Homes in Boulder Creek
Boulder Creek real estate varies from luxury view estate properties on acreage in the million dollar plus price range, to the more common Boulder Creek home sales in the $750,000-$900,000 range. Boulder Creek condominiums by the golf course occasionally come up for sale in the $350,000-$550,000 price range, while single family golf course homes typically are priced $800,000 to $1,000,000.
Homes in Boulder Creek are amongst the most affordable in the region. During the first few months of 2021, prices averaged $768,000, about 40% above the last peak which averaged $540,000 during the first half of 2007. While the more affordable homes are typically on smaller lots (1/10 to 1/4 acre), there are homes available on generously sized parcels of an acre or more. The average Boulder Creek 3 bedroom 2 bath home price is around $800,000.
Boulder Creek may be unincorporated, but the historic village of around 5000 people and around 2100 homes, has just about everything needed for daily living. We have both a grocery and a health food store, volunteer fire department, sheriff office, library, US Post Office, bank, medical and dental offices, gas station, solar energy firms, barbers and hairdressers, a vet and a pet store, several churches and a spiritual center, clothing stores, yoga and fitness, pharmacy, two liquor stores, gift shops, an auto repair shop and an auto supply store, a hardware store and an elementary school. We have our own golf course, surrounded by a neighborhood of nicer homes and affordable condos built in the 1970’s and 1980s. This is one of a handful of neighborhoods in the San Lorenzo Valley served by a sewer system; the rest of the homes use independent septic systems.
Founded in the late 1800’s, Boulder Creek’s first major industry was redwood mills which provided much of the old growth redwood used to rebuild San Francisco after the fires caused by the 1906 earthquake. A Railroad later brought vacationers through, from San Francisco and San Jose, on their way to summer vacation at beaches in Santa Cruz and Capitola. We have a local museum celebrating our history in those early years.
Nowadays, downtown Boulder Creek features a blend of businesses housed in mostly historical buildings. Restaurants have adapted to the pandemic by offering take out or outdoor dining, including our newest addition: Tae’s "Edo" - Japanese sushi and bento boxes, Boulder Creek Pizza, offering great sandwiches, salads and pizza, and Red Pearl Chinese Cuisine has a great lunch menu. Owned and operated by Jenny (who is such a sweetheart), whose food has earned a great following. Francisco owns Los Amigos Taqueria and is often at the front register with his big smile. My favorite lunch there is the Tostada Salad. Prior to the pandemic, local tavern "Joe's Bar" had live music Friday nights. Our legendary Scopazzi's restaurant has an intimate bar area with a fireplace. They’ve been serving excellent Italian cuisine for decades, featuring an old world ambiance suitable for special occasions. We have two coffee houses - Jenna Sue's is tiny but offers a wide menu including bagel & fixings, pies & quiches, as well as a variety of desserts. Frankie opened Treehouse Café a few years ago with similar offerings but much more indoor seating with a live redwood tree cluster growing in the middle of the building. Recently opened Bella’s features indoor and outdoor seating for full service breakfast and brunch from omelets, pancakes, and my favorite to go option: a hearty breakfast burrito.
Tragically, Boulder Creek’s jewel, Big Basin State Redwood Park, the first State Park opened in California, was very badly damaged during the 2020 CZU August Lightening Complex fires, and will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Those fires were started out at the coast by an eerie dry summer lightning storm … within days the fires had spread causing most Boulder Creek and many San Lorenzo Valley residents were evacuated. On returning home, about 1,000 homes were discovered to be damaged or destroyed. There simply weren’t enough fire fighters to cover a fire of this magnitude until several weeks into the disaster. Because it may take a few years to rebuild, and many of those survivors want to stay here, the fire only made our local housing shortage worse.
Other than rebuilding homes lost to fires, building of new homes in the area is severely limited by geographic and topographical constraints: the County only issues new home permits for acreage featuring established water supply and low enough slope to support a septic system.
Despite these building constraints, homes in Boulder Creek are amongst the most affordable in a 30 mile radius.
Many Boulder Creek homes were originally built as summer cabins, so it is important to use a Local REALTOR with rural home expertise so you understand how well the home has been adapted over time for modern living. M.C. Dwyer specializes in rural properties and helps her clients overcome challenges including septic, spring and well systems, enormous trees, easements and encroachments, unpermitted expansions and conversions, utilities and unknown property boundaries, private roads and post and pier foundations, inconsistent information in Santa Cruz County’s records, insurance including fire and hazard as well as title insurance, geologic and riparian concerns, etc. M.C. Dwyer was Boulder Creek's top selling real estate agent in 2013, selling 11 Boulder Creek homes through the MLS, plus one privately arranged transaction at the sellers' request.
Many Boulder Creek residents work for high tech companies in the Silicon Valley. Their commute "over the hill" was about 30-45 minutes. During the pandemic, many companies transitioned much of their workforce to work from home: this has dramatically increased housing demand. The mountains offer great opportunity for wildlife sightings and spectacular vistas. Many who commute agree they would rather drive a little farther than sit frustrated in traffic and live in more expensive, smoggy and congested areas. There is even a local custom observed on the commute roads: the "locals" know all the curves and show their appreciation for slower drivers pulling into a safe turn out by flashing their emergency lights briefly, as if to say, "thank you!"Boulder Creek real estate varies from luxury view estate properties on acreage in the million dollar plus price range, to the more common Boulder Creek home sales in the $750,000-$900,000 range. Boulder Creek condominiums by the golf course occasionally come up for sale in the $350,000-$550,000 price range, while single family golf course homes typically are priced $800,000 to $1,000,000.
