Zumper
modified
Updated 5+ Days Ago

Highlights

  • Completely remodeled
  • Large bedrooms
  • Linen storage closets
  • Large private patios and balconies
  • New flooring
  • Spacious upgraded apartment

Location

2500 Soquel Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95065, USA
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Contact

Management

Emerald Bay Apartments

Leasing office

(831) 475-4606

Property Overview

Emerald Bay Apartments earns a strong overall impression with an 8.6 Zumper expert rating, reflecting excellent value, standout amenities, and a convenient location. It features completely remodeled interiors, large bedrooms, new flooring, spacious upgraded apartments, and large private patios and balconies, along with linen storage closets and 13 photos for a helpful preview.

This summary uses Zumper’s proprietary data. “Zumper Expert Ratings,” “Things you’ll love,” and “Great for” are based on our internal analyses of market trends and renter insights.

Zumper Expert Rating

8.5
Very Good
With a solid 8.5 out of 10 overall, Emerald Bay Apartments is a great option for renters. While some aspects, like Quality, might not be as distinguished as other properties nearby, Emerald Bay Apartments has a number of attractive features—namely its Price— so you can be assured your rent will come with a high standard of living.

Things you’ll love

  • Elementary school nearby
  • High school nearby
  • Middle school nearby

Great for

  • Social life

Floor plans

3BR/1.5BA3 bed1.5 bath1,050 sqft$3,933 /mo1 unit availableSpacious, desirable three-bedroom, one and one half-bathroom upgraded apartment available for rent in Santa Cruz. Income restrictions apply. See office for details. Large, private patios and balconies. Abundant natural light throughout. Completely remodeled with beautiful cabinetry, new flooring and modern kitchen and bathrooms. Large bedrooms with linen storage closets.

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Amenities for Emerald Bay Apartments

Apartment Amenities

Hot Water

Appliances

Refrigerator

Building

Controlled AccessOnsite Laundry
Water/Sewer

Grounds

Basketball CourtsOutdoor Space
Smoke Free Community

Services

24 Hour Emergency MaintenanceTrash Removal
Units, floor plans, amenities, dimensions, details, availability, and prices may be approximate and subject to change. Please contact a community representative for more information.

Policies and fees

Applicants

Applicants

One-time.

Contact Property

REQUIRED FEES

Security Deposit

One-time. Refundable.

Contact Property

Dog Policy

Not allowed

Cat Policy

Not allowed

No pets allowed.

Questions about this property’s policies and fees?

Building details

Property details

Units3

About Emerald Bay Apartments

HomeApartments in Santa Cruz Emerald Bay Apartments

Spacious, desirable three-bedroom, one and one half-bathroom upgraded apartment available for rent in Santa Cruz. Income restrictions apply. See office for details. Large, private patios and balconies. Abundant natural light throughout. Completely remodeled with beautiful cabinetry, new flooring and modern kitchen and bathrooms. Large bedrooms with linen storage closets.


Zumper Expert Rating

Our expert rating is based on a weighted average score of property attributes that renters care about most: price, amenities, location, quality, and trust.
8.5
/10
Very Good
With a solid 8.5 out of 10 overall, Emerald Bay Apartments is a great option for renters. While some aspects, like Quality, might not be as distinguished as other properties nearby, Emerald Bay Apartments has a number of attractive features—namely its Price— so you can be assured your rent will come with a high standard of living.
How we rated Emerald Bay Apartments
Price·10A score that weighs the cost and location of the property, which we calculate by comparing rent prices of recent units to the median price of nearby rentals, adjusting for overall quality and features.
Emerald Bay Apartments offers an excellent balance between price and value. It's priced competitively for its amenities, location, and other key features. Compared to the median price per bedroom in the area, this property is less than, or about the same as, nearby rentals, so residents can expect great value without too many compromises on their desired standard of living.
Amenities·9A score based on the amenities offered at this property compared to other rentals in the area. We consider the quantity, quality, and popularity of features both on site and within the units.
Emerald Bay Apartments goes above and beyond to provide sought-after conveniences and desirable perks, including 24 hour emergency maintenance. Renters looking for popular or luxurious features will find them here—and for that reason, Emerald Bay Apartments receives one of the highest amenities scores.
Location·9A score based on proximity and ease of access to shops, restaurants, schools, and public transportation while considering the desirability of the area.
Emerald Bay Apartments is exceptional when it comes to location and conveniences. Communication with management or leasing staff is usually quick and easy and they often use advanced scheduling and communication tools to streamline the process. The location of this property offers easy access to popular points of interest in the area and options for getting around.
Quality·6A score based on what makes the property stand out, such as luxury features, unique offerings, age of the building, and our ability to verify the accuracy of these details.
While Emerald Bay Apartments does not have many hallmark characteristics to highlight, it has some qualities and features that will resonate with a broad range of renters.
Trustworthiness·7A score based on the accuracy, completeness, recency, and usefulness of the information provided by this property, so you can trust that what you see is what you get.
Emerald Bay Apartments provides some information about the features available in the community and its apartments, making it a reliable option for prospective renters. Renters should ask additional questions about amenities and non-negotiable items they are looking for.

