Random Thoughts & Opinions

Jan 31st	Is Your Santa Barbara Dream Home Also a Green Home?
2012	Categories: Green Housing & Living, Random Thoughts & Opinions

I read a recent real estate survey the other week done by Yahoo that clearly showed that owning a home is still a major part of the "American Dream".  4 out of 5 surveyed said yes to this reality. One of the major differences these days though is that the so-called "American Dream Home" is not a super-sized McMansion...but instead a "Green Home".   Green, energy-efficient homes built with “sustainable” materials, that yield a lower carbon footprint and give the owner a cleaner conscience is what is driving the dream home. Often people who can not build or buy their desired dream home turn to the... Read more

Tags: santa barbara dream home, santa barbara energy efficient home, santa barbara green home

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Nov 6th	2 Quick Strategies For Pricing Your Goleta and Carpinteria Home To Sell!!
2011	Categories: Carpinteria, Goleta, Random Thoughts & Opinions, Seller's Resources & Advice

Over the last 2 years in the Goleta and Carpinteria areas, a good amount of the real estate listings on the market have been either short sale or bank owned properties.  Because of this, prices have continued to slowly drop since the peak in early 2007. These days you can get a "good" family home in both areas for somewhere around the $500,000 to $700,000 price point.  This is in stark comparison to 2006 when most of these homes were selling in the $875,000 to $1,050,000 range.  If you are a seller of a non distressed home, you have added pressure... Read more

Tags: carpinteria home prices, carpinteria real estate, goleta home prices, goleta real estate prices, seller strategies santa barbara, selling strategies santa barbara

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Oct 10th	Very Nice Referral from Recent Client – Santa Barbara Real Estate, The Mesa
2011	Categories: Random Thoughts & Opinions, Santa Barbara, The Mesa Neighborhood

To whom it may concern : "I, Robert Hay, wish to acknowledge the excellent service I received from Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby's Realty.  I have lived in either Montecito or Santa Barbara since 1954 and my family has or has had deep ties in businesses and in charities throughout the town.  I wanted to sell my beautiful house at 104 Vista Del Mar Drive and after giving it a good try in the summer, and fall of 2010 I took it off the market.  I remember years past how Kevin would send me updates on The Mesa real estate and he... Read more

Tags: santa barbara real estate agent, santa barbara realtor, santa barbara referral

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Oct 5th	What Seller Incentives Entice Buyers the Most in Today’s Real Estate Market?
2011	Categories: Random Thoughts & Opinions, Santa Barbara, Seller's Resources & Advice

In today’s real estate market here in the Santa Barbara area, sellers can find themselves in a serious situation with no offers in site from buyers.  If you’re trying to sell your home, are confident in your realtor and you have priced your home very well, but still find your home struggling to get offers...adding Buyer Incentives might prove to be a road to success. Buyer incentives are simply perks that you as a seller can offer to an eventual buyer.  These incentives that end up having the most power to get your home sold tend to be money related perks that actually fill a real need for the average home buyer.  Here... Read more

Tags: buyer incentives perks real estate santa barbara, seller incentives real estate

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Sep 1st	New Testimonial From a Wonderful Client Here in Santa Barbara CA.
2011	Categories: Random Thoughts & Opinions

I just received the following wonderful testimonial from a client of mine...thank you very much for this. Kevin is a great realtor and person. I would recommend him to anyone interested in buying or selling a home in the Santa Barbara area. In 2010, he helped us find and buy our dream house here in Santa Barbara -- before it went on the market. Without his creative thinking, knowledge of the Santa Barbara community, and connections, we would never have been able to find and buy this house. He knows the Santa Barbara area and its real estate market through and... Read more

Tags: santa barbara real estate testimonial

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Aug 6th	Are Home Inspectors Necessary and How Do You Choose One?
2011	Categories: Buyer's Resources & Advice, Random Thoughts & Opinions

Are Home Inspectors Necessary? This is a "no brainer" to me and to most anyone that I have dealt with who knows anything about real estate.  Unless you yourself feel that you are an incredibly knowledgeable person about all the ins and outs of a home, then I would recommend a home inspector.  Even if you are personally this capable, it would be smart to have a second pair of eye balls looking at one of (if not the biggest) the largest investments you will ever make. How Do You Choose an Inspector? When researching information on whom to choose to do a... Read more

