Santa Cruz Real Estate's Blog: Santa Cruz Real Estate and thing goings on in Santa Cruz, California

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…

The lovely San Lorenzo Valley, which is at the northern end of Santa Cruz County has gotten a page in the AAA's March 2008 magazine.  The magazine, which gives drivers helpful automotive information on things to be concerned of, as well as things to do, has some interesting articles of places off the beaten path. Just as millions of people flock to Santa Cruz and Capitola from the bay area and beyond, we locals go to others back yards for enjoyment as well. The old grass is greener on the other side of the fence, I guess. Well, come on and visit one of our local gems.

Well I don't go out as much, and as far as green goes, the San Lorenzo Valley is about as green as it gets. The lush mountains, with their towering redwoods, and quaint little communities…

The City of Santa Cruz Water Department is about to have a grand opening of their joint project for a desalinaization plant on the west side of Santa Cruz. This project has been in the works with the Soquel Creek Water Department to provide water supplies to meet growing needs and to supply water during drought years.

After a year of testing the facility, the two water agencies will join in constructing a permanent $40-50 million desalination plant expected to be built by 2012. While the present plant is a small one at present,costing about $4M,it expected to process 50 gallons per minute.

Soquel Creek Water District currently supplies approximately 5,400 acre feet of water annually, approximately 1.8 billion gallons of water,  from two groundwater…

Unwanted Loan Solicitations…. You’re next, but here's how to avoid them.

 
In this day and age one would think ones' privacy would be taken for granted when applying for a loan. Not only do you bare you soul, you also have your credit report run by the 3 national credit reporting agencies. From the resulting FICO you will have a numerical rating that will help banks and mortgage brokers determine your quality score. There are a number of a factors used in determining your creditworthiness, especially now.

The usual factors of good credit, good employment, and good income, are all important. With today’s lending guidelines’ tightening up and business shrinking, the quality buyer or borrower is highly sought after.

One of the dirty tricks that…

The Santa Cruz County Migration Festival is scheduled for it's annual event this year on February 9th, 2008. The event will be held from 11AM to 4PM, with a band, and cake after 3:15. Bring your lunchables and make it an educational day with a picnic and make learning fun for your kids. You can migrate from event to event. It should be a day of fun and cheap too, in this age of economic challenges.

The annual event is to be held at 4 local State Parks. The focus of this event will be different at each park. In the north at Henry Cowell State Park, which is located between Santa Cruz and Felton,they will focus on the diminishing steelhead trout and newts. The habitats for these oceangoing trout have been in severe decline in this county for years as have…

Sea Breeze Tavern,Rio Del Mar

The venerable of Sea Breeze Tavern is back in action in Rio Del Mar, Aptos Ca. This old landmark, albeit unattractive, has been put back into service. Having a long history from probably the early 20’s as a sales office for the Rio Del Mar development, it has been a bar or restaurant for probably most of its life.

I knew it as a biker dive bar in the 80’s and it was run by the owner Georgia Derber. The place had grown rough and was reportedly shut down because too many bar fights.

The place has recently been opened after being shuttered since the late 80’s.I remember looking at it, thinking that some time I’d buy the ugly green building and repaint it. I think Pat, the owner of the Café Rio at that time, had a big…

Santa Cruz, California welcomes the minimum wage increase.

Living is Santa Cruz, California is easy and difficult. The lifestyle is easy, but the cost of living makes it difficult for the entry level worker. The California state law went into effect today  to raise the minimum wage from $7.50 per hour to $ 8.00. While this seems like a big increase, and nearly 1.5 million Californians will benefit from this, it is not enough to live on in most parts of California.

Wait people often get income above this due to good service whereby they receive tips, but still need this to make ends meet. Many other states have a tip credit programs that businesses use to offset this labor cost. Oftentimes the biggest expense of a business is labor cost. As you can…

The winter season is upon us, which means the best surfing is yet to come. There are great waves, some of them epic, which has the surfers ready in 24 hours notice for the great contest at Mavericks. This surf contest is located up the coast from Santa Cruz, California in the Half Moon Bay area. There are many past and current champions from Santa Cruz. It is a great thick wave that has recently been brought to the publics attention. and the surf contest has recently gone mainstream.The waves are huge, i.e. 30+ feet in height. These guys who ride them have to be qualified and have real cajones to ride them. They also have in common the liklihood that they may get surfers ear. Others will likely suffer from surfers ear if they don't use hoods and ear plugs.…