Reviews from the web

Showing 8 highest rated

I like living here,is close to several stores

Francisco Alcantar

Francisco Alcantar

Oct 21, 2024

The "Villa" has changed so much it's well kept and a nice place to visit and chill.

Tina Jaquez

Tina Jaquez

Jul 02, 2019

We’re sharing just 8 of many, sorted highest to lowest. Visit the Google business profile to view all reviews.

Emerald Bay Apartments is great for:

Social life

  • Areas nearby are accessible by walking
  • 264 mixed-use spaces nearby
  • Diverse age groups live in this area
  • 86 restaurants within 1 mile of this property

Property highlights

We compared every listing in the surrounding area to determine which amenities are most common. If a building lacks an amenity that most others in the area have, it is a con. If a building has an amenity most others in the area do not, it is a pro. Similarly, price, schools, and size are calculated relative to the size, price, and distance to schools of the other properties nearby.

How Emerald Bay Apartments compares to other nearby properties.

Positives

Elementary school nearby
There is an elementary school 0.8 miles away
High school nearby
There is a high school 1.0 miles away
Middle school nearby
There is a middle school 1.6 miles away
Eco-friendly trash disposal
This property has recycling pickup
Images Available
There are at least 10 photos of this property

Considerations

Distance from grocery stores
The nearest grocery store is 4.4 miles away
Distance from transit
More than 2.0 miles from public transportation
No in-unit dishwasher
Dishwashers aren't available

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Rent trends in Santa Cruz

3-bedroom apartments at Emerald Bay Apartments cost about 14% less than the average rent price for 3-bedroom apartments in Santa Cruz.

Median rents as of Nov 7 2026.
Santa Cruz
A table of studio rental data trends in Santa Cruz
MonthMedian Rent
November 2024$1,871
December 2024$1,772
January 2025$1,925
February 2025$2,225
March 2025$1,805
April 2025$1,848
May 2025$1,989
June 2025$1,948
July 2025$1,890
August 2025$2,147
September 2025$2,058
October 2025$1,894
November 2025$2,003
December 2025$2,143
January 2026$2,207
February 2026$2,372
March 2026$2,723
April 2026$2,880
May 2026$2,560
June 2026$2,256
July 2026$2,335
August 2026$2,342
September 2026$2,494
October 2026$2,361
November 2026$2,300

Affordability calculator

Can I afford to live at 2500 Soquel Dr?

Bedrooms

3 bedrooms

Rent-to-income ratio

30%

Slide to adjust the percentage of your monthly income you are willing to spend on rent.
The general rule of thumb is to spend around 30% or less of your income on rent.
Recommended income

$157,320/yr

With your selected rent-to-income ratio, you'd ideally want to make $157,320 annually to afford this 3-bedrooms monthly rent price of $3,933.
For more information on rent affordability, visit our rent calculator.

Schools near Emerald Bay Apartments

Soquel Elementary School

2700 porter st

soquel, CA, 95073

K-5Public
B

Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary School

8005 winkle ave

santa cruz, CA, 95065

K-5Public
B

Main Street Elementary School

3400 n main st

soquel, CA, 95073

K-5Public
A-

Happy Valley Elementary School

3125 branciforte dr

santa cruz, CA, 95065

K-6Public
A

Mountain Elementary School

3042 old san jose rd

soquel, CA, 95073

K-6Public
A
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Getting around Santa Cruz near 2500 Soquel Dr

Walking

6/10
Grab your reusable bags–many shops and stores are within walking distance.

Driving

10/10
Commuting is easy with multiple accessible routes and plenty of parking.

Cycling

7/10
Peddling isn’t a problem with cyclist-friendly streets and bikeable destinations.

Transit

4/10
There are a few mass transit options within the area.

Points of interest for 2500 Soquel Dr, Santa Cruz

Groceries

9/10
At least one grocery store within a few minutes' walk

Shopping

6/10
Variety of shops within walking distance

Cafes

5/10
Some cafés within walking distance

Restaurants

6/10
Some restaurants within walking distance

Primary schools

9/10
At least one elementary school within a 5-minute walk

High schools

3/10
No high schools within a 30-minute walk

Nightlife

2/10
Few or no bars within walking distance

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Check availability

This property is intended for those with income restrictions.
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