It’s almost time for the closing on the Santa Cruz home you’re buying and you can’t wait. You go to the property for the final walk-through inspection. You’re so busy thinking about where the furniture is going to go and what color you’ll paint the walls, you breeze right through the house.

It’s after closing and moving day has arrived. Your movers have already packed up your old house and are waiting for you to show up and unlock the door at your new Santa Cruz home. You enter the house only to find that the repair the sellers were supposed to make were not finished.

You may wonder if you have any recourse with the seller. Most likely not. Unfortunately, your last chance to object to the condition of the house passed at the final walk-through…

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The last few years have been financially difficult for millions of homeowners, with job losses and decline in home values devastating families all over the US. As a result, a great number of homes have gone through short sales, which has had a detrimental effect on consumers' credit ratings.

If you've considered or experienced a short sale, one of the biggest concerns you may have is how it will impact your ability to purchase another property in the future. Here are five key variables on how a short sale can impact your next home purchase.

Duration Of Delinquency Plays A Big Role

Short sale transactions take a long time to complete, depending on the state that you live in and the bank's policies. During this process, homeowners in a short sale…

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Aptos, CA will be Hosting World-Class Blues ArtistsMark your calendars and clear your schedules—the Santa Cruz Blues Festival is happening once again this Memorial Day Weekend, on Saturday May 24th and Sunday May 25th, 2014. This outstanding local event will feature 10 talented artists over the two days, including Greg Allman, Chris Isaak, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Vintage Trouble, Tab Benoit, and more. The event takes place in Aptos, CA's Village Park, and gates open at 10am each day, with the 8 hours of music to follow between 11am and 7pm.

A Stunning Venue: Aptos Village Park

The Santa Cruz Blues Festival will be the perfect way to kick-off the summer season in the Santa Cruz and Aptos area. This annual event began twenty-two years ago as a way to celebrate blues music, a uniquely…

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Water is the planet's most precious resource. Access to clean water is a privilege that, unfortunately, many people still take for granted. By utilizing new water efficiency technologies and age-old conservation methods, we can help preserve the water supply for future generations. Cutting down on consumption whenever possible is something that everyone can do to live a little greener.

Making Sure Your Home Holds Water

The first stop on your journey to save water is to ensure your home is free of water leaks. Make your way through your home, and properly shut off the water at all fixtures and faucets. Air-cooling systems and other devices that use water should also be shut of. Read your water meter, wait two hours (without using any water), and…

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As the federal reserve continues to taper quantitative easing measures, financial experts project mortgage Santa Cruz interest rates will climb in the next two years. Could this be the much awaited ray of light at the end of the proverbial tunnel for builders and investors or will it drive hesitant home buyers to dig in and shelter in place?

Homeowners who are vacillating between refinancing for a lower interest rate and staying the course may find the time has come to make a decision.

Shrinking unemployment numbers and rising retail sales figures signal that the economy is improving. Even if no one is ready to label the US economy as recovered, Fed Chairman Janet Yellon's decision to follow through on tapering plans reinforces other market…

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