LOCAL REALTOR
Lori Hill
Broker Associate, Compass
UC Santa Cruz-area real estate guidance
BUY NEAR UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ
Homes for Sale
Near UC Santa Cruz
Current UC Santa Cruz-area homes, neighborhood intelligence and ownership math — with local property and financing guidance kept in one place.
University of California, Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA · Compare the home, the commute and the complete ownership plan.
University of California, Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA
Current homes in the UC Santa Cruz sale view · checked Oct 7, 2026Change college
UC SANTA CRUZ MARKET SNAPSHOT
Current homes and rents, at a glance.
Published inventory for the UC Santa Cruz housing decision. These figures describe this listing sample, not citywide market trends.Homes for sale
Current displayed sale inventoryRental listings
Current displayed rental inventoryMedian asking price
Current displayed sale inventoryMedian asking rent
Current displayed rental inventoryPublished property inventory · confirm current availability with the listing source.View current UC Santa Cruz homes →
University of California, Santa Cruz · MARKET CONTEXT
Put the purchase in context.
University demand and local housing benchmarks, with the location and reporting period kept beside each number.
University & housing details Definitions, dates and sources
City median sale price $1,374,312
Median sale price for the cited city housing market; not a campus-only or student-property price.
Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-07 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗1 bedroom rent reference $2,771/mo
Saved source-specific rental reference. Scope is the cited city or off-campus market guide; not median rent, per-bed rent, or a live quote.
Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-09 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗City sale-price change -1.8%
Year-over-year change paired with the saved city median sale-price series.
Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-07 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗Studio rent reference $2,234/mo
Saved source-specific rental reference. Scope is the cited city or off-campus market guide; not median rent, per-bed rent, or a live quote.
Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-09 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗2 bedrooms rent reference $3,762/mo
Saved source-specific rental reference. Scope is the cited city or off-campus market guide; not median rent, per-bed rent, or a live quote.
Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-09 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗3 bedrooms rent reference $3,624/mo
Saved source-specific rental reference. Scope is the cited city or off-campus market guide; not median rent, per-bed rent, or a live quote.
Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-09 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗Campus housing policy For the Fall 2026 entering class, UCSC offers first-year and transfer students a two-year university-housing guarantee. Students must request housing when accepting admission and meet the housing deadlines.
Official housing guarantee summary with the entering cohort and application conditions stated explicitly.
Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-27 (Fall 2026 entering first-year and transfer cohort) · Checked 2026-11-02T19:30:40.070964-05:00UC Santa Cruz Admissions — Housing Guarantee FAQ ↗Before choosing off-campus housing: For the Fall 2026 entering class, UCSC offers first-year and transfer students a two-year university-housing guarantee. Students must request housing when accepting admission and meet the housing deadlines. University housing policy ↗ Checked 2026-11-02T19:30:40.070964-05:00
University figures and citywide housing data cover different populations and periods. They do not establish achievable rent, occupancy or investment returns for a specific property.
REAL HOMES. REAL NUMBERS. BRIGHTER FUTURES.
Homes near University of California, Santa Cruz
Compare campus proximity, ownership costs and the four-year numbers — not just listing prices.
Available homes · Sorted by distance
1 / 5
$1,995,000
Santa Cruz · 1.5 miles to UC Santa Cruz
▱ 4 bedrooms ♙ 3 bathrooms ▦ 2,771 sq ft ⌂ Single Family
Why this home surfacedroommate flexibility — then compare the full ownership cost and post-graduation plan.
Current published selection · last checked 2026-10-07. Confirm prices and availability. Distances are straight-line to campus.
Work with local experts
Get guidance from professionals who know UC Santa Cruz and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Lori HillUC Santa Cruz RealtorLocal advice. Local insight. Better outcomes.
◷ Dated listing snapshots · confirm availability⌖ No addresses shown△ Work with a local expert for availability↕ Estimated costs. Your results may vary.We use AI to route intent, not replace professionals.
