Santa Cruz County
Real Estate Blog
Market reads, buying and selling notes, and neighborhood guides from Walter Stauss. Local since 1978.
Santa Cruz County real estate does not follow the national script. These articles cover what is happening here: prices, inventory, neighborhood reads, and strategy for buyers and sellers. I have been local since 1978 and licensed since 1991.
San Lorenzo Valley Neighborhood Spotlight
An October 2026 look at San Lorenzo Valley real estate: Felton, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, and Zayante prices, fire insurance, wells, septic, and what buyers should check first.
Can Your Neighbor Pick Fruit From Your Tree?
California law on fruit trees near property lines: who owns overhanging fruit, when a neighbor can trim branches, and what counts as trespass.
Santa Cruz Neighborhood Spotlight
A September 2026 look at the Santa Cruz city market: Westside, Seabright, downtown, and Eastside prices, UCSC rental demand, and what buyers should check by block.
Capitola & Live Oak Neighborhood Spotlight
An August 2026 look at Capitola, Live Oak, and Pleasure Point real estate: walkability, surf access, flood review, schools, and prices.
Aptos & Soquel Neighborhood Spotlight
A July 2026 look at Aptos and Soquel real estate: beach-close homes, village life, hillside acreage, schools, and what sets these two markets apart.
Remoov and Reperch: Clear Out and Furnish a Santa Cruz Home
What Remoov and Reperch do, how the clear-out and resale process works, what you get paid, and how Santa Cruz County sellers and buyers can use them.
Scotts Valley Neighborhood Spotlight
A June 2026 look at Scotts Valley real estate: schools, Highway 17 commuting, home prices, and why this town keeps selling faster than the county.
Designtex: Wall Coverings Worth Knowing About
Designtex has made contract-grade textiles and wall coverings since 1962. Here’s what homeowners should know about products, materials, and ordering.
Buying in a Fire Zone in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Aptos Hills
Santa Cruz fire-zone buyer guide covering Cal Fire designations, insurance, defensible space, access, and what changed after the CZU fire.
Coastal Commission Rules for Santa Cruz Remodels
Santa Cruz coastal remodel guide covering Coastal Development Permits, local planning review, bluff setbacks, ADUs, and buyer checks.
Santa Cruz County Closing Costs
What closing costs look like in Santa Cruz County, including what sellers and buyers each pay and how to read your net sheet before you sign.
Santa Cruz County School Districts: A Buyer’s Guide
Santa Cruz County school district guide for buyers, covering Aptos, Soquel, Scotts Valley, SLV, Watsonville, and exact-address checks.
Santa Cruz Gopher Control: What Works And What Doesn’t
Santa Cruz County gopher control: why Juicy Fruit, car exhaust, and ultrasonic stakes fail, what actually works, and what to check before hiring help.
Single Women Buying Homes in Santa Cruz
Single women now account for 1 in 4 first-time homebuyers nationwide. Here’s what that trend looks like in Santa Cruz County and what to know before you buy.
The Real Benefits of Downsizing in Santa Cruz County
Thinking about downsizing in Santa Cruz County? Here’s what local homeowners actually gain financially, practically, and in daily quality of life.
Eucalyptus Trees on the Central Coast
Santa Cruz County eucalyptus tree guide covering fire risk, brittle wood, limb drop, removal questions, and what buyers should review before closing.
5 Deer-Resistant Self-Seeding Flowers for Santa Cruz Gardens
Five deer-resistant self-seeding flowers for Santa Cruz gardens, including foxglove, larkspur, lupine, bladderpod, and poppies.
Santa Cruz Real Estate Guide 2026
Santa Cruz real estate in 2026, including local pricing, inventory, neighborhoods, buyer strategy, and seller preparation.
Step-Up in Basis and Inherited Real Estate
Step-up in basis can affect inherited real estate, capital gains, estate planning, and 1031 strategy. This is general context, not tax advice.
Living in Santa Cruz County: Relocation Guide
What it is like to live in Santa Cruz County, including commute, schools, beach access, weather, fire risk, insurance, housing, and daily life by area.
Spring 2026 Santa Cruz Real Estate Market Update
Spring 2026 Santa Cruz County real estate update covering inventory, pricing, interest rates, buyer demand, and what buyers and sellers should watch.