Let’s find you home.

Shaye Carter

REALTOR | HUSBAND | COOL DAD

CA DRE # 02105568

We work for you.

For our BUYERS, we will pound the pavement in order to find your ideal property, often before it ever even hits the market.

Looking to live in a specific neighborhood in Santa Cruz County? We maintain a comprehensive list of Santa Cruz "pocket listings" and we will contact home owners on your behalf to find properties before they ever go up for sale.

We do several off-market deals this way every year. If you are new to the area we will help you find the neighborhood that is the perfect fit for you.

Get my Santa Cruz Buyer’s Guide

An A to Z look at how I will find your home.

(Or start your search below)

Let’s browse some homes.

My search portal will give you faster access to new listings, more search filters, and the ability to see “Coming Soon” homes before they hit the public market.

Let’s chat, book a call here.

We’ll create a gameplan to get you into a home you love.

 FAQs

  • Well you’re in the right place!

    The first step in the home buying process is connecting with a great lender if you’re financing. I can give you recommend excellent lenders to work with .

    For my complete guide to buying a home in Santa Cruz, click here.

  • No!

    Although it’s a common misconception, you DO NOT need 20% as a downpayment.

    You can do as little as 0% for a VA loan (veterans), 3% for a conventional loan, or 3.5% for an FHA loan.

  • I'll walk you through the process of figuring out how much you can afford, the first step is making an appointment with a mortgage broker to get preapproved. Our in-house lending team can provide you a spreadsheet to determine your budget based on income and desired monthly payment amount.

  • As of August 17, 2024, changes in real estate compensation rules mean that buyer agents’ fees are no longer automatically covered by the seller’s broker or included in the home’s price. Instead, buyers must agree on their agent’s compensation before viewing properties. Buyers can either pay this fee themselves or negotiate for the seller to cover it in the purchase agreement*. These changes bring more transparency and negotiation to the process, as buyers now understand that their agent’s commission is negotiable. Additionally, agents must have signed agreements outlining their compensation before showing homes, ensuring upfront clarity between buyers and agents.

    *I will always attempt to have my fee paid by the seller out of escrow, so it is not a direct closing cost for you if you are obtaining a loan.

    For information on this download my Santa Cruz Buyer’s Guide here.