Homes in Boulder Creek are amongst the most affordable in the region. During the first few months of 2021, prices averaged $768,000, about 40% above the last peak which averaged $540,000 during the first half of 2007. While the more affordable homes are typically on smaller lots (1/10 to 1/4 acre), there are homes available on generously sized parcels of an acre or more. The average Boulder Creek 3 bedroom 2 bath home price is around $800,000.
Boulder Creek may be unincorporated, but the historic village of around 5000 people and around 2100 homes, has just about everything needed for daily living. We have both a grocery and a health food store, volunteer fire department, sheriff office, library, US Post Office, bank, medical and dental offices, gas station, solar energy firms, barbers and hairdressers, a vet and a pet store, several churches and a spiritual center, clothing stores, yoga and fitness, pharmacy, two liquor stores, gift shops, an auto repair shop and an auto supply store, a hardware store and an elementary school. We have our own golf course, surrounded by a neighborhood of nicer homes and affordable condos built in the 1970’s and 1980s. This is one of a handful of neighborhoods in the San Lorenzo Valley served by a sewer system; the rest of the homes use independent septic systems.
Founded in the late 1800’s, Boulder Creek’s first major industry was redwood mills which provided much of the old growth redwood used to rebuild San Francisco after the fires caused by the 1906 earthquake. A Railroad later brought vacationers through, from San Francisco and San Jose, on their way to summer vacation at beaches in Santa Cruz and Capitola. We have a local museum celebrating our history in those early years.
Nowadays, downtown Boulder Creek features a blend of businesses housed in mostly historical buildings. Restaurants have adapted to the pandemic by offering take out or outdoor dining, including our newest addition: Tae’s "Edo" - Japanese sushi and bento boxes, Boulder Creek Pizza, offering great sandwiches, salads and pizza, and Red Pearl Chinese Cuisine has a great lunch menu. Owned and operated by Jenny (who is such a sweetheart), whose food has earned a great following. Francisco owns Los Amigos Taqueria and is often at the front register with his big smile. My favorite lunch there is the Tostada Salad. Prior to the pandemic, local tavern "Joe's Bar" had live music Friday nights. Our legendary Scopazzi's restaurant has an intimate bar area with a fireplace. They’ve been serving excellent Italian cuisine for decades, featuring an old world ambiance suitable for special occasions. We have two coffee houses - Jenna Sue's is tiny but offers a wide menu including bagel & fixings, pies & quiches, as well as a variety of desserts. Frankie opened Treehouse Café a few years ago with similar offerings but much more indoor seating with a live redwood tree cluster growing in the middle of the building. Recently opened Bella’s features indoor and outdoor seating for full service breakfast and brunch from omelets, pancakes, and my favorite to go option: a hearty breakfast burrito.
Tragically, Boulder Creek’s jewel, Big Basin State Redwood Park, the first State Park opened in California, was very badly damaged during the 2020 CZU August Lightening Complex fires, and will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Those fires were started out at the coast by an eerie dry summer lightning storm … within days the fires had spread causing most Boulder Creek and many San Lorenzo Valley residents were evacuated. On returning home, about 1,000 homes were discovered to be damaged or destroyed. There simply weren’t enough fire fighters to cover a fire of this magnitude until several weeks into the disaster. Because it may take a few years to rebuild, and many of those survivors want to stay here, the fire only made our local housing shortage worse.
Other than rebuilding homes lost to fires, building of new homes in the area is severely limited by geographic and topographical constraints: the County only issues new home permits for acreage featuring established water supply and low enough slope to support a septic system.
Despite these building constraints, homes in Boulder Creek are amongst the most affordable in a 30 mile radius.
Many Boulder Creek homes were originally built as summer cabins, so it is important to use a Local REALTOR with rural home expertise so you understand how well the home has been adapted over time for modern living. M.C. Dwyer specializes in rural properties and helps her clients overcome challenges including septic, spring and well systems, enormous trees, easements and encroachments, unpermitted expansions and conversions, utilities and unknown property boundaries, private roads and post and pier foundations, inconsistent information in Santa Cruz County’s records, insurance including fire and hazard as well as title insurance, geologic and riparian concerns, etc. M.C. Dwyer was Boulder Creek's top selling real estate agent in 2013, selling 11 Boulder Creek homes through the MLS, plus one privately arranged transaction at the sellers' request.
Many Boulder Creek residents work for high tech companies in the Silicon Valley. Their commute "over the hill" was about 30-45 minutes. During the pandemic, many companies transitioned much of their workforce to work from home: this has dramatically increased housing demand. The mountains offer great opportunity for wildlife sightings and spectacular vistas. Many who commute agree they would rather drive a little farther than sit frustrated in traffic and live in more expensive, smoggy and congested areas. There is even a local custom observed on the commute roads: the "locals" know all the curves and show their appreciation for slower drivers pulling into a safe turn out by flashing their emergency lights briefly, as if to say, "thank you!"
