San Lorenzo Valley real estate

Take a drive north of Santa Cruz along Highway 9 and you'll encounter a string of charming small towns, majestic parks, and rustic mountain homes.

The San Lorenzo Valley between Santa Cruz and the Bay Area is a treasure trove of galleries, museums, quaint stores, hiking trails, and spacious properties shaded by tall Sequoia trees. It's along these winding rounds that you'll find the perfect sanctuary from urban life.

Here you'll find a chain of closely-connected communities: Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Brookdale, and Felton, each with its own unique character.

Buying a Home in San Lorenzo Valley

From a real estate perspective, the San Lorenzo Valley is one of the most diverse places in Santa Cruz County.

You can find anything from…

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History of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a spectacular place.

Not only does the city have gorgeous redwood forests and world-class beaches, but it has an arts and culture scene unlike any other mid-sized city in America.

But what made Santa Cruz the city it is today?

Here’s a brief history of Santa Cruz so you can see how the city got its start:

The First Settlers

Although anthropologists have found evidence that people lived in the Santa Cruz area over 12,000 years ago, the city’s history began in 1769 when the first settlers made it to the shores of the city.

The first settlers were Spanish explorers on the Portola Expedition. They were the first non-native people to explore the coast of the Santa Cruz region.

Explorer Don Gaspar de Portola set foot on…

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Home renovations that don't pay off

Renovating your home is a great way to boost its value before you sell it.

And there are certain renovations that are notorious for giving homeowners great returns on their investments. Some of these include kitchen makeovers and bathroom upgrades.

But not all renovations are going to boost the value of your home as much as you want them to.

So that you can get the most value out of your Santa Cruz home, avoid these home renovations that don’t pay off when selling your home:

Bathroom Additions

Unlike regular bathroom renovations, bathroom additions do not give you a great rate of return.

After adding walls, plumbing, and fixtures, a bathroom addition can cost you anywhere between $50,000 and $60,000, but will likely only get you 50%…

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Viewpoints at Santa Cruz Lighthouse at dusk


With it’s coastal redwood forests and it’s white sand beaches, Santa Cruz has it all. And what better way to experience this natural beauty than from viewpoints around the city? No matter if you love hiking, wine-tasting, dining-out, or all of the above, there are plenty of spots where you can enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean and the redwood forests, just two of the main draws of this beautiful city.


Here are the five best viewpoints in Santa Cruz.!

Lookout Trail in Pogonip

If you’re wanting to catch a good view of the city from up high, the Lookout Trail in Pogonip is the best spot for this. This trail provides you with unobstructed views of Santa Cruz’s redwood forests and the glistening ocean below.


You can arrive at this…

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