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        <title>Santa Cruz Real Estate News &amp; Information</title>
        <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/2014-12/</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/santa-cruz-real-estate-market-in-2014.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/santa-cruz-real-estate-market-in-2014.html</link>
        <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
        <title>Santa Cruz Real Estate Market in 2014</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 

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 &amp; Townhouses


The Santa Cruz condo &amp; townhouse market has seen continuous growth in inventory and sales during 2014. People are looking to Santa Cruz as an alternative option to living in Silicon Valley, where there’s even more economic frenzy happening. This has led to increasing prices for single family homes, which in turn has provided motivation for some buyers to invest in the Santa Cruz condo market.


What Does It All Mean?


What's currently driving the Santa Cruz real estate market is high demand and low supply. We know that low interest rates and high demand from Silicon Valley have helped propel the Santa Cruz real estate market to where it is today. In all likelihood, because of the non-stop economic activity happening on the other side of the Hill we will continue to be in a seller’s market until we see supply open up.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2014 11:37:00 -0800</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/santa-cruz-2015-new-years-parties-eat-drink-and-be-merry.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/santa-cruz-2015-new-years-parties-eat-drink-and-be-merry.html</link>
        <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
        <title>Santa Cruz 2015 New Year's Parties - Eat, Drink and Be Merry</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
New 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 Resort &amp; Spa is hosting a fabulous Fire &amp; Ice themed party to kick-off 2015 This will be an event to remember as it is an all-inclusive party package with dinner, open bar, dancing, and late check-out for NYE guests. This is a great event to party the night away.


Be Merry


If you're hoping to skip the whole party thing, there's still plenty of other festive options available to you in Santa Cruz. Say goodbye to 2014 and skip the crowds by heading over to the Cocoaunut Grove a night early for some pre-New Year's celebrations. Here you can catch a magic show and sip a free glass of champagne on Dec 30 2014 There's also a New Year's day hike taking place on Jan 1 2015. This is your chance to kick off 2015 by getting close to nature and exploring some of the local state parks.


No matter what kind of night you're hoping to have for New Year's Eve 2015, there's plenty of options to choose from in Santa Cruz
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2014 11:46:00 -0800</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/hottest-trend-in-real-estate-tiny-add-on-homes-for-in-laws-or-millennials.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/hottest-trend-in-real-estate-tiny-add-on-homes-for-in-laws-or-millennials.html</link>
        <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
        <title>Hottest trend in real estate: tiny add-on homes for in-laws or millennials</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
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 &quot;in-law suites&quot; or &quot;granny flats&quot; and formally as &quot;accessory dwelling units&quot; (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 here for a slideshow.




The main obstacle is zoning. Cities generally restrict the number of residences that can exist on a property. But often there are ways around that, if the structure is short enough, and/or if it's small enough in proportion to the property. In such cases, it's viewed not as a residence but as more of an outbuilding, skirting neighborhood restrictions.


Strangely -- and perhaps highlighting the dated way many of these zoning laws regulate residences -- the stove is frequently the dividing line over whether or not a structure is considered a home or not. So some developers add in small kitchenettes, but not stoves, simply because of zoning.


Kevin Casey, the CEO of New Avenue Homes, has been helping homeowners build these backyard cottages for about five years using his project planning software. &quot;It's not a cultural shift; it's a reversion to the norm,&quot; he says. &quot;If you go to Europe or Asia, this is what it's like. This is the way families have been living for centuries.&quot;


CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE FEATURED IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 01 Dec 2014 10:31:00 -0800</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/fun-holiday-events-in-santa-cruz-2014.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/fun-holiday-events-in-santa-cruz-2014.html</link>
        <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
        <title>Fun Holiday Events In Santa Cruz 2014</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 



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 &amp; 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 &amp; 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 Santa Cruz holiday events. With plenty of great events in Santa Cruz this December, creating lasting memories that your family will cherish for years to come is easy. So take a look below and make time for your family this holiday season, after all you deserve it.



