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        <title>Santa Cruz Real Estate News &amp; Information</title>
        <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/2010-05/</link>
        <description>Lifestyle, community, day trips, restaurants, real estate, home improvements, and more. Discover what makes Santa Cruz County such a great place to live. Presented by My Santa Cruz Real Estate.</description>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/how-to-identify-your-perfect-santa-cruz-real-estate-agent.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/how-to-identify-your-perfect-santa-cruz-real-estate-agent.html</link>
        <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
        <title>How to Identify Your Perfect Santa Cruz Real Estate Agent</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
When you begin your search for the perfect house it usually starts with a search for the perfect Santa Cruz real estate agent. A good agent can help you with every aspect of buying a home. 

They know the proper price ranges, what properties are available that match your needs and all of those pesky legal details required for closing. Your Santa Cruz real estate agent will keep things moving and make sure deadlines are met and everything goes smoothly.

Here are four tips to help you choose a real estate agent:

Meet Them Face to Face

Perfect harmony should be as instantaneous as love at first sight. You simply know you hit it off with someone, or you don't. Don't fight the feelings if you have doubts. Even the best Santa Cruz real estate agent isn't going to have a connection with everybody.  There will be one that is perfect for you. Keep looking.

Ask Questions

When you do find a real estate agent you have a connection with, ask questions. There needs to be more than just a friendship between you. Make sure the agent has a real grasp of the area, the types of houses that are available, and seems in tune to what you are looking for.

Assess

Do they listen to your needs?  If they’re not listening to what you want, move on.  Did they answer your questions thoroughly?  If they were unable to answer your questions or purposely avoided answering any of your questions, this is not the right agent for you.

Answer Their Questions

Your Santa Cruz real estate agent will have plenty of questions for you too. They want to be sure you can afford a new home. Don't be offended by what may seem like personal questions. They need this information in order to give you the best advice. 

If you’re searching for your perfect real estate agent, I’d be honored if you’d interview me for the job.  Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at Lauren@LaurenSpencer.com to schedule a face-to-face meeting.

LINKS: 

Tips to help you choose a real estate agent

Ask questions

Afford a new home(link to a calculator on your website or link to this calculator)
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Sun, 09 May 2010 23:01:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-problem-neighbors-near-your-santa-cruz-home.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-problem-neighbors-near-your-santa-cruz-home.html</link>
        <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
        <title>How to Deal with Problem Neighbors Near Your Santa Cruz Home</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
We’ve all had to deal with problem neighbors near our Santa Cruz homes.  The trouble might be a loud late night party or a dog that is always barking at odd hours.  It can be hard to fix the problem without causing a lasting rift in the neighborhood.  Here are a few tips for getting a peaceful resolution:

Bring it Up Gently

It may be that your neighbor doesn’t realize there is a problem.  Try to wait a day or two after the problem occurs and tactfully bring up the trouble you are having.  Be sure to speak in a calm and reasonable manner.  

If your partying neighbor is not receptive to making a complete change, suggest that they let you know ahead of time when a party is scheduled.  Sometimes being able to plan for a disruption can make it easier to bear.

A dog that barks at all the wrong times is harder to fix.  If you have a specific reason for needing the dog to be quiet, for instance, you work nights and need to be able to sleep in your Santa Cruz home during the day; a gentle reminder that the dog is barking excessively may do the trick.

Ask For Help

If you’ve talked with the problem neighbor nicely and are still getting nowhere, try recruiting others in the neighborhood to help solve the dilemma.  Sometimes it’s easier to get results when a group is asking for change.  The disapproval of the entire neighborhood isn’t something that most people are willing to risk.

Occasionally, there might be that stubborn person who simply refuses to be courteous to anyone nearby.  It may seem that you have no options left.  Before you give up hope, check with your homeowner’s association, they may have the ability to enforce a change that you cannot. 

If at any time you feel that your neighbor is trying to force a confrontation, and may become dangerous, call the local police and ask for help. 

Trying a few of these suggestions can be an easy and effective way to bring the peace back to your neighborhood.

Want to find a Santa Cruz home in a peaceful neighborhood?  I can help.  Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at Lauren@LaurenSpencer.com.

LINKS:

Problem neighbors

Homeowner’s association 

Call the local police 

 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 07 May 2010 23:01:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item>
    <guid>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/how-to-be-a-strong-buyer-of-new-santa-cruz-homes.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/how-to-be-a-strong-buyer-of-new-santa-cruz-homes.html</link>
        <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
        <title>How to be a Strong Buyer of New Santa Cruz Homes</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
During a slow market, buyers have the biggest advantages of all. That’s why now is a great time to buy Santa Cruz homes. You can haggle without feeling guilty because you have the upper hand. Then, as the market bounces back, you get the extra bonus of rising prices making your home worth more than it was when you bought it.Even in this buyers’ market, you need to be a strong buyer. Otherwise, you could crumble when faced with negotiating prices or needed repairs. 

Three ways to be a strong buyer of Santa Cruz homes:

• Walk in to any home for sale with a set idea of the value of property in the area. This means taking a little time to do your homework.  When you know the prices of the area, you can't be run over by a forceful seller who is determined to convince you his price is firm.  This knowledge also helps you deal with sellers who are emotionally attached to their homes and can't price them according to true market value.

