!

Here are a few reasons why working from home in Santa Cruz, California could be the happiest life decision you’ve ever made.

The Nearby Weekend Getaways

Santa Cruz is

Things are going to get back to normal.

It's been a tumultous year to say the least, but businesses and everyday people across the nation have demonstrated a resiliancy and true innovative spirit. It's inspiring!

With that spirit in mind, let's continue our ongoing feature that highlights some of the incredible Santa Cruz businesses that are thriving and set to continue thriving well into the future.

The Bagelry

Downtown Santa Cruz - 320-A Cedar Street
Midtown Santa CRuz - 1636 Seabright Avenue
Soquel Village - 4763 Soquel Drive
bagelrysantacruz.com

The Bagelry's main location is in downtown Santa Cruz, but bagel fans will find other convenient location across Seabright and into nearby Soquel.

The traditional style of bagels made

These days, homebuyers are looking for many specific features and benefits when they are purchasing a new house. However, some of the most popular features are of the eco-friendly variety.

In today’s world, energy consumption is something that is on everyone’s mind. Eco-friendly living is a great way to save money, help the environment, and live a happy and healthy life too! If you’re committed to sustainable living, why not start with the house you live in.

Here are 5 things to look for when purchasing an eco-friendly home:

1. Make Sure Your REALTOR® is on Board

Years ago, people were not as concerned with the environment or being eco-friendly. If you asked a REALTOR® to help you find an eco-friendly home, you would most likely get some

You’ve found the perfect home for sale in Santa Cruz and a mortgage loan with the best interest rate you can find. What’s next in the home buying experience?

Closing.

It's time to sign the contracts, ensure the contingencies are covered, and pay your portion of the closing costs.

But what exactly are closing costs?

These are the most common closing costs in Santa Cruz real estate (click for a full description of each):

• Title Fees
• Recording Fees
• Appraisal Fee
• Mortgage Application Fee
• Inspection Fees
• Points
• Brokerage Commission
• Underwriting Fees
• Property Tax

Understanding Home Buyer Closing Costs

While working with a real estate agent comes at no cost to you as a buyer, there are still fees you may be

The real estate market in Santa Cruz is booming. This seaside city in northern California has become increasingly popular in recent years, as an appealing alternative to other nearby big cities like San Francisco or San Jose.

The appeal of Santa Cruz is instantly clear. Residents love the fresh, salty air from the ocean each morning as well as the towering redwoods that habitate the state parks that border the community.

Join us as we explore a few of the lesser-known Santa Cruz neighborhoods that you may not have considered, but probably should.

Ben Lomand

The small community of Ben Lomond is set in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains, just north of the city of Santa Cruz. The wonderful mountain community provides a welcome respite,

It has always been important to support local businesses in Santa Cruz, and now more than ever local businesses are demonstrating how they are ready to serve the community.

Make sure to check out these Santa Cruz businesses that have emerged, adapted and are thriving during the COVID 19 pandemic.

Sugo Italian Pasta Bar

https://www.sugoitalianpastabar.com/

1116 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz

Sugo Italian Pasta Bar is a new addition to Santa Cruz’s restaurant scene. This restaurant opened in the summer of 2020 and has become a popular place for locals looking for a deliciously authentic Italian meal. Stop by this restaurant and enjoy their patio seating or take your meal to go.

COVID 19 Protocols

• Outdoor seating
• Take out

New

Dreaming of lazy days spent on the beach with a gentle salty-air breeze?

A Santa Cruz oceanfront home is the answer. With miles of coastline, there is a Santa Cruz oceanfront property for just about everyone.

Santa Cruz oceanfront properties offer the ultimate beachside oasis and range in sizes from mid-range bungalows to sprawling luxury estates.

Calling Santa Cruz home, you'll enjoy many benefits including: year-round warm weather, a laid-back lifestyle, and a less densely populated area than other popular waterfront communities along northern California's rugged coast.

Check Out The Latest Waterfront Listings in Santa Cruz!

Here's what you need to know to start your oceanfront home search:

• Will this be your primary or a

Santa Cruz is home to an impeccable public school system and a highly rated health care system to boot, making it an ideal location for family life.

Before you embark on your real estate search in Santa Cruz, check out this list of Santa Cruz neighborhoods for growing families - and gain insight on the best communities to suit your family's needs.

Scotts Valley

Scotts Valley is currently experiencing rapid development in regards to new construction homes and retail opportunities. Located just 6 miles from the iconic beaches of Santa Cruz, and 30 minutes from San Jose’s Silicon Valley, this family-oriented neighborhood offers a substantial assortment of single-family homes to discover.

Young families are especially attracted to Scotts