Being eco-friendly is an important issue to most people today. Making your home as energy efficient as possible makes sense on many levels, but do you know it makes sense when it comes to federal tax credits too? They're not small incentives either. These tax credits are another major reason to be serious about going green in your Santa Cruz home.

Tax Credits for Existing Homes

Making your home energy efficient will benefit you whether you are planning to stay in your home for years to come or you are considering selling in the near future. Prospective buyers will react favorably to eco-friendly installations.  It will also help move your Santa Cruz home faster and get a better price.

In 2009 and 2010, you could get major tax incentives for going…

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Want to go green but afraid it won’t work for condos in Santa Cruz?  Get rid of your worries, because it’s definitely possible.  It just takes a little thought!

1.  Go Energy Star – Anytime you get a chance, use Energy Star appliances, lighting, heating and cooling equipment.  When it’s time to replace something, look for the Energy Star option.

2.  Use a power strip – Many people have a slew of chargers and electronics.  Instead of plugging them directly into an outlet, use a power strip and then turn the power strip off when the electronics aren’t in use.

3.  Get an energy audit – If you get an energy audit you can find out how your insulation and heating and cooling equipment is working compared to the condos in Santa Cruz.  If it’s not up to par,…

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If you’re buying Santa Cruz real estate, you might start worrying about your credit score.  Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths about that score, and many individuals actually end up making things worse by following them. 

Read this list of common credit score myths and be in the know before talking to a lender:

1.  Close out your credit cards.  This is a big no-no, especially when you want to buy Santa Cruz real estate.  Closing out your older credit cards, especially, can actually make your credit score drop.

2.  Lower your credit limits.  Lowering your credit limits can hurt your credit score.  Part of your credit score is based on how much credit you have available.

3.  Get good credit by paying all your cards in full.  If you’re buying a…

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There’s a lot of competition in the current market for Santa Cruz homes for sale.  If you’re thinking about adding your home to the list, this checklist is for you.

#1.  Set your goals.  What do you expect from your sale?  Do you just want to get rid of the home, or do you want the highest price possible?  Will you be ready if a buyer wants to close quickly?  The answers to these questions factor into how much time it takes for a house to come off the market.

#2.  Decide whether to use an agent or not.  Although many Santa Cruz homes for sale go faster and at better prices with a real estate agent, it’s still possible to get a decent price doing it yourself.  If you decide to use an agent, interview them and talk to their past clients to make sure you…

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