Uplands at Seascape / Aptos (Santa Cruz, Del Mar: vacation home, neighborhood, gated community)

[RussellMoon]

I am researching places to live in Santa Cruz County. I found the Uplands at Seascape in the Seascape/Rio Del Mar area of Aptos. The homes are newer, on the hill, and many have ocean views and I love the open space around the community. I am wondering what it is like to live there? Are the homeowners mainly full time residents or are these vacation or second homes? How is the commute from this community over Hwy 17 to the Silicon Valley?

[blueskywalker]

Originally Posted by RussellMoon

I am researching places to live in Santa Cruz County. I found the Uplands at Seascape in the Seascape/Rio Del Mar area of Aptos. The homes are newer, on the hill, and many have ocean views and I love the open space around the community. I am wondering what it is like to live there? Are the homeowners mainly full time residents or are these vacation or second homes? How is the commute from this community over Hwy 17 to the Silicon Valley?

I'm not sure about the specifics of the community but it's certainly a great location if you don't mind fog. Much of Aptos (and certainly coastal Aptos) is very foggy when there's fog.
Unless it's part of the Seascape resort?, i imagine that most of the homes are full time residents with some vacation homes here and there. A realtor would know.
The commute up hwy1 and over 17 and to whatever destination in Silicon Valley is horrible during normal commuting hours (a.m. and p.m.). When there's no traffic it's a quick and easy commute although 17 is a roller coaster of a road and requires full attention and both hands on the wheel. But if you take it easy, stay to the right, don't compete with the a** holes, it's fine ... and actually kind of fun (when there's no traffic).
When the roads are wet the commute is even worse. Accidents are a regular occurrence on 17 and on hwy1 as well but to a lesser degree.
If you can set your own hours and don't have to commute with everyone else then fine. Otherwise, you'll be spending a lot of time on the road. I don't recommend it but many people do it (hence the brutal commute).
Santa Cruz county is basically bursting at the seams ... over populated by so many people who work in Silicon Valley but want to live on this side of the hill.

[RussellMoon]

Thanks for your input. This is my impression of the commute too. My husband could take his company's bus. I commute at irregular hours and only commute 4-5 days per month to the Silicon Valley. I work elsewhere the rest of the time. So it might work out for us given our work situations. We have been visiting Santa Cruz and have narrowed it down to the Uplands at Seascape (which is a small gated community in the hills between highway 1 and Seascape with newer homes and ocean views and lots of open preserved land but a bit of a hike to the beach), the Upper Cliffs neighborhood above Rio Del Mar beach (a more traditional neighborhood and a short walk to the beach), and the Pasatiempo Golf Course neighborhood (which has gorgeous ocean and golf course views from many homes and my husband's company bus stops there but but it is a further drive from the beach and most of the homes are older). Next weekend, we are spending 4 nights in the area in order to practice the commute and see what it feels like to live in the area. We will probably do that a few times before deciding if we will move over the hill. We have a lovely home in Silicon Valley in a great neighborhood but I want a different lifestyle since I am in my 50s and want to enjoy life more.

[blueskywalker]

O.K. ... good luck.
You're among many Silicon Valley people who would rather live here too and it's creating a very impacted situation and the county is changing and not for the better.
I'm disgruntled about what is happening to S.C. county but i still wish you the best.
Just drive nice and don't act like an entitled idiot who thinks the world is yours for the taking.