Last spring we looked at a parcel in Santa Cruz that was in our price range but was very difficult and costly to build on. The property down the hill had a flat open space for building but was almost twice the cost so we didn't even really look.
This was about the time that the markets began to crumble. We found out the good property was going to short sale and we made an offer. Then someone out bid us and we couldn't go any higher so we thought, we'll that wasn't meant to be. Those folks ended up pulling out.
Now the markets were really hurting and we decided our offer wasn't something we'd want to pay. We proceeded to haggle with the bank for the next 4 months. There were many times that we thought, yes this is going to happen and many times we thought it was over.
Well February 19th, 2009 we closed on our dream property in Santa Cruz!! Its 2.8 acres with a mostly flat building envelope. Its 5 miles from the beach and 2 miles from downtown. Behind the property is a protected open space preserve that we hear you can hike through to a state park. Across the street is a river for the dog to play in and we saw a couple small swimming holes. Our neighbors have been welcoming already and they have built green houses using passive solar design, etc. Its really unbelievable. We've been out there the past 2 weekends clearing weeds so they don't take over and I snapped a couple pics to give you the gist, though you'll all have to visit to get the full impact:)
Here's the building envelope for the house. Main focus is its south facing for passive solar heating and lots of veggies and gardening.
To the right are fruit trees planted in 2005. Includes apples, figs, pomegranate, peach etc.
Further to the right and across the street that runs up to our neighbors homes is probably an acre of gently sloping land with Oaks that we may someday turn into a vineyard?
Behind the building envelope in those dense trees is a trail that runs along a ridge and to a very small creek (in the rainy winter).
And right across the street there's the river!
Also, on the same day we closed on the land we found out... were pregnant! Here's the little gingerbread man/woman. There were more human like pictures but this is J's favorite. Little Fish is due Oct. 29th.
We miss you all very much and think of you often. We are blessed in so many ways but we both agree that its your love and friendship that we are most lucky to have. We love you all!