Here are some facts I found interesting about the district of Soquel:
(Source for all of the above: Rowland, Leon. 1941. Santa Cruz County. Local Author Collection, Santa Cruz Public Library.)
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.
I have been thinking about places that are well loved (Capitola, Carmel & San Francisco, come to mind) and although very different from each other, these aesthetically pleasing locales seem to have several traits in common: Interesting architecture, a seemingly innate reverence for the importance of "community" & how that plays out in architecture - and a design aesthetic that translates to qualities of "charm" and "character".
In the 1960's when strip malls seem to have been invented, ugly was the design default. I don't know how the architects who "designed" those monstrosities can sleep at night - their horrible "creations" actually negatively impacted the people who had to live in and among the bland, blocky, uninteresting buildings - masses & blobs of concrete, blacktop, flattop, gray, drab, dreary, hopeless-looking structures . . . In contrast, many places that are considered desirable have kept architectural integrity in the forefront and seem to have been designed with community in mind, with actual thought given to how buildings fit into the larger scheme of people's lives. Buildings reflect an area's values. We design them, and they design us, in return - they impact the way we live & ultimately, who we are and how we function in the particular community. I believe architecture & design *should* be taught in school, but then the schools would have to be aesthetically pleasing - that's a whole other rant . . .
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.
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I love selling real estate in the greater Bay Area(s) - Monterey & San Francisco bays . . . Beach bungalows, investment & horse properties, condos/townhomes, vacation homes, get-aways, you name it!
Welcome to Santa Cruz County, where life really is a beach. If you are looking for investment property, a vacation home, or a permanent residence in paradise, you've come to the right place!
I work tirelessly to assist my clients in realizing their real estate dreams. You will like working with me if you value a straight-shooter, thoroughness, humor, creativity & impeccable integrity (to name a few of the more important traits I believe I bring to the table). Ready to get started?
Santa Cruz County is an amazing place to live, with something for everybody.
The Pacific Ocean in all of its wonder: Some of the best surf spots on the planet . . . beautiful beaches, boating, sailing, kayaking, lounging beachside, or:
The Redwoods: Hiking or biking, exploring backroads, surrounding towns - each with their own unique personality . . .
Santa Cruz has adventures for every taste from the famous Beach Boardwalk to fine dining, funky "dives," interesting neighborhoods, educational & cultural influences & events, cafes galore, bookstores to satisfy every curiosity & so much more!
Santa Cruz County encompasses many interesting cities, towns and districts - some of my favorites at the moment are Capitola, Soquel, Aptos, Live Oak, Branciforte (or B40), Pleasure Point, Sea Cliff and Rio Del Mar. I favor charming beachy communities and areas of historical interest or that have interesting architecture or other endearing qualities.
Some Santa Cruz Area Resources:
Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitor's Council
Santa Cruz County Government Info
All Kinds of Fun Stuff for Kids!
Nightclubs: The Catalyst, The Crow's Nest, Kuumbwa Jazz
My Other Web Sites:
Read the Musings of a Mad Woman . . .
I was thinking about the particular skill set I bring to the marketplace and abruptly ran into resistance in describing my virtues. I don't think it has much to do with modesty so I find myself curious as to what it might be.
My resume includes manual labor as a child (when I grew up it was considered character-building to work as a child - I cut "'cots" summers starting at age 11 - 12 hour days in the hot sun . . . as a teen I volunteered as a "candy-striper" in the local hospital and worked in fast-food joints) - I have done time as a hair stylist, dental assistant, then went corporate as an accountant, an editor, an analyst, a marketing rep, and an underwriter. My hobbies are of a reflective nature. I have always enjoyed writing and like to make collages, read, and partake in armchair philosophical discussions.
I have degrees in Information Systems Management and psychology. I have certifications in Reiki, Feng Shui, and dreamwork.
In reflecting on my background for a moment, I had an "aha" about my resistance in attempting to deconstruct my skill set . . . to describe what I bring to the marketplace is to describe ME - and that is so personal and has to do not only with the jobs I have held, the education I have received, and the skills I possess, but also my upbringing, and the values I ascribe to, as well as my temperament. Very personal "stuff" . . .
I also notice that, surprisingly, there is an element of modesty in describing some of my personal value and a resistance to reducing that value to a simple monetary unit for business purposes.
A former broker once advised his agents that "liking to look at houses" is not a virtue for a real estate agent to have. I disagree. That is part of what makes my job fun for me. I love variety. I love the fact that every work day is different, and I love looking at houses! I am a student of architecture and design, and along with my background in Feng Shui, getting the opportunity to see a house is completely exhilarating to me! I love seeing different layouts and materials, living conditions and living styles. Showing property is a blast to me for this reason and it is even more fun to share the experience with someone and compare notes.
Add a buyer or a seller with a goal and I am fully engaged. For the buyer, I can play detective - interview them to find out what their heart's desire is and then comb the marketplace to try to find it. For a seller, scope out their property and get the creative juices flowing regarding how they can showcase the assets of the property along with creative ways I can market it, and brainstorm ideas to situate the property in the marketplace for the best result.
If I am representing a buyer, writing the offer and presenting it are strengths I bring to the bargaining table. If representing a seller, assisting my client in analyzing the offer is another skill I possess.
Once escrow is opened, my underwriting background and natural attention to detail come into play. Documentation becomes an obsession.
In a nutshell, my strengths lie in the combination of the creative with the analytical. The client who will appreciate me will be someone who values ethics, creativity, fun, and doing things "right."
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