About Santa Cruz's Westside

WESTSIDE SANTA CRUZ CONDOS – Market Report 2011

The Westside of Santa Cruz is a great place to live, you are close to beaches, walks on Westcliff Dr, Santa Cruz Downtown, the Boardwalk, shopping and entertainment. Westside Santa Cruz condos are great for first time home buyers and families of UCSC students.

Here is the Sales Activity Report for Westside Santa Cruz Condos 2011:

Westside Santa Cruz condo sale prices are down slightly in 2011 to an average of $312,000. In 2010, the average price of a Westside Santa Cruz condo was $360,000.

The number of Westside Santa Cruz condo sales is up just a bit, there were 44 closed escrows in 2011, compared to 42 Westside condo sales in 2010.

The highest priced Westside Santa Cruz condo sale in 2011 was a 3 bedroom, ocean view condo on Beach Hill that sold for $690,000.

The lowest priced Westside Santa Cruz condo sale in 2011 was a small 435 SF, bank owned condo that sold for $170,000.

In 2011, 9 Westside Santa Cruz condo sales were short sales and 11 were REO or foreclosure condo sales. This means that almost half of all Westside Santa Cruz condo sales were distressed sales. This has attributed to lower sale prices for Westside Santa Cruz condos.

Buying a condo on the Westside of Santa Cruz can be a great option for first time home buyers, UCSC students and families. Contact me for more information about condos and homes for sale in Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz loan program for low income first time buyers.

Good News for some… The City of Santa Cruz has a first time homebuyer funding called (“HOME” funds) It’s a program designed to help low income first time buyers. And its available in the form of a “Silent Second” mortgage. Silent second mortgage requires no monthly payment of principal until one of several events occur at a point in the future.

This Silent Second is designed to fill the gap that the buyer will qualify for from a lender and the amount of the purchase. It acts as a down payment. It’s based on the property, the price, location, buyers income and it even pays the closing costs. Application and information can be obtained from The City of Santa Cruz Housing Programs Corrdinator.

Many cities offer similar programs. Look into it, well worth the effort.

Programs, funds, availabilty, restrictions, and conditions change. Up to date information is best obtained by the Housing Progam.

Santa Cruz Real Estate.

Call me at: 831-588-7767

http://SeaRealEstate.com

Santa Cruz Real Estate, Pleasure Point Real Estate,

Live Oak Real Estate, Capitola Real Estate

Soquel, Scotts Valley, Aptos, Rio del Mar, Watsonville.

http://SeaRealEstate.com

WESTSIDE SANTA CRUZ SUMMERTIME HOME SALES REPORT 2011

Summer is winding down now in Santa Cruz and we are hoping for a sunnier Fall with less fog! Fall can be one of the best times of year in Santa Cruz. The Westside of Santa Cruz has some of our best weather in the County in my opinion and is also one of the stronger real estate markets in Santa Cruz.

So how did the Westside of Santa Cruz homes sales fare this summer? Let's take a look:

In June we had 20 closed Westside Santa Cruz home sales with an median home sale price of $676,700

In July, Westside Santa Cruz saw 17 homes close escrow, with an median home sale price of $675,821

In August there were 18 Westside Santa Cruz home sales with an average price of $672,006

You can see the average Westside Santa Cruz home sale price was consistently around $675,000 throughout the summer of 2011. This is much higher than Santa Cruz County as a whole where the median home sale price in August 2011 was $490,000.

You can tell the Westside of Santa Cruz has a stronger real estate market than other parts of the County by looking at the average days on market as well. During the summer of 2011 the average days on market on the Westide of Santa Cruz was 65 whereas in Santa Cruz County the average days on market was 90, so homes are selling more quickly on the Westside.

The Westside of Santa Cruz offers great weather for walks on West Cliff Dr, surfing, events and dining Downtown Santa Cruz, proximity to UCSC, great commute location and more making it a popular choice for home buyers.

Go here to Search Santa Cruz homes for sale!

Contact me anytime for more information about living in Santa Cruz, schools, financing, buying a foreclosure or short sale, community events . . . I am happy to help!

*All statistics from MLS listings . com

FREE MOVIES ON THE BEACH AT THE SANTA CRUZ BOARDWALK

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk offers FREE movies on the Beach in the Summertime on Wednesday nights.

Come down to Santa Cruz main beach in front of the Boardwalk with a blanket and a picnic dinner and enjoy these free movies on Wednesday nights.

Here is the lineup for the Santa Cruz Boardwalk's Free Movies on the Beach (most are 1980's classic movies!)

July 6th - The Lost Boys (as this movie was filmed in Santa Cruz this is a great movie to go to)

July 13th - Ghostbusters

July 20th - Top Gun

July 27th - ET

August 3rd - Raiders of the Lost Ark

August 10th - Back to the Future

For those of you looking to make Santa Cruz home or a second home read my article: Santa Cruz Beach Homes for sale

SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN BREWERY WING DING COOKOFF

The 4th annual Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery Wing Ding Cookoff is taking place this weekend, June 18th, 2011.

I have attended the past 2 years and the Wing Ding Cookoff is not to be missed by chicken wing connoisseurs or excellent organic beer lovers!

The entrance fee for the Wing Ding cookoff is $20 for all you can eat chicken wings, a souvenir Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery pint glass and 2 beers. There will be live music this year The Down Beats and Western Skylarks.

The Wing Ding Cookoff will take place from 4 to 8 pm at the Westside Santa Cruz Farmer's market at the end of Western and Mission St.