Its a wild and crazy (and sometimes frustrating) Sellers' market out there for homebuyers in Santa Cruz County and most of the California Bay Area. That means that multiple buyers are competing on the same homes. So what is the secret sauce to getting your offer accepted and buying the home of your dreams? Join Liz Kroft & Michael Hughett as they discuss some of their top 5 tips.
Read MoreFind out how much it costs to remodel a kitchen, item by item, so you never spend more than you need to.
How much is that kitchen remodel going to cost you? That's a hard number to nail down. It's not like you can cost compare on Amazon.
Read MoreIt's still a sellers market, and outdoor living space and extra rooms are more important than ever.
COVID-19 has touched every corner of life in Santa Cruz County, and the real estate market is no exception. Some might think home prices would be low due to the pandemic and wildfires — but instead, you couldn't be further from the truth.
Read MoreThe age old debate. Does a room need to have a closet to count as a bedroom? What does it even matter? Join Liz Kroft and Michael Hughett as they chat about the importance, the unimportance, appraisers, assessors and how bedrooms are being used for today’s families.
Read MoreIt’s January, the time of year when many homebuyers ask the same question: “When are more homes going to be available?”
Take a moment to listen in as Liz Kroft & Michael Hughett sit down to discuss what *normally* happens with inventory every year and what they are seeing today.
Read MoreFor most people, retirement feels like a long way off. But, if you don’t start preparing as early as possible, you may find yourself in a place of financial insecurity when the time does come. To avoid this, consider implementing the following tips.
Read MoreUsing plants as décor is a great way to add a little color and a natural, bright feel to any room. There are endless types of plants to choose from and various ways to display each one, but here are a few of our favorite combinations.
Read MoreSchool is officially back in session. Which means families with children may have a little extra time to give their homes some love.
To ensure your family’s home is ready for the busy year ahead, here are the essential recommended tasks for home maintenance. Completing these tasks now will save on stress and finances in the long run.
Read MoreYour house gives you so much: security, pride, shelter. With all that on the line, it’s easy to assume the costs of keeping it up just are what they are. But wait. There are plenty of expenses that are simply a waste.
Here’s how to save money each month without putting a dime of home value at risk.
Read MoreTechnology and good-old-fashioned creativity are helping agents, buyers, and sellers abide by COVID-19 health and safety practices while getting deals done.
Some buyers are touring houses virtually. Others visit in person while remaining at least six feet from their agent. Sellers are hosting open houses on Facebook Live. Appraisers are doing drive-by valuations. Buyers are watching inspections via video call. Masked and gloved notaries are getting signatures on doorsteps.
Read MoreWhether you work full-time at home or occasionally need to conduct business in the evenings or on the weekends, a home office a great way to utilize an extra room. A dedicated workspace in your home can be designed to increase productivity and comfort. Here are 5 ideas to get you started.
Read MoreThe answer to whether closing costs are tax deductible — or mortgage interest and property taxes for that matter — is, maddeningly, “It depends.”
Basically, you’ll want to itemize if you have deductions totaling more than the standard deduction, which is $12,200 for single people and $24,400 for married couples filing jointly. Every taxpayer gets this deduction, homeowner or not. And most people take it because their actual itemized deductions are less than the standard amount.
Read MoreJeanne Mulhern and Liz Kroft discuss how selling a home in Santa Cruz County can be done successfully, safely and almost entirely online in today's COVID-19 environment.
If you are wondering how to achieve your goals of selling, we have all of the answers and are here to guide you through the process from the initial interview all the way through to the closing table.
Believe it or not, now is still a great time to sell for many homeowners, let us show you why.
Read MoreWhether you're self-employed or applying for an FHA or USDA loan, here's the pre-approval paperwork you need.
If you're serious about buying a home, getting pre-approved for a mortgage is a critical step. It’s also a tedious one. Lenders seem to want a mountain of documents and have so many requirements.
Read MoreJeanne Mulhern and Liz Kroft discuss how buying a home in Santa Cruz County can be done successfully, safely and almost entirely online in today's environment.
Are you ready to make your dreams of homeownership come true? We're ready to help guide you through the process.
Read MoreIt’s a confusing time, but lenders are putting remedies, like forbearance, in place to help homeowners.
Mortgage lenders, and the federal agencies that regulate lenders, are putting coronavirus mortgage relief measures in place to ensure homeowners have options if they’re unable to make payments.
Read MoreWhen you’re getting ready to list your home, it’s of the upmost importance to ensure you are showing it in the best light. Taking time to highlight its strengths and fix up some of its possible weaknesses can make a big difference in how fast it sells. Here are our top five recommended repairs to make before selling your home.
Read MoreRefinancing your mortgage is something most homeowners consider at least once throughout the lifespan of their home loan. It allows you to pay off your previous loan by applying for a new one that has better financial advantages. While there are many good reasons to refinance, here are five common ones.
Read MoreWe are here for you. We’re still selling real estate (responsibly), it just looks a little different. During this time of uncertainty we are here to support your real estate needs, lend an ear should you have questions about the market, and even provide non-real estate resources to help you during this challenging time.
Together, we will get through this!
Read MoreUntil a few weeks ago the historically little inventory, healthy economy and low mortgage rates had the Santa Cruz County housing market humming along. Much of that hasn’t changed all too dramatically, yet.
Read More
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