Santa Cruz Real Estate Blog - April, 2025

When the Kitchen Table Isn’t Enough: Smart Moves for Upsizing to Support Your Home-Based Business

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The modern home isn’t just a place to rest. For a growing number of people, it’s also where ideas are built, side hustles turn full-time, and businesses begin to breathe on their own. But what happens when your business starts taking over your living space—when packaging materials are stacked next to cereal boxes, and client calls echo through kids’ nap times? That’s when the idea of upsizing your home starts to sound less indulgent and more like the next strategic step. Making that leap, though, takes more than just checking Zillow listings and daydreaming about spare rooms.

Inside this Article:

• Rethink What “Space” Means for Your Work
• New State, New Rules for Doing Business
• Natural Light Can Make or Break the…

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Absentee Property Owners: How to Manage (or Sell) Your Property from Afar

Tucked away on California's stunning northern Monterey Coast, just under an hour's drive from the bustling heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Cruz is blossoming into a vibrant cultural and business center. It's rapidly gaining popularity as a prime spot for residential and commercial real estate investment.

Santa Cruz real estate—whether it’s an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) in the beach town of Capitola, a rental property in the charming streets of Scotts Valley, or a residential unit in the peaceful hills of Aptos—can be a lucrative investment. But for absentee homeowners who aren’t living in the area, managing the property remotely comes with unique challenges. Absentee landlords often have to deal with various challenges, such as tenant problems…

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How to Buy a Beach Home: A Step-by-Step Guide

Santa Cruz is more than just a beautiful coastal city—it’s a lifestyle. From the iconic West Cliff Drive to the charming Capitola Village, this area offers some of the most sought-after beachfront properties in California. If you're thinking about a beach house in Santa Cruz—whether it's for getting away, living there full-time, or as a smart investment—it's a big step that calls for some serious thought and guidance from local experts.

As a local realtor with years of experience helping buyers in neighborhoods like Scotts Valley, Los Gatos, Capitola, Aptos, Soquel, Watsonville, and the San Lorenzo Valley, I understand the unique challenges and opportunities of this ever-changing Santa Cruz real estate market. I'm here to make this whole thing…

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From Shared Barns to Riding Trails: The Charm of California’s Equestrian Homes

Most know California state and Santa Cruz County for surf breaks and tech hubs—but just minutes from downtown, private  trails run through towering redwoods here, and high-end barns lie tucked against the dramatic coastal foothills. It is not hard to find carefully designed horse communities that offer equestrians proximity to well-tended trail networks, first-rate amenities, and turnkey estates featuring custom tack rooms and dedicated vet quarters.

Inside this Article:

• Benefits of Living in an Equestrian Community
• Finding Your Perfect Equestrian Community: A Buyer's Guide
• 1. Adequate Amenities and Facilities
• 2. Exceptional Stable and Barn Services
• 3. Clear and Fair Community Guidelines
• 4. Superior Infrastructure…

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What are the New Smart Home Features?

Santa Cruz is a place of breathtaking coastal beauty, a community deeply committed to sustainability, and a lifestyle that embraces both innovation and nature. It’s no surprise that smart home technology is gaining traction here. As a homeowner, you may have realized that making your home more energy efficient is not only a win for the environment but also a win for your wallet. Sure, some of the green equipment may seem expensive at first. But they tend to pay for themselves in the long run with lower energy bills and increased home value.

Inside this Article:

• What Smart Home Features Are Most Valuable for Santa Cruz Homeowners?
• 1. Energy-Efficient Smart Thermostats
• 2. Solar Panels and Solar-Powered Smart Systems
• 3. Climate…

677 Views, 1 Comments