July 02nd 2009 May 15th 2009

Capitola, California a town of about 2 square miles and permanent population of 10,500 is located in Santa Cruz County and has recently been named one of the Top 20 Small Towns in the West by Sunset Magazine. I spent about half of my childhood on Capitola Beach and grew up in the area so I know it well. Growing up in a place like Capitola with it's natural beauty, architecture reminiscent of small Italian Beach towns, great waves, excellent food, small town everyone knows everyone feel it is easy to not understand and appreciate what you have, you take it for granted. After leaving at 17 for University and living other places, traveling the world I now know how lucky I am to have grown up in Capitola and Santa Cruz and to live here now.

Capitola Real Estate ranges from small beach shacks (525 SF) built decades ago to top of the line Ocean View designer homes, traditional suburban neighborhoods like the one surrounding New Brighton Middle School, some small newer developments, Ocean View condos . . . A variety of prices as well, some of the lowest being 2 bed/1 bath condos in walk to the beach locations at about $250,000 (they were selling for almost double that at the peak of the market). Some of the highest priced Capitola Real Estate is in Depot Hill, an area perched above Capitola Village fronted by lovely Victorians and home to some of the most beautiful Ocean View Properties in Santa Cruz. Another great neighborhood is the Jewel Box (many streets have names like Emerald, Opal, Garnet). Home prices range from $600,000 to 3 Million Dollars in this neighborhood.

Average Home Prices in Capitola are some of the highest in Santa Cruz County, making it hard for younger local people to get into the market here. With the price drop in the past couple years more locals are able to buy in Capitola and I think that has been a great thing for our community. With the variety of Real Estate available and activities for all ages Capitola really is one of the best places to live on the California Coast.

For more information about Capitola and Santa Cruz Real Estate call me anytime at (831) 419-9345 or email CJess4Homes@yahoo.com

To find your Dream Beach Home CLICK HERE 

People love to talk about the weather and I guess I fall in that category  too.  It has been absolutely beautiful summer weather here in Santa Cruz this week with 70+ temp.  I actually pray for rain/snow because we need it but it has been like skipping time and being in summer for a week in mid-January.  I walk my dogs several times a week on West Cliff Dr and it is packed right now!  There are so many activities in the Santa Cruz area ( surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, mountain biking, golfing, hiking, kite surfing).  Our weather is great pretty much year round so there are many opportunities to get out there and enjoy!

As I have been driving around showing property all over Santa Cruz County the past week the I have been musing on the wide variety of property types we have here.  We have mountain properties with old summer cabins built in the early 1900's for vacation homes that people now have made into permanent homes.  We have beautiful estates with room for horses, vineyards, Ocean front homes right on the bluff, Historical Victorians, Craftsman, 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's style homes.  Really something for everyone. 

When I ask my clients what style of home is their 'dream home' many say they want an 'old house'  By old they mean something with character with all the beautiful trim and that 'homey' feeling.  We have some beautiful 1920's era craftsman homes and older Victorians, especially on the Westside of Santa Cruz.  I live in a 1920's craftsman myself.  It is a labor of love, something always needs to be replaced/fixed in these older homes but done right they look fantastic and no new home can have that look.

I showed my client 2 homes yesterday both priced exactly the same and in good locations.  We saw a brand new home ready to move in.  It was nicely done, nothing too fancy but very nice.  Then we saw an old cabin, probably late 1880's that needs tons of work and is much smaller.  Which one did they like?  The old cabin of course!  Never mind the time and $ needed to upgrade, it has 'character'.  And I understand why they like the cabin but after living in this older craftsman I know what how long it will take and how much $ will be spent on that home.  But that is what many people want, something with character, something that connects you with a time past.  Thankfully for all of you 'old home' fans we have plenty in Santa Cruz that need some love!

 

 

To Find your own classic home CLICK HERE

 

As a Realtor I come across some very interesting situations, no transaction or home is ever the same.  Problem solving skills and creative thinking are a requirement for this profession.  I love it because it is challenging and rewarding, never a dull moment!

