After only four days on the market, a 328-square-foot home in Seabright sold for over $1 million, following five competitive offers and a packed open-house weekend. According to listing agent Walter Stauss, who’s sold homes in the area for nearly 25 years, it’s a sign of the demand vastly outpacing the supply: “There’s a huge pressure on the inventory.”
Housing
UC Santa Cruz grad students demand increased housing stipend, recognition of UC student researchers union
In a rally on the UCSC campus Tuesday, graduate students had two main purposes: demand both that UC Santa Cruz administration triple their housing stipend and that the UC system recognize the unionizing of student researchers.
As Project Roomkey comes to an end, work continues to find permanent housing for the most vulnerable
Project Roomkey helped house hundreds of people in Santa Cruz County who were experiencing homelessness during the pandemic, but federal funding is due to run out by year’s end. Those involved say they are working as hard as they can to find stable housing for as many people as possible.
How two new UCSC student-led groups are trying to tackle the housing crisis
The Student Housing Coalition held its first meeting last week on the UCSC campus and announced its goals to bring diverse groups together to support solutions for the housing crisis across the Monterey Bay area. A Slug Shelter co-founder told Lookout the group is searching for land where it could potentially set up a mobile unit for 10 to 12 students experiencing homelessness.
Santa Cruz County home prices dip slightly
The median price of a single-family home in Santa Cruz County fell in September, to $1.185 million, though prices are still high compared to neighboring counties.
Watching the sky warily: CZU fire families worry about rebuilds as rain starts
Santa Cruz County residents looking to rebuild after the CZU Complex fire last year are worried about how the rainy season will affect things. Making things more complicated, some are running up against insurance deadlines.
‘This is going to solve the housing crisis’: Santa Cruz builder waxes on importance of ADUs
With home prices continuing to rise, Santa Cruz home designer Pat Powers thinks the solution lies with accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. Changes in state and local laws have made it easier to build the mini-homes, giving families more options on where to live.
The third rail of Santa Cruz County politics: Electric streetcar steps into the political transit fray
A demonstration of an electric streetcar in Watsonville on Saturday was decried by Supervisor Manu Koenig, who said the idea was not a viable transit option. Coast Futura representatives, who are running the multi-week event, said it is just a demonstration to gauge community interest, and not connected to proposals TIG/m, the manufacturer of the streetcar, has with the regional transit authority.
‘A costly mistake’ or still moving forward? After council rejection, future of 831 Water St. remains in flux
While the fate of Santa Cruz’s first SB 35 project could be legal entanglements for the city, there are signs that the developer might be working to satisfy the concerns raised by the city council on Tuesday.
Inside Lookout: Ambitious school engagement, introducing new Lookouters and housing hub
In this month’s newsletter from CEO and Founder Ken Doctor, get a preview of Lookout’s ambitious student access initiative, our new hub for housing coverage and a welcoming of new Lookouters.

