A home with a view Selling a Santa Cruz home with an ocean view has an instant advantage. It already has the built-in wow factor many buyers love - the stunning scenic view of the wide expanse of sparkling blue water. Aside from the view, who can pass up the opportunity of waking up every morning to the sound of crashing waves, or a chance to take an early morning walk along the sandy beach, or to feel the cool ocean breeze? If your home happens to be right in front of the beach, the more appealing it becomes. However, having a home with an ocean view doesn't guarantee that your home will sell successfully. There are still some things you need to do to ensure your home will be attractive to buyers. How to prepare your ocean view property When your career is taking you someplace else, an... 01/03/2018

Home valuations are estimates. If you are looking into your Pleasure Point Beach home’s worth with the intent to sell it soon, it is essential that you get the right value. As tempting as it may be to use the result of an online valuation, the best valuation will come from an experienced REALTOR® in your area.  When you enlist the assistance of the REALTOR®, the first thing he or she will do is to come up with your home’s worth. This valuation is of utmost significance since it will be the basis of your home’s listing price. Thus, it is vital that the estimate is done right and by someone who has the skills and experience to do it properly. Coming up with your home value is not an exact science. No two REALTORS® will produce the same amount.  It important to remember - valuations are ju... 12/04/2017

Each new listing Do you remember the jitters you got when you bought a home for the first time? I get that feeling each time I receive a listing. The feeling of excitement and thrill never gets old when you sell houses, because each house is different, and each pose a different challenge.  I’ve been selling homes and properties for a long time. I became a REALTOR® in 1998 and have learned many things about real estate, especially in Santa Cruz. If there is one thing I have learned from my experiences, it's that any property will sell if you have the right market and use the proper marketing tools. Each property is meant for someone!The Warren Drive property Around the end of October, I received Warren Drive on my listings. It is a wonderful property and has many unique and wonderful fea... 11/24/2017

 If you are one of smart Silicon Valley investors who is buying a rental property in Santa Cruz you may be buying one that has tenants in place. If that is the case it is very possible that the current tenants are not paying Santa Cruz market rental rates. Current Santa Cruz rental market rates are at a very high level. It is common to get at least $1200 a bedroom and not unheard of to get $1600 a bedroom. So what is the best thing to do if you are a Silicon Valley inverstor and have Santa Cruz tenants paying $1000 a bedroom, or less?In my opinion, as a long term Silicon Valley/Santa Cruz real estate agent and Santa Cruz rental property investor myself it is sometimes better to keep the tenants in place with gradual rent increases than to give them a huge rental increase and risk having... 11/05/2017

Westside Santa Cruz Homes for Sale - We are in a real housing crunch!! Every year on the Westside of Santa Cruz for the past several years we are seeing less and less homes coming on the market which is one reason that the home prices on the Westside of Santa Cruz are rising so much.  There is just not even close to enough homes for sale for all of the people that want to buy a home in Santa Cruz.  I live and work on the Westside of Santa Cruz and am very in touch with this market.  I am working with several active buyers on the Westside that just are not seeing any homes coming on the market that fit their needs. As of today there are only 17 single family homes for sale on the Westside of Santa Cruz.  To give you an idea of how low that number is, last year at this time we had 36 home... 11/02/2017

  Many of my Silicon Valley Investors are finding that the price it costs to purchase an investment rental property  in someplace like Palo Alto, Mountain View, or even downtown San Jose has gone up much faster that the rental market value has.  It is not unusual to see CAP rates of 1 or 2 % which is the return on your investment after expenses are paid, but before any costs for a mortgage. So if your mortgage is 4.25% for an investment rental property and you only make 2% after expenses and before a mortgage you will lose 2.25% in cash flow over the year. What that means is that on a million dollar property with a $700,000 loan you will have a negative cash flow of about $17,500 every year. When the market appreciates you make up for the loss in appreciation, but when the market goes d... 10/05/2017

I am a realtor and a Santa Cruz rental property investor since 2000. There are many reasons to invest in Santa Cruz rental properties, some of which I have discussed in this article. Today I want to talk about what the pros and cons are in renting to UCSC students.  Here are the pros that I have experienced.1. Vacancies are virtually non existent: There are almost $18,000 UCSC students and in any given year there is only room to house about 8,000 of them on campus. There are always many thousands of students looking for a place to rent, so the potential pool leaves no vacancies in your Santa Cruz investment rental properties. 2. Students pay more money:  They frequently will pay more per bedroom and sleep 2-3 in a room just to have a place to stay. Here is a link to what students expect... 10/01/2017