• Walk into a home for sale with an experienced REALTOR®. When you have a professional REALTOR® by your side, you are not alone. You do not have to be self-conscious or even be the 'strong one.' Your agent will do all your negotiating for you. You will also benefit from their intimate knowledge of the area and what to look for in a Santa Cruz home.

• Walk into any home for sale knowing your needs and price range. Going home shopping without a clear concept of what you want and can afford can lead to emotional decisions. That can be hazardous for your pocketbook too. 

If you would like more tips on how to be a strong buyer of Santa Cruz homes, give me a call today at 831.662.6522 or email me at Lauren@LaurenSpencer.com.

LINKS: 

Buyers’ market

Negotiating prices

Experienced REALTOR®
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 06 May 2010 11:24:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/santa-cruz-homes-and-lawns-growing-greener-grass.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/santa-cruz-homes-and-lawns-growing-greener-grass.html</link>
        <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
        <title>Santa Cruz  Homes and Lawns: Growing Greener Grass</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
If you're anything like me, you've driven through neighborhoods, admiring the Santa Cruz homes and immaculate lawns.  You've pictured your dry, brown yard, wondering how these homeowners managed to get their lawns looking so great.  

Here are a few tips and tricks that can help achieve that plush, green grass that everyone hopes for:

1.  Choose a type of grass seed that's right for your climate zone.  

There are three climate zones:  Warm, transitional and cool.  Warm season grass is better for lawns in the South, cool season for the North, and transitional for Central.  The best bet for the transitional zone is either a mixture of warm and cool season grass or using the same seeds as the warm zone.  

2.  Plant at the right time.

Throw grass seed on the ground at the right time, and it’ll grow.

• Warm zone grasses - sown in the spring, once the soil is warm enough for sprouts to grow.

• Cool zone grasses – sown in the fall, generally between August 1 – 15 for the far North, and August 15 – 30 for the warmer areas.

3.  Cut at the right height.

No matter what zone the Santa Cruz homes with gorgeous green lawns are in, you may notice that the lawns all seem to be about the same height.  There’s a reason for that.  Lawn care experts say you should never cut your grass shorter than two inches.

4.  Use the right mower.

You want to use mulching lawnmowers, replacing the blades every season to keep them sharp for cleaner cuts.  These lawnmowers turn the clippings into perfect grass-feed, which takes care of about half of the feed for the season.  

5.  Have a good watering schedule.

The best time to water a lawn is first thing in the morning.  You want to water all at once instead of in short spurts, soaking your lawn with about one inch each time you water.  Cool zone lawns should be watered whenever it's been dry for a week.  Lawns for warm zone Santa Cruz homes should be watered twice a week during the summer.

Want to buy a home with a lush lawn?  I can help.  Give me a call today at 831.662.6522 or email me at Lauren@LaurenSpencer.com.

LINKS:

Grass seed

Lawn care Mulching lawnmowers

 
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 03 May 2010 23:01:00 -0700</pubDate>
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<item>
    <guid>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/santa-cruz-real-estate-buyers-and-technology.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/santa-cruz-real-estate-buyers-and-technology.html</link>
        <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
        <title>Santa Cruz Real Estate, Buyers and Technology</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Technology has improved our lives over the last ten years, but it’s also caused some problems along the way for Santa Cruz real estate buyers. 

As a buyer, you naturally want to take advantage of every tool and service available to make it easier to find the home of your dreams. However, the Internet, which is one of the most common places for people to shop for Santa Cruz real estate nowadays, has also become a place where the unscrupulous hang out.  You can’t believe everything you read online, even when it comes to shopping for homes online.

If you’re trying to find a home, here are two things you need to be aware of: 

Home Valuation SitesMany potential buyers find an interesting home and then research the home value. This is commendable and just plain good sense. You want to make sure you’re not overpaying. Thanks to the Internet, we have sites like Zillow and Realtor.com that provide home valuations.

The problem is that these sites hardly ever agree on the home value. They can differ as much as 20 or more. While home valuation sites are an excellent place to get a ballpark estimate, you shouldn’t base your buying price on their information alone. Hire a reputable Santa Cruz real estate agent who knows the surrounding area and recent sale prices.

Dream Home or NightmareOne of the best things to happen for real estate agents and sellers alike is the ability to post digital photos and walk-through videos of the homes they’re selling. This is also great for you, as the buyer, because you can view the homes without going anywhere. 

Unfortunately, many buyers take those images and videos at face value. Thanks to some high-tech graphics programs, however, you can’t guarantee that what you see is what you get. Videos and images can both be manipulated to show you the best face of any piece of property.

Any time you see a home online that you’re interested in, it’s a good idea to check Google Maps and use the Street View option. At the very least, you can usually see the front and sides of the home. If you’re still interested, visit the home in person, or, if that’s not possible for some reason, ask your Santa Cruz real estate agent to visit the home and take pictures for you.

If you’re trying to find your dream home, I can help. Call me at 831.662.6522 or email me at Lauren@LaurenSpencer.com for more information.

 

Links:

Shopping for homes online

Zillow

Street View
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Sat, 01 May 2010 23:01:00 -0700</pubDate>
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