SOUNDS CRAZY, but it's TRUE

Real Estate in Santa Cruz is BOOMING, while the rest of the country is either stagnating or GOING DOWN. Santa Cruz Listings are doing fine. The MLS is full of great values and Santa Cruz land is also doing well on the mls. Why is this so?

Santa Cruz s Booming because of all the reasons that the rest of the Country is BUSTING apart. People are EMIGRATING from the rest of the world and coming to Santa Cruz, and places like it from all over the world. Sure, there are a few Santa Cruz bargain homes in town now, and yes, there are even a selection of Santa Cruz Foreclosure homes, but in general these Santa Cruz foreclosure properties are few and far between and they sell fast. So, prices are holding steady for the rest of the Santa Cruz Listings, which makes these Santa Cruz bargain homes the best Santa Cruz investments.

Populations from around the world have learned, mainly from the Weather Channel, that Santa Cruz has the BEST WEATHER, the BEST SCHOOLS and some of the BEST BEACHES in the world. And, they know that GOD is not making more beaches, better weather, anyplace else. IN FACT, as global warming continues to create SUFFOCATING conditions in the rest of this country, as well as most of the world, our ALASKAN CURRENT, a natural air conditioning system will keep us cool and collected for centuries. IF the ALASKAN current, gently caressing the shores of Santa Cruz lands, breaks down, then, of course all bets are off for life on this planet continuing. But, it is more likely than not, since this cooling water has been in existence for over ONE BILLION YEARS, that it is very likely to continue. OF course, it may warm up a degree or two, but the prospect of making Santa Cruz, a little more tropical is a good one to me.

Don't get me wrong. Being a Santa Cruz Realtor, I'm not happy at all that there's global warming and I'm doing everything I can to slow it. We drive less as a family, and we are purchasing an electric powered vehicle in the next few months for our Santa Cruz homes. I found a company, just coming online that has a way to convert your gas guzzling car to an electric motor for under $5,000. So, my little Toyota, that already gets great gas mileage, driving around and through the great city of Santa Cruz, is going to get almost INFINITE gas mileage from using this new Electric Motor. You plug it into your electric outlet at night and there's enough charge to get all of your regular business done during the day, and with no pollution, no carbon emissions, and completely QUIET. That's a pet peeve of mine. Our city along with every other city in the world is becoming more and more noisy. So, I really believe in quiet and clean electric transportation.

It's very heartening to see more and more people on electric bicycles and electric cars in the city and county of Santa Cruz, probably the most PER CAPITA of any other city in America. And, the Santa Cruz County Schools are using them too. The University of Santa Cruz is always hiring and that's good for Santa Cruz Employment.

AND, that's another reason why Santa Cruz is becoming more and more popular. Santa Cruz people are the MOST PROGRESSIVE people politically and economically in the world. Living in this city is so inspiring because of all the artists and musicians in this town and writers, like me, that I have written a book about this great city of Santa Cruz by the Sea.

You can find it at my other web site that promotes my other life. If you would like to go there and read more about why Santa Cruz is such a great city, we'd love to have you pay a visit.

I have always said that Santa Cruz is the best city, in the best state, in the best country, on the best planet in the Universe and I mean it. It proves correct more and more every day. Ever since I came here to attend the the University of California at Santa Cruz in the FIRST GRADUATING Class of 1969, I have been in love with this great town.

If you would like to learn more about why I feel this way about Santa Cruz, California, give me a call or drop me a line at:

santacruzrealestate@gmail.com

My Web Site: www.realestatesantacruzlistings.com

Thanks and have a GREAT DAY.

Mike Mathiesen
American Dream Realty
831-420-0107

One day I noticed that Soquel Ave., between Branciforte & Morrissey Blvd. seemed somehow brighter, more vibrant - it was like it happened overnight, although I am sure that is not the case. After doing a little research, I found that this stretch comes under the Santa Cruz Redevelopment Agency Storefront Improvement plans to update neighborhood aesthetics. About the same time I noticed these improvements, I also read somewhere that the issue of redevelopment is a controversial one - gentrification concerns . . .

Aesthetically, I personally appreciate the new look of the neighborhood and believe that whatever brings people together in community will have positive benefit. The area is like a second downtown, with a variety of businesses, cafes & restaurants.

