Santa Cruz real estate in 2014 started off a little bit differently from what we saw in the previous year with a significantly lower inventory for both single family homes and condominiums/townhouses. While the year isn't quite over yet (and we're still waiting on what the stats will tell us), we have seen median home prices creep up steadily since January.

Single Family Homes in Santa Cruz, CA

This year, homes priced below 800K have seen the most activity. As seen in many years before, the first quarter sales proved to be slower than what we typically see in the second and third quarter of the year. The median price of single family homes in Santa Cruz increased steadily, but not as dramatically as it had compared to 2013.

Santa Cruz Condos &…

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NYE 2015New Year's Eve in Santa Cruz can sometimes be a bit of a whirlwind. Whether you're looking for a nice place to grab a bite, the best party in town, or for a less conventional way to celebrate, we thought we'd highlight a few of our favorite New Year's festivities in Santa Cruz to help you kick-off 2015 in style!

Check out our top spots to eat, drink and be merry: 

Eat

Are you looking for something low-key like a nice meal? There are plenty of restaurants that will be open late on NYE. Severino's is known for having live entertainment and a wonderful ambiance. Located in the heart of Aptos, this is a charming spot to enjoy a fresh seafood and celebrate in comfort and style.

Drink

Looking for something unique and dazzling? The Chaminade…

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The hottest trend in real estate these days is carving out some space for your in-laws, the Wall Street Journal says.

And it has the potential to lift your home value as much as 60 percent.

Known informally as "in-law suites" or "granny flats" and formally as "accessory dwelling units" (ADUs), these little homes, usually somewhere between 300 and 800 square feet, are going up in backyards across the country. The multigenerational living trend has been picking up steam through the Great Recession, both as millennials return to their parents' homes and as boomers (and their parents) age.

To skirt zoning rules, in-law units often lack stoves. Click photo for a slideshow.

To skirt zoning rules, in-law units often lack stoves. Click here for a slideshow.

The main obstacle is zoning. Cities generally restrict the number of…

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fun holiday events in santa cruz california 2014

Santa Cruz Holiday Events

Well, it’s that time of year again. With the hours of preparation for Thanksgiving and Black Friday's hectic shopping spree behind us, our attention now turns to December’s holiday season. For people who celebrate Christmas & other holidays, this time of year can bring both beautiful and stressful moments. Even though we may feel the time pressure to get everyone the perfect gift and frantically prepare everything for the big day, it is crucial to mix in a few fun holiday events and simply enjoy spending time with your loved ones.

Spending time with family & friends is the most important part of the holiday season. To help you find some fun activities for your family to enjoy, we have compiled a list of our favorite…

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