Santa Barbara Real Estate Home Sales Statistics – The Riviera Neighborhood Year End 2009

In 2009, there were a total of 40 closed sales of single family homes and condos in The Riviera Neighborhood here in Santa Barbara CA.  As of year end, there were 2 properties in The Riviera Neighborhood that were pending sale (under contract). The lowest sale on The Riviera was essentially a lot located at 581 Las Alturas Road, Santa Barbara CA., 93103.  The sales price was $415,000.  This was probably one of the best deals seen all year. The highest sale on The Riviera was an architecturally significant 1920's Spanish Villa... Continue Reading >

Charming Clean San Roque Cottage in Peabody School District – New Listing

Charming Clean San Roque Cottage in Peabody School District. 2936 Ventura Drive, Santa Barbara, CA., 93105. 2 bed 1 bath plus a den/tv room and a LEGAL studio/office off the back of the finished 2-car garage.  Amenities include charming living room with bay window and fireplace, breakfast nook in kitchen, indoor laundry room, French doors opening to a great sitting deck under a trellis filled with grape vines, mountain views from fenced in back yard, professionally landscaped. Studio has high ceilings, track lighting, insulated and dry walled and roughly 10X19 feet with... Continue Reading >

Santa Barbara Real Estate Home Sales Statistics – The Mesa Neighborhood Year End 2009

Year to date, there were a total of 63 closed sales of single family homes and condos in The Mesa Neighborhood here in Santa Barbara CA.  As of December 29th, 2009, there were 5 properties on The Mesa that were pending sale (under contract). The lowest sale on The Mesa was a bank owned 2 bed 2 bath condo located at 50 Barranca Avenue #6, Santa Barbara CA., 93109.  The sales price was $395,000. The highest sale on The Mesa was an ocean view home located at 1538 La Cresta Circle, Santa... Continue Reading >

Santa Barbara Real Estate Home Sales Statistics – The Upper East Neighborhood Year End 2009

Year to date, there were a total of 20 closed sales of single family homes and condos in The Upper East Neighborhood here in Santa Barbara CA.  As of December 17th, 2009, there were 6 properties in The Upper East Neighborhood that were pending sale (under contract). The lowest sale in The Upper East was a bank owned 2 bed 2 bath condo located at 1701 Anacapa Street #30, Santa Barbara CA., 93101.  The sales price was $415,000. The highest sale in The Upper East was a majestic classic Upper East home... Continue Reading >

Santa Barbara Real Estate Home Sales Statistics – San Roque Neighborhood Year End 2009

Year to date, there were a total of 65 closed sales of single family homes and condos in The San Roque Neighborhood here in Santa Barbara CA.  As of December 14th, 2009, there were 10 properties in The San Roque Neighborhood that were pending sale (under contract). The lowest sale in San Roque was a bank owned 2 bed 2 bath condo located at 2727 Miradero Drive #203, Santa Barbara, CA., 93105.  The sales price was $365,000. The highest sale in San Roque was an original 1936 Farmhouse predating the San Roque... Continue Reading >

Looking for a Santa Barbara Vacation Rental?

With the pure beauty of Santa Barbara and the year around temperate climate, our community is high on the list for many people as a vacation destination.  Besides all the wonderful hotels, small inns and B&B's, Santa Barbara also offers numerous options for vacation rentals.  These vacation rentals vary from ocean front property, to 1 bedroom condos, to numerous view homes, to simply "community living" within a "family" neighborhood. The major reason for the availability of vacation rentals seems to simply stem from the reality that much of our community is... Continue Reading >

The American Architect, George Washington Smith and His Life and Work in Santa Barbara and Montecito CA.

George Washington Smith, (February 22, 1876 – 1930), was an American architect that has an extremely prominent name and history here in Santa Barbara and Montecito CA.  Most of his noted work here is most likely for popularizing the Spanish-Colonial Revival style in early 20th Century America. George Washington Smith was born and raised in Pennsylvania.  He studied architecture at Harvard University, but reportedly never graduated due to personal reasons.  In his mid 30's after various jobs making ends meet, he started to devote himself to painting and the study of... Continue Reading >

Any Realtors Looking for New Business – Schedule a Vacation to Pick up Your Real Estate Sales!!

Want some new business?...Schedule a Vacation. This conversation topic seems to spring up here in there in our office 1-3 times per year and for many Realtors, it seems to be a constant occurrence. A quick caveat - By business I am referring here to at least new immediate lead(s) coming in and/or current client(s) becoming serious and wanting to write an offer and/or past client(s) wanting to list a home etc. As a Realtor, you are almost certain that during a 12 months cycle you are going to have a period... Continue Reading >

The Top 10 Most Expensive Beachfront Real Estate Sales in Santa Barbara, Montecito and Carpinteria CA.

Year to date, here is a list of the top 5 most expensive beachfront real estate sales for 2009 here in the Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria CA areas.  Most of the beachfront sales in the last 15 months have been at prices about 30-40% from the peaks in early 2008.  Of all the markets here in the Santa Barbara area, our luxury beach front real estate has most likely taken the hardest hit in values.  4385 Marina Drive, Santa Barbara CA., 93108.  Sold for $12,800,000.  Rising from a sun-drenched... Continue Reading >

The Top 10 Most Expensive Condo / Townhome Real Estate Sales in Santa Barbara CA in 2009

Year to date, here is a list of the top 10 most expensive condo / townhome real estate sales for 2009 here in the Santa Barbara area.  Most of the sales in the last 15 months have been at prices about 20-25% below the peak in late 2007.  4763 Sandyland Road, Carpinteria CA., 93013.  Sold for $4,000,000.  Classic Santa Barbara CA living in this beautiful, oceanfront - toes in the sand, gated 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath beach home.  Enjoy wonderful unobstructed ocean, island and mountain views, sea breezes & breaking scenery. ... Continue Reading >

Its Official: $8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit and New $6,500 Bonus Kicker Law to be Passed for 2010

The Senate this week passed an extension of the $8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit for new home buyers and added on as a "kicker" to the plan a $6,500 bonus for those who are buying a new home and have lived in their old home for 5 of the 8 previous years.  From everything that we are hearing and reading, The House of Representatives is expected to pass this new bill and the White House has also given every indication that they will sign it once they receive it. So what does... Continue Reading >

$729,750 Conforming Loan Limit for Santa Barbara CA. Extended Through 2010

As reported by the National Association of Realtors... President Obama late last week signed a congressional resolution to extend through 2010 the current conforming loan limits of $417,000 for most areas in the U.S. and $729,750 for high-cost areas, including many in California such as we have here in the Santa Barbara area. Both C.A.R. ... Continue Reading >