Holiday Trains:


Holiday Tree Walk


Dates: November 28 - 30 December 6, 7, 13, 14


Departure Times: 11am &amp; 12:30pm


Hop aboard Roaring Camp’s steam train and head to the top of beautiful Bear Mountain. Once you arrive you can explore the beautiful decorated tree-lined walk while sipping on some hot cider.


Guests who donate a toy to the Santa Cruz County’s Toys for Tots campaign will receive $2 off the cost of their train ticket and bring some wonderful holiday cheer to those in need.




Location &amp; Details


Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road Felton, CA 831.335.4484 roaringcamp.comBuy tickets online





Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train


Dates: November 28, 29 December 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, &amp; 23


Departure Times: 5pm, 6:30pm, &amp; 8pm


Take a trip back in time aboard the Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train. This wonderful event takes you through the streets of Santa Cruz in vintage excursion cars decorated with colorful festive lights. Listen to musical entertainment, enjoy hot spiced cider, visit with Santa Clause and sing along to holiday carols. With tons of fun activities for both children and adults, this is an event that you and your family definitely do not want to miss.




Location &amp; Details


Departs from Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach St. Santa Cruz, CA 831.335.4484 Buy tickets online



Chanukah Train


Dates: December 18th


Departure Times: 6pm &amp; 8pm


Celebrate the first night of Chanukah with family and friends aboard Roaring Camp’s decorated old-fashioned excursion cars. The event’s fun activities include lighting the menorah, listening to Chanukah stories, playing dreidel, enjoying kosher refreshments and the choice of either miniature golf, laser tag or arcade games at the boardwalk.


Location &amp; Details


Santa Cruz Boardwalk 400 Beach Street Santa Cruz, CA 831.335.4484 Buy tickets online



The Train To Christmas Town - Watsonville


Dates: November 28th -December 28th


Departure Times: 2:15pm, 4:00pm, 5:45pm &amp; 7:30pm


This is no ordinary Christmas train ride. Watch characters from the book &quot;The Train To Christmas Town&quot; come to life right before your own eyes. Hop aboard for this one-hour train ride and meet your favorite character including Bumblebee the Polar Bear, Wabash the Squirrel and Zephyr the depot cat. Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies while you sing along to fun Christmas carols and eagerly await your arrival in Christmas Town to meet a very special guest.


Location &amp; Details


Watsonville Depot765 Ohlone ParkwayWatsonville, CA888.978.5562Buy tickets online



Other Holiday Events:


Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade


Dates: December 6th


Time: 10am


Join family &amp; friends for the Annual Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade. Your kids will love the festive atmosphere created by the decorated floats, fun marching band, holiday costumes, and other seasonal treats.




Location &amp; Details


Pacific Avenue More info





29th Annual Lighted Boat Parade


Dates: December 6th


Time: 5:30pm


The Santa Cruz Yacht Club's Annual Lighted Boat Parade is a long-time favorite of residents. This parade celebrates the holiday season in a way that is uniquely Santa Cruz. Make sure you and your family head down to the water this year and join in this fun holiday tradition. 


Location &amp; Details


Santa Cruz HarborSanta Cruz, CA831.475.6161



2014 Santa Cruz Winterfest


Date: December 11th


Time: 6pm - 10pm


Winterfest is a brand new holiday event in Santa Cruz. For one magical night only, Downtown Santa Cruz will transform into a winter festival unlike any other. Winterfest will have loads of fun including a free outdoor movie, carolers, wagon rides, open houses, photos with Santa and a special musical headliner. Admission is free, however, guests are encouraged to bring a donation for the Second Harvest food Bank.


Location &amp; Details


Pacific AvenueDowntownSanta Cruz, CA831.247.0317



Scotts Valley Christmas Tree Lighting Festival


Dates: December 6th


Time: 5pm


Participate in the festivities as the Scottsdale Christmas tree gets lit up. This free event features plenty of fun, including a visit from Santa, holiday music, and much more.


Location &amp; Details


Scotts Valley Community Center360 Kings Village Rd.Scotts Valley, CA831.438.1010


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 01 Dec 2014 10:30:00 -0800</pubDate>
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