Santa Cruz, CA

LIVING IN HISTORY - VICTORIAN HOMES IN SANTA CRUZ, CA

In the City of Santa Cruz and throughout Santa Cruz County you will find many lovely Victorian Homes. In Santa Cruz City many Victorian Homes are located close to Santa Cruz's Downtown area on the tree lined Walnut St, Lincoln St, Chestnut, Church, Union and Locust Ave. Santa Cruz was first incorporated as a town in 1886 and many of these Victorian Homes date to the 1880's and before. Start here to Search for your Santa Cruz Home.

'Victorian Homes' is actually a misnomer because 'Victorian' refers to a period not a style. The Victorian period was from about 1840-1900. There were many architectural styles during the Victorian period like Queen Anne, Gothic, Romanesque, Italianate, Second Empire. What we now refer to as 'Victorian Homes' are mostly a mix of some of these architectural styles of the Victorian Period. In Santa Cruz you will find Victorian Homes that are a blend of these styles.

This Victorian Home off WestCliff Dr in Santa Cruz has a classic wrap around porch and beautiful ornate trim details.

You can find this Santa Cruz Victorian Home on Walnut St near Downtown. The elaborate trim and decorative work shows the influence of the EastLake style with the jigsaw brackets and lathe shaped porch columns.

Located off Mission St in Santa Cruz in this Victorian Home one can see elements of the Second Empire Style with the high, boxy Mansard Roof, bay windows and small entry porch.

Santa Cruz Victorian Home features elements of the Queen Anne style of architecture with the turret over the entryway, elaborate trim, steep roof and bay windows. Many Victorian Homes are painted in bright, flashy colors earning them the nickname "Painted Ladies"

For those that love older homes and Victorian Homes Santa Cruz offers many options and there are Victorian Homes for sale. Owning and caring for a Victorian Home will take extra time and money compared to owning a newer home. Living in a Victorian Home connects you to a time past and you will usually have to live without some amenities that new homes have like walk in closets, kitchen/living room combos, spacious garages. Many times newer homes try to replicate the look and feel of 'Old World' & Victorian homes but they can never have the same feel as a true Antique Home no matter how much money they spend to build it.

I live in a 1920's Craftsman home myself and I love all the charming details and comfortable, classic feel of the home. I have had many clients prefer to buy older homes and Victorian Homes even though they will be more work; most feel that it is worth it to live in a piece of history. For more details about Victorian Homes for sale in Santa Cruz feel free to contact me at (831) 419-9345.

55+ ADULT COMMUNITIES IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA

For seniors and people over 55+ in Santa Cruz County there are a many adult communities 55+ for you. In Santa Cruz City there is a lovely historic building that houses a co-op condo residence called Piedmont Court located on High St in Santa Cruz.

Built in 1912 Piedmont Court exudes period charm and is a beautiful and comfortable place to call home. Piedmont Court is made up of 1 bedroom and studio units. A 1 bedroom unit in this 55+ adult community sold in December 2009 for $210,000.

Another adult community 55+ is located in Watsonville, the Adult Village. This is an adult community of about 600 single family homes, mostly 2 bedrooms and single level. This adult community 55+ is located within walking distance to shopping, bus lines and ammenties making it a very convenient location for senior residents. In 2009 the average home price in the Adult Village was $231.584.

Other adult community 55+ options for Seniors in Santa Cruz include several mobile home parks for ages 55+ and 62+. One very nice senior park is Tradewinds Mobile Home Parklocated on Jade St in Capitola. Tradewinds in a 55+ parkand a co-op which means that the residents own the park together and the land is not leased. This makes obtaining a loan for a mobile home there somewhat easier and is more desirable than a park where you lease the land. Tradewinds is within walking distance to 41st Avenue, a hub of shops, entertainment, restaurants and transportation.

Sorrento Oaks Mobile Home Park is another lovely Adult Community 55+ in Santa Cruz. It is a cooperatively owned park by the residents. Sorrento Oaks Mobile Home Park is located off 7th street near the upper Yacht Harbor in Santa Cruz. The mobile and manufactured homes here are well maintained with many residents showing off their 'green thumb' on their patios. In 2009 sale prices in this adult community 55+ ranged from $117,000 to $150,000.

From Sorrento Oaks one can walk to the beach or Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor.

There are many more Adult Communitity 55+ senior mobile home parks in Santa Cruz County in various prices ranges and locations. For more details please feel free to contact me anytime!

Start Here to Search for Your Santa Cruz Home!

WESTSIDE SANTA CRUZ 2 BEDROOM HOME FOR SALE IN FANTASTIC NEIGHBORHOOD!

Westside Santa Cruz 2 bedroom Home for sale is located in an excellent neighborhood on the Upper Westside of Santa Cruz close to UCSC.  Mira Vista Dr is a quiet street with lovely properties, this would be a great family home with the nice backyard and there is room to expand up or out.  Expanding up would have potential ocean views! and increase the home's value.

