Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Do you remember this one?

Mountain Luxury
11303 Empire Grade, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
For Sale $1,650,000
For more photos and detailed information, please visit: www.11303EmpireGrade.com
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7+ Serene Acres...
This property features 7+ serene acres with unreal vistas to the East & South, adjacent to Fall Creek Park, understated elegance with a careful eye to details....From the gated entry to the HUGE valley, mountain and bay views, this ridge top parcel has it all. State park on one side, preserved watershed on another, large parcels in every other direction, this is a GREAT area. And the house.....WOW! Five bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, view deck, thrilling views from kitchen, great room and master suite wrapped in a classic English Country style. Perfect estate property. Extremely private, very quiet and blessed with INCREDIBLE Ham Radio reception! Zoned for horses or livestock, ride or walk right into Fall Creek Park from your yard.

Extraordinary access to the Silicon Valley, SF International Airport, and San Francisco.
Drop out without being remote!

The privacy and serenity are unrivaled. The view stretches to Mt. Hamilton and beyond.
On a clear day you can make out the Sierras in the distance!
The house is wonderful, offering a perfect entertainer’s layout or a great family compound.
Plenty of room for a high powered home business as well.

•Elegant Mountain Living
•Abuts Fall Creek State Park and the San Lorenzo Valley Watershed
•Miles of Woods, Paths, Water
•2400+ Feet Above Sea Level
•Protected Views of Monterey Bay and Mt. Hamilton
•Freedom to Enjoy Personal Space
•Incomparable Privacy
•Serenity abounds in The Quiet Surroundings
•Palatial Home, Perfect For Entertainers, As A Family Compound, or for A Home Business
•No neighbors in sight.
•Drop out without being remote
•Clean Air
•Paradise on every level
•No local traffic
•More house and more land for less money


Enjoy your morning coffee while watching the sun come up over the mountains and valley.
Nothing is more serene.

Incomparable privacy!
This is the perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
From your patio, enjoy the views of the Monterey Bay and Mt. Hamilton

Close To the Silicon Valley Yet So Far Above It
Located just 7 miles north of downtown Santa Cruz and 2 miles from the Pacific, Bonny Doon is 75 miles from San Francisco, 65 miles from Carmel and approximately 40 minutes from Silicon Valley. The most discerning homebuyers who seek privacy, views, or elbow room will be thoroughly delighted.

www.11303EmpireGrade.com
Features
Bedrooms:5
Bathrooms:3 full, 1 half
Area:Bonny Doon View Site
Style:English Cottage
Sq. Ft.:4,456
Lot Size:7.8 Acres
Year Built:1987
Frank MurphyFrank Murphy e-Pro, ABR, CRS
Keller Williams Realty

Office:831-457-5550
Fax:831-401-2425
Email:frank@FrankMurphy.net
Website:www.LiveInSantaCruz.com
DRE License:#01014048

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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Social Security Benefits Online

Access Your Social Security Benefits Information Online

The U.S. Social Security Administration has a new online feature, 'My Social Security Account,' which allows users secure access personal benefits information 

By Keith Brown, Santa Cruz Patch          
February 18, 2013
Access to information about your Social Security benefits just got easier with the addition of an online portal, agency officials announced last week.

The Social Security agency has created an online space for account for people receiving benefits, or requesting benefits. The My Social Security Account website allows users to access their benefit verification letter, payment history and earnings record without having to make a trip to the nearest Social Security office, according to a release.

“We are making it even easier for people to do their business with us from the comfort of their home, office, or library,” Commissioner Michael J. Astrue said in the release. “I encourage people of all ages to take advantage of our award-winning online services and check out the new features available through an online 'My Social Security' account.”

You do not have to be a Social Security beneficiary to use the service, according to the release. Those 18 or older can sign up for the ‘My Social Security’ account and access their benefits statement, using that information to help plan for retirement, the release says.
The portal also includes links to information about other online services, such as applications for retirement, disability and Medicare, the release says.

“Given our significantly reduced funding, we have to find innovative ways to continue to meet the needs of the American people without compromising service,” said Astrue said in the release. “These new enhancements will allow us to provide faster service to more people in more places.”

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

High Voltage

Charge Your Electric Car in Santa Cruz

Need to charge your electric car? There are several stations nearby to keep you topped off for your eco-friendly commute. 

By Jared Morgan, Santa Cruz Patch
February 12, 2013 

There's no doubt Californians love their cars. The Golden State accounts for almost 10 percent of all car sales in the country, The Wall Street Journal reported recently. 
 
If you're in the market for an electric vehicle, you'll certainly have your pick. With its laws incentivizing car manufacturers to go green, California has driven the push for eco-friendly transportation.
 
Electric vehicles can provide up to three times the power conversion compared to their gas-powered counterparts and boast an engine that operates more quietly and requires less maintenance, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. To top it off, buying an eco-friendly car can net you a federal tax credit of up to $7,50. 
 
Though electric cars are more energy-efficient, you can still travel up to three times as far in some internal-combustion vehicles. Another thing to consider is electric car batteries are expensive to replace and can take up to eight hours to charge.
 
