As we begin to slow the ride on this incredible rollercoaster of a year, it is important to consider all that has changed in the past 11-plus months. The pandemic, the political and social climate of uncertainty, the business and day-to-day implications of these circumstances that make it feel like a lifetime of adjustment all […]
When people think of Montecito, they usually envision mountain and ocean views, homes of substantial size with lovely landscaping, privacy – and a swimming pool. While not everyone wants a pool, it is rare to find a buyer who will turn away from a home just because it has a pool. For most buyers, a […]
When people from around the world think of Montecito, many conjure up images of hilltop homes and sprawling estates, the Four Seasons Biltmore, Butterfly Beach, San Ysidro Ranch, and the new Rosewood Resort at Miramar Beach. Yes, Montecito is all of that and more. By more I mean, that one has more options than just […]
Judging by the home buying activity in the last few months, we can easily conclude that Montecito is “The place to be.” Since the terrible home sales in April and May brought on by strict lockdown measures, Montecito has experienced the highest number of sales per month that most real estate agents can ever remember. […]
Hello and welcome to a busy Montecito summer season. In the past four months, the number of closed escrows is more than double what we would typically see. Between July 19 and August 29, for example, whereas 16 homes traded hands last year during the same timeframe, this year we saw 39 completed home sales. […]
It has been an incredible past two-plus months in the Montecito real estate market, to say the least. Sales are up and still climbing. Not since perhaps 2002-2006 have agents seen this kind of buyer activity, in all price ranges. Sales have been solid in Summerland, Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, and Goleta as well this summer, […]
The months of May and June, and now into July 2020, are proving to be the most active real estate months that many can remember in Montecito during the past 15+/- years. Whether it be Boomers flexing their buying muscle and finally committing to a place in Montecito, perhaps Ellen’s celebrity friends, the Bay Area […]
To say it has been an active spring in the Montecito Real Estate market would be an understatement. Without even taking into considering the recent, national challenges, and even when comparing to most 45+/- day periods, regardless of market conditions in recent years, it has been a good six weeks in the Montecito Real Estate […]
It was a good May in terms of home sales in Montecito and the greater 93108. In fact, some agents are even saying the market is basically on fire and in most price ranges. Indeed, we have had a few of the usual under-two-million-dollar sales, as well as a few in the $3-$5-million range as […]
I hope everyone is staying safe and enjoying “at-home time” as much as is possible. Perhaps by the time this article is out on the streets, there will be more people out and about. In the meantime, regardless of being somewhat back to normal or not, we are all spending more time at home and […]
While there are many listings from “pre-stay-at-home order” days, and there are some few new listings on the market, I thought it might be a good time to focus on what has been selling here in Montecito since the stay at home order fell into place. Of course, many of the sales between March 15 […]
The homes that comprise the Montecito Real Estate market offer great diversity in terms of style, price and amenities, as well as the varied topography and neighborhoods this lovely area offers to homeowners. From a canyon side home to a level lot in a private setting, a hill top view home, a historic property resting […]
2018 and 2019 saw solid years for sales in the $10,000,000+ range. In 2019 there were 10 homes that sold over $10,000,000 in the Montecito, 93108 zip code, and 14 over $10,000,000 if you include homes sold in the Padaro Lane area. In 2018 there were seven sales in Montecito over the $10,000,000 price point. […]
As we move further into the New Year, we are seeing new homes come on the market, as well as listings that had expired at the end of last year and are coming back on. Inventory is generally low right now, but not far off averages for past years overall. Additionally, many of the homes […]
When a seller lists their home for sale the most important question that must be answered is, at what price to offer the property. While some go with a flat number, say five or eight million, most agents and sellers might offer a home for just a bit less, perhaps to entice, to catch people […]
Whether one moves to Montecito for the weather, the beaches, or the Santa Barbara lifestyle, one thing we as Realtors know is that most buyers, if they can afford it, either must have, want, or would like to have an ocean view. When suggesting a home a client might like, the question that follows is […]
One price range I constantly find to deliver a high value for the price paid is the 4-to-5-million-dollar range. This week, four listings in the $4,200,000 range caught my eye as seeming to offer a lot of value for the current asking price. These four listings have all had recent price reductions, bringing them into […]
Housing trends change with some regularity, although perhaps not as frequently as fashion trends change. Housing style trends can take longer to shift as changing the style or look of a home is a very costly undertaking. Maybe that is why we tend to refer to housing styles in terms of eras, other than type […]
Over time, or sometimes when a new listing hits, a specific listing or a smaller group of properties can stand out as what agents might collectively see as good buys or, Best Buys. This is not a term meant to imply that a property for sale is necessarily “cheap,” but perhaps by my definition, it […]
In the past half dozen or so articles we have worked our way across Montecito, looking at different neighborhoods and homes for sale within these pockets. We have covered areas such as western Montecito’s edge on the border with Santa Barbara, the Cold Spring School area, the now-open-again, San Ysidro Ranch and Montecito Union School […]