Santa Cruz, known for the beach, the boardwalk, Pacific Ave, hippies, and organic food, along with University of California Santa Cruz is also probably the best place for investors looking for rental properties right now. Here are some reasons why.  62% of Santa Cruz residents live in rentals, compared to a ntional average of 43% Average sale price of Santa Cruz homes has doubled in the last 5 years Cap rates for Santa Cruz rental properties are between 3.5-4% very easy to obtain, as opposed to 2.5-3% in The Silicon Valley No rent control but there is a one year moratorium on Santa Cruz short term rental permits so Air B&B investments not the way to go now. While the market is apprectiating the competition for investment homes in Santa Cruz is not as great as in Silicon Valley There are... 09/28/2017

Moving out of Santa Cruz? Thinking of putting your Santa Cruz home up for sale?   Upsizing, downsizing, career move or personal reasons, these are only some of the reasons why you will need to sell your home. It is not an easy decision, especially since your home is one of your biggest financial assets. However, once you have decided that a move is in order, the next step is knowing how much your home is worth. Knowing your home’s value is important in pricing it correctly. When you have the right price, your home will easily sell in the market. If you price too high, it may not sell. Price it too low and you’ll end up losing money.  To get things right, you need the help of an expert.  This is the best time to contact your best local REALTOR® like me, Sandy Wallace.   How to know your ... 08/17/2017

Longing for your own beachfront property? You are not alone! Many people would like to own a beachfront home.  Just imagine being able to breathe the crisp, sea breeze and waking up to the breathtaking view of the sea each day. To live near the beach and have access to its amazing view is one of life's simple pleasures. There is something so peaceful and restorative about being near the water, especially the beach.  It’s not just about the views. If you are into watersports, you save plenty of precious time when you’re just steps away from the waters. If you are looking for a second home or considering getting a beachfront property, the best place to look is Santa Cruz, CA. This county is home to some of the best beaches in California. You can easily find a second home or vacation home ... 07/01/2017

How fast is it to sell homes with pools?  Nowadays, homes are most likely to sell in the first 1-2 weeks after they are listed. Homebuyers who scouted for homes in the early spring continue to search for their dream house months later.  By May, some of them may be concerned about settling into a new home. There are many prospective buyers who are willing to pay a premium price to close the deal.  If a buyer is looking for a home and they see that it has a pool, they can either react strongly for a pool or against one.  What are the advantages of buying a home with a pool?  Let’s admit it, a house with a pool is always cooler than the rest in the neighborhood. That is why you want one with their house.  When the buyers looking at your home are pool lovers in Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz,... 05/25/2017

Do oceanfront properties sell easily? You would think that selling your Pleasure Point beach home is fast and easy, because after all, how can you say no to a home with an ocean view? However, that is not always the case. Many beach homes do not sell as successfully as the owners would have wanted. Many factors come into play in selling an oceanfront property which makes the process complicated.  If you want to sell your beach home successfully, you have to step up and bring your A game. Doing this will give you an edge over the tight competition and help to sell your home fast. What can you do to rise above the competition? There are many things you can do to make sure that your Pleasure Point beach home for sale will be successful. The real estate agent you work with to list your home... 05/08/2017

Search current inventory of Victorian & Craftsman Style homes for sale in Santa Cruz Vintage Craftsman Style home for sale in Santa Cruz!Listing Details:Santa Cruz Craftsman home for sale - original details 218 Highland Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060Price: $1,198,000Bedrooms: 5Bathrooms: 3Square Footage: 2758 approximately Call Jessica Wallace a 831.419.9345 to see if this property is still available and arrange a showing. Amazing Vintage Santa Cruz Craftsman with period details and trimI love this home!!  Built circa 1900 this home appears in the book the Walking Tour of Santa Cruz Architecture and is described as a Shingle Style Craftsman home with limestone front porch and gabled attic second story.  So much of the original features remain in tact which is just amazing.  As you walk in... 04/17/2017

Planning to buy a Victorian style home here in Santa Cruz? Homes in Santa Cruz are available in several different architechtural styles. If it is your lifelong dream to own a Victorian home, there are many homes for sale in Santa Cruz for you to choose from. You can find many Victorian homes close to Downtown Santa Cruz, especially on Walnut Avenue and Mission Hill. Walnut Ave is beautiful. It is the first residential street in Santa Cruz and only minutes away from downtown. It was the preferred place of residence for rich settlers from Spain and other countries.  Mission Hill is located uphill from the downtown area. It was the starting place where the Spanish priests pitched their tents and began their mission. The truth about Victorian homes  Your concept of a Victorian home probably... 04/06/2017

