David Morrell - Santa Cruz County Real Estate

04/19/2022

The sunsets in our town are always magnificent, especially down by the Harbor Lighthouse!

07/17/2018

For Sale!

211 AUBURN AVE

Visit my website or search the address to see more of this stunning home.

07/16/2018

FOR SALE!

211 Auburn Avenue is offered at $1,949,000 and is located on the West Side of Santa Cruz. Resting near the Natural Bridges State Park, Wilder Ranch, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center and much more, this home allows for discovery and adventure to be had!

05/24/2018

This home is located equidistant from everywhere in Santa Cruz County and into Monterey County. Flip the circle to the bay area and the hour's drive

05/03/2018

22825 East Cliff Drive ~ Also known as 22823 East Cliff Drive ~ A Legal Duplex on the Ocean

04/10/2018

Go ahead and follow my new Instagram account, where I will be sharing my homes and work in the Santa Cruz county!

28 Followers, 1 Following, 1 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from David ()

04/05/2018

Just Sold!
575 Arlene Dr, Watsonville, CA 95076

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

04/05/2018

Zillow and Current Market Value

The anomaly within the Zillow amounts within this particular neighborhood not gaining value, relative to other surrounding neighborhoods, is surprising. As an overview for the longest time Zillow was very frustrating in Santa Cruz. We are a county built over 10 decades with homes of widely varying degrees of care and maintenance. A 1940’s bungalow, ignored for 70 years, is worth far less than a 1940’s bungalow remade to its true origins. Zillow can’t recognize that difference, even if it’s door to door. Another easy to see example is a restored Craftsman home next to a 1965 ranch home that was built as the UC arrived. One is made from carefully chosen materials, the other from low cost materials.

Zillow is excellent at looking at towns and cities that were built as developments, each street with a specific builder built during a short time span. Then you can see the selling prices as true comparable sales to your like-kind home. The differences would be minor; a new hardwood floor, or a remodeled bathroom. Here it’s 20-30 years of care, or 20-30 years of neglect. With student rentals on nearly every street in town there will always be a house or two less cared-for, and that pulls down the comparable sales numbers. In the past 10 years we have seen gentrification of most Westside neighborhoods, and many of the houses that were rentals have been bought by a new generation of professionals who have worked on their homes. Zillow has gotten better here lately, and we are not sure why. They seem to be closer with trends in our markets than they were when they first came on the scene. But they will always be less effective a measure in a diverse place like Santa Cruz, and I count us lucky for that, though I understand it makes it confusing.

If you are interested in selling, be sure to call me. It would be great to talk over the phone, or to meet you in person to discuss your real estate plans.

David Morrell
C21 M&M and Associates
License #01301485
1500 41st Avenue, Suite 100, Capitola, CA 95010
831-239-1255 | www.DavidMorrellSC.com
Hardworking, professional, enthusiastic, and experienced.

C21 M&M and Associates

03/15/2018

Our local community is awesome!

03/15/2018

Written by me in 2010, these principles may still apply to someone currently buying a home.

Buying a home may be an exciting part of your life! This blog will help you manage that excitement and proceed through the process with a clear conscious.

The Home Buying Process

The Final Month Before Owning Your Home; Partnering With Your Realtor

You expressed your wants and needs and hopes and wishes, and then you translated those into finding your new home. You negotiated a deal with the seller and you have an accepted and fully signed contract to purchase your new home. Your Realtor is now ready to partner with you through the next stage of the home buying process, your approximately 30 day journey to the close of escrow.

Wow, I’m Buying a Home

This can certainly be an exciting time and can be a stressful time too. You may wake up in the middle of the night, and you may have a bit of a knot in your stomach. It’s normal to worry. The decision stays with you every day for as long as you own the home, and it’s both your sanctuary and place to entertain. However, there is a strategy that can work to alleviate your stress; let your Realtor work on the details of this transaction. They do it every day, and they know your worries, so they can be sensitive to your feelings and they will take care of those things that concern you. Plus, they will worry for you, and they may also be waking up in the middle of the night thinking about all they have to do to be sure you’re making an informed decision about your home, and to get you to the close of escrow.

The Initial Phase; Your Contingency Period

Most all contracts have a built-in contingency period (the standard time frame is 17 days) for you to review the seller’s disclosures and investigate your house, your property and your new neighborhood. During this time you have the right to change your mind and cancel the contract without any obligation. It’s important to note that there is an investment of time and money during this period. Home inspections cost hundreds of dollars, and the lender will order an appraisal which customarily will need to be paid up front and costs approximately $500. Take a day or two off work, and/or dedicate a weekend to go to the house and visit with your inspectors.

Seller Documents About Your Home

There are often over one hundred pages for you review and sign. The seller will tell you the history of the property, to the best of their knowledge. They are required to report work they have done to fix certain items and any new work they have done recently to the house and land. You get to meet at the home and probably at your Realtor’s office to go over paperwork and your findings.

Your Final Decision

At the end of your mutually agreed upon contingency period you make your decision to commit to buy the home. This commitment is put in writing and signed by you and delivered to the seller. Finally, after all your searching for the right home, you start packing for your move. Congratulations on this step. It’s time to get busy all over again.□

This chart shows the number of properties that went under contract each month for the past 12 months; these are referred to as pending sales. Most of the statistics used for national news stories about the real estate market relate to closed sales, so tracking pending sales is a way to be 30-60 days ahead of the news cycle.

Written by:

David Morrell

02/26/2018

How many ways can one bring their life to a beach home? As a solitude retreat with sunsets and crashing waves; for a gathering of friends in a 6 bed 4.5 bath house (with an enclosed outdoor beach shower); as a place of courtship to create dinner for two in a high end kitchen, dining together at dusk and/or dawn; to join together extended family gathered in the upstairs great room with its frontage deck, and each room with its private entrance. You could also share your home by tossing the key to a trusted friend or a close relative and letting them unwind and let go of their worries. A distinctive designed property like this offers so many variations. As a legal duplex you have a pay and play~rent the downstairs half and have the upstairs as your retreat. It keeps the building warm and lit. The downstairs is a fully functional single level home. Grab a bike, a scooter, a board and head to a greenbelt and/or the ocean's edge. It is the site of choice for a beach lover. Come see us soon.

(MLSListings) For Sale: 6 bed, 4.5 bath ∙ 2361 sq. ft. ∙ 22823 E Cliff Dr, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95062 ∙ $2,175,000 ∙ MLS # ML81693963 ∙ How many ways can one bring their life to a beach home? As a solitude retreat with...

02/26/2018

Thank you C21!

Congratulations David Morrell - Santa Cruz County Real Estate DRE #01301485!