Rebecca Drive Boulder Creek Columns Real Estate 

You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know | Real Estate

By M.C. Dwyer Or, in this story, what your agent doesn’t know. Recently I witnessed an unbelievable mishandling of the marketing for a rural property listing.   The sellers had chosen a REALTOR from a nearby city to represent them. As the story unfolded, I learned that their successful agent had left for vacation (without telling their client), and let… Read More
old country road boulder creek mc dwyer realtor Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate 

Mortgage Rates and Real Estate Cycles

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
real estate san lorenzo valley Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate 

Real Estate Update | Water and Waste Treatment Systems in Trouble in Boulder Creek

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
real estate adu santa cruz county Local News Real Estate 

County Launches Accessory Dwelling Unit Program

By Tom Andersen Good news for Santa Cruz Mountains homeowners. In May, the County of Santa Cruz announced a program to assist homeowners in the unincorporated areas of the county with the process of adding an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) to their property. An ADU is a secondary, self-contained living unit with its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, located… Read More
Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate 

May Real Estate Update

By M.C. Dwyer Local average home prices are about 10-20% lower than a year ago, varying widely depending on location, price range, and condition. Softer prices are largely the result of fewer pandemic-motivated buyers as well as the impact of higher mortgage rates dampening buyers’ financial capacity. When looking at the chart below, remember some towns are so small that… Read More
Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate Water 

New Septic Regulations Taking Effect July 2023

By M.C. Dwyer The Santa Cruz Association of REALTORS recently held an educational event about point-of-sale septic regulations taking effect in Santa Cruz County in July 2023. Mark Kinder of Affordable Septic, who’s installed thousands of systems, explained everything we need to know about septic system repair and the new regulations.     The State Water Resources Control Board oversees all California… Read More