Santa Cruz Real Estate
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You may have heard, effective July 1, 2008, in California two new laws go into effect that will have an impact on cell phone talking motorists.  The first law requires that drivers 18 and older use a hands-free device while driving.  The second prohibits drivers 18 and under from using a hands-free device or cell phone while driving.  Drivers who violate these laws will face a base fine of $20 for a first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense.

Frequently Asked Questions from the California Department of Motor Vehicle’s website, www.dmv.gov.ca, regarding the new legislation.

Q: What if I need to use my telephone during an emergency and I do not have a “hands-free” device?

A: The law allows a driver to use a wireless telephone to make emergency calls to a law enforcement agency, a medical provider, the fire department
or other emergency services agency.

Q: What are the fines(s) if I’m convicted?

A: The base fine for the first offense is $20 and $50 for subsequent convictions. With the addition of penalty assessments, the fines can be more than triple the base fine amount.

Q: Will there be a grace period when motorists will only get a warning?

A: No.  The law becomes effective July 1, 2008.  Whether a citation is issued is always at the discretion of the officer based upon his or her determination of the most appropriate remedy for the situation.

Q: Are passengers affected by this law?

A: No.  This law only applies to the person driving a motor vehicle.

Q: Do these laws apply to out-of-state drivers whose home states do not have such laws?

A: Yes.

Q: Can I be pulled over by a law enforcement officer for using my handheld wireless telephone?

A: Yes.  A law enforcement officer can pull you over just for this infraction.

Q: What if my phone has a push-to-talk feature; can I use that?

A: No.  The law does provide an exception for those operating a commercial motor truck or truck tractor (excluding pickups), implements of husbandry, farm vehicle or tow truck, to use a two-way radio operated by a “push-to-talk” feature. However, a push-to-talk feature attached to a hands-free ear piece or other hands-free device is acceptable.

Q: What other exceptions are there?

A: Operators of an authorized emergency vehicle during the course of employment are exempt, as are those motorists operating a vehicle on private property.

Q: Does the new “hands-free” law prohibit you from dialing a wireless telephone while driving or just talking on it?

A: The new law does not prohibit dialing, but drivers are strongly urged not to dial while driving.

Q: Will it be legal to use a Bluetooth or other earpiece?

A: Yes, however, you cannot have both ears covered.

Q: Does the new “hands-free” law allow you to use the speaker phone function of your wireless telephone while driving?

A: Yes.

Q: Does the new “hands-free” law allow drivers 18 and over to text message while driving?

A: The law does not specifically prohibit that, but an officer can pull over and issue a citation to a driver of any age if, in the officer’s opinion, the driver was distracted and not operating the vehicle safely.  Sending text messages while driving is unsafe at any speed and is strongly discouraged.

By the time you finally find the home of your dreams, you probably hope the process is finished. Yet, finding the right home is only part of it. You still have to find a price you and the seller can agree upon. To do this, you need to make and counter offers on the Santa Cruz real estate you want. As your Real Estate agent, I will speak to the seller on your behalf, but you have to be prepared for the negotiation process. Here are some tips:

• Start with your best offer. This is usually the first communication you will have with the seller, and it will give them an idea of whether or not they really want to work with you. Choose a realistic price (an offer that is too low is offensive to the seller), and leave yourself a little room to negotiate. We need to include with this offer a realistic time frame, terms, and deposit information.

• Keep your eye on the end result. If you really want this particular home, you may have to ignore small differences. Does it really matter if you have to pay $1000 more for the home than you wanted or if you have to buy new curtain rods for each room? The negotiation process is merely a way for you and the seller to find terms you can both agree with. Don’t let petty issues keep you from owning the home of your dreams.

• Save your contingencies. Your initial offer needs to contain basic information about the sale price, terms of the agreement, and closing time frame. Contingencies, like asking the seller to leave behind certain items in the home, should wait until you are further in the negotiation process. If you really want the window treatments in the home and the seller refuses to lower their asking price, you can ask them to include the window treatments in lieu of the price reduction.

