Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice
| May 19th |
Do Open Houses Work in the Santa Barbara and Montecito Areas? |
|
2008
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Categories: Seller's Resources & Advice |
As a real estate agent here in the Santa Barbara and Montecito area, it is almost impossible to sell a home unless you get people in to first see the home. With this said, one of the main first questions a Realtor is asked upon listing a home for sale is...how will their property be shown.
That begs the question: Are open houses a big selling tool?
Answer: No/Not really/ Barely/It can be...
Most likely you will get some version of this answer from a seasoned real estate agent. The problem for many agents is that the majority of home...
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| Feb 25th |
California State and Regional Home Sales and Price Information for 2007 |
|
2008
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Categories: Market Statistics / Updates |
The C.A.R. (California Association of Realtor) today reported a snapshot of their statistical information for homes sales here in California for 2007. From what I understand, most of this information is collected from a group of around 90 Realtor Associations statewide.
Further Reading about Market Statistics and Updates for the Santa Barbara Area
For information on Real Estate here in Santa Barbara, Montecito and/or our surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in our area, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.
Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please...
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| Feb 22nd |
How Green is Your Santa Barbara Home…and Realtor? |
|
2008
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Categories: Green Housing & Living |
As the Santa Barbara real estate market has slowed in the last 18 months, it makes sense that some Realtors are trying to stand out with niche marketing efforts. One of these niches seems to be Realtors marketing themselves as eco-friendly and green. While I am 100% supportive for anyone with an eye on environmentally conscious action (real estate or otherwise), make sure your Realtor is not using "basic green talk" as cursory knowledge of green building simply as a marketing ploy in a tougher market.
Again, I loudly applaud any Realtor that is going out of their way to learn about solar, energy-efficient appliances, geo-thermal pumps,...
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| Feb 18th |
Plan for your Santa Barbara Remodel Now, so that you don’t go Crazy Later |
|
2008
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Categories: Buyer's Resources & Advice, Seller's Resources & Advice |
Many of us have heard our share of drama stories and even read articles about the drama involved with many Santa Barbara home remodels. Whether it is a simple kitchen make-over or a complete addition to your Santa Barbara home, here is a quick planning strategy to hopefully save you wasted time, energy and money.
Start with a wish list, even if this will have to be dwindled down in the future. This is surely one of the most fun activities in the entire remodelling process, so have a great time and get creative. Keep all of your notes, drawings and cut-outs...
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| Feb 13th |
Potential Negatives to Buying Santa Barbara Homes in Foreclosure |
|
2008
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Categories: Buyer's Resources & Advice, Foreclosures & Bank Owned |
Most buyers that get lured to looking only at Santa Barbara homes in foreclosure are often thinking about a cute cottage with a white picket fence, priced well below market price, located in a good neighborhood, needing simply a little work because the unfortunate owner has fallen on hard times. Although this is a rosy picture for the investor or first-time buyer (not for the owner), the reality is often very different.
Condition of Foreclosed Homes
I have read article upon article about foreclosures the last several months as well as spent several days looking at homes in foreclosure that are on the market...
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| Feb 5th |
Any Great Deals on Homes in Foreclosure in Santa Barbara? |
|
2008
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Categories: Buyer's Resources & Advice, Foreclosures & Bank Owned, Santa Barbara |
This seems to be a common question I get here lately in Santa Barbara and Montecito, mainly from first-time home buyers and investors. Like many things in life though, it simply depends.
The common myth out there seems to universally be that homes in foreclosure must be the best opportunities to buy a cheaper home or get a "great deal". Here is the big problem with this line of thought, at least in a town such as Santa Barbara or Montecito.
First, when you see statistics in the newspapers or online about foreclosures in the Santa Barbara area, it almost always refers to...
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| Jan 30th |
Trust Me, Don’t Worry – Santa Barbara Real Estate Predictions for 2008 |
|
2008
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Categories: Buyer's Resources & Advice |
One rule you should learn as a Realtor is to never say, Trust Me Don't Worry. Well, I guess I am breaking this rule (partly at least) and giving you one prediction for Santa Barbara Real Estate in 2008.
The part of the rule I am breaking is the Trust Me part, so here it goes.
Trust Me, there are already many investors in 2008 poking around that recognize that a buyer's market in Santa Barbara is an excellent time to purchase real estate.
The Santa Barbara real estate market is very unique for many reasons, some of them basic economics with demand for...
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Kevin Schmidtchen
Realtor - Sotheby's International Realty
1436 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone # 805-689-6877
[email protected]
Categories
- Luxury Real Estate
- The Oceanfront Areas
- Market Statistics / Updates
- Foreclosures & Bank Owned
- Short Sales
- Seller's Resources & Advice
- Buyer's Resources & Advice
- Foreign Buyers & Sellers
- Random Thoughts & Opinions
- School News & Information
- Santa Barbara Local / Things to Do
- Green Housing & Living
- Montecito
- Hope Ranch
- Summerland
- Goleta
- Carpinteria
- The Santa Ynez Valley
- Santa Barbara
- Downtown Neighborhood
- Samarkand Neighborhood
- San Roque Neighborhood
- The Mesa Neighborhood
- The Riviera Neighborhood
- The Upper East Neighborhood
- Campanil Hill Neighborhood
- Mission Canyon Neighborhood
- The Westside Neighborhood
