Does it all feel a little shaky to you these days? It seems like every year, for as long as I can remember, people have been predicting the “next crash.” Nobody has forgotten the 2008 mortgage crisis, the dramatic rise in prices since then…and how the market today looks like it’s barely treading water. Today’s market is confusing to a lot of people: demand has clearly cooled, yet prices (especially for single-family homes in supply-constrained areas) have stayed surprisingly steady.
Here’s the key: weakening demand doesn’t always show up first in headline prices. Around here, it usually shows up in the quiet indicators: longer days on market, more price reductions, pickier buyers, and a lot less forgiveness for overpricing. Homes that are turnkey, well-located, and priced right can still move fast. Everything else… gets negotiated, delayed, or ignored.
So what actually causes prices to soften in Silicon Valley? It’s rarely “demand vanishes overnight.” Rather, it’s usually an increase in supply. When buyers suddenly have choices (more listings, more competition between sellers, more time to negotiate), pricing power shifts. And supply can expand faster than people expect as mortgage lock-in slides, life events force moves, insurance and carrying costs rise, or a stock market wobble changes behavior.
If you’re 60+ and your home equity is part of your retirement plan, this isn’t about timing the perfect peak. It’s about protecting options. Planning early, especially if selling is on your horizon anyway, beats guessing when the market hits a peak (because the risk of guessing wrong is really, really high). If you want, I’d be happy to do a personal real estate review for your neighborhood, so you can get a firm idea of which way the wind is blowing in your neck of the woods.
Sell As-Is. Sell Easy. Sell Smart!
From the Monterey Bay Wayback Machine
Santa Cruz Welcomes Veterans Home in Style (January 22, 1946)
Santa Cruz community hosted a formal “Welcome Home” dinner and dance honoring local World War II veterans at the Cocoanut Grove on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The celebration brought together returning servicemen, families, and civic leaders for an evening of music, dining, and gratitude. Held just weeks after the war’s end, the event symbolized relief and appreciation while helping veterans transition back into civilian life. The gathering reflected Santa Cruz’s strong community spirit and its desire to publicly recognize wartime service and sacrifice.
Monterey’s Sardine Boom Hits a Breaking Point (January 25, 1948)
Reports from Monterey confirmed a devastating 1947–48 fishing season, widely seen as a turning point for the former “Sardine Capital of the World.” The sardine catch fell to under 32,000 tons, an enormous drop from nearly 250,000 tons just two years earlier, signaling that the industry’s peak era was ending. The collapse marked the unraveling of the Cannery Row boom memorialized by John Steinbeck in 1945 and hinted at deeper underlying causes behind the decline.
Seaside Steps Up to House Fort Ord Families (January 27, 1970)
The City of Seaside formally addressed a severe military housing shortage on the Monterey Peninsula by advancing partnerships to provide subsidized housing for families stationed at Fort Ord. Rapid expansion of the base during the Vietnam War had outpaced on-base accommodations, pushing demand into nearby communities. Seaside, long the primary off-base residential center for enlisted personnel and non-commissioned officers, played a crucial role in meeting this need. The action highlighted the city’s close ties to Fort Ord and its importance in supporting military life.
This Week in Santa Cruz County
Free Seabright Shuttle Launches to Ease Murray Street Bridge Closure Impact
Santa Cruz Metro is launching a new free shuttle service to help Seabright residents and businesses cope with transportation challenges caused by the ongoing Murray Street Bridge closure. Beginning Monday, the pilot program, called the Seabright Shuttle, will operate weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. using accessible ParaCruz vans.
The on-demand shuttle will pick up riders at their homes or businesses within the Seabright neighborhood and drop them at the nearest Santa Cruz Metro fixed-route bus stop, helping connect riders to downtown Santa Cruz, Watsonville, and the broader transit system. Trips can be booked by calling 831-425-4664 or through the Mobility by Ecolane app, with pickup windows of about 30 minutes.
The service area runs from the west side of the Murray Street Bridge to East Cliff Drive, north to Broadway, and south to Seabright State Beach. The shuttle is designed to provide a reliable, accessible transportation option while bridge construction continues.
Teaching Kitchen Education Dinner: Mediterranean Exploration
Date: Thursday, January 29
Time: 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: 1440 Multiversity, 800 Bethany Dr., Scotts Valley
Explore the Food as Medicine benefits of a Mediterranean-based diet through an inviting food and wine dinner experience. Enjoy thoughtfully prepared dishes paired with wine while discovering how nourishing ingredients can support long-term health and well-being.
Plateau Jazz Band Plays for a Swing Dance at the Mid County Senior Center
Date: Friday, January 30
Time: 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Mid County Senior Center, 829 Bay Ave., Capitola
Step onto the dance floor for an upbeat swing night with the Plateau Jazz Band, bringing New Orleans–influenced, Preservation Hall–inspired jazz with a prohibition-era bounce. Dance or simply enjoy the music from this six-piece Santa Cruz group featuring trumpet, trombone, clarinet, banjo, bass, and drums.
Snazzy Productions presents TRIBUTE to TODD SNIDER
Date: Saturday, January 31
Time: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Location: Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 303 Doris Ave., Aptos
Celebrate the life, wit, and music of Todd Snider with a heartfelt tribute featuring 20 local musicians performing their favorite songs from the beloved singer-songwriter. This special evening honors the joy, humor, and lasting legacy Snider shared—especially in Santa Cruz, where he was truly one of our own.
Rio Theatre: Eagles Tribute Concert
Date: Saturday, January 31
Time: 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Location: Rio Theatre for the Performing Arts, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
Relive the timeless hits of the Eagles, performed 100% live with the harmonies, energy, and spirit that made the originals iconic. With rave reviews nationwide, this show delivers feel-good nostalgia and sing-along favorites that keep the crowd smiling all night.
Time to talk to a REALTOR?
Senior Friendly Homes in Silicon Valley South
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