This 1,700 s.f. home sits on a 14,000 s.f. lot just 3.5 miles from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and only 30 miles from Silicon Valley.  A few block away is Pasatiempo Golf & Country Club – rated the 3rd best course in CA!

Here is a home with a compelling backyard and huge side yard.  Enjoy the gazebo and hot tub. The customized deck even has 3 gas outlets for your BBQ and radiant heaters.

Take a look at the VIDEO Tour of: 3 Lyle Way, Santa Cruz, CA.  It will be like being there.  Then, call/text me for your own, personal tour.

So, what do you think?

Watch the VIDEO Tour of this nice home.  You’ll note that nearly everything, even the plumbing, has been redone.  Have you heard the term: “turn key“?  This home is it.  Just put in the key and move right in.  There is virtually nothing left to do.

The wide side yard access to the huge back yard provides endless possibilities: A large garage/workshop, toy barn, pool etc. could easily fit into this back yard.  In the VIDEO you can see what the neighbor did with his same sized lot.

From this home you are less than a quarter mile from Hwy 25′s extension for an easy drive to Gilroy‘s Premium Outlet Center and CalTrain for a convenient commute.  Schools, shopping and medical facilities are within walking distance.  Veteran’s Memorial Park with its 5 baseball diamonds, skate park and picnic area is also just a short walk.

As close as this home is to everything, Bonnie View Rd. is not a through street so there is little traffic.  It is a quiet neighborhood.

This is NOT a short sale or bank owned sale. You will deal with the actual seller and can expect to close in a matter of weeks.

For your own personal tour of 1291 Bonnie View Rd. just call/text or e-mail me and I will arrange it for you.

This 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 2,005 sq. ft. home is just a few blocks from all of the boutique shops and restaurants in San Juan’s village.  Everything here; the Mission itself, the grocery store, the school – are all within walking distance.

Since this home is only 3 miles from Hwy. 101 you can be on the beach in 20 minutes, Gilroy’s Outlet Center and, CalTrain in 15 minutes, and in downtown San Jose in 45 minutes.  Hollister is just 10 minutes away.  It’s an easy commute from here to Monterey or San Jose.

Take a couple of minutes and watch this VIDEO Tour then, let me know what you think.

If you are planning to move and will need to get the kids registered in the new school, take heart – you still have time. 

While “REO” (foreclosed homes) take 6 to 8 weeks to close, “Short Sales” could take 2 to 4 months to close!  However, a ‘Regular’ sale: where the owner themselves are selling the property, could close within 4-6 weeks.   In fact, when your lender approves your loan you could start the enrolling process with confidence.  You will even have an address within the school boundaries.  Loan approval is often issued 2 to 3 weeks into the escrow.

When looking on-line therefore, you may want to include on you ‘dream list’ of features the absence of: “Short Sale”, “Bank Owned”, or “REO” in the description of the home.  Chances are, the homes without one of those discriptions will be a ‘regular’ sale. 

As an added reason to be alert to such a home – they are more often in better condition than those homes sitting vacant.

Feel free to shop in the actual MLS through the “Client Portfolio” button above this post.  There, you can access the actual MLS, in real time.  Or, you can e-mail me and I will do the search for you.

Happy Summer!

The seller had no money.  Our buyer could not pay for any of the repairs.  The listing agent and I had already agreed to put up a portion of our commissions toward the cost.  Yet there remained a list of repairs to do.  At the close of escrow no more options were available.  We were at a stalemate.  

The seller offered to help to fix a couple of repairs with materials he already had.  I took the remaining list of items and figured out a plan to get them done.  I bought the necessary supplies, rounded up 3 others and on the Saturday before it was to close we spent 7 hours doing those repairs. 

With Western Exterminator’s pre-set re inspection on Monday morning and e-mailed clearance to the lender that same day we funded on the very last day possible. IT CLOSED!  The seller was freed up. My buyer bought a great home at a great price.  The listing agent and I got a little bit for our 4 months of work. Everybody came out okay.

