Santa Cruz Real Estate
Santa Cruz is a playground for beach lovers and wine connoisseurs
Santa Cruz is a coastal city located about 30 miles south of San Jose and at the north end of Monterey Bay. It's best known as a countercultural hub with a youthful vibe and bohemian feel. The city boasts a moderate climate, idyllic coastlines, natural environments, and redwood forests.
Established as a luxury resort community in the late 19th century, Santa Cruz offers a wonderful mix of rural, seaside, and residential areas to explore. The wide-open spaces, convenient access to highways, a passionate surfing community, and beautiful downtown with trendy shops make this an excellent place for anyone looking to invest in real estate.
The residential architecture is a picturesque mix of vintage and new-age properties. You'll find a variety of luxury apartments, ranch-style houses, waterside properties, and upscale estates.
What to Love
- Beach culture and waterfront neighborhoods
- Plenty of outdoor activities
- Year-round sunny weather
Local Lifestyle
Santa Cruz blurs the line between indoor and outdoor living. The city's emphasis on casual living is built around a free-thinking populace and an appreciation for nature. The downtown area is teeming with cutting-edge restaurants, many of which offer organic farm-to-table menus. Local artists and street performers are an important part of the local scene. The city features all kinds of tight-knit neighborhoods ranging from the beachfront to the mountaintop. Residents have endless options when it comes to choosing the kind of life they want to enjoy in Northern California's most colorful beach city.
Dining, Entertainment, & Shopping
Santa Cruz may be God's gift to surfers, but it offers an abundance of dining and shopping options.
O'Neill Surf Shop is a world-famous surf shop stocked with surfer favorites, including swimwear, sandals, eyewear, and other beach essentials. You'll also find a selection of the company's signature wetsuits.
Support small businesses and local artists at the
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk during the NEW Boardwalk Marketplace Pop-Up. Shop a wide variety of plants, pottery, candles, hand-crafted jewelry, locally-made honey, and soaps.
The
Crow’s Nest is one of the most beloved restaurants in Santa Cruz. For more than 45 years, guests have come here for award-winning cuisine, spirits, and live entertainment. The eatery also boasts breathtaking views of the Santa Cruz Harbor, wharf, and lighthouse. It features expansive shoreline decks on both levels that lend a casual, friendly ambiance amid luminous works of glass art, a unique collection of vintage photographs, and rich woods.
Oswald's in downtown Santa Cruz is famous for its rotating artist exhibits, seasonal California cuisine, and warm ambiance. Menu favorites include Autumn pasta, curry braised lamb, chocolate souffle, and beef lasagna.
Things to Do
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a favorite among locals and tourists, who come for the games, rides, and long stretches of sandy beach. But that's not all the city offers.
Pleasure Point is the epicenter of Santa Cruz's surf culture and lifestyle. It is a great place for surfers of all skill levels.
West Cliff Drive is home to more surfing spots like Steamer Lane.
The Santa Cruz Lighthouse dates back to the 1800s and houses a surfing museum detailing 120 years of surfing history. The museum's exterior is an excellent place to watch surfers at
Steamer Lane do their thing. A statue celebrating the city's surf culture is not far from the museum.
Santa Cruz is home to many talented artists, writers, and musicians. Therefore, it's no surprise that the city hosts dozens of events throughout the year. Highlights include Santa Cruz American Festival, Salsa by the Sea, Open Studios Art Tour, and Capitola Art & Wine Festival.
Schools
The Santa Cruz City School District serves 7000 students in grades PK-12, both within and outside the city. Top education opportunities in the neighborhood include:
- The University of California at Santa Cruz.
- Santa Cruz High School, Grades 9-12
- Bay View Elementary, Grades K-5
- Branciforte Middle School, Grades 6-8
- Branciforte Small Schools Campus, Grades K-12
