SANTA CRUZ COUNTY REAL ESTATE AGENT
MICHAEL D. REHM – (831) 291-3039
Santa Cruz County is known as a countercultural hub due to its fun, bohemian and youthful vibe. It is home to tourist attractions like the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the bewildering Mystery Spot. It boasts pristine beaches that are known as surfer’s paradises.
The County is considered part of the San Jose – San Francisco – Oakland Combined Statistical area. It is on the California Central Coast south of San Francisco. It is comprised of four cities: Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley and Capitola, and numerous Census Designated places, like the great Aptos.
Santa Cruz’s lovely nature destinations, pleasant temperatures and fun vibe makes it a terrific place to live.
Schools
Santa Cruz county is home to 10 public school districts and 79 public schools that serve around 40,000 students in grades K-12. The area has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in California. These include Pacific Collegiate Charter, Happy Valley Elementary School and C.T. English Middle School.
Schools in the country have an average math proficiency score of 37% as compared to the state average of 40%, and a reading proficiency score of 48% as compared to the state average of 51%. The schools have an average ranking of 7/10 which puts them in the top 50% of California public schools.
The county is also home to the University of California Santa Cruz and Cabrillo College.
Home Prices
Santa Cruz’s laid-back vibe and terrific scenery reflects in its home prices. Typical home values are currently $1,128,826. Prices have gone up by 22.7% over the past year.
Some of the best neighborhoods in the area are Westside, Downtown Santa Cruz and The Circles.
There are currently 141 homes for sale and 33 homes for rent in the County. Here are some recent buying statistics:
- A small one bed, one bath, 376 square foot home sold for $399,000
- A large 16,818 square foot home sold for $3,987,500
- A 3 bedroom, 2 bath 1,175 square foot home sold for $169,000 making it one of the more affordable properties in the county
- A 213.86-acre lot sold for $30,000,000 making it one of the most expensive properties in the county
The county is currently in ‘seller’s market’ status which means there are more people looking to buy than there are homes available. As a result, homes are selling for an average of 1.56% above the asking price. The median time homes are on the market is 39 days.
Attractions
People that live in Santa Cruz County will find themselves with no shortage of things to do. The area boasts over 14 state parks as well as countless wineries, museums, farmer’s markets, and opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking, surfing and more.
Here are some attractions that you can enjoy when you’re in Santa Cruz:
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Amusement Park: The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a great way to spend the day. You can relax on the sandy beach, ride the many rides, eat the fairground food, or enjoy one of the events the facility is hosting.
The Roaring Camp Railroads: This Felton attraction is a 3 ft. narrow gauge tourist railroad that starts at the Roaring Camp Depot. Ride the authentically preserved trains as they run up steep hills through redwood forests to the top or Bear Mountain for a total 3.25-mile trip.
Santa Cruz Wharf: The wharf is a terrific place to fish, take a boat tour and view sea life. There are also plenty of bars, restaurants and venues in the area making it the perfect place to spend the day.
Santa Cruz County is full of serene beaches, terrific views and lovely homes. If you would like to learn more on the real estate lay of the land, for buyers and sellers, call Santa Cruz County Real Estate Agent Michael D. Rehm at (831) 291-3039.
