Are you tired of your daily routine? Are you looking for something to make your life more interesting?
The daily cycle of getting up, going to work, and coming home can get repetitive and boring.
I know what you're going through, so let me tell you something I learned. Sometimes, all we need is a little twist to bring the fun back in our lives.
This is why I moved to Santa Cruz in 1998. I needed to change where I lived so I could change how I lived. Santa Cruz is the perfect spot to get both the intellectual zest of the city and the exciting and relaxing influence of a coastal lifestyle.
Keep reading to learn how to find the perfect oceanfront home for your needs! Be careful though, because it doesn't take much to convince someone to buy an oceanfront home for themselves!
Want to be happier and healthier? Move to Santa Cruz Oceanfront Homes!
Scientists at a number of institutions have found evidence that there is such a thing as “brain drain” when you are always exposed to the busy array of urban living.
According to a university study, those who took a walk along the crowded city street compared with those who walked in a park setting or a beach setting performed much worse on tests of attention and working memory.
Where and how you live is a strong predictor to your health and happiness.
Santa Cruz is an interesting mix of college town, beach town, and cultural center. It is famous for its boardwalk, wide sandy beaches, and beach amusements.
Living here, you’ll be constantly surrounded by beautiful nature and great surf. It’s simply a wonderful city.
You can’t deny that the ocean holds a certain attraction to many people. Just gazing at the sea can give a calm and peaceful feeling. Every day is an opportunity to enjoy, relax and have fun. You can go swimming, surfing, strolling or just simply take in the view.
Watch the video below to learn about the benefits of living near the ocean.
Questions to Ask before Buying a Santa Cruz Oceanfront Home
Ocean View homes are naturally appealing to buyers. Who wouldn't want to live right on the beach?
Before you start looking for Santa Cruz homes for sale, you want to know which questions to ask to make sure you do not make a purchase that you will regret.
Here are some questions you should consider:
1. Can you get a loan?
Ocean view homes are often considerably more expensive than a similar home in a regular neighborhood. They require bigger loans so you need to check first to see that you can get the financing necessary to purchase a property.
2. What are you looking for in a home?
Ocean view homes can come in a surprising range of prices, conditions and access to amenities. Will this be your primary home, or a second home? Think about the things that are most important to you. They will help you narrow down the wide array of choices you have available.
3. Is the location right?
Before you go searching for a home, ask yourself what kind of lifestyle you want. This can help you determine where you should look for.
4. How do the neighbors like living there?
You can talk to the owners of the property that are near the home you are considering purchasing. They may be able to tell you a lot about what to expect when owning property in that area.
5. Does the property work for your lifestyle?
Consider your daily lifestyle routine. Will the home fit into your daily routine or would you need to make major adjustments in order to create the lifestyle you want?
6. What conveniences are nearby?
When buying a home with an ocean view, don’t just stop with the property. Take time to learn about the community. Find out about nearby hospitals, restaurants, police departments, shops, grocery stores, and other conveniences.
What to Look for in an Oceanfront Home
If you’re thinking about buying an ocean view home in Santa Cruz, here are things that you should consider.
1. View
One of the great advantages of being close to the water is enjoying the beautiful views. It’s sure nice to be able to sit back in a chair and relax while watching the sun set over the ocean.
If the home you are considering has any view-obstructing trees or structures, you need to identify whose property they are on so that you can maintain your view.
2. Privacy
Privacy often corresponds to the amount of waterfront frontage the property has. If privacy is high on your list, you need a property with larger waterfront frontage.
3. Topography of the Land
Is the home you are considering on a level lot or a steep slope? Access to the water is easier on a flat lot.
4. The Size and the Floor Plan
Do you need a large home? Are you ready to pay higher heating bills and have higher taxes? How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? Think about how you’re going to use the space and whether it will fit your lifestyle now and in the future.
5. Good structure
When it comes to buying a home with an ocean view, you want to steer clear of major structural issues that will cost you big money to fix or will diminish your leverage when it’s time to sell if you haven’t fixed them. Never buy a house that has issues with the foundation.