Tags: santa barbara home inspection, santa barbara home inspector, santa barbara request for repairs

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Jul 16th	Is San Roque a Better Place to Live than The Mesa Neighborhood?
2011	Categories: Random Thoughts & Opinions, San Roque Neighborhood, The Mesa Neighborhood

What area would you choose in Santa Barbara...San Roque or the Mesa? I pose this question simply because I seem to be asked this a few times a month.  I think the obvious reason of this is that both areas are considered by most wonderful "neighborhood areas".  Additionally, much of the real estate values also seem to align with each other...so obviously buyers are looking in both areas.  The average single family home in both areas tends to fall somewhere in the $750,000 to $1.3 million price point. For many, the decision comes down to schools, proximity of the ocean vs. the... Read more

Tags: san roque santa barbara, santa barbara neighborhoods, the mesa santa barbara

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May 31st	What are Typical Items on Request for Repairs in Santa Barbara Real Estate Transactions?
2011	Categories: Buyer's Resources & Advice, Random Thoughts & Opinions

What is a normal Request for Repairs with regards to real estate in Santa Barbara CA? I have been presented this question a few times in the last month (many many times over the last 10 years), so I thought I would give a basic outline of the general thoughts on this. At the start of escrow here in Santa Barbara CA, the buyer normally has anywhere from 14-17 days to complete one of the 2 major contingencies.  This contingency being their physical inspections and investigations (the other main contingency being the loan/appraisal).  During these first 17 days the "standard" is to... Read more

Tags: request for repair items real estate santa barbara, request for repairs santa barbara

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Mar 24th	Are You an Expert Real Estate Agent in Santa Barbara? Know Your Community!!
2011	Categories: Buyer's Resources & Advice, Random Thoughts & Opinions, Seller's Resources & Advice

Be a True Real Estate Expert! When looking for a great real estate agent, most buyers and sellers are not looking for someone to simply guide them through the A to Z process of paper work when it comes to real estate.  This is in fact simply a given...but buyers and sellers (especially out of town buyers and sellers) are mostly looking to their agent as a knowledge source of the local schools, the local cultural scene, the "good and great" neighborhoods, information on local events, news and attractions...basically someone who knows Santa Barbara inside out.  At least that is my... Read more

Tags: santa barbara community, santa barbara real estate, santa barbara real estate agent

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Mar 10th	How Difficult Is It To Get A Loan These Days To Buy A Home? It Depends…Really
2011	Categories: Buyer's Resources & Advice, Random Thoughts & Opinions

So where are we with lending these days?  The answer to this question is obviously now a huge part of real estate and has become for many the provincial thorn in the side with regards to a real estate transaction.  We all read plenty of stories online, in the newspapers and magazines and hear our fair share of first hand accounts about the realities of lending these days.  So here are my 2 cents based on personal experience with clients and stories of other agents and their clients in the last 6 months. The Conforming Loan up to $729,000 For the most... Read more

Tags: santa barbara loans, santa barbara real estate loans

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Jan 25th	Miramar Hotel Project Update for January 2011, Montecito CA.
2011	Categories: Montecito, Random Thoughts & Opinions

So what is happening with the Miramar Hotel?  Disrepair now for more than a decade...any plans?  I hear these questions here and there and with each update there seems to be some sign of life for the project. The current owner of the project, Rick Caruso has recently submitted a revised plan that will hopefully appease everyone.  Certain parts of the project have been scrapped such as the ballroom while other part have been moved to other areas of the site.  The current project also call for a reduction in total rooms from 192 to 186 with more lush landscaping. Early this... Read more

Tags: miramar hotel montecito

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Jan 11th	Sotheby’s Int’l Realty Santa Barbara CA #1 in Sales Volume for 2010
2011	Categories: Market Statistics / Updates, Random Thoughts & Opinions

As everyone knows, the real estate market has been tough for everyone from every angle for the last 2-3 years.  Here in Santa Barbara it is no different for both home owners as well as the many agents themselves that are struggling with their business. Even with all the negative news and events, I am proud to be a part of Sotheby's Int'l Real Estate here in Santa Barbara that has managed to have a pretty stellar year and ranks overall #1.  Total sales volume for 2010 was $824 Million, the only company to crest the $800 Million mark.  As a... Read more

Tags: #1 real estate santa barbara, santa barbara #1 in sales, santa barbara sotheby's #1

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