Are you looking for a Santa Cruz home for sale with an ocean view? I totally understand the appeal of having a home near the ocean.  The ocean holds a certain attraction to many people, and if you are like me, you’ll strongly feel it. The sound and sight of the crashing waves is soothing to the ears, and just gazing at the sea can give a calm and peaceful feeling. Of course, living near the ocean means never missing a day at the beach or in the water. Every day is an opportunity to enjoy, relax and have fun. You can go swimming, surfing, strolling or just simply take in the view. Not to mention how picturesque the view is during sunrise and sunset. These wonderful sights and emotions invoked by the ocean are sufficient reasons to buy a home with an ocean view. And if you are looking for... 03/09/2017

Discover the  community of Pleasure Point Beach  CA Pleasure Point Beach is located in an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County, nestled between Moran Lagoon and 41st Avenue, adjacent to the Monterey Bay. With its mixture of Western culture, Eastern culture, and surf culture, topped with a generous remanence of the hippy movement, it is simply a wonderful community. As a resident of this area, I’ve seen the beauty that it possesses. It has this sort of secret and special attraction that only people who live here will understand.  That’s why a lot of people are buying the homes for sale here, and you should too! But for now, let me share with you what I love about living in Pleasure Point  Beach CA! Vacation with friends and family is so much easier when you buy a home in Pleasure Poi... 01/21/2017

Built in 1975, this Santa Cruz Home was last sold for $960,000 in 2015 and currently has an estimated value of $1,014,219. The median price for this area is $799,000. If you’re looking for similar properties in the area, feel free to check my website out at http://www.santacruzcahomesforsale.com. Call Sandy Wallace at 831-818-7099 for more information on Santa Cruz real estate and on moving to the area! Overview Maps Photos Market Stats IDX Search $960,000 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms 2 Full Bathrooms Interior: 1,855 sqft Lot: 2.61 acre(s) Year Built: 1975 Location 45 Feather Ln Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA Sandy Wallace - REALTOR®Keller Williams Realty - Santa Cruz (831) 818-7099 [email protected]// http://seesandy4homes.com       Listed by: Sandy Wallace Our recent listin... 01/05/2017

Built in 1975, this Santa Cruz Home was last sold for $572,500 in 2015 and currently has an estimated value of $735,689. The median price for this area is $799,000. If you’re looking for similar properties in the area, feel free to check my website out at http://www.santacruzcahomesforsale.com. Call Sandy Wallace at 831-818-7099 for more information on Santa Cruz real estate and on moving to the area! Overview Maps Photos Market Stats IDX Search $572,500 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms 1 Full Bathroom 1 Half Bathroom Interior: 1,160 sqft Lot: 6,098 sqft Year Built: 1975 Location 2010 Twin Hills Dr Santa Cruz, CA 95065 USA Sandy Wallace - REALTOR®Keller Williams Realty - Santa Cruz (831) 818-7099 [email protected]// http://seesandy4homes.com       Listed by: Sandy Wallace O... 01/05/2017

122 Hugus Ave is a Santa Cruz Home located in Eastside, CA, in Santa Cruz county. Built in 1933, this property was last sold for $727,500 in 2015 and currently has an estimated value of $784,406. The median price for this area is $799,000.If you’re looking for similar properties in the area, feel free to check my website out at http://www.santacruzcahomesforsale.com.   Call Sandy Wallace at 831-818-7099 for more information on Santa Cruz real estate and on moving to the area! Overview Maps Photos Market Stats IDX Search $727,500 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms 1 Full Bathroom Interior: 1,427 sqft Lot: 5,009 sqft Year Built: 1933 Location 122 Hugus Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95062 USA Sandy Wallace - REALTOR®Keller Williams Realty - Santa Cruz (831) 818-7099 [email protected]// htt... 01/05/2017

I can sell your Santa Cruz home too! What are you waiting for? How fast should a house sell once it is put on the market? Within a week? Three weeks? A couple of months? Longer? I sold this house in just 5 days! Yes, you read that right… in just 5 days! :)This inviting two bedroom house conveniently located in the Seacliff neighborhood of Aptos CA got sold before I could even finish one weekend of open houses. It was listed originally at $799,000 and was the lowest priced beach home in the area. When it comes to selling, a home that is priced right from the beginning will not sit on the market.  So how did it happen? It was a whirlwind romance for the buyer who was looking for the perfect beach house.  Who wouldn’t fall for this single family home which boasts of beautifully updated kit... 12/09/2016