Santa Barbara

From wooded hills and magnificent estates to the laid back beaches, Santa Barbara’s renowned beauty is more than skin deep. Active, community-minded residents have shaped this metropolitan area into a well-rounded, multifaceted gem of a place for the discriminating person to live and work, many who are convinced they live in paradise.

Known as “The American Riviera,” the mix of so many cultures and people with world travel under their belts makes for an exciting mix of life.  Opportunities abound in Santa Barbara to enjoy a life tailored to families as well as the individual’s needs.  There is quality shopping, over 400 fine restaurants, numerous cultural activities, countless active outdoor pursuits, top educational institutions such as the University of California, and a small local airport to shoot you off to wherever you may need to go…while counting the days until you return.  Yes, the climate here is wonderful.

Early on, Santa Barbara’s soothing climate provided a prime stomping ground for the Chumash Indians.  They were followed by the Portuguese, Spaniards and Franciscans, who later left their stamp with the beautiful Mission Santa Ines in Solvang, La Purisma Mission State Historic Park in Lompoc (one of the most complete and authentic missions standing) and the Queen of the Missions, Mission Santa Barbara.  Mexico stepped in for 24 years before Colonel John Fremont crowned Santa Barbara a U.S. territory in 1846.

In the early 1900s, Santa Barbara became the film capital of the world before the motion picture industry centralized in Hollywood.  More than 1,200 movies (mostly Westerns) were made in a 10-year span and Santa Barbara became a favorite retreat for such legendary film stars as Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin.

The area soon evolved into a haven for wealthy Easterners and a hot spot for health-seekers lured by the city’s curing mineral baths.  At the turn of the century, luxury rail cars turned out the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Carnegies and Duponts, followed by an artistic swell of painters, poets and authors.

Today, Santa Barbara proper is home to some 95,000 residents and still exudes the warmth and relaxation of a small city, coupled with the major attractions of a metropolis.  Many of the buildings, homes and estates built in Santa Barbara have a Spanish-Mediterranean architecture and are located anywhere from the relaxed pristine coastline to the foothills.

Pedestrian-friendly with roughly 76 designated historic landmarks, an impressive line-up of performing arts venues, museums, galleries and restaurants, the area is an excellent vacation destination, especially from the California hubs of Los Angeles (92 miles south) and San Francisco (332 miles north).

Santa Barbara’s unique neighborhoods vary in size, topography and real estate values, all with their own unique characteristics.

Santa Barbara Real Estate values vary based on areas, but average around $500,000 to $3 million.  Spectacular view homes, estates and ocean front property start at around $1.5 million and can exceed this amount fivefold, tenfold or more…

If you are interested in real estate here in Santa Barbara, Montecito and our surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life here, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.

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Read About Individual Santa Barbara Neighborhoods and Schools:

Downtown, The Mesa, The Westside, Mission Canyon, San Roque, Samarkand,

The Riviera, The Upper East, Campanil Hill and Yankee Farm, The Oceanfront

To Continue Reading Updated Articles About Santa Barbara Scroll Down

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Hope Ranch – Santa Barbara Real Estate Market Update 1st Quarter 2013

Our 2013 Santa Barbara real estate market has started off exactly where 2012 ended...strong in pretty much every area and in most every price point.  One of our stronger areas is the Hope Ranch area, especially in the entry / lower level price point of around $1.3 to $2.75 million.  Most everything is selling right away in this price point and the reality is that most any listing that is staying on the market in this price point is simply believed... Continue Reading >

Montecito Real Estate – 93108 Zip Code Once Again Among The Richest in America at #3

High end sales are nothing new for Santa Barbara and our surrounding communities.  Within Hope Ranch, Montecito and along the coastline, we see some very exclusive high end real estate sales each and every year.  Many of these sales are topping out above the $10 million mark.  I just read a recent article by CNBC, that once again ranks Montecito and 93108 as the 3rd rated zip code in America when it comes to the number of homes that are... Continue Reading >

What Kind of Real Estate Does $1 Million and $2 Million Buy You In Santa Barbara and Montecito?

