28 Nov 2019

First Time Home Buying: How to Prioritize

When you head down the path of homeownership for the first time it is inevitable that you will be faced with an array of decisions related to what amenities you have to give up in order to afford it. This initial step is a huge financial commitment for anyone; and, unless you have endless access to capital, there are bound to be specific aspects of the home that you will have to sacrifice in order to afford your first purchase. These can come in the form of choosing between an extra bedroom verse an office, the size of the backyard, or an extra bathroom.

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
17 Sep 2019

AB 1482: Statewide Rent Control and Just Cause For Eviction in California

AB 1482, a state-wide bill that will enforce rent-increase limits and just cause for eviction laws throughout California is about to land on Governor Newsom’s desk. The governor has said that he plans to sign the bill. This means we can expect a state-wide rent cap and just cause for eviction rules to become law in the coming weeks. The bill is set to expire in 10 years, and so it will remain in effect

By Talia Chopra | | In California Legislation and Your Real Estate, New Legislation and Your Real Estate, Santa Cruz Legislation and Your Real Estate, Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
29 Aug 2019

How Technology Has Changed Buying and Selling Real Estate

Technology has transformed the process of buying and selling houses - most paperwork can be completed without picking up a pen, a majority of home shoppers will see your property online before they see it in person. Whether you’ve never purchased a house, or are considering putting your house on the market after a decade or more of ownership, you will benefit from understanding how technology is used today to buy and sell real estate.

By Talia Chopra | | In Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
7 Aug 2019

Proposed Plans for the Re-envisioning of the Capitola Mall

In 2016, Merlone Geier Partners purchased the Capitola Mall from its previous owner, Macerich and has begun to envision a new plan for the space. In a recent town meeting, plans for the re-envisioned Capitola Mall were discussed.  The focus of this meeting was to present the plan for the “Capitola Town Square,” as well as to provide an opportunity for members of the community to ask questions and have their voices and opinions heard. 

By Talia Chopra | | In Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
2 Aug 2019

Santa Cruz City Task Force, Rent Control, Just Cause for Eviction – Where We are Now?

If you’ve been following the Santa Cruz City Council legislative process, there’s no doubt that you’re curious where the Council stands today on Rent Control and Just Cause for Eviction legislation, the Rental Housing Task Force, the Housing Blueprint, and other legislative measures that have been proposed and accepted or rejected along the way. In this article we’ll give a broad overview of the City’s legislative actions related to these housing-related topics and discuss where

By Talia Chopra | | In All About Santa Cruz County, Rent Control, Rent Control and Just Cause For Eviction, Santa Cruz Legislation and Your Real Estate, Santa Cruz Real Estate Trends, Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
2 Aug 2019

Can I Live in A Yurt in Santa Cruz County?

Are you one of the growing numbers of people interested in alternative (and often less expensive) housing options like yurts? If so, it’s important to understand your local government’s rules and regulations related to living in these structures year round, as a primary residence. Read on to explore the option of living in a yurt in Santa Cruz County. What is A Yurt? Traditionally, yurts consisted of an expanding wooden circular frame overlaid with a

By Talia Chopra | | In All About Santa Cruz County, California Real Estate Trends, Home Buying Tips and Advice, Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
1 Jul 2019

Commercial Cannabis Laws in Santa Cruz County – Where We Are Now?

Since we last wrote about cannabis-related legislation in Santa Cruz County, regulations have changed on both a local and state-wide level. Read on to learn more about these changes. Changes to California Legislation In the state of California, the following agencies issue licenses for commercial cannabis activities: Department of Food and Agriculture: Cultivation.Department of Public Health: Manufacturing.Bureau of Cannabis Control: Distribution, Testing, Retail, and Cannabis Events. Previously, we wrote about emergency cannabis regulations that were

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4 Jun 2019

Creating and Selling A “Smart Home”

Smart homes are homes that have been equipped with lighting, heating, safety features and/or other devices that can be controlled remotely by phone or computer. According to a 2016 survey, 60 percent of Americans think that a home needs to have at least three categories of smart products for it to be considered “smart”.

By Talia Chopra | | In California Real Estate Trends, Home Selling Tips and Advice, Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
28 May 2019

The Value of Using a Land Use Planner

Have you been wanting to build a Granny Unit (aka additional dwelling unit) for extra space or income but just do not have the time to sort through county regulations, paperwork, and processes? Have you been looking for the right lot to build your dream home on? Or maybe you own an investment property Santa Cruz County that you’d like to develop but you live elsewhere?

