Monica Lussier Blog

If you are looking at real estate on the California coast, you’ve likely felt the pull of two very different magnetic fields. On one side, you have the vibrant, cotton-candy energy of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and the bustling neighborhoods that surround it. On the other, just a short drive…

It is the conversation I have almost every week with buyers. We are sitting down, looking at the pre-approval letter, and realizing that the dream of a renovated bungalow on the Westside of Santa Cruz doesn’t quite match the monthly payment reality. For many buyers in 2026, the choice comes…

Santa Cruz County might look small on a map, but locals know it offers two completely distinct worlds separated by just 7 to 10 miles. On one side, you have the energetic, salty air of the coast. On the other, the quiet, towering canopy of the San Lorenzo Valley. For…

If you are looking to buy a home in our corner of the Central Coast, you’ve likely realized that driving just ten minutes can completely change your lifestyle. Santa Cruz and Soquel might share a border, but they often feel like entirely different worlds. When I sit down with buyers,…

If you drive down Highway 1 long enough, you hit a spot where the frantic energy of the Bay Area just… dissolves. You smell the salt air mixed with the earthy scent of ancient redwoods, and you know you’ve arrived in Santa Cruz. For decades, this town has been the…

You’ve probably heard the rumors, or maybe you’ve experienced the sticker shock firsthand while browsing Zillow. Santa Cruz is undeniably one of the most beautiful places to live in the United States, but that beauty comes with a literal price tag. If you are thinking about moving to Santa Cruz,…

Santa Cruz is famous for its duality. On one hand, you have the laid-back surf culture, where it feels like nobody is in a rush to get anywhere. On the other hand, you have the reality of being a coastal city with limited entry points, meaning traffic is a very…

When people start looking for homes for sale in Santa Cruz, they usually fall in love with the lifestyle first—the surf, the redwoods, and that distinct slow-paced vibe. But unless you’re retiring, the second question is almost always about work. The local economy here is a bit of a paradox.…

If you are currently sitting in a cubicle—or a home office—in San Jose, staring at a screen and dreaming of a lunch break on the beach, you aren’t alone. We see a massive trend of Millennials and Gen Z professionals looking over the hill, asking the same question: Can I…

Deciding where to plant roots in Santa Cruz County usually comes down to a single question: do you want the vibrant, eclectic energy of a beach city, or the semi-rural tranquility where the redwoods meet the sea? Both Santa Cruz and Aptos offer stunning ocean access and that distinct Central…