A few times a year I like to give updates on what you can expect for various price points in Santa Barbara and Montecito.  Over the last few years this has changed quite drastically as the market first went down and now has come back up at such a strong pace. Most homes today for example are worth on average about 20% more than they were just a year ago and so this leads to generally a decently different home.  In Santa Barbara, if... Continue Reading >

March 2013 – Santa Barbara Real Estate Market Statistics

Here is a summary of the latest statistics for the Santa Barbara real estate market for March 2013.  Over the last several weeks we have seen a definite increase in inventory, especially in the Goleta area.  Much of the new inventory has been in the $600,000 to $900,000 range.  Buyers are still very active and almost all the inventory is selling off within days to only a few weeks.  Prices in general still are on the climb, although it feels... Continue Reading >

Benefits of Pocket Listings Here in Santa Barbara and Montecito

What exactly is a Pocket Listing and why are they used? For various reasons, property owners will discuss with their agents the pros and cons of keeping their home for sale as a pocket listing.  Not every pocket listing is treated the same and here in Santa Barbara and Montecito it really depends on the price point and activity of the market. First...what is a pocket listing?  A "pocket listing" is a loose term given to a home that is listed with a broker... Continue Reading >

Santa Barbara Real Estate – February 2013 Sales Inventory and New Listings Report

Here are the latest February 2013 statistics for Inventory, Listings and Sales here in Santa Barbara proper. The number of new listings for February 2013 was 174, down 9.4% from the 192 listed in January, but up a little from the 165 listings in February of last year. Overall, we are still dealing with lack of inventory, although we do seem to have improved here in certain segments of the market over the last several weeks. As you look at the top graph... Continue Reading >

New Listing – Wonderful Downtown Santa Barbara Town Home

Just Listed 527 West Pueblo I am please to offer a wonderful new downtown town home located just 1 block from Cottage Hospital.  This spacious and well cared for Spanish style 3 bed, 3 bath downtown condo has an attached extra large 1 car garage with lots of built in storage, quiet and small association, high ceilings and skylights, 3 patios/decks, open kitchen.  Great location centrally located close to all that Santa Barbara downtown offers.  Easy on and off the freeway.  One bedroom... Continue Reading >

2 New Downtown Pocket Listings Available Now

I have 2 new pocket listings just signed.  Both will be going in the MLS in a few weeks (mid March), but can be shown already. The first is located at 2110 De La Vina and is a 2 bed 2.5 bath town home with an attached garage.  Smaller complex, close to downtown, good condition.  Price will be right around $575,000. The second is located 1 block from Cottage Hospital.  Very clean condition, 3 bed 3 bath, high ceilings, attached garage, laundry, nice... Continue Reading >

2012 Santa Barbara Real Estate Year in Review

A little late to be doing a recap of the 2012 real estate market here in the Santa Barbara area, but with the last 5 weeks filled with a combination of my family getting sick, being extremely busy with work and the lack of sleep because of our new little baby...that is what unfortunately happens. So what happened in 2012? In hindsight it is now very clear to see that anyone who had the foresight to buy property from around October 2011 - April 2012... Continue Reading >

Santa Barbara Real Estate Market Update January 2013

No real change from the end of last year.  As we "seemingly roll" here into 2013, the Santa Barbara real estate market continues to be very very strong with the overriding theme being the lack of inventory.  Across the bulk (heart) of our market from $300,000 to $2,000,000, the lack of inventory is keeping prices strong and rising and buyers very ready as they know they have to sometimes write offers in as little as 1-3 days of a new listing coming... Continue Reading >

Santa Barbara Real Estate Market Update for November 2012

Here are the latest statistical numbers for monthly inventory of Santa Barbara properties for sale, combined with new listings and closed sales.  The constant is simply that new listings are down and our inventory continues to lag behind the demand of buyers.  Even as we now approach the X-mas holidays, there are numerous buyers out there looking and waiting.  After roughly 5 years of the Santa Barbara real estate market being a predominantly buyers market, we have completely switched here in... Continue Reading >

Santa Barbara Ranked As One of Best Housing Markets For the Next 5 Years by Business Insider

This last week, Business Insider published and article (by Mamta Badker) ranking the 15 best housing markets for the coming 5 years.  Just as I have been pointing out with statistics over the last 5 months here in Santa Barbara, our market is strong.  Here below is a quick excerpt from the article that puts Santa Barbara 5th best on the list of 15 real estate markets. "National home prices are expected to climb 0.3 percent in the next year, according to... Continue Reading >