I recieved this email from a Home Inspector I use often,  Glenn Stewart with Pacific Coast Inspections (866-570-1222) .  It made me smile so I thought I'd share it with you:

-Mystery of the Sagging Bedroom Floor   A bedroom had been added-on to a 55 year old house. I noticed as I walked across the floor that there was a discernable slope towards the center of the room. I carry a large steel ball bearing that I placed on the floor at the wall... As I watched the ball bearing roll slowly across the floor, it began to roll in a spiral pattern at the center of the bedroom... Very odd I thought.  This bedroom had its own exterior crawlspace access. When I first enter a crawlspace, I use my spotlight to ensure that there are no shining eyes looking at me. What greeted my eyes this time was a support post, attached to a concrete pier and footing about 8 feet away... that was floating in space!   As I crawled over to the 'hole' and peered down, I took the photo below. It was an abandoned redwood septic tank where the lid had collapsed... Obviously after the bedroom had been constructed.   The floating post and pier had been placed in the center of the bedroom crawlspace... And now you know why the ball bearing spiraled in the center of the floor due to the hanging weight of the concrete.   As I drove back home after the inspection, I wondered how they would repair this situation... I had visions of a cement truck unloading its load of concrete down a chute centered over the hole.-

 

I always recommend a getting a Home Inspection and any other applicable inspections when buying a home.  Imagine if you discovered this after you moved in! 

Jessica Wallace, Realtor

(831) 419-9345

CJess4Homes@yahoo.com

For those of you who are First Time Home Buyers (anyone who has not owned a home in the past 3 years)  here are the details of the Federal Tax Credit:

 

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• The $8,000 tax credit is available for first-time home buyers only.
• The law defines a first-time home buyer as a buyer who has not owned a home during the past three years.
• All <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />U.S. citizens who file taxes are eligible to participate in the program.

 

Income Limits

• Home buyers who file as single or head-of-household taxpayers can claim the full $8,000 credit if their modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is less than $75,000.
• For married couples filing a joint return, the income limit doubles to $150,000.
• Single or head-of-household taxpayers who earn between $75,000 and $95,000 are eligible to receive a partial first-time home buyer tax credit.
• Married couples who earn between $150,000 and $170,000 are eligible to receive a partial first-time home buyer tax credit.
• The credit is not available for single taxpayers whose MAGI is greater than $95,000 and married couples with an MAGI that exceeds $170,000.

 

Effective Dates for the Tax Credit

• First-time home buyers would receive a $8,000 tax credit for the purchase of any home on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. To qualify, you must actually close on the sale of the home during this period.

 

Tax Credit is Refundable   ***This is a good thing***

• A refundable credit means that if you pay less than $8,000 in federal income taxes, then the government will write you a check for the difference.
• For example, if you owe $5,000 in federal income taxes, you would pay nothing to the IRS and receive a $3,000 payment from the government.
• If you are due to receive a $1,000 tax refund from the government, your refund would grow to $9,000 ($1,000 plus $8,000 from the home buyer tax credit).
• You are allowed to claim the credit for a purhase in 2009 on your 2008 tax returns. Consult your tax preparer.

 

Types of Homes that Qualify for the Tax Credit

• All homes, whether single-family, townhomes or condominium apartments will qualify, provided that the home will be used as a principal residence and the buyer has not owned a home in the prior three years. This also includes newly-constructed homes.

I wanted to comment on a positive trend I have noticed in my personal Real Estate business this past year.  I service the Santa Cruz County area in California which is a higher priced beach area just south of Silicon Valley and north of Monterey.  I was born and raised here and like many of my peers couldn't imagine living anywhere else.  I've tried it (I've lived in Argentina, Spain, Italy) but I always come home.  The geographical setting of the Monterey Bay is gorgeous, the community is great and there is just so much to do for every type of person.

Being in a high demand, beach area our prices have been out of reach for most people and many of my peers that I have grown up with.  I am realitively young ( I just turned 30) and people my age with young families have not been able to find a way to make it here and have moved out of the area to states like Washington, Utah, Idaho where they could afford to buy a house.  Well with the steep drop in real estate prices this year I am happy to say they are coming home!  I have worked with several young families that had moved out of Santa Cruz and never thought they could come home.  In 2008 they were able to buy homes here and raise their families in the same place that they grew up.  I know the real estate market has affected many people in a very negative way but this is something positive for our community to have young families being able to buy here again.

So come on home to Santa Cruz!  I will be happy to help you find your home here, just give me a call at (831) 419-9345 or an email at cjess4homes@yahoo.com