6. Major systems
When viewing a home, examine the heating/air conditioner unit, hot water heater, and other major systems. These systems can be costly if they are left in disrepair for too long.
Activities that you can do when you live in Santa Cruz
1. Paint your own ceramics
Release your artistic prowess by painting your own ceramic at Petroglyph Ceramic Lounge. You just have to choose your piece, pick your paint, and create!
2. Weave with your folks
Do you want to upgrade your knitting and crocheting skills? Inspire others with your skills or be inspired by others’ products. Come in and show off your ability at Santa Cruz Knitting Meet-up.
3. Visit the galleries
Take a tour at Artisans’ Gallery showcasing the collaborative nature of American-made crafts. Santa Cruz also has a lot of galleries you can visit such as Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery, First Fridays Art, Frans Lanting Gallery, Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery, and Santa Cruz Art League.
4. Museum hopping
Next on the list is to visit the must-see museums. One is Santa Cruz Surfing Museum where you will get a flavor of one of the two cities claiming to be Surf City. Another is the Bigfoot Discovery Museum that has a collection of Bigfoot footprint casts, memorabilia, and clips from old movies. There is also a large list and map with Bigfoot sightings since the early 1900's.
5. Tour the stunning historical landmarks
Aside from those various museums, Santa Cruz also has other landmarks of historical attractions that will bring out the history buff in you. Find out what lime is and how it is made at Bonny Doon Kilns Upper Laguna Creek. And be captivated by the patios, gardens, and excellent views of the city at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.
6. Movie and theater watching
Come and appreciate the distinct performing arts offered to you by the excellent theatre houses around Santa Cruz such as Art League Broadway Playhouse, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Jewel Theatre, Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Theater Arts Center, Music Center Recital Hall, The Del Mar, Nickelodeon, Regal Cinemas Santa Cruz and the Riverfront Twin.
7. Engage with Santa Cruz’s adventures
Several attractions in Santa Cruz will surely give tons of enjoyment for you and your friends or loved ones. You can go sighting at the central coast of California at Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. Or go enjoying with your friends at the postcard-perfect oceanfront amusement park, Beach Boardwalk. And be amazed with the “gravity box” at the Mystery Spot. You can also go fishing at the Santa Cruz Wharf.
Watch the video below to get an idea of what Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a classic seaside amusement park, has to offer.
8. Join sports
Do you want to play football? Want to go roller skating? Play golf? Learn martial arts? Or tone your muscles? Santa Cruz has fun sites for sports and recreation. Visit the Boardwalk Bowl, Neptune’s Kingdom: Indoor Mini Golf, Aikido of Santa, Aptos Martial Arts Academy, Pacific Edge Indoor Climbing Gym and the Santa Cruz Roller Palladium.
9. Bicycling and Surfing Tutorials and Rentals
Santa Cruz can give you a twist on how to savour it’s beautiful geographic sites through bicycling on the land and surfing on it’s beaches. The county has numerous rental and tutorial shops if you want to engage into it. Some of those are the Bicycle Trip, the Bike Church, Bike Santa Cruz, Bill’s Bike Repair, Cowell’s Beach Surf Shop, Freeline Design Surf Shop, Haut Surf & Sailboards, and others.
10. Horseback Riding, Hiking, and Mountain Biking
Finally, a great escape for the work’s stresses and pressures, the mountain hiking, biking and horseback riding at these few of among the many activity sites in Santa Cruz. Those are the Harvey West Park, Henry Cowell Redwood State Park, Ken Wourmhoudt Skate Park, Neary Lagoon Park, Monterey Bay Horsemanship and Therapeutic Center, Willow Pond Ranch and a lot more!
The Benefits of Living in Santa Cruz Oceanfront Home
Santa Cruz CA has been named as one of the best surf towns in America by none other than Surfer Magazine. This perfect California beach town is famous for sun, surfing, and the oldest seaside amusement park on the West coast of the U.S.
So what are the upsides of owning a home in Santa Cruz CA?
