I was at a listing appointment recently for a historic home hidden deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the 3rd listing appointment for these sellers who are looking for a very particular level of service when it hit me- nobody asked them one of the most important questions I ALWAYS explain to my prospective buyers.  

How is your home powered?

I know. It sounds about as sexy as asking about septic tank maintenance. But after nine years helping people navigate Santa Cruz County real estate, I've learned that the way your home gets its energy will shape your daily life more than any aesthetic choice you're agonizing over.

It's the difference between modern convenience and rustic authenticity. Between flipping a switch and wondering if you remembered to chop enough wood for the next winter storm. Between a minor inconvenience during a power outage and a genuine survival situation.

The Cost of Cozy

Too often forgotten during those sun-dappled open houses: your energy source is a lifestyle choice masquerading as a utility question.

An all-electric home in the Santa Cruz Mountains might look cheaper on paper—no propane deliveries, no wood to buy, everything running on that clean California grid energy. Sounds perfect, right?

Until PG&E shuts off your power for the third time in a fire season and you're eating cereal for dinner by candlelight, wondering why your cell phone died and whether your freezer full of Costco chicken will make it through the night. Suddenly, that wood-burning stove you mocked at the last showing seems less like Little House on the Prairie cosplay and more like basic disaster preparedness. (side note - order that portable generator now!)

But here's the thing—and this is the part that makes my analytical brain and my emotional heart actually agree on something—one energy source isn't inherently better than another. It's about knowing what you're signing up for and whether that aligns with who you actually are versus who you think you want to be on a Sunday afternoon scroll through Architectural Digest.

The Lifestyle You're Actually Buying

When you choose how your home is powered, you're not just picking an energy source. You're choosing a relationship with your house. Some people genuinely love the ritual of building a fire, the satisfaction of stacking wood, the primal accomplishment of keeping their family warm through their own effort. Not to mention chopping wood is actually an amazing workout.

I have clients who specifically seek out wood-burning stoves because it connects them to something fundamental, something real in a world that feels increasingly virtual.

And you know what? That's beautiful. That's intentional living.

But I also work with people who break out in hives at the thought of manual labor, who want to control their thermostat from their phone, who need reliable WiFi to run their business and can't afford a single hour of downtime. For them, a backup generator and multiple energy sources aren't luxury—they're necessity.

The problem isn't wanting modern convenience or craving rustic authenticity. The problem is not knowing which one you are until you're living it.

Different Homes, Different Lives

What fascinates me about Santa Cruz County is how different regions offer completely different energy ecosystems. Down in the flats closer to town, you'll see primarily electric and natural gas setups—predictable, reliable, the kind of thing you don't think about until you get your bill. Move up into the mountains around Boulder Creek, and suddenly you're navigating propane tanks, wood stoves, and generators like they're normal household appliances. Because up there, they are.

Head over to certain parts of Aptos or Capitola, and you might find a mix—natural gas for heat but electric for everything else, or homes that have transitioned to solar with battery backup because their owners got tired of playing PG&E roulette every December. Each region has adapted to its reality, and that reality needs to match yours.

The Question Behind the Question

So when I ask buyers "Is the way the home is powered in line with your lifestyle expectations?" what I'm really asking them to consider is this: What kind of life do you want to live, and are you prepared for what that actually requires?

Because a cozy cabin sounds romantic until you're the one responsible for keeping it cozy. Modern convenience seems boring until you're grateful for it at 2AM when someone has a fever and you need to keep the house warm without thinking about BTUs and dampers and whether you brought in enough kindling.

Your home's energy source will determine whether power outages are a minor inconvenience or a major disaster. It'll influence your monthly expenses in ways that aren't immediately obvious when you're falling in love with exposed beams and mountain views. It'll shape your daily routines, your weekend plans, your relationship with maintenance and self-sufficiency.

And perhaps most importantly, it'll reveal whether you're buying the life you actually want or the life you think you're supposed to want.

The Truth About What You Can Handle

The most honest conversations I have with clients happen when we stop talking about square footage and start talking about reality. Can you handle chopping wood? Not "does it sound charming?" but can you actually, physically, consistently do it when it's raining and you're tired and you just want to be warm? Does the idea of a generator sound like security or like one more thing to maintain?

There's no judgment in these questions. Just clarity.

Some people thrive on self-sufficiency. Others need simplicity. Most of us fall somewhere in between, wanting a little bit of both worlds—the reliability of modern systems with the backup of alternative sources. And in Santa Cruz County, especially in the mountains, that hybrid approach might be the most practical solution of all.

But you can't make that decision if you don't ask the question.

TL/DR

So here's what I tell every buyer who walks through my door: Before you fall in love with the view, the layout, or the dream of mountain living, ask yourself what you're willing to maintain to keep that dream alive. Ask how the home is powered. Ask what happens when the power goes out. Ask what your backup plan is and whether you're prepared to execute it at three in the morning in the middle of January.

Because at the end of the day, your home isn't just a place to live. It's a system you're entering into a relationship with. And like any relationship, it works best when you go in with your eyes open, knowing exactly what you're signing up for.

The granite countertops will still be beautiful either way. But only one of you will be warm enough to enjoy them.

Bailey Copley specializes in Santa Cruz County real estate with a focus on mountain properties and honest market guidance. If you're considering a move to the area and want to know what questions you should actually be asking, reach out at bcehomes.com.