Be smart as you make and counter an offer on Santa Cruz real estate. Let me help you negotiate the best price on your new home. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

Most municipalities have zoning laws that explain what propety owners can and cannot do with land. This protects residents by keeping business, industry, and residential areas separate.

Zoning terms are very important to you when you own Santa Cruz real estate that you want to build on. You should also be aware of zoning in your area because land use can change over time. Here is a brief guide to zoning terms.

Agricultural Land. This is land that is used primarily for farming. Most regions have specific definitions of how many animals or how many trees and plants must be grown to be classified as agricultural land.

Commercial Land. Commercial property is used for business purposes. This includes land for shopping centers, office space, and service centers.

Easement. An easement is the right to use someone else’s land. A common form of easement is when a utility company has the right to go across someone’s property so they can access electrical poles. There is usually no money exchanged with an easement.

Eminent Domain. This is the government’s right to acquire private land for public use. When the government exercises its eminent domain rights, it will pay the owner for the property.

Industrial Land. This land is used for manufacturing. Industrial land usually carries with it certain regulations to protect the environment around it and shield residential areas from danger resulting from the work done there.

Residential Land. Residential property includes single family homes, apartments, townhouses, and condominiums.

Let me help you find the Santa Cruz real estate that meets your needs. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

Links:

1. Types of easements

2. Public land use

3. Environmental land protection

With all the news of foreclosures headlining the news, it is easy to overlook the signs that we may be near the bottom of the market.

According to a May 20, 2008 Bay Area Home Sales Report released by real estate news source DataQuick, “Bay Area home sales edged up from a seven month run of record lows last month, indicating that mortgage availability and an increased number of fence sitters have decided they like today’s lower prices.”

In other news, a May 22, 2008 RealtyTimes article entitled, “Real Estate Outlook: Worst is Over,” “The housing market offered some immediate hints of recovery with new home starts up by 8.2 percent last month [April, 2008] and building permits up by 5 percent.”

The California Association of Realtors reported on May 23rd that “Home sales registered a 2.5 percent year-to-year gain compared with April 2007, ending a 30-month string of year-to-year percentage decreases that began in October 2005.”

Other signs that we are at, or near, the bottom of this cycle are:

Buy and hold investors are coming back into the market.

Multiple offers on bank-owned properties, trophy properties, and wellpriced homes in the best school districts.

Our Days of Inventory indicator has fallen to 242 from the peak of 471 reached in January.

If you have been sitting on the sidelines waiting to enter the market, there may not be a better time than now. Prices in some markets may not have hit their lowest point, but they probably aren’t far off. In many areas, only the pace of sales has been affected while prices have held firm and in some cases, have gone up. 

If you’re like most families, your kitchen is the most used room in your Santa Cruz home. This room is so important, that you should take the time to make sure it is well organized. Whether you’re just moving in to a new home or preparing your Santa Cruz home for sale, here are a few easy tips for organizing your kitchen:

1. Get rid of what you don’t need. It’s easy to overstock your shelves with all the kitchen gadgets available. Yet, if you haven’t used an item in the last year, give it away to someone who needs it. Use the extra space to arrange your plastic storage containers so you can actually find the right lids when you need them.

2. Replace non-working items. There’s really no good reason to keep any kitchen item that doesn’t work. Toss or recycle that old bread-making machine that stopped working (or you stopped using) 3 years ago and the food chopper with missing parts. You may be surprised to find out how much you use or don’t use those gadgets when you have one around that actually works.

3. Keep counters clear. The only items that should stay on your counters are appliances you use at least a few times each week. This probably includes your coffee maker and possibly a toaster oven. Clear counters make your kitchen look clean and give you plenty of working space for preparing meals.

4. Store items near where they will be used. Pots and pans need to be as close as possible to the stove. Keep glasses near the refrigerator. Platters and small appliances you don’t use often can be stored in the backs of cabinets and on difficult to reach shelves.