Several car manufacturers offer eco-friendly vehicles, including Chrysler, General Motors, Honda, Ford, Nissan, Tesla and Toyota.
 
Some manufacturers are establishing their own charging stations hoping to lure potential customers. Tesla has built a network of six solar-powered charging stations from L.A. to San Francisco, according to Car and Driver.Whether you're looking to buy an electric car or you already own one, Santa Cruz County is full of service stations—including seven in Santa Cruz—that will keep you charged for your emissions-free commute.   
 
Sure, you can charge your car at home, but why do so at your own expense?
 
Here is a list of local charging stations, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy. Stations offer Level 1 (120 volts) and Level 2 (240 volts) charging.
  • Ecology Action
    877 Cedar St
    Santa Cruz, CA 95060
    Phone: 888-758-4389
    Electric charging types: Levels 1, 2
  • Soquel & Front Garage
    601 Front St
    Santa Cruz, CA 95061
    Phone: 831-420-5184
    Electric charging types: Levels 1, 2
  • Santa Cruz County
    691 Ocean St
    Santa Cruz, CA 95060
    Phone: 888-758-4389
    Electric charging types: Levels 1, 2
  • Staff of Life Natural Foods
    1266 Soquel Ave
    Santa Cruz, CA 95062
    Phone: 831-423-8632, 888-758-4389
    Electric charging types: Levels 1, 2
  • Santa Cruz Nissan
    1616 Soquel Ave
    Santa Cruz, CA 95062
    Phone: 831-426-5100
    Electric charging types: Level 2
  • Walgreens
    1718 Soquel Ave
    Santa Cruz, CA 95062
    Phone: 800-663-5633
    Electric charging types: Level 2
  • UC Santa Cruz - West Parking
    1156 High St
    Santa Cruz, CA 95064
    Phone: 831-502-7341
    Electric charging types: Levels 1, 2

Thursday, February 07, 2013

More on the big changes in FHA Mortgage Insurance

 A letter from Mortgage Adviser Ed Gerety on FHA Mortgage Insurance:

 I have attached below the FHA Mortgagee Letter (ML) that details the recent changes. I have highlighted the parts that summarize the impact to our borrowers. The bottom line is that the increase in the monthly MI of 5-10 basis points (bps) is the third such increase we have seen in the last two years, and by itself is not going to be catastrophic. On a $400,000 loan amount, it results in a monthly increase of $31 to $395.

The more significant aspect of the change lies in the new duration of time that MI will stay in place. By moving the duration from 5 years to 11 years, the borrower on that $400,000 loan will pay the $395 MI for a minimum of 72 additional months. That is an increase of $28,440 to the cost of owning the home. And that is only if the borrower has put at least 10% down. With less than 10% down, the MI stays in place for the life of the loan. On a 30 year loan kept to maturity, that equates to an additional cost of $118,500!

Of course, as long as they qualify under future criteria the borrower can always refinance once they have reached a home value and loan balance that would allow it, so they will probably not have to stay in the loan for 30 years, hopefully not even 11. But I would certainly hope if the government is going to make these changes in FHA mortgage insurance, that they would also extend the tax deductibility of mortgage insurance.

Is the Federal Housing Administration evil and greedy for doing this? No. They are smart. They are trying run a business. A business which currently is in pretty bad financial shape because they became the "go-to" mortgage product when Subprime went away. That's called "adverse selection". So we can't really blame them for trying to shore up their finances and become less frequently adversely selected for higher-risk loans.

Ed Gerety
Mortgage Advisor, MBA
Opes Advisors, Inc.
Santa Cruz's Premier Purchase Lender
133 Mission Street             831.600.1588 Direct
Suite 210                           831.251.7880 Cell
Santa Cruz, CA  95060       866.662.9370 eFax         
DRE # 01054371 | NMLS # 338608

OPES • n. (ōˈpes) /latin for wealth



















Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Broker Open House

OPEN HOUSE 
02/07/2013
 9:30 AM- 12:00 PM 
2965 Pine Flat Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
           For Sale $775,000
For more photos and detailed information, please visit: www.2965PineFlat.com
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Very Special Bonny Doon Property...enjoy HUGE open ocean views and killer sunsets from this 10 acre beauty. Watch the freighters & gray whales migrate! Flat parcel at end of private drive has tenant occupied 2nd unit in place. Great carrier or shelter while you build your dream house. The RA zoning allows horses, livestock, light ag use. EZ drive down the gorgeous Amgen bicycle racing course to the coast, San Francisco, Carmel, or Woodside. This is a rare and wonderful parcel, indeed. Spring water developed for the existing rental residence.
www.2965PineFlat.com
Features
Bedrooms:2
Bathrooms:2
Area:Bonny Doon
Style:Ranch w/ Land
Sq. Ft.:1,440
Lot Size:10+ Acres
Year Built:1982
Frank MurphyFrank Murphy e-Pro, ABR, CRS
Keller Williams Realty

Office:831-457-5550
Fax:831-401-2425
Email:frank@FrankMurphy.net
Website:www.LiveInSantaCruz.com
DRE License:#01014048

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