Just by coincidence, awhile back I met Richard Beal, the author of Highway 17 (1991 The Pacific Group, Aptos, CA). When I got back to my office, I pulled the book off the shelf and began thumbing through it. What a gold mine of local history! I saw that the year I graduated high school (no hints) there were 36 fatalities on "17!" (I don't think my parents knew that, otherwise, why would they allow a crazy teenager to regularly drive over the hill?). According to Beal, Harvey West was responsible for installing "gory billboards" up on 17 - complete with red day-glo images of skeletons & coffins, as a way to discourage unsafe drivers. It seems to have worked!

I get nostalgic every time I read about the towns of Alma and Lexington being flooded to create Lexington Reservoir. I seriously wish history had unfolded differently. I miss those towns I never knew! It's also interesting to look at the old maps & pictures of the Santa Cruz Mountains & the various routes from Los Gatos to Santa Cruz & imagine how it once was from the days of Mountain Charlie to eccentric Riker's Holy City . . .

Last Tuesday, another Realtor friend and I went to the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf for dinner at Stagnaro's. It was really wonderful and even more wonderful because many restaurants on the wharf have specials for locals on Tuesdays. (Some dinner selections for $9.99). Neither one of us had the specials but it was really fun to eat on the wharf and we did get complimentary parking, which was a fantastic bonus. It's really nice that the wharf honors locals.

After dinner I insisted on stopping at Marini's for some candy. I can't help it. It's too good to pass up. It was a very nice summer night at the beach. I wanted to go on the roller coaster, but my dinner partner was a party pooper and had to rush home, so I will have to wait to get my roller coaster fix.

Let’s start back in the late 70’s when it all started. Prop 13, also known as the ‘Jarvis Gann Amendment’, was brought on by the overzealous California Tax & Spend boys up in Sacramento. They are still trying to get in your pocketbook today.

Back then the average house/property tax percentage was 3% of the value placed on the property by the County Assessor . Property values in the early to mid 70’s were moving upwards pretty fast, not unlike what we have just observed in the past three years. This had nothing to do with what you paid for your home even if you had bought it twenty years prior to that time.

Let’s say your taxes in 1972 were $300 per year. By 1976 your taxes were $600 and steadily climbing. The average wage then was around $600 per month here in Santa Cruz. Wow, that’s 8.5% of your income before State and Federal Taxes. Can you imagine what your property taxes would be if that was the case today.? The average Westlake/upper Westside properties are valued around one million dollars, $1,000,000.00 Your property taxes would be around $34,000.00 per year. YIKES ! You’d have to make $239,000.00 a year in order to pay those taxes at the same percentage as under the old system. I know not everyone in the area makes that much money.

Some people paid as little as $25,000.00 when they bought their homes back then and they still live in the house. Their property taxes are probably around $800.00 +- now and they are retired. If it wasn’t for ‘Prop13’ those same people would be in the poor house or living with their kids. Not a good scenario for either party. ‘Prop 13’ has it’s good points and one of them was, as I just mentioned, so that seniors weren’t forced to sell their homes. Others would argue that “It’s not fair we have to pay the Lions share”. Be thankful that you don’t have to pay the 3.1+% plus assessments.

What would happen to the value of your home if ‘Prop13’ was abolished? Could you afford to pay the NEW taxes? The answer is most likely NO. Your property value would plummet and you’d be stuck making payments on the value of air. Who would want to buy your home when the value is so unsure? Foreclosures ? You bet ! You’d all reapply to the Tax Assessor’s office for property value re-evaluation . They’d be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of requests, need to hire more employees, and wouldn’t get the value down to where you wanted it to be so you could afford stay in your home. It’s a LOOSE, LOOSE situation for all sides, You, County, State, Banks/Investors and on and on and on.

We know what we have now and can live with it. It’s been that way since 1979. If you desire ‘change’ go to the bank I’m sure they have plenty.

Roger Lawless has been a resident of Santa Cruz Co since 1965 and has been a REALTOR at Century 21 Award Real Estate since 1985. His opinions are his own.

Roger & Genie's blog: http://rogerandgenie.blogspot.com/