5. Group foods in the pantry. Think of the way your grocery store arranges items: dairy, produce, frozen foods, baking supplies, etc. Everything in your pantry needs to have its own “home”. Designate each shelf for specific items and arrange those items by food type. Make sure you place the items you use most at eye level.

An organized home starts with an organized kitchen. Let me help you get your Santa Cruz home organized to sell fast. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

Keywords:

Links:
1.  Kitchen gadgets

2.  Organized pantry

3.  Recycle unused kitchen appliances

1. Use community amenities. If you live in a neighborhood with a community swimming pool or park, get out of your house and use them. This will be a relaxed, neutral setting where you can meet your neighbors.

2. Go to association meetings. Association meetings may not be fun, but they are a way for you to get involved with your community. You can meet your neighbors and learn about what is important to them.

3. Get some outdoor exercise. Not only will you help your body deal with the stress of moving, but taking a walk or bike ride around your neighborhood will give you the chance to meet other people.

4. Use your children or pets. Children and pets are an easy way to strike up a conversation. Your children will probably very quickly make new friends, and you can use the opportunity to meet other parents. If you have a large or unusual pet, take the time to introduce them to your neighbors so they become more comfortable with your pet.

5. Be a good neighbor. Follow some general rules of courtesy. Don’t leave moving trash outside your home or play loud music. Offer to help your neighbor with something outside. This act of kindness will go a long way toward building a friendship.

6. Have a party. Nothing brings people together like a party. As soon as your new Santa Cruz home is together enough for you to have guests over, choose a date and send out invitations. Your neighbors want to see inside your home anyway.

7. Knock on doors. When all else fails, there’s always walking around door to door. Tell people that you just moved in and want to introduce yourself. Your neighbors want to meet you, and they may just be too shy to take the initiative.

Buyers do care about your homes outside appearance. In fact, a messy yard may turn them away before they even look inside. Updating your landscaping doesn’t have to take much time or money. Here are seven easy garden improvements to help your Santa Cruz home sell faster.

1. Switch to native plants. Plants that are native to your area are already suited for your environment. They don’t require as much work from you and are just as attractive as other plants.

2. Add a water feature. Water features can be as simplistic as a small water fountain or as extravagant as a large koi pond. No matter what you choose, a water feature will add something special to your landscaping and make your yard more inviting.

3. Use plants in containers to hide ugly spots. Container plants are a great way to make your yard look neater. They can be moved around to fill in a dead section at a moment’s notice and can cover up a spot where plants don’t seem to grow.

4. Trim shrubs and trees. Nothing spruces up your yard like a quick shrub trim. Cut back dead sections and make sure the plants are the same height and general shape.

5. Add wood chips. Wood chips are an easy way to cover ugly sections of your yard and create a uniformed look among your plants. Spread them evenly around and beneath your plants and edge them with pavers to keep them in place.

6. Add a path. Every garden needs some sort of path to guide visitors through it. Your path can be something as simple as few stepping stones, or it can be an elaborate brick lane winding through your garden.

7. New containers. Give your potted plants a new home. You can find containers made of every possible material from wood to clay to plastic. The new containers will make your garden look better maintained and more beautiful.

Taking the time to spruce up your yard helps your Santa Cruz home sell faster. Let me show you other methods I use that are proven to get your home sold faster. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

Links:

1. Water features

2. Shrub trim

3. Laying Stepping stones

Vacant land is like a blank canvas and the ultimate in the American dream of property ownership. You can build whatever Santa Cruz real estate you want there without the limited design styles of a developer. However, buying vacant land is very different from buying property with a building already on it. There are certain qualities to look for in vacant land.

1. Build-ability. Vacant land comes in many different forms and conditions. Will the property need to be cleared or built up? Is it uneven? Any work you have to do will cost you more in time and money.

