Grass-roots housing is by far the cheapest, the most inclusive and democratic of all housing. No developer, not even “nonprofits” with both their hands deep in the public trough, can compete with that for economy, efficiency and scale. And the silver lining of a housing shortage is that many residential property owners now have enough equity to fund construction on their properties for their children, parents, friends, co-workers and neighbors. If the will were there, zoning approvals and building permits could be, as they once were, over-the-counter or even free, paid for through that bond. The infrastructure is already there and, given technological improvements in energy and water conservation, it’s mostly adequate to the task.
#Apartments for rent in santa cruz county free
There is much free land available in the city for housing. I looked for the logic in that and found none. Every day, new hurdles are manufactured to make housing more expensive and more difficult.Īnd now the mayor wants to make home ownership a bit more expensive by pushing a property tax that would perpetuate this entropic treadmill while ignoring all these very real factors. Don’t let all the high-and-mighty talk about “safety” and “green” fool you. Using over-wrought codes nitpicked by over-bearing, third-party contractors happy to over-compensate for their own lack of hands-on construction knowledge, building departments have become a detached and redundant money pit in the war against efficient housing. Those up-front, out-of-pocket expenses, paid out on faith before the project can even qualify for a construction loan, discourage a lot of people from even trying.Īnd then there’s building permits. It often costs more to get through the planning process, and its trumped-up “impact” fees, than to complete all the technical drawings for a building permit. Third, getting zoning approval may sound like a simple formality, but you’d be surprised what a money pit it can be. If it’s already there in our existing neighborhoods, who needs sprawl? If the roads, sewer, water, gas and power lines are already in place, you’ve got a huge leg up. Our village could have done that on its own, but sometimes it takes a state. Free is the best by far, and with the enactment of new state legislation, every residential lot in the city now has free land on which to build one, two or three new dwellings. The cheaper the land, the cheaper the housing. Land costs can amount to a third of a new home’s sticker price. No one asks those questions anymore, but let’s walk through them now.
#Apartments for rent in santa cruz county how to
We’d probably start by figuring out how to get the biggest bang for our buck – housing the most people at the least cost. We’ve come to take pride in the very tokenism we once marched against, housing a select few at someone else’s expense, denying the many and then patting ourselves on the back for striking a blow against capitalism.īut what if we stopped passing the buck and, as citizens of this city, took responsibility for housing ourselves, just as we once did. It’s what we distract ourselves with to justify denying people the adequate shelter they need and deserve. At a million dollars a “unit,” all told, that term is an oxymoron at best, a pretext at worst. One more added bonus, renting a studio requires far less cleaning due to the smaller square footage.ĭepending on the location and amenities you're looking for, your rent can range from 3060 to 3060.Let’s not talk about affordable housing. Some landlords offer studio apartments with all utilities included in the flat, monthly rent, an extra financial benefit. Not only is it cheaper to rent a studio apartment than a one bedroom, but you also save on utilities and electricity due to the smaller living space. Studios apartments are ideal as an economical option. Add storage space by installing a makeshift closet, floating shelves and under-bed containers, or invest in multipurpose furniture such as ottomans or coffee tables with hidden storage. If your prospective studio lacks storage, get creative. Closets and cabinets help your studio feel more organized and spacious, avoiding a cramped or claustrophobic environment.
When shopping for a studio, look for a unit with ample storage space. A studio typically consists of one bathroom and a main room that serves as the living room, bedroom and kitchen. Studio apartments are an excellent choice if you don't have many possessions or if you're planning to live alone. STUDIO APARTMENTS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY CA
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