Where new homes are being built in Santa Cruz
New building in the City of Santa Cruz is concentrated in and around downtown, on the blocks between Pacific Avenue, Front Street and the San Lorenzo River. Almost all of it is apartments: market-rate buildings like RiverRow and affordable buildings like Pacific Station and the downtown library project. Outside downtown, the city's list of significant planning projects shows a handful of smaller infill sites, including a 19-townhouse proposal on Frederick Street and an approved church-site subdivision on Errett Circle.
That leaves very few brand-new houses or townhomes for sale inside city limits at any one time. Buyers who want new construction usually widen the search to the rest of Santa Cruz County, where Aptos Village and the Dwellings of Soquel have sold new condos and townhomes. The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey estimates only 0.4% of the city's homes were built in 2020 or later and 4.2% from 2010 to 2019, against 19.4% built in 1939 or earlier.
New home projects in and near Santa Cruz
RiverRow by Lincoln Property Company and Bridge Investment Group (rental, 414 Front Street, 95060)
RiverRow celebrated its grand opening on March 16, 2026: 175 apartment homes in three buildings, from studios to two-bedroom layouts including townhouse units, with 20 homes set aside for the local workforce. It has two roof decks, bike and surf storage, a co-working lounge and nine retail spaces. The city's planning list still describes the Front Street site as an approved mixed-use project with 175 condos, but the developer markets it as apartments, so treat it as a rental option rather than a purchase.
Downtown Library and Affordable Housing (rental, downtown, 95060)
The city reports 124 homes under construction above a new downtown library, all affordable except one manager's unit, with a 240-space garage including 25 EV chargers and about 203 bicycle spaces. Eden Housing manages the interest list. The city's page did not give a completion date when we checked on October 30, 2026.
Pacific Station North (affordable rental, Pacific Avenue, 95060)
Pacific Station North, built with a METRO bus hub on the 900 block of Pacific Avenue by First Community Housing, was under construction in September 2025 according to the Downtown Santa Cruz association, which reported 252 affordable homes split roughly evenly between this building and the library project. Pacific Station South and a Cedar Street building were already occupied.
130 Center Street (approved, 233 single-room units, 95060)
The city approved a six-story mixed-use building with 233 single-room occupancy units and 2,618 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, using a density bonus to exceed height and floor-area limits. The City Council denied an appeal on January 25, 2022. Check the city's eTRAKiT portal for current construction status.
150 Felker Street (approved apartments, 95060)
Approved in 2022 and modified in 2023 to five floors with 35 apartments, including four very low income units under the original density bonus. A 2024 minor modification converts the mix to one-, two- and three-bedroom units and adds a lobby and community room. These are rentals, not homes for sale.
528 Frederick Street townhouses (proposed, 19 homes, 95062)
A proposal for 19 townhouses on Frederick Street goes to a Planning Commission hearing on November 5, 2026. It requests a tentative subdivision map, the step that creates separately saleable units, plus coastal, watercourse, slope, design and heritage tree permits and a density bonus. Prices and builder have not been published. This is the main for-sale townhome project in the city's pipeline.
111 Errett Circle (approved subdivision)
The City Council approved this 1.62-acre former church site on May 12, 2020, with two options: 12 single-family lots, or 10 single-family parcels plus 6 condominiums. The city page does not say which option was chosen or whether building permits have been filed, so ask the applicant or the city before relying on it.
126 Eucalyptus Avenue (approved senior housing)
The city lists as approved a 76-unit senior housing facility on a former school site, including 15 full dwelling units, with historic and planning hearings required. It is not age-restricted for-sale housing in the usual sense; see our 55+ communities near Santa Cruz page for options you can buy.
Aptos Village by Swenson (condos for sale, Aptos, 95003)
Swenson completed Phase 2 of Aptos Village in 2025: 29 condos (18 two-bedroom, 8 three-bedroom and 3 one-bedroom) over ground-floor retail, bringing the 11.5-acre site to 65 homes. In May 2025 two-bedroom units started at $1,299,000, and HOA fees were expected to range from about $350 to $600 a month. Five units were offered below market by lottery under Santa Cruz County's Measure J. Ask the sales team which units remain and at what price.
