These days, homebuyers are looking for many specific features and benefits when they are purchasing a new house. However, some of the most popular features are of the eco-friendly variety.

In today’s world, energy consumption is something that is on everyone’s mind. Eco-friendly living is a great way to save money, help the environment, and live a happy and healthy life too! If you’re committed to sustainable living, why not start with the house you live in.

Here are 5 things to look for when purchasing an eco-friendly home:

1. Make Sure Your REALTOR® is on Board

Years ago, people were not as concerned with the environment or being eco-friendly. If you asked a REALTOR® to help you find an eco-friendly home, you would most likely get some…

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will eco-friendly renovations improve the value of my home?

Let’s cut right to the chase, shall we?

Will eco-friendly renovations improve the value of my home? The short answer is yes!

While few things in this world are quite that simple - generally speaking spending a lot of money to renovate your home won’t lead to a direct increase in your home’s value. The truth is that you’ll rarely recoup the full cost of renovations when it comes time to sell.

The exception to this rule is certain eco-friendly home improvements.

Savvy home buyers aren’t just thinking about the initial upfront costs of purchasing a home, but also the regular costs - the ones that come from home maintenance and monthly utility bills. In addition to being highly attractive to buyers, eco-friendly home features have the added…

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For gardening enthusiasts in Santa Cruz, spring and summer are an exciting time of year.

It’s when you can really let your green thumb guide you and create a beautiful garden in your home. Whether you prefer perennials or produce, there’s no doubt that a Santa Cruz home garden is a great addition to your property.

Gardening not only offers stress relief, it’s also environmentally friendly and helps add gorgeous lush greenery to your property.

Plus, many of us are finding ourselves with a little more free time at home lately. Are you considering hopping on the urban agriculture train?

Here are some of the best fruits and vegetables to plant in Santa Cruz:

Popular Vegetables

One of the best things about living in California is the…

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"Going green" has been big news in real estate for some time now. The benefits are undeniable: less waste, more savings, and the growing appeal to an ever expanding market of environmentally conscious home buyers.

Going green isn't just about recycling your trash, turning the lights off, or the ol' brick-in-the-cistern trick. And we're also some ways past the era of simply putting a solar panel and some extra insulation on a home and calling it "green".

So, where are we in the race towards sustainability? Well 2019 is set to be great for exciting new innovations, as well as some interesting variations on older ideas.

Read on to find out more...

Green Home Construction

More and more, the drive towards greener homes is taking into…

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everything you need to know about buying an eco-friendly home in santa cruz, ca

It's hard to live around Santa Cruz and not develop a deep love of nature. The beautiful and breathtaking landscapes invite reverence and respect at every turn.

As such, Santa Cruz residents and the city's government have a long-standing commitment to making local real estate as eco-friendly as possible. Part of that effort is making our homes more environmentally friendly.

Many people want to buy a "green" home in Santa Cruz, yet there's still a lot of lingering confusion as to what exactly "green" means. Are you interested in learning how to spot an eco-friendly home, and what the benefits of owning such a home might be?

Well, we've got the information you're looking for right here:

What Is "Eco-Friendly" Anyway?

We hear a lot of…

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With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, now’s a great time to be thinking about how you’ll celebrate with your significant other. Will you opt for the more traditional gifts or flowers and chocolates, or maybe mix things up with a spontaneous trip or day at the spa? Here are some great local gifts and trips to surprise your sweetie with this year in Santa Cruz County.

Celebrate With A Brew for Two

When you think Valentine’s Day, one of the first things that often comes to mind is often chocolate. However, with so many craft breweries popping up these days, a handcrafted ale might be a close second. On Saturday, February 14, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing will be hosting Twisted Tasting at the Monterey Bay Exploration Center. 

A Picnic In…

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Davenport, CA

Clinging tight to the shoreline about 20 minutes north of Santa Cruz along old highway 1 is the sleepy little village of Davenport. Don't let it's size deceive you, — Davenport is a highly sought-after community with limited housing stock, which only adds to its allure. Those in search of a purely quiet beach town will not need to look any further. With most homes being just steps from Davenport Beac, not to mention a recreation center, elementary school, and grocery store, everything you need is in this charming seaside town.  

A Brief History of Davenport

The town is named for a Captain John Pope Davenport, who first set up shop here in 1867 by constructing a 450-foot wharf to aid in transporting lumber from the interior of the mainland, back…

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staging your home

Transforming and taking your home to the next level when it’s on the market is usually the first thing that comes to mind when you’d like to inspire multiple offers or get a strong return on investment (ROI). Sometimes splurging on fancy household accessories or professional staging services isn’t in the cards when it comes to selling your home. Home sellers who want to show their space in the best possible way without breaking the bank will find these 5 tips useful. The best part about these ideas is that you can do them all yourself!

1. Deep Cleaning

The cleanliness of an interior and exterior is usually the first thing that a potential homebuyer notices. An unkept property can turn anyone off, even if it's worth millions. A deep clean takes…

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Located south of the bustling centers of San Francisco and San Jose, Santa Cruz County is a relaxed seaside community that offers its residents an exceptional quality of life. On any given day in the summer, residents and visitors have the option of swimming in saltwater waves, hiking through incredible redwood forests, or exploring the quaint communities that line the shores of the Pacific. On the 4th of July, each of these communities has their own unique unique traditions. This year, come celebrate the 4th of July in Santa Cruz County. Below, you'll find more information about festivities in a few key communities in the area.

Aptos

The picturesque community of Aptos is located at the junction of the redwood forests and the Pacific Ocean.…

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live near the best schools in Santa Cruz County

Finding a top notch school is vital to the success of our children. When you are new to the area and unsure of where to purchase a home, the quality of your children’s education takes top priority. This is no different for those parents searching for the best schools in Santa Cruz County. Once you know your children will be taken care of, you can focus on other details such as: square footage, granite counter tops, and how big the swing set will be in the backyard!

Regardless of your child’s age, the best schools in Santa Cruz County will make all the difference to their personal growth; and to your peace of mind as a parent. Listed below is a sampling of some of the top schools in Santa Cruz:

Mountain Elementary District

Mountain Elementary…

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