WHERE THE HOME CHANGES THE DAILY ROUTINE
Compare UC Santa Cruz neighborhoods like a buyer
Price is only one variable. Compare the property type, recurring building costs and the actual trip to your UC Santa Cruz destination.
$670K – $3MPublished asking-price sampleSanta Cruz
Published sample homes2.3 mi median campus distanceCondo + Single Family
UCSC’s community guide separates Westside near the campus base from Downtown and Seabright/Midtown. Compare the exact route to upper campus along with the home’s condition and total costs; the city name alone hides those differences.
Lori’s checklistCheck the route to the building you will use.Explore Santa Cruz →
UC Santa Cruz area guideConfirm current availabilityCapitola
UCSC distinguishes Capitola’s coastal village from the denser housing and commercial areas along 41st Avenue and Capitola Road. Include the full campus trip in your comparison and check present transport options.
Lori’s checklistCheck the route to the building you will use.Explore Capitola →
UC Santa Cruz area guideConfirm current availabilityAptos
UCSC groups Aptos and Rio del Mar as communities extending from hills toward the coast, with Aptos Village and nearby outdoor areas. Compare the longer campus connection for the actual home instead of relying on a region-wide mileage estimate.
Lori’s checklistCheck the route to the building you will use.Explore Aptos →
Rent vs. own near UC Santa Cruz: start with the same time horizon
Compare published UC Santa Cruz-area rent evidence with a principal-and-interest starting point, then add the costs that make ownership real.
$3,795/moPublished monthly rent benchmark for this bedroom count4 YearsComparison horizon
Turn this into a complete UC Santa Cruz ownership scenario.
- Add taxes, insurance, HOA and repairs
- Stress-test any roommate contribution
- Plan the sale, rental or hold after graduation
PROPERTY + FINANCING, KEPT SEPARATE
Use the right professional for the right decision
Lori helps evaluate the home and neighborhood. CollegeHousing.ai keeps the UC Santa Cruz property context attached between them.UC Santa Cruz-AREA REAL ESTATE
Lori Hill
Broker Associate · Compass
- Property tours and offer strategy
- Neighborhood and building context
- Condo rules, condition and resale questions
UC Santa Cruz BUYING INTELLIGENCE
Go deeper without losing your place
Choose the question that matches your housing plan, review the school-specific evidence, then return to the homes you are comparing.
PARENT BUYING GUIDEBuying Housing Near University of California, Santa CruzWho owns, who lives there, the true monthly cost and the plan after graduation.Read guide →NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDENeighborhoods Near UC Santa CruzCompare campus routes, housing types and the surrounding Santa Cruz tradeoffs.Read guide →INVESTOR GUIDEUC Santa Cruz Housing Investment GuideRent evidence, operating costs, financing and exit-plan questions for a campus-area property.Read guide →
See all UC Santa Cruz guides →QUESTIONS BUYERS ASK
UC Santa Cruz home-buying answers
Who is the local Realtor for UC Santa Cruz?
Lori Hill of Compass is the CollegeHousing.ai real estate contact for University of California, Santa Cruz.
How can I schedule a callback with Lori?
Use Schedule a Callback and include your preferred day and time, housing plan and contact details. You can also call 831-588-7552. Appointment availability is confirmed with the professional.
How should I compare renting and buying?
Compare the complete housing arrangements, upfront cash, monthly costs, expected time near campus and plan after graduation. The rent-vs-buy calculator provides an editable illustration.
Who can help review financing?
A state-appropriate financing professional can help review your financing options. Share the property, intended occupancy and your assumptions for an eligibility review.
Is CollegeHousing.ai affiliated with UC Santa Cruz?
CollegeHousing.ai and the local professionals are independent of University of California, Santa Cruz.
How do I confirm current property availability?
Ask Lori for current properties that fit your budget and timing. Confirm availability, price, lease or sale terms, and the specific address before making plans.
MOVING FOR WORK
Faculty & staff housing near UC Santa Cruz
Compare buying, renting, neighborhoods and your commute to work.
READY TO NARROW THE SHORTLIST?