August 2023

The Faustian Bargain of Slow Growth

August 28, 2023It’s tempting to look at the market’s lack of listings and now-chronic state of ultra-low inventory and simply see it all as a predictable result of not having built enough homes over the last 30+ years. All those no/slow growth policies made construction more expensive and time-consuming. And few would disagree that the mind-boggling process of trying to plan or build anything in Santa Cruz County has done its part to inhibit development since the late 1980s. That’s part of the story, but not all...

The Why Behind the New Normal

August 21, 2023Continuing our conversation about the one big thing that’s been driving the unprecedented run in the market for over a decade. We’re on the hunt for the elusive “why” behind the “new normal” of extraordinary low inventory. Where did all those listings go? Why aren’t more sellers selling? Last week we looked at common types of transactions and how each one incrementally affects overall supply. What’s clear is that outside of building more homes and/or radically increasing our collective mortality rate (any volunteers?) there aren’t...

- Marika Strauss

SC’s Best Spots to Ride the Waves

August 18, 2023Santa Cruz has more surf spots than most coastal cities around the world! Our waves run the gamut from easy and mellow longboarding to steep peaks with speedy channels creating a wave for all skill levels. And we are so beautiful with redwoods and the coastline! Here are a few highlights from our different regions: North Coast 4 Mile - A beautiful surf spot just 4 miles out of town. A little hike down to the beach takes you to a beautiful crescent...

Let’s Talk About It

August 14, 2023Low Inventory… we’ve been talking about “it” for ten years and we still haven’t figured “it” out. It’s a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside of an enigma and all we’ve come up with are a few of the “usual suspects” like the recent rise in interest rates... But the so-called “mortgage lockdown effect” is a new phenomenon and it doesn’t come close to explaining why these last ten years have also been the ten lowest years on record for supply. Something is missing and...

Dax Nollenberger

- Dax Nollenberger

Rating Santa Cruz Elementary Schools: A Comprehensive Guide to Quality Education in Santa Cruz County

August 10, 2023Elementary school is a critical time in the development of a child. Picking the right school in Santa Cruz County can be both daunting and unclear. As a local Realtor deeply involved in our community, I understand the importance of schools in shaping families' home-buying decisions. In this guide, I'll analyze Santa Cruz elementary schools using key metrics like test scores, enrollment numbers, student-to-teacher ratios, and online rankings. This is the second in a series of blogs that will address Santa Cruz schools at various...

Rethinking Low Inventory

August 7, 2023I’ve been obsessing about low inventory for some time now and just like the shortage of listings I don’t think that’s going to change any time soon. Over the course of the last decade, the market has ratcheted up to warp speed, ramped up beyond old record price points and revamped the rules to accommodate the flood of multiple-offers, all-cash bid-ups, no contingency, ultra-fast escrows, it has seen since inventory dropped to barely sustainable levels. Even the arrival of a worldwide pandemic couldn’t disrupt...

- Marika Strauss

Our Ocean Playground’s Positive Affects on your Wellbeing

August 4, 2023Do you feel drawn to the sea? Do you crave the high from the negative ions that also soothe your mind? It’s a scientific fact! The ocean affects people on almost every level. According to research, there are 3 key factors linking coastal living with your wellbeing: sunlight combined with less polluted air, a higher ratio of active people and the overall psychologically restorative effect of water, which produces more positive moods. The rishis recommend going barefoot once a day and so does my podiatrist! ...