By Talia Chopra | | In Investment Property in Santa Cruz County, Uncategorized | Read more1 Comment
3 May 2019

Home In Words

Whether it's a small home for two or a big house with views, our homes are places where moments become memories and we experience life in every hue. The good and bad days, in the end we'd never wish either away. Within the the walls of our home, which we've come to know so well we allow the waves of our lives to crash and swell. Our hope for you and those you love whoever

By Talia Chopra | | In Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
8 Apr 2019

Tech IPO’s: Higher Prices Over the Hill, Bubble-Speculation, and What it Means for The Santa Cruz Real Estate Market

As you may have read about in our newsletter last month, 2019 is slated to produce a long list of multi-billion-dollar IPOs from San Francisco Bay Area heavyweights like Lyft, Uber, Palantir, Pinterest, Airbnb, Slack, Postmates, and Instacart. According to Patrick Howell O'Neill, this will results in a massive and sudden injection of liquid cash into a region already infamous for having the nation’s priciest real estate. While the impact may not be as sudden

By Talia Chopra | | In California Real Estate Trends, Home Selling Tips and Advice, Investment Property in Santa Cruz County, Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
1 Apr 2019

Tiny Homes in Santa Cruz County?

Tiny Homes are catching the attention of people all over the country (have you seen the HGTV show Tiny House, Big Living?). Here in Santa Cruz County, we’ve had quite a few clients ask if they can put a Tiny Home on a lot. The short answer is, “it depends”. Read the more comprehensive answer below. What is a “Tiny Home”? A tiny home is typically one that is under 400 square feet, though some

By Talia Chopra | | In Real Estate and Environmental Sustainability, Santa Cruz Real Estate Trends, Uncategorized, Vacation Rental Santa Cruz | Read moreLeave a comment
20 Mar 2019

Sewer Lateral Ordinances in Santa Cruz County – Point of Sale Inspection Requirement

Sewer Lateral Inspection Requirements in the City of Santa Cruz: Source Sewer Lateral Inspection Requirements in the (Unincorporated) County of Santa Cruz: Source The private sewer service lateral (also known as a private lateral) is a pipe that takes an individual building’s wastewater to the public sewer main. These private laterals are owned by the building owner and are essential for directing wastewater away from nearby structures such as other homes. Did you know that

By Talia Chopra | | In Uncategorized | Read more1 Comment
6 Mar 2019

Owning a Property with A Septic System in Santa Cruz County: What you Need to Know.

Did you know that the San Lorenzo Valley Watershed has the highest density of septic systems of any comparable area in the State? This means, if you are buying or selling property in the San Lorenzo Valley (Ben Lomond, Felton, Brookdale or Boulder Creek), you’ll likely have to understand what it means to own and what can go wrong with a septic system. The following are typical questions that buyers and/or sellers will ask when dealing with septic systems:

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Buying Tips and Advice, Home Renovation, Maintenance and Care, Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
26 Feb 2019

Save Money with Virtual Staging when Selling Your Home

Did you know that 77% of buyers’ agents reported that staging made it easier for their clients visualize the property as a future home? Additionally, buyers are 40% more likely to walk through a home that they saw online if it is staged. This is why many sellers opt to stage their homes before putting them on the market. For those that don’t know, staging is the practice of styling and furnishing a property to

By Talia Chopra | | In Home Selling Tips and Advice, Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
7 Jan 2019

Major Downtown Housing Project Moves Forward

In the wake of a passionate election season in which affordable housing was one of the major topics of debate, a large housing project was just approved in the City of Santa Cruz. The Pacific Front project is a 205-rental unit housing project which includes ground-floor commercial space and two floors of parking garage. Have you ever heard of Measure O? Under this measure, developers of housing projects must make a certain percentage of their

By Talia Chopra | | In All About Santa Cruz County, California Legislation and Your Real Estate, California Real Estate Trends, Santa Cruz Legislation and Your Real Estate, Santa Cruz Real Estate Trends, Uncategorized | Read moreLeave a comment
15 May 2018

Flexible Housing for Changing Households

The post-World War II suburbanization of America was driven by the housing needs of nuclear families, the nation’s leading demographic. In the 1950’s when much of housing was constructed post World War II, nuclear families represented around 43% of our households. Today, nuclear families only account for 20% of America’s households, while nearly 30% of homes are made up of single adults living alone. Some other growing household-trends include single parents, young adults living at

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estate video marketing12 May 2015

Estate Video Marketing

Increased Marketing exposure increase estate exposure to more realtors and potential buyers. When we decided to create a home video showcasing our premium beach front property, 76 Puffin Lane, we knew we'd enjoy an increase in exposure, but what we've experienced has more than met our expectations. With our video, we've experienced: Thousands of viewsDozens of phone inquiriesa 30% increase in online activityA powerful marketing tool With our team in place, we're ready to create

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8 Dec 2014

Vastu

Sacred Places Real Estate and Schneider Estates incorporate VASTU Wisdom: The house is a temple of living for human being. The space enclosed in a building is Prasada Purushan -- energized building -- Building is a living organism, built of musical units of measure. Our buildings are alive. They are sacred. Is having your home and life become more sacred something you want to learn more about? Connect with us for conscious real estate

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