The Dwellings of Soquel by Workbench (townhomes for sale, Soquel, 95073)
Fifteen homes on Darlington Lane, previously 5701 Soquel Drive, in five floor plans from 956 to 1,694 square feet with two or three bedrooms. The developer's site listed prices starting at $1.095 million, subject to change, and said some homes have sold, when we checked on October 30, 2026. The site does not state HOA dues; ask for them and the CC&Rs.
Santa Cruz new home projects compared
| Project | Location | Homes | For sale or rent | Status | Published price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RiverRow | 414 Front St, Santa Cruz | 175 | Rent | Opened March 2026 | Ask leasing office |
| Downtown Library housing | Downtown Santa Cruz | 124 | Affordable rent | Under construction | Income-qualified |
| Pacific Station North | Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz | About half of 252 affordable homes | Affordable rent | Under construction (Sept 2025) | Income-qualified |
| 130 Center Street | Santa Cruz | 233 SRO units | Not stated | Approved | None |
| 150 Felker Street | Santa Cruz | 35 | Rent | Approved | None |
| 528 Frederick Street | Santa Cruz | 19 townhouses | Likely sale (subdivision map) | Hearing Nov 5, 2026 | None |
| 111 Errett Circle | Santa Cruz | 12 to 16 | Sale | Approved 2020 | None |
| Aptos Village Phase 2 | Aptos | 29 condos | Sale | Completed 2025 | From $1,299,000 (May 2025) |
| The Dwellings of Soquel | Soquel | 15 | Sale | Selling | From $1.095M (Oct 2026) |
Mello-Roos and HOA fees on new Santa Cruz homes
The base property tax on a City of Santa Cruz home in tax rate area 01-003 is 1.128718% for 2026-27, made up of the 1% general levy plus city, school and Cabrillo College bonds, according to the county's tax rate book. Mello-Roos special taxes and assessments are billed on top of that and vary by parcel. Before you sign, ask the builder or seller for any special tax disclosure, and look up the parcel's current bill on the county tax collector's site. Our California Mello-Roos guide explains how these work, and the Santa Cruz County property tax guide lists rates across the county.
On new condos and townhomes, HOA dues fund the building's insurance, reserves and shared areas. Aptos Village's Phase 2 HOA fees were expected to range from about $350 to $600 a month. Ask for the budget, reserve study and master insurance policy for any new association; first-year budgets can rise once the builder hands the HOA to owners. See our California HOA laws guide.
New vs resale homes in Santa Cruz: what costs more
Resale is where most of the choice is. Redfin's three-month median sale price for townhouses in 95060 was $817,501 and for condos $770,977 to September 2026, while the starting price for a new two-bedroom condo at Aptos Village was $1,299,000 in May 2025 and new townhomes in Soquel started at $1.095 million in October 2026. New homes can cost more but carry new roofs, systems and energy code compliance, and they are assessed at the purchase price from day one.
An older Santa Cruz house can cost less to buy and more to keep: the Census survey puts 19.4% of the city's housing stock at 1939 or older. If you are weighing a resale house, budget for foundation, sewer lateral and electrical inspections, or consider adding a backyard unit; see our California ADU rules guide.
Inspections and warranties on new construction
Hire your own home inspector even for a brand-new home, ideally at the pre-drywall stage and again before closing. Ask the builder for the written warranty, the claims process and the time limits for each type of defect. For condos, ask for the Department of Real Estate public report and the HOA documents. If a project is in the coastal zone, as 528 Frederick Street is, ask what conditions the coastal permit placed on the property.
Buying a new home in Santa Cruz with a local agent
Sales staff at a new project work for the builder. If you want your own representation, many builders require your agent to register you on your first visit, so bring the agent or their details to the sales office the first time. An agent can compare the builder's price with recent resales, review the contract and HOA documents, and tell you whether an incentive is worth more than a price cut. See our featured Santa Cruz agent, or read our guide to buying a house in California.