Random Thoughts & Opinions

3 Very Nice Recent Real Estate Testimonials From Clients Here in Santa Barbara, Montecito and Summerland

To Whom it may Concern I have known Kevin Schmidtchen since our days at Santa Barbara High School (Class of 88).  He is an exemplary human being, world class athlete, of highest ethical and moral standard, and I am honored to call him a friend. It is no surprise to me that Kevin has become a premier Real Estate guru in the Santa Barbara County.  With his attention to detail, his honorable status among his peers and community, his great negotiating skills, and his knowledge of our ever changing market…Kevin is the... Continue Reading >

More Statistics Confirming That The Santa Barbara Real Estate Market is Very Very Strong!

Here are some recent statistics about how strong the real estate market has become here in Southern California and especially in the Santa Barbara area. The number of sales in Southern California is up 9% from July and 14.2% from the same month last year! The median sales price is up 10.8% from last year! This is the 6th consecutive month that the year-over-year median price has risen AND it’s up 27% from the low in 4/09! Foreclosures are now at their lowest percentage of the market since 1/09! Most importantly for us here locally in Santa Barbara...all... Continue Reading >

Santa Barbara Area Tops in Hot Real Estate Market

Here is a great article from Inman News about the very strong California real estate market overall... and especially here in Santa Barbara.  This is pretty much in line with what I have been writing about the last 6 months and what we are experiencing. Editor's note: Data from Realtor.com's June 2012 Real Estate Trend Data Report. The report analyzes data for 146 U.S. metros and includes single-family homes, condos, townhomes and co-ops. Three California metros -- Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, San Francisco and Oakland -- shot to the top five of metros with... Continue Reading >

Santa Barbara Real Estate Seriously Rebounding – Recent Forbes.com article

Here is a new article just published this last week online at forbes.com by Ken Harney. "It’s probably no surprise that roller-coaster real estate markets like Phoenix and Miami are in roaring rebound mode this year, but Santa Barbara? Who knew? Sometimes called the “American Riviera” for its red tile-roofed estates overlooking the Pacific, year-round great climate, active cultural life and its movie star residents, Santa Barbara took a significant though little publicized hit during the real estate bust, with median home list prices plunging from $1,667,500 in September 2007 to $649,000... Continue Reading >

A Few Popular Expensive Home Remodels That Will Not Pay You Back When You Sell Your Home

Are looking to do a few nice upgrades on your home, but potentially plan to sell in the coming few years?  If so, pay attention to how much and where you invest your $$.  Don't get bitten by the magic phrase..."We'll for sure get it back when we sell." Many studies come out each year in various publications about good and bad remodels, what percentage you might get back from dollars invested etc.  These also vary depending on what part of the country you live in. Below are a list of several improvements ranked by Remodeling... Continue Reading >

Santa Barbara Real Estate – What is the Early Pulse of The 2012 Real Estate Market?

Often as a Realtor I am asked...for obvious reasons: Where is the real estate market these days? How is the real estate market these days? Are homes selling fast, slow etc.? Basically all of these questions mean "What is happening in Real Estate right now?" Across the board from the lower starting end at around $200,000 to $600,000, to the middle of the market from $700,000 to $1.5 million all the way to the luxury high end of $5 million and above, homes are selling. In the lower end from around $200,000 to $600,000, most all... Continue Reading >

Is Your Santa Barbara Dream Home Also a Green Home?

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... Continue Reading >

2 Quick Strategies For Pricing Your Goleta and Carpinteria Home To Sell!!

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... Continue Reading >

Very Nice Referral from Recent Client – Santa Barbara Real Estate, The Mesa

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... Continue Reading >

What Seller Incentives Entice Buyers the Most in Today’s Real Estate Market?

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... Continue Reading >

New Testimonial From a Wonderful Client Here in Santa Barbara CA.

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... Continue Reading >

Are Home Inspectors Necessary and How Do You Choose One?

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... Continue Reading >