Table of Contents
- What is the VA Loan Limit?
- How to Apply for a VA Home Loan?
- What is the Median Home Price?
- What are the VA Appraisal Fees?
- Do I need Flood Insurance?
- How do I learn about Property Taxes?
- What is the Population?
- What are the major cities?
- About Santa Cruz County
- Veteran Information
- Apply for a VA Home Loan
- VA Approved Condos
FAQ
What is the VA Loan Limit?
2021 VA Home Loan Limit: $0 down up to $5,000,000* (Subject to lender limits) /2 open VA loans at one time $822,375* (Call 888-573-4496 for details).
How to Apply for a VA Home Loan?
This is a quick look at how to apply for a VA home loan in Santa Cruz County. For a more detailed overview of the VA home loan process, check out our complete guide on how to apply for a VA home loan. Here, we’ll go over the general steps to getting a VA home loan and point out some things to pay attention to in Santa Cruz County. If you have any questions, you can call us at VA HLC and we’ll help you get started.
- Get your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
- Give us a call at (877) 432-5626 and we’ll get your COE for you.
- Are you applying for a refinance loan? Check out our complete guide to VA Refinancing.
- Get pre-approved, to get pre-approved for a loan, you’ll need:
- Previous two years of W2s
- Most recent 30 days paystubs or LES (active duty)
- Most recent 60 days bank statements
- Landlord and HR/Payroll Department contact info
- Find a home
- We can help you check whether the home is in one of the Santa Cruz County flood zones
- Get the necessary inspections
- Termite inspection: required
- Well or septic inspections needed, if applicable
- Get the home appraised
- We can help you find a VA-Certified appraiser in Santa Cruz County and schedule the process
- Construction loan note: Construction permit/appraisal info
- Building permit
- Elevation certificate
- Lock in your interest rates
- Wait until the appraisal lock in your loan rates. If it turns out you need to make repairs, it can push your closing back. Then you can get stuck paying rate extension fees.
- Close the deal and get packing!
- You’re ready to go.
What is the Median Home Price?
As of March 31st, 2021, the median home value for Santa Cruz County is $979,698. In addition, the median household income for residents of the county is $82,234.
How much are the VA Appraisal Fees?
- Single-Family: $600.
- Individual Condo: $600.
- Manufactured Homes: $600.
- 2-4 Unit Multi-Family: $850.
- Appraisal Turnaround Times: 7 days.
Do I need Flood Insurance?
- The VA requires properties are required to have flood insurance if they are in a Special Flood Hazard Area.
- In Santa Cruz county, flooding hazards reach lower areas of Moore Creek, Arana Gulch, portions of Carbonera & Branciforte creek, and the north side of Yacht Harbor.
How do I learn about Property Taxes?
- Sean Saldavia is the Santa Cruz county tax assessor. His office can be reached at 701 Ocean St #150, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. In addition, his office can also be reached by calling (831) 454-2074.
- The Santa Cruz County offers Grow Santa Cruz Loan Program for the business which needs capital expansion. The state of California provides California Preservation Incentives in which owners get different incentives to revamp the historical buildings rather than constructing new ones in place of them. Also, the state offers California Competes Tax Credit to help the micro-businesses to grow and expand.
What is the Population?
- As of 2019, Santa Cruz County’s population is 273,213 which includes about 10,595 veterans Moreover, demographically speaking, 56% of the population is White, with 34% Hispanic, and 5% Asian.
- Most county residents are between 18 and 65 years old, with 19% under 18 years old and 17% older than 65.
- In total, the county has about 95,756 households, with an average of two people per household.
What are the major cities?
The county has four cities, including the city of Santa Cruz which serves as the county seat. Also, the county is home to three cities Capitola, Scotts Valley, and Watsonville.
About Santa Cruz County
One of the original counties of California, Santa Cruz County which translates to Holy Cross in Spanish, was named after the Mission Santa Cruz which was founded in 1791. Eventually, the county was established in 1850 and was initially named Branciforte after the Spanish Pueblo that was founded in the area in 1797.
Today, the county is home to a strong economy where the utilities, information, and management industries offer the highest salaries in the county. However, the major industries in the county are health care & social assistance, educational services, and retail trade.
When it comes to education, the most prominent higher education institutions in the county are the University of California Santa Cruz, Cabrillo College, and Five Branches University. With the most common concentrations being computer science, psychology, and humanistic studies.
In addition to its strong workforce and educational institutions, the county is also a great place to take part in recreational activities. With its 14 state parks, there are adventurous hiking expeditions for kids and exquisite inns as well as hotels to enjoy in the county’s mountainous terrain. In addition, Sunny Cove is the crown jewel beach in the county and is a great place to experience tons of fun activities and spend some relaxing time with your loved ones.
Finally, the county is also home to several cultural attractions like the Santa Cruz County Symphony who have annual performances in the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. In addition, the county is also home to educational institutions like the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. Furthermore, the county is also host to annual festivals like the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, the Santa Cruz Film Festival, and the Santa Cruz Pride Festival.
Veteran Information
The county is currently home to 10,208 veterans.
