Category: Column: MC Dwyer

By M.C. Dwyer Although 30 year mortgage rates were in the mid to upper 6s in January, rates rose back to around 7% in February. Historically, 8% mortgage rates were not unusual, but home buyers got spoiled by the extraordinarily low mortgage rates available during the pandemic. Industry experts are betting that the Federal Reserve will lower their rates later… Read More

By M.C. Dwyer After months of consecutive increases, 30 year mortgage rates peaked briefly at 8% recently. Over the past few weeks, a few economic indicators grew weaker, causing a bull market in bonds — essentially investors bet that the Federal Reserve may hold their rates steady. So, mortgage rates fell back down to about 7.4% at the time of… Read More

By M.C. Dwyer By late August, mortgage interest rates were at their highest levels since the early 2000s. The latest bump upward in rates unfortunately disqualified more would-be first-time home buyers. Overnight, we went from expecting multiple offers on one of our more affordable listings, to being happy to get one offer to our seller at list price. Now more… Read More

By M.C. Dwyer For about the last 5 years, Big Basin Water Company (BBWC), which serves around 500-600 customers, has regularly run out of resources to operate properly. The company, owned by Jim and Shirley Moore, is the definition of a mom and pop outfit, complete with their son as Chief Operator. Sources including the Moores, say they fell behind… Read More

By M.C. Dwyer We Santa Cruz Mountains residents are still recovering from this winter’s brutal onslaught of back-to-back atmospheric river storms. We’ve been through evacuations, multiple road closures (some of which will last for years), fallen trees and branches, slides, floods, property and electronics damage*, intermittent loss of internet and cell phone coverage, and frequent/lengthy power outages across the County.… Read More