Even in today’s seller’s market with low inventory and high demand, home sellers in Santa Cruz still need to carefully consider offers – beyond the dollar amount – and reject some. Some buyers are just too picky and have unrealistic expectations, others really aren’t qualified buyers, and still others include things in their offer that … Continued
When you feel that it is time to put your home on the local market, one of the best things you can do to bring out motivated buyers is to price your home appropriately. To make sure you hit your mark perfectly from the outset, let’s go over 5 tips to help you set the … Continued
Renovations and upgrades can definitely add value to your home and allow you to sell your house for more. Most of us, though, can’t really afford to go all in for, say, a major kitchen remodel – but you don’t have. There are plenty of things you can do that are easier and cost far … Continued
Trends in real estate over the past couple of years or so, owing in large part to COVID-19, have deviated from the expected and traditional. You likely know that home prices are up, inventory is low, and Millennials are making up a larger portion of the home-buying population. But there’s more going on that you … Continued
Early fall in some markets is sometimes a hot selling season. But as days grow shorter and temperatures cooler, fall can present some challenges for home sellers, especially as fall edges closer to the holidays. In fact, November can be one of the slowest months of the year for home sales in many markets. So … Continued
It’s no secret that the United States tax code is a bit confusing, so it should come as no surprise that there’s often a lack of understanding regarding how home sales can influence a seller’s taxable income. Let’s dive into the nitty gritty and make things crystal clear by examining how selling your Santa Cruz … Continued
Women’s Health & Fertility in Santa Cruz Interview with Dr. Beth Dorsey & Dana Ramsey I had the honor of interviewing two of the greatest Women’s Health & Fertility practitioners in Santa Cruz; Dr. Beth Dorsey and Dana Ramsey. And I even got a little Botox from Dana after the interview (watch til the end)! … Continued
In today’s real estate market with low inventory and keen buyer competition finding good deals on single-family homes is usually far from easy. And on top of that, those good deals are almost always snapped up quickly. But if you’re willing to do some research and think outside the box, you can find these good … Continued
Are you considering buying a second property? It can indeed be a good move – one that can enhance your lifestyle or increase your income. But there are some things you need to be aware of so that it doesn’t become just a huge money-sink. Read on, then, to discover the 3 things you need … Continued
It may be a seller’s market in most places now, but you still have to get things right. And that means primarily avoiding those things that can put off potential home buyers. Some things are beyond your control, such as local market conditions. But there is much within your control, and even the smallest of … Continued
Santa Cruz Real Estate Market Update: September 2022 Despite pressure from the Federal Reserve and a variety of market headwinds, the labor market has continued to defy expectations, posting another month of positive growth, as the economy added 315,000 jobs in August, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hi, I’m … Continued
You’ve probably heard that when selling a home, you need to work on and enhance curb appeal. And that’s true. But now there’s “screen appeal.” This refers to the way your home appears in photos, videos, and virtual tours. It is critical that you get it right because most home buyers begin their home search … Continued
Buying a home is exciting and a great long-term investment. Realtors will sell you on the fact that owning is better than renting. While this may be the case, here are 4 ways new homebuyers waste their money. Make yourself aware of these to prevent losing tons of cash over the course of your loan. … Continued
A lot of homeowners get the idea that selling their home will be easy as pie despite the circumstances of the local market or their property’s condition, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. To help you avoid some of the biggest pitfalls facing the average prospective home seller, let’s look at the top … Continued
Sellers choose to work with agents for a variety of reasons, not least of which are negotiation skills and the likelihood of selling for more. There are many reasons to work with an agent when selling your house, including the likelihood of selling for more. But these advantages come with a price – the agent’s … Continued
No doubt about it, it’s often a tough, hair-pulling decision: should you or shouldn’t you sell your house? There will always be pros on cons on both sides, and you will always be second guessing yourself. Still, there are certain indicators that will help you know when it is time to sell. So here are … Continued
You’ve heard what real estate agents are like – interested in nothing but chasing a fast commission. They’re just barely a step above used-car salesmen who are only slightly above bail bondsmen, right? As with most stereotypes, that’s really pretty far off the mark. Actually, your agent is on your side. That’s why there are … Continued
Performing some DIY projects on your home can certainly increase its value, but these projects are not all created equal. The trick is to do only those things that will actually increase your home’s valuation without turning into a mere money and labor sink. According to DIY Network, the DIY projects that add value are kitchen … Continued
If you ask for advice on house-selling strategies, you are likely to get responses that are all over the board, from sound to thoroughly silly. As they say, everyone has an opinion. Top-selling agents, though, are fairly well in agreement on the most effective strategies, and a lot of it has to do with marketing. … Continued
Congratulations to you! You just bought your first home. No, we aren’t being sarcastic or trite here. We really want to take a moment and help you celebrate. Here are… 5 Reasons Why You Need to Celebrate Your First Home Purchase 1. You’re Financially Ahead of the Curve You set a plan in place to … Continued
If you’re thinking about selling your house, you have a lot of company. In 2017, about 5.52 million existing and 612,000 newly constructed homes were sold. Still, it’s a big step, and you want to make sure it’s the right step for you. To help you make the right decision, here’s how to know when … Continued
So you’ve listed your house, and now you’re in that enviable position of having received multiple bids. It’s not an uncommon occurrence these days. Home sales are strong, and there still isn’t enough inventory to meet demand. In fact, a fairly recent Coldwell Banker survey found that nearly half of home deals involved multiple offers. … Continued
When it’s time to sell, who doesn’t want to sell their house fast? And home buyers are always looking for the best deal possible – not necessarily the cheapest home, but what seems to them the best value. So whatever you can do to increase the perceived value or your house, you should probably do … Continued
Your long-held home-owning dream finally seems within your reach. You’ve found a house that almost perfectly matches up with the image in your mind, you’ve been pre-approved for the financing, and you’re ready to close the deal. But before taking the major life step of buying a home in Santa Cruz, you need to ask … Continued
Today, 89% of all people in the market to buy a home begin their search online. That means they won’t actually see your house till late in the process. And that also means that they will rely almost entirely on your online listing photos to make their purchasing decisions. So f you want to sell … Continued
Most real estate agents have the basic necessary training and skill to get the job done. They have communication skills, negotiating expertise, and knowledge of the local market. But most buyers/sellers want more than pretty good or just adequate. A truly great agent, though, can make all the difference in the complex, anxiety-inducing process of … Continued
Closing on your home on schedule and getting moved in a reasonable timeframe can make a significant difference in costs to both you and the other party. To get the full picture of what’s going on let’s examine how putting off a big move costs buyers and sellers in Santa Cruz: Additional Rent or Mortgage … Continued
Selling your home is a huge financial transaction, one that may impact your life for years to come. So, naturally, you want to sell for the highest price possible. With the current strong seller’s market, buyers are being cautioned to make conservative offers. Consider this from Credit.com: “[B]efore you jump in with an offer . . … Continued
If you’re planning to sell your home, a little effort now can make it sell quicker and at a better price. It could even make the difference between a sale or your house languishing on the market unsold for months. And it doesn’t have to cost a lot either, usually just a little elbow grease. … Continued
You’ve been a homeowner for some time now, you’ve been paying off your mortgage, and now you may be considering buying a second property. Maybe you’re thinking about a vacation home, commuter home, or investment property. It can be a smart move . . . or it can be a disaster. You have experience with … Continued
