Santa Cruz Real Estate's Blog: All Categories

Santa Cruz Seniors have the benefits of a local Santa Cruz Seniors program to help with their taxes,how nice is that! Taxes are tough enough early in life, and easier later in life, sort of . The Project Scout helps seniors with their taxes for free. Yes that magical word,FREE, that is golden especially to seniors, is the cost, besides your time. Contact them for assistance. You will need the following.

• Valid picture ID for taxpayer (and spouse if filing jointly)
• Social Security cards and birth dates for all members of your family
• All forms; W-2, 1099's, etc.

If you can also bring your tax form for 2007 that was mailed to you as well as you last years return those will be helpful too.You can call them at 1-877-373-8297

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What will you be remembered for when you are gone? For some, these are trying times, just trying to stay alive, for others it is preparing for going. Life is a cycle, just as birth proceeds death. We trumpet death more than life or birth, for reasons unknown to me. So as we contemplate getting our will and trusts in order, what will we be remembered for or by?

We can get our things in order, and you should have something set up early in life. As we all know, life is an uncertain gift that can be revoked at any time. While we march or forge or slog though life, we come across people and organizations of interest. Some are charities, others are people we value for their insight, or their ability to make us laugh or think.

In Santa Cruz there is an…

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I am thinking as I read and fathom the carnage that happened and was somewhat averted with the Bear Stearns debacle. What came to mind was the word “diversity.” You may think, huh, but as I was reading about 15,000 people being affected, and many of then with their retirements heavily vested in their seemingly rock of Gibraltar company, Bear Stearns. What this reminds me is that people have not remembered the word “diversity” that so many employees of Enron learned.

Diversity is another thing to consider in your portfolio of investments. Not only do you need to have diversity in your 401K or SEPP-IRA, but you do significantly improve your returns by dollar cost averaging. Right now is a great time to be buying stocks as well as real estate. There are some…

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The other day I was reading about some commercial insurance company that is using more than the usual means for evaluating property. I found it interesting that they were doing things we as agents have to deal with, and sometimes resolve. When we find mold or mildew in a home, depending on the quantity and locations of it, will have the area tested. Most times things are killed off with bleach, but at times they can cause serious health concerns.

Appraisers usually measure a home, take photos, do some research on the size and permitted square footage, and that is often the extent of their home investigation. As an agent we do some of the above, and then some. Oftentimes when we suspect things may be amiss we suggest a home inspection. If the home…

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I am reminded as I see front page articles of major institutions how risk is fundamental to success. I am also reminded that without risk the odds of success are greatly diminished. As stock brokerage companies and banks had created the MBS ( mortgage backed securities) and the SIV’s, they were taking risk, and for a time, being handsomely rewarded. The lure of a new”drug” was a panacea for the ever higher and higher stock market mentality. Like the tech stock collapse in the late 90’s, this was the new thing. So banks, surely approached by Wall Street types, with a new way to make money, and banks with an unending stream of buyers, all took this bet that they could make money and get out before the end. Problem people rarely see the end.

There were no…

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Some good things come if you wait. Yes we were told that often and wondered, how long. Well as a senior you can live high on the hog at Aegis of Aptos, a senior care facility. This place is nicely appointed, and is managed by Diane Savard, the executive director.

Aegis is the type of place that one can now get, if you are on a fixed income below $28,450, a lovely room for only $3,000 per month. This is full room and board. Additional care, if necessary, is extra. Normally a room would cost about $4,000, so this is a substantial savings.

The staff is cheery, and Patrick the chef, cooks up good meals.Having eaten there many times, I can attest to that. The location is an easy walk to the shopping centers in Aptos if you want to get something. The access to…

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Santa Cruz, water when you want it…but a transcontinental water pipeline?

  Santa Cruz has just started the pilot desalinization plant to provide water when you want it. So many places have had water problems in the past few years. In 2007, Georgia was gripped in a devastating drought. The Georgia drought was unexpected and seemingly unprecedented, leading to threats of lawsuits. These cycles of too much rain or water and not enough, have plagued mankind for millenniums; even Noah had the problem.   In Santa Cruz County we had the devastating effects of too much water in too short a time period, several times, with the most startling being the mountain sliding down in Love Creek, Ben Lomond in 1982. The county had bridges and roads collapse with a… Read Full Post

 

Condominium Homeowners Associations and common Interest Developments are affected by SB 528

 

One of the new bills that went into effect this year in California ( SB 528) affects common interest developments ( CID’s) and the homeowners associations’ meetings. CIDs range in size from 4 to 27,000 units. These developments include condominiums, planned unit developments ( PUD’s), community apartment projects, and housing cooperatives. There are more than 41,000 CIDs in the state, which make up over four million housing units, which is about one-quarter of the state's housing stock.

Any member of the association (owner of a unit or home) has the right to attend the meetings. While there are some portions of the meeting that are not available for all to…

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