2. Check the water and sewer codes. Each municipality has its own set of regulations for water and sewer. These regulations even specify what kind of system you need for the property. You need to know if you can hook up to the local sewer and water systems or if you need your own septic system and well.

3. Zoning. Land parcels are zoned for certain uses and buildings. Before you buy vacant land, check the zoning. If the property isn’t zoned for the Santa Cruz real estate you’re wanting to build, find out what you need to do to request a zoning change. Sometimes this is a simple procedure; sometimes it is a complicated process.  You may be better off finding another piece of land that is zoned for what you want to build.

4. Total cost. When you purchase vacant land, you have to take into consideration more than just the purchase price. Unless you plan to use the land for grazing animals, you will probably need to add sewer, water, and electric hook-ups. You will have to pay for this and need to include it in your budget.

5. Building restrictions. Environmentally protected lands have restrictions on what you can and cannot build there. You may not be able to cut down certain trees or fill in parts of your property that are too low. There may even be limits to what size or style structure you can build on the property.

6. Location/Accessibility. You have to carefully consider where the vacant land is located before you buy it. Living in the country away from the busy city means longer drives to everywhere. Make sure there is an access road so you can reach your property.

Let me help you find vacant land on which to build your Santa Cruz real estate. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com

Links:

1. How septic systems work

2. Zoning definitions

3. Land use

If you’re thinking of buying Santa Cruz real estate, you’re probably wondering if now is the right time? You want to buy a home you can afford in a growing area so you can build equity while you live there. While there is no magic formula to tell you when a market is stable, you can look for some signs that it’s the right time to buy.

1. Fewer homes on market. As people begin buying homes in an area, there won’t be as many homes for sale. This means people are buying properties and want to live in that region. Growth usually means your home’s value will increase.

2. Sold prices are closer to asking (or list) prices. When more homes are on the market, the competition drives prices down so sellers don’t get their full asking price. Likewise, when the number of buyers is greater than the number of homes on the market, buyers are willing to pay more to get the homes they want.

3. Days on market decreases.  As a REALTOR®, I measure the Santa Cruz real estate market by the number of days a home stays for sale. In a booming market, homes are not for sale for long (and they often sell before they are even advertised to the public). Look for an area where homes are being sold within a reasonable amount of time (usually less than 3 months).

4. Prices are firm. In a stable market, home prices don’t fluctuate and don’t vary greatly among comparable homes. This is because sellers aren’t anxious to sell their homes, and buyers are paying what homes are worth.

5. Incentives disappear. Sellers and builders offer all sorts of incentives when they have trouble selling homes. When those incentives start disappearing, you know people are buying again, and this may be a good time for you to buy a home.

Let me help you find the right home for you. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com for more information about today’s Santa Cruz real estate market.

Links:

1. Build equity 

2.  Determine a home’s value

3. Incentives

In a down market, buyers have so many homes to choose from that you need to do whatever you can to make your home stand out from the rest. One way to do this is to offer incentives for the buyer so you can sell your Santa Cruz real estate.

1. A home warranty. When you offer your buyer a home warranty, you are giving them peace of mind. They know that if a covered item breaks, they won’t be paying a fortune to have it repaired or replaced. This is especially true for older homes.

2. Pay some dues. If you live in a condo, townhome or a community with home owner association dues, offer to pay the dues for one year. This will lower the buyer’s monthly payment.

3. Give a tax break. If you live in an area where property taxes are reasonable, you can pay the property taxes for the following year. The buyer will appreciate the lower monthly payment, and you may even get a discount for paying the taxes early.

4. Home service. Throw in a year’s worth of lawn or pool maintenance. If your buyers are first time home owners, they may not even know how to take care of the yard or a pool. Anyone will appreciate the time and money they will save with a pre-paid service.

5. Closing costs. A common incentive sellers offer buyers is to cover all or part of the buyer’s closing costs. Your Title company or Santa Cruz real estate lawyer can estimate the closing costs for you.

Let me help you put together a package to sell your Santa Cruz real estate. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com