This Westside Santa Cruz Home for sale features 2 bedrooms, 1 recently updated bathroom, 2 car garage and a great backyard with fruit trees.  This is a classic clean home built in the 1950's on a large lot of 6,621 SF that allows for easy expansion.  

 

Westside Santa Cruz 2 bedroom home for sale is close to shopping, we have a new Safeway on the Westside of Santa Cruz as well as a new branch of New Leaf Market, a Santa Cruz favorite.  There are some great restaurants nearby like Ristoranti Avanti, Sushi Totoro, Hawgs as well as fun places to grab a quick drink and chat with friends like Bonny Doon Vineyard Tasting Room & Cafe and the Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery.

 

 

   I call Westside Santa Cruz home myself & I love living here.  There are so many great activities and  amenities all within walking distance of your home!  Feel free to contact me anytime for information about the area and schools and start here to

 Search for your Santa Cruz Home!

 

 

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HOME PRICES IN LIVE OAK, CA - A Neighborhood in Santa Cruz County

Live Oak is a part of Santa Cruz County, CA that lies between the Seabright/Yacht Harbor area and Capitola, CA. According to the 2000 census there were almost 17,000 people living there at that time. Live Oak is not its own city like Capitola or Scotts Valley but it is an area in Santa Cruz that has its own characteristics and attributes. There are some lovely beaches in Live Oak, like Sunny Cove at the end of 17th Ave.

Within Live Oak there are suburban type neighborhoods with more moderate home prices for the Santa Cruz area. There are also ocean front beach homes that sell for millions of dollars. In 2009 the highest home price in Live Oak was a beach front home that sold for $5,125,000. The lowest home sale in 2009 in Live Oak was major fixer for $150,000.

Let's take a look at home prices in Live Oak over the past 2 years 2008 & 2009.

Graph of Median Home Prices in Live Oak 2008-2009

As the graph above illustrates home prices in Live Oak have fluctuated throughout the past 2 years showing a slight trend downward. The median Live Oak home price in 2009 was $595,000 which is down from 2008 when the median home price was $650,000. With the drop in home prices the number of sales started to grow in 2009:

Graph of # of Sales in Live Oak in 2008-2009

The total # of single family homes sold in Live Oak in 2009 was 145 which is way up from 2008 when only 100 homes were sold in Live Oak. As home prices decreased more First Time Home Buyers have been able to afford homes in Live Oak and there has been interest from investors as well. Currently there is not a lot of inventory and demand has risen with the first time buyer tax credit and great interest rates.

For those interested in buying a home in the Live Oak area visit here to Search for Your Live Oak/Santa Cruz Home and you will receive accurate and up to date information about homes including foreclosures.

For a more detailed look at a specific neighborhood or price range in Live Oak or Santa Cruz please Contact Me. I also wrote a recent blog about Santa Cruz County Home Prices as a whole and as well as Capitola Home Prices and Soquel Home Prices.

* All stats and graphs from Claurs Market Metrics and MLSListings.com

Santa Cruz Homes - 2009 Annual Report

Well ... the data is in. We can now create a 2009 Annual Report on the state of Santa Cruz Homes sales.

There are a number of positive indicators to report.

• For starters, the number of sales in 2009 was up 23.1% over the number of sales in 2008.

• The median price of a single family home in Santa Cruz County reached $560,000 in December. This was up 24.4% over December the year before.

• The year ended with the lowest amount of active inventory since March of 2005.

• Accordingly, the Days On Market indicator is at 97 days. This is the lowest it's been since 2004 when it was a strong Seller's Market.

The chart below illustrates a relationship between Median and Average Sales prices as compared to the number of actual Single Family sales.

Signs remain positive for the coming year. The housing recovery is expected to continue, in part, do to continued government incentives.

The Obama administration extended the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit through April of this year. Qualifying homebuyers are eligible for a credit of up to $8,000. In addition, they expanded the program to include move-up Buyers. An eligible move-up Buyer could qualify for a tax credit of up to $6,500.

Short Sales and Foreclosures are expected to stay with us and represent a significant portion of Santa Cruz Home Sales through 2010.

Interest rates have been at historical lows and are expected to stay competitive, at least for the time being. Lender underwriting requirements have become increasingly difficult but not insurmountable. "Full Documentation" is the name of the game in today's lending world.

A government attempt to enhance the integrity of the home appraisal process was adopted in May 2009has come under significant fire, being called a failure by some. This program, known as the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC), came with an unexpected consequence. The program allows out of area, and sometimes unqualified appraisers the opportunity to appraise homes in areas they're not familiar with. As a result, many appraisals have been coming in under value.

In conclusion ... as it applies to Real Estate, the best thing about 2009 is that it's over! We're looking forward to 2010 to be a great year.

My goal is to be a Real Estate resource to all Homeowners, Home Buyers and Home Sellers in Santa Cruz County. I have over 23 years experience locally and regarded as an expert in all aspects of Residential Real Estate.

If you or someone you know would benefit from my services, contact me at Santa Cruz Homes For Sale. You can email me at Mike@SellingSantaCruz.com or simply call at 831-818-5111.

Best regards,

MICHAEL WHITING

David Lyng Real Estate