September 2022

Why Aren’t More Sellers Selling?

September 26, 2022Today’s big question: Why Aren’t More Sellers Selling? Very few folks would disagree with the notion that historic low inventory has been the driving force in the marketplace for the last ten years. But what’s unclear is the WHY behind it all. What factors have contributed to the huge crimp in the supply-side of the market equation? Let’s continue deciphering this riddle wrapped in a mystery inside of a market enigma by looking at one of the prime suspects: Move-Down Buyers (aging baby-boomers and their...

Why Stage?

September 19, 2022Continuing our discussion....How staging has gone from being a fashionable afterthought reserved only for the most elite homes to something that’s now considered integral to the successful sale of any home. And why, if it’s been awhile since you’ve experienced the real estate market from a Seller’s perspective, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to re-familiarize yourself with the essentials of staging as you’re beginning to get your own staging ducks in order. Suffice to say: Prepping and staging a house is harder than it...

The Trouble with Blivets

September 12, 2022I love it! Whenever I write a column about “stuff”, readers write back to share their own stories. Like this: We’re guilty as charged..... 24 years living here and 24 years of accumulating stuff we don’t need. There’s a military term called “blivet” which means cramming 10 gallons of crap into a 5 gallon bucket. That describes our single car garage perfectly. Thanks Tom. We’ll invite you to the garage sale we’ve been planning for 10+ years but haven’t had yet. Blivet! Who knew? Guess...

- Marika Strauss

Surfing is Medicine

September 8, 2022From the moment my toes hit the sand and the refreshing Pacific waters brush over my feet, a sense of waking up to the moment takes over. The day's happenings are left on the Pleasure Point stairs as I descend into the magic of the salty air and crashing waves. Paddling out past the kelp, ducking underneath the transparent blue waters or past the sea otters munching on crab, the anticipation starts building for the first wave of the day. Gazing out to the horizon,...

Scarlett Wolford

- Scarlett Wolford

Setting up for success: The six steps to buying a home in Santa Cruz

September 6, 2022Thinking about buying a house? It’s easy right? Well, it’s like hiking a new trail or touring a museum in a foreign country. Even if you have the best maps and equipment, having the right guide is essential because there are bound to be some twists and turns along the way. Here’s my take on the process and some tips that will help you set yourself up for success! Step 1: Get pre-approved with a local lender This is one of the most...

Deer in the Headlights Ahead

September 6, 2022Continuing the conversation… we’re in the early innings of a market shift, the first we’ve had in more than a decade. Since most people either can’t remember or have never experienced anything BUT a market driven by multiple-offers and a crazy-fast pace, we’re going to see buyers/sellers and agents struggling with change in the months ahead. There’ll be some buyers running for the hills with fears about buying in a market that’s going down. There’ll be some sellers burying their heads in the sand, resisting...

Dax Nollenberger

- Dax Nollenberger

Dax’s Data: The Monetary Benefit of Homeownership

September 2, 2022Searching the internet for whether homeownership is actually valuable will leave your head in a daze. Major players in the real estate investing space will argue that you shouldn’t own a primary home, others will argue that you shouldn’t take on any debt, and many more will encourage you to accumulate as much real estate as possible. So many varied opinions pulling in every conceivable direction only adds to an already overwhelming decision and leads to the inevitable buyer thinking “am I making the right...