Culture
Santa Cruz is a community that attracts an eclectic population of artists, craftsmen, farmers, and writers who wish to live a surf life far from the surf spotlight.
Strong Community Feel
There’s a strong sense of community in Santa Cruz CA. The people are obviously in love with the community. It’s not your average run-of the-mill-city. It’s a one-in-a-million place, with something for everyone.
Quality of Life
You’ll definitely love what the city has to offer- abundant surf, close proximity to the West Coast's most metropolitan city, a low-key but thriving art scene, great wine, and access to massive expanses of natural beauty.
The weather is amazing and is best outside of tourist season. You get to enjoy 250 days of sunshine annually. There’s also spectacular hiking trails and sweeping views of the ocean.
Highly rated education
With the presence of UC Santa Cruz, it is no surprise then that the community enjoys a highly rated education system. Here you’ll find nationally recognized public and charter high schools such as Pacific Collegiate, one of the nation’s top schools. In addition, secondary school students can pursue a degree right at home, either at UCSC, which offers 65 undergraduate majors and 41 grad programs, or the well-respected Cabrillo College. Santa Cruz is one of the more educated communities in America. More than half (51.11%) of its adults have a college degree or even advanced degree, compared to a national average across all communities of 21.84%.
Great food
Looking for organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free food? You’ve come to the right place. Half of the supermarkets in Santa Cruz are pro-organic and anti-GMO. There are also farmers markets where you can buy vegetables and fruits.
Growing tech community and economy
Santa Cruz is also experiencing growth in terms of technology and economy. There is a committed community of business and tech leaders building businesses. There are also some pretty great start-ups. There are several co-working places, including NextSpace, Cruzioworks, and The Surf Office, which also includes housing.
Amazon now has an office in the city and satellites of the big companies are also expected to be seen soon.
Real Estate
Housing also ranks high among the strengths of Santa Cruz. There are varied options. The average home price is around $645,000. Efforts are being made to meet the demand for more affordable housing.
Top 5 places to buy your oceanfront home in Santa Cruz CA
Beach Hill
The Santa Cruz Beach Hill neighborhood has a mix of some grand old Victorian homes, as well as condominiums. Many of the homes in this area have ocean views, Santa Cruz wharf views or views of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. This neighborhood is within 10 minutes of the Pacific Garden Mall, Santa Cruz's main downtown shopping area.
Seabright
Seabright is a quiet beachfront community. It has the largest inventory of Santa Cruz ocean view homes, and properties overlooking the yacht harbor.
Here you will find a wide variety of real estate options, from luxury oceanfront homes to homes on the bluff that overlook the ocean. It is a great place to live in a very walkable area close to the water and yacht harbor.
Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor
The Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor offers a wide array of homes that lets you enjoy the unique advantages of waterside living.The homes may vary from small to medium to large with great prices for waterside living. You’ll find a wide mix of cottages, modern beach homes, a number of condominiums and some fabulous ocean view homes.
The Avenues
The Avenues is a neighborhood located between Seabright and the Castle Beach. Here you’ll find a mixture of cottages, oceanfront homes as well as ocean view condominiums. Just below The Avenues is Seabright Beach and the Santa Cruz jetty.
Twin Lakes
The Twin Lakes neighborhood was developed primarily starting in the 1920's. The region got its name from Wood's Lagoon and Schwan Lagoon, which were twin lakes. You’ll find ocean view homes starting around $2 million. From this neighborhood, you can easily walk to the beach or the yacht harbor.
It’s time for you to embrace the truth that there’s more joy and serenity to be experienced at the shore than there is downtown or in the suburbs.
The assistance of a real estate agent is invaluable during your search for your ocean view home in Santa Cruz CA. That’s why I’m here for you!
I’m Sandy Wallace and I have been a REALTOR® since 1998. Santa Cruz CA is a place where I have helped many a dream come true for home buyers and sellers.
I can help you too. I look forward to getting to know you and your real estate goals and dreams. Call me today at 831-818-7099.
In case you cannot view this video here, please click the link below to view The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Ocean View Home in Santa Cruz on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-ATKcvvf_g&feature=youtu.be