In our continuing look at the various neighborhoods around Montecito we have recently taken a look at western Montecito, homes in the Cold Spring School District, estates near the San Ysidro Ranch and beach area homes. Now let’s direct attention to homes just a mile or two from the upper village in Montecito, all within […]
Nothing says summer like a day at the beach and no beaches that I know of are more cherished by residents and visitors alike than the beaches of Montecito: Butterfly Beach with the Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel and Miramar Beach with the newly opened Rosewood Resort at Miramar Beach. The beach area in Montecito can […]
If you do not live in Montecito, or if you are not a repeat visitor of the San Ysidro Ranch, then you might not know how big a deal it is that the San Ysidro Ranch has re-opened for business (after being closed for over a year for repairs to some structures following the debris […]
Just inside the western edge of Montecito is an area commonly referred to as the Cold Spring School District (CCSD). This area reaches from the hills around Coyote Road and West-East Mountain Drive, down through neighborhoods including the streets around Westmont College, the estates at Riven Rock, homes on Pepper Hill, Sycamore Canyon and Cold […]
Montecito may be a small town by population standards, but it is not without diversity of landscape, view options, a variety of home sizes, styles, prices, and more. From a mansion on a promontory overlooking everything, to sitting just two miles away, on the patio of an 800 sq ft beachfront home, there are many […]
There are many homes for sale right now in Montecito that very probably could not be replaced for the price sellers are asking. This means that existing homes are in some cases less expensive than if one were to buy the land and build. Additionally, some homes are historic in nature so you literally can’t […]
Well everyone, the wait is over. After one of the fastest construction periods I’ve ever seen (to offset the 12 years of planning and approvals) the new Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort is here, and it’s impressive. The grounds at the new Miramar resort are vast and open, the pools are well positioned on the property […]
There are two categories of real estate offerings that grab the most attention from agents and buyers alike, and these are new and/or reduced in price listings. When a property hits the market, everyone wants to see inside, judge the value, make an offer or wait and see… When a property has been sitting for […]
While available housing inventory in Montecito may be lower these days (about 120 homes and condos currently on the market; in years past that number would be 150 or more in a January), there are still options of styles and conditions of homes in every price range. Each day I find it is interesting to […]
It may be difficult to imagine being able to own real estate in an internationally famous town such as Montecito for under a million dollars, but it is indeed very possible. From a studio condo near the beach and Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel, to a two-story townhouse or an ocean view, single level two-bedroom condo, […]
If there was a question about whether home sales have been slowing in Montecito in recent months (and other higher end areas around the country), then the dismal five escrows that closed in November and the only one home so far through December 9, together make quite a statement. Additionally, very few Montecito properties went […]
We have seen slower sales (only five closed escrows in Montecito during the first three weeks in November), and fewer new listings. Whether this is seasonal or an overall slowing market trend in higher end communities only time will tell. For now, we are happy to see prices staying strong overall, regardless of the number […]
One can find a home with a guest unit in Montecito for less than those featured here, but the focus with this group of homes is to ferret out estate-level properties with substantial homes (more than 5,000 sq ft), along with other amenities such as a swimming pool or tennis court, privacy, and most specific […]
For those in search of an estate-level home that boasts ocean views and increased acreage, the area at the eastern border of Montecito can offer a lot of both for the money. From a close-to-town, 270-degree ocean view contemporary home on nearly two acres, to an 80+ acre working ranch with pool and tennis court, […]
This is a good time to be looking for an upper-price range home in Montecito, as there are many well-priced properties available in the $4.5-to-$15 million range on the market. Some “done” homes for sale are the result of a developer’s remodel, and others were on the market a while ago and are being reintroduced, […]
It often surprises people when I tell them they can purchase a single-family home, on a good-sized lot, with amenities and upside potential, for under (and often well under) $2,000,000 in Montecito. In this price range, one is not likely to find a home with big ocean views or a done home on a large […]
We are regularly made aware of the damages done to homes and property, and the lost income to local businesses caused by this past winter’s dual episodes. There is one institution that has had a lot of both of these issues to contend with: the San Ysidro Ranch. This storied institution is the prize and […]
When one thinks of Montecito, images of the ocean, palm trees, Spanish-style architecture, San Ysidro Ranch cottages, and more come to mind. It is one thing to be able to live here, in such a special, small yet internationally recognized community, but it is another thing altogether to have a career that allows access to […]
The Montecito Real Estate market has done well during the past six months, considering what it, and the residents of Montecito went through, what with the fires and the debris flow and the resulting damage and insurance questions, not to mention the countless personal tragedies that occurred during those few hours on January 9. While […]
It is one thing to be fortunate enough to own an ocean-view home in the Montecito area. It is another thing altogether to own a 9+/- acre hilltop, with three substantial homes, three guest apartments/houses, three pools, three spas, parking for dozens of cars, and control of the entire end of this important lane in […]