- Santa Cruz County is home to three VFW post:
- Post 7263 Tres Pueblos – 2259 7th Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95062.
- Post 10110 Aptos – 7500 Old Dominion Ct. Aptos, CA 95001.
- Post-1716 Freedom – 1960 Freedom Blvd, Freedom, CA 95019.
- VA Medical Centers in the county:
- Capitola VA Clinic – 1350 41st Avenue, Suite 102, Capitola, CA 95010.
- Santa Cruz County Vet Center – 1350 41st Ave. Suite 104, Capitola, CA 95010.
- County Veteran Assistance Information
- Santa Cruz County Veterans Office – 842 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Apply for a VA Home Loan
- For more information about VA Home Loans and how to apply, click here.
- If you meet the VA’s eligibility requirements, you will be able to enjoy some of the best government-guaranteed home loans available.
- VA loans can finance the construction of a property. However, the property must be owned and prepared for construction as the VA cannot ensure vacant land loans.
VA Approved Condos
| Name (ID): BEACH HILL (000403) Address: 526 2ND ST SANTA CRUZ CA 95060 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 07/11/2019 Review Completion Date: 08/11/2019 | Name (ID): CANON DEL SOL (C01253) Address: TRACT NO. 630 LA SELVA BEACH CA 95076-0000 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted With Conditions Request Received Date: 01/31/1995 Review Completion Date: 02/22/1995 |
| Name (ID): CAPITOLA BEACH VILLAS (000288) Address: 41ST AVE CAPITOLA CA 95010 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 09/14/2017 Review Completion Date: 09/25/2017 | Name (ID): CAPITOLA KNOLLS (000237) Address: 1100 WATER STREET, STE 1A SANTA CRUZ CA 95062 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 12/11/2016 Review Completion Date: 02/20/2017 |
| Name (ID): COLONY I CONDOMINIUM (000208) Address: 1200 VIA tornasol APTOS CA 95003 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 08/15/2016 Review Completion Date: 09/01/2016 | Name (ID): CULLIGAN’S COUNTRY CLUB VILLAS (C01303) Address: 105 EAST HILTON DRIVE BOULDER CREEK CA 95006-0000 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 12/31/2000 Review Completion Date: 12/31/2000 |
| Name (ID): LYNBROOK MANOR (C00823) Address: TRACT NO. 905 WATSONVILLE CA 99999-0000 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 03/17/1983 Review Completion Date: Unavailable | Name (ID): MADRONE OAKS II CONDOS (000188) Address: 2146 PENASQUITAS DR APTOS CA 95003 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 05/22/2016 Review Completion Date: 06/28/2016 |
| Name (ID): PAJARO DUNES NORTH ASSOCIATION (000130) Address: 101 SHELL DRIVE WATSONVILLE CA 95076 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 09/01/2014 Review Completion Date: 10/22/2014 | Name (ID): RIVER ST. WEST (C00827) Address: TRACT NO. 1148 SANTA CRUZ CA 99999-0000 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 08/06/1985 Review Completion Date: Unavailable |
| Name (ID): SEA RIDGE TERRACE (C01117) Address: TRACT 264 APTOS CA 90000-0000 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 02/06/2002 Review Completion Date: Unavailable | Name (ID): SHELTER LAGOON (000414) Address: 1100 WATER ST STE 1A SANTA CRUZ CA 95062 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 08/28/2019 Review Completion Date: 09/12/2019 |
| Name (ID): SOQUEL KNOLLS (000211) Address: TOPSAIL & STARBOARD COURTS SOQUEL CA 95073 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 08/16/2016 Review Completion Date: 10/30/2016 | Name (ID): THE GROVE (000370) Address: 200 SANTAS VILLAGE ROAD SCOTTS VALLEY CA 95066 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted With Conditions Request Received Date: 02/06/2019 Review Completion Date: 02/20/2019 |
| Name (ID): THIRD STREET HOMEOWNERS ASSOC (000359) Address: PO BOX 36248 SANTA CRUZ CA 95158 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 12/05/2018 Review Completion Date: 12/10/2018 | Name (ID): THURBER LANE PARK (C01265) Address: TRACT NO. 1036 APTOS CA 95003-0000 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 06/08/1997 Review Completion Date: Unavailable |
| Name (ID): VISTA DEL MAR (000195) Address: 7555 SUNSET WAY APTOS CA 95003 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 06/21/2016 Review Completion Date: 07/24/2016 | Name (ID): WHARF ROAD CONDOMINIUMS (C01192) Address: AKA RIVERVIEW OF CAPITOLA CAPITOLA CA 99999-0000 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 03/29/1994 Review Completion Date: Unavailable |
| Name (ID): WILLIS GRACE, INC (000244) Address: 101 WILLIS ROAD SCOTTS VALLEY CA 95066 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 02/16/2017 Review Completion Date: 06/01/2017 | Name (ID): WOODSIDE TERRACE (007569) Address: APTOS CA 95003 SANTA CRUZ Status: Accepted Without Conditions Request Received Date: 09/11/2007 Review Completion Date: 10/18/2007 |
