Found 45 blog entries tagged as buying a home.

home buying tipsBuying a house is one of the biggest and most exciting investments of your life, and there can be plenty of twists and turns along the road to finding the right home. To ensure that you find the perfect property, it's important to establish your home buying criteria early on in the process. Knowing what you want before you even start looking will help you stay on track, so when you finally purchase a home you can be confident in the choice you've made.

Set Your Priorities

It's important to set your priorities early on, before going out to tour houses. Take a look at online listings to get a feel for what's out there and what you're looking for. Start making a master list of what you need and what you want in a house, listing each item in order of…

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The beach community of Aptos, California is a special region, showcasing the beautiful Monterey Bay and breathtaking redwood forests. We're pleased to present 3 spectacular beach homes for sale in Aptos, listed with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. These homes offer the best of ocean views, quick beach access, and refreshing sea breezes to create the ultimate atmosphere of relaxation.

621 Beach Drive

This open concept, 2-story home on 621 Beach Drive sits along the coast of Monterey Bay, with beach access through a private passage. With gleaming pine floors, exposed beam ceilings and a wall of windows overlooking the sparkling ocean, this home is a gem that deserves a closer look. The gourmet kitchen features custom cabinetry, state of the art…

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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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Some people love living in condos, while others swear by detached homes. When it comes to deciding between the two, however, you can't always rely on someone else’s word. Sometimes it's as simple as understanding and assessing your lifestyle to make the best choice, since condo living and home ownership are two radically different experiences, and thereby serve two very different types of lifestyles and personalities. Here are a few considerations if you’re trying to decide whether you should invest in a house or a condo.

House: Best If You Have A Furry Friend

Do you have a furry friend or two that are an integral part of your family? Depending on their size and species, you may want to consider a detached house over a condo, simply for the amount…

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Buying your first home is a major milestone in your life, similar to graduating high school or moving out of your parent’s house.

When you buy a Santa Cruz property, you are making a long term investment decision in your future and potentially taking the first step toward your future financial security. However, buying a house before you are ready can actually be a negative move that puts a cramp in your plans.

It is important to assess where you are in life, so that you know whether or not it’s the right time to buy a house.

Some people buy their first home at 21, others at 30 and some might continue to rent for the rest of their lives – the decision depends on personal circumstances. But how can you determine for yourself whether you are…

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When you are looking at a potential Santa Cruz home to buy, it’s important to pay attention to the details so that you can ensure that you are making the right choice. However, many home buyers will get so caught up in the excitement that they will miss certain important things that they need to know about the property.
If you are buying a home, make sure that you don’t miss any of these commonly overlooked details:

Do the Appliances Work?
Take the time to test the major appliances in the home to make sure that they are functioning properly. This is a very likely flaw that is often overlooked in a home inspection. It is a good idea to ask your home inspector to run every appliance through its full cycle to make sure that there are no problems.

What…

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One of the challenges you will face when deciding how much money to put down on your new home is whether to put down a larger down payment or to take a bit of money from your down payment and use it to pay "discount points" to lower your interest rate. There are pros and cons to doing both and each borrowers’ situation will be different so it's important to understand which option is best for your individual need.

Some factors you should consider include:

• Cost of borrowing - generally speaking, to lower your interest rate will mean you pay a premium. Most lenders will charge as much as one percent (one point) on the face amount of your loan to decrease your mortgage interest rate. Before you agree to pay discount points, you need to calculate the…

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August means it’s time to get your children ready for school once more. Picking out backpacks, going clothes shopping and finding all the right school supplies can be hectic enough. However, when you’ve moved and your children have to start all over in a new district, there’s even more to worry about!

Summer fun can make the sunny months fly by. It’s easy to forget that with the beginning of school comes excitement and anxiety for your little ones -- especially if they’re starting out somewhere new. So help them get adjusted with the back-to-a-new-school strategies below.

Explain why you’ll be moving.
Whether you’re moving states or just school districts, it’s best to give your children as much notice as possible and explain to them the reason for the…

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Is it the right time for you? Maybe you have been thinking of buying a Santa Cruz property, but you are not sure if you are ready yet to make the commitment. Buying your first home is a major life decision and it will require a lot of thought before you proceed.

How do you know when you are ready to make your home purchase? Here are a few things to keep in mind that will help you determine whether it’s time to buy your first home.

Do You Have Control Over Your Finances?

You keep a budget and you responsibly spend less than you earn. You pay off your credit card in full every month. You know where your money is coming from and where it goes. If you feel like you have a handle on your financial life and you have strong money management skills, you…

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When you first bought your home, it had just enough room for you, your spouse and perhaps a couple of children. However, one thing has lead to another and you have ended up having three little ones (although some days it feels like three dozen). Also, you have been considering moving your ailing mother in with you so that she doesn’t have to live in a home. You are quickly running out of space for everyone and the house is starting to feel a bit cramped. Should you build a house extension, or sell the home and move to a larger Santa Cruz property?

There are a number of advantages to each option, so here are a few things to consider when deciding whether to expand the house you have or move to a new one.

Is Extending the House Possible?

Of course,…

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