Winston Churchill’s famous, 5 word speech comes to mind: “Never, never, never give up”.

With little land left few homes are being built.  Therefore, the varied employment opportunities which provide a fairly consistent demand for housing, are tipping the supply/demand scale in favor of firm-to-increasing values.

Natural migration for affordable housing therefore, continues to be South of the Bay Area, namely: Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Hollister.  Many families are investing a slightly longer commute in order to have a desirable place for their family to enjoy.

Here is a good indicator of value: “Price per square foot“.  When you look at a home’s cost/sq. ft. it quickly becomes clear - your housing dollar goes much further in our “South County” areas:

A 3 bedroom, 2  bath, 1,700 sq. ft., on a 7,000 sq. ft. lot costs:

• San Jose             $303.87/sq. ft.
• Morgan Hill          $247.10/sq. ft.
• Gilory                    $206.48/sq. ft.
• Hollister               $146.71/sq. ft.

If you have been waiting to make your next housing move, I wouldn’t wait any longer.  Home prices, in our area, are rising.  The home loan rates are still extradordinarily low – FOR THE MOMENT.  You will be disappointed if you stay with an abritary “wait for 6 months to a year” idea.

BTW: The “City Tours” tab above will provide you with video tours of each of our communities.  Enjoy.

If you have wanted to refinance, you should send me an e-mail with your address.  I will be happy to provide you an updated market value.  Your home’s value may be high enough now to take advantage of these low rates.

(data source: MLS Listings)

This bright and sunny home is only 40 min. from San Jose, 13 miles from Gilroy’s Outlets and CalTrains; 4 miles from San Juan’s village and schools, 20 min. to the beach and a little further to Monterey.

As you watch the VIDEO Tour (above) of this great home look for all of the natural light, large oak trees, and the home’s quality. 860 Merrill Rd is located at the end of the lane, about a mile up from Hwy 101.

You can also click on the “City Tours” tab above to see a VIDEO Tour of San Juan Bautista as well.

In addition to the 4 large bedrooms, 3 full baths, over sized 3 car garage and 3,149 sq. ft., the energy efficiency, privacy and great location of this home will make you glad you found it.

860 Merrill will be going on the market in a few weeks.  Call or e-mail me for your own, personal tour of this wonder country home.

I welcome your comments here.

When we do look back and consider the cyclical nature of the housing market we’ll see that the peaks and valleys are very predictable.

So when I came across this presentation I was impressed.  I began thinking: “Let’s see, how can I buy another home?”

A contrarian, by definition, buys when the masses say not to and sells when others are buying.  It is not coincidental that successful investors march to their own trend-studies and, not do follow the mass media’s reactionary reporting.

So. What do you think?  Ready to brave the storm and buy a home?  Everyone else is selling.  I know just the expert who can help you.

In addition to the obvious water sports there are several golf courses and other recreational venues near by.  So, when you are here you really are on vacation.

If you are a true fishing expert you’ll notice that was a trout on my line.  Clearlake is one of the best Bass fishing lakes in the Western States but there are no trout.  It was just a prop.  but fun, none-the-less.

Call or e-mail me for your own personal tour of this fun property.

Due to the Buyer’s Market we are in, now is an excellent opportunity for you to buy this executive estate.

The 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home sits in 5 acres of manicured apricot trees in North San Benito County (Hollister).  There is a separate formal living room, spacious dining room, family room, library, utility room and a guest home.

The guest home or game room (however you want to use it) has it’s own walk in closet, full bath, custom Oak shelves, Franklin Stove and approximately 600 sq. ft. of  fun space.

The 875 sq. ft., 3 car garage has lots of nice, built in cabinets and a utility closet.

There is a 18 x 36 Anthony pool, spa, gazebo and a lighted tennis court on these grounds.

Actually, there are too many amenities to list here.  So, since the interest rates are at an all time low and, home prices have bottomed out, now is the absolute best time for you to move up to this excellent family estate.

Why not call, text, or e-mail me for your own, private tour.

Also, please share your comments about this Video here.