Serene Setting

Rarely available 3 bdrm townhouse in a serene woodsy setting with filtered mountain views! The kitchen and baths have been remodeled with stunning tile work. The living room features cathedral ceilings and a fireplace. The dining room and kitchen both open to an outdoor patio perfect for dining al fresco! The master bedroom is huge and has a walk-in closet and an expansive private balcony to enjoy the peaceful setting. There is even an attached 2 car garage! This wonderful townhouse is located 5 minutes from the beach and shops and restaurants in beautiful Santa Barbara. This is your chance to own Santa Barbara real estate – priced at just $499,000!

A Taste of Provence in Montecito!

A quaint gated approach welcomes you to an enchanting pied de terre where you will find the perfect blend of old world character and today’s modern amenities. The front courtyard is blooming with colorful flowers and lined with attractive flagstone pavers.  A dutch door greets you at the foyer as you enter this charming abode for sale in Montecito. Warm white washed floors & crown moldings grace the main level. The multi-function living/dining room boasts wonderful mountain views and an inviting nook that is perfect for a home office area. An abundance of light flows through the newly installed French doors which allow for easy access to the delightful courtyard. The efficient kitchen is fully equipped with newer appliances & stunning granite counter tops and ready for creating gourmet meals. Also located on the first floor is the master bedroom complete with  custom shelving in the closet, bath with soaking tub & shower, and its own private patio – a lovely spot to have your morning coffee and start the day.The second floor “loft style” bedroom is a special space with vaulted ceilings, dormered windows, built-in bookcases, a cozy reading alcove, and awe-inspiring mountain views. This charming retreat is located in the heart of Montecito near the picturesque Upper Village (with its wonderful shops and restaurants), the reknowned San Ysidro Ranch, and less than 2 miles to the Montecito Oceanfront! Makes a great Montecito vacation get away or a wonderful full time residence. 1 of only 2 units! This Montecito charmer is for sale at $875,000.  Call 805-560-9951 for an appointment to view this or any other Montecito property!

Bel Air Knolls Sunset

Spacious Santa Barbara home for sale  in the coveted Bel Air Knolls neighborhood – ideally located near downtown Santa Barbara and less than 2 miles to the Santa Barbara oceanfront where Hendry’s Beach and a wonderful beachfront restaurant await you!  Colorful semi-tropical landscaping greets you at the front of this stunning home. The interior entry has beautiful wood floors in a herringbone pattern and flows to a cozy sitting area overlooking the impressive living/dining room. Soaring ceilings and an abundance of windows frame the picturesque views. This stylish light and bright home features an expansive deck which can be accessed from either the dining room or the kitchen. It is a great place to enjoy the Santa Barbara sunset views with plenty of room for entertaining. The sun-lit kitchen has a large island with cook top, cabinets galore, a walk-in pantry, and an eat-in area for casual meals. There is also easy access to the deck from the kitchen for dining al fresco – as Santa Barbara’s mild climate welcomes this year round. The spacious master suite features a romantic fireplace surrounded by bookcases and high vaulted ceilings. The adjoining master bath has a spa tub, separate shower and lots of room with double sinks.  The master also has a walk-in closet and a deck of exotic mahogany – great to escape for a little quiet time. There are 2 additional large bedrooms with full baths and a den or home office. The lower level bedroom has treetop views and its own private deck. There is lots of off street parking and a 3-car garage which serves the hobbyist well. The 1/3 acre lot boasts lots of mature & drought resistant plants including beautiful pepper,oak, and palm trees – what Santa Barbara home would be complete without palm trees?  An exceptional opportunity at $1,300,000. For more details contact Pat Saraca at 805-560-9951, Distinctive Real Estate, Santa Barbara.

Fifteen estates priced at $5,000,000 and above have closed escrow since July 1 in the Hope Ranch, Montecito, Santa Barbara areas. The most expensive one being an incredible oceanfront property in Hope Ranch. It sold at a price of $18,440,000 which was just over 35% off its original asking price and slightly over 21% off the last list price. It had been on the market for 8 months. This Mediterranean estate boasts 8 beautiful acres with its own private paved path down to the beach. There are sprawling lawns, putting greens, a pond, tennis court, pool, cabana, and guest house. View this Hope Ranch Estate. Ten of the 15 luxury home sales were in Montecito with the highest sale being a spectacular 10,000 s.f. home on 2.6 ocean view acres on prestigious East Mountain Drive selling for $13,100,000. This Montecito estate also had a guest house and pool. It had been on the market for 14 months at $15,300,000 and sold for 13% off the asking price. Another high end oceanfront property in Carpinteria just closed escrow this week at $10,700,000. This Hamptons style home was listed at $13,800,000 selling at 22% off its final list price(32% off original list price). It is in the gated Sand Point colony on 1.42 oceanfront acres with 133 feet of beach frontage and a pool. At this point the number of sales in the $5 million plus luxury real estate market in Montecito, Hope Ranch, and Santa Barbara is on pace to surpass last year’s numbers. Buyers may have realized that with so much seller motivation now is a great time to acquire a Santa Barbara estate. You may contact me at patsaraca@gmail.com  or  805-560-9951 for additional real estate information.

 A best buy on Santa Barbara’s beachfront community known as “The Mesa”.  This remodeled 4 bedroom home has lots of charm and upgrades.  It is convenient to many shops and restaurants offering everything from fast food to gourmet from pizza to sushi!This charming home is also near the beach and harbor, Shoreline Park, Ledbetter Beach, Hendry’s Beach, City College, & Washington Elementary School. There are warm maple floors in the living and dining rooms with an open floorplan. The sun light dining area flows to a trellis covered patio for dining al fresco. The living room has recessed lighting, fireplace, and plantation shutters. The kitchen has tile flooring, stainless steel appliances, and island work space area for preparing those delicious meals with fresh veggies from the garden.  There are lots of windows in the main living area with a peek of the ocean and islands! Multi-pane windows create a serene interior environment. There are 4 bedrooms and  2 full baths. The master bath has recently been remodeled!  The tropical landscaping in the yard is full of colorful flowers. There is a delightful veggie garden, a gorgeous tile patio and wall and a soothing fountain. There is plenty of off street parking and a 2 car garage on this gated parcel. Motivated sellers have priced this home for a quick sale at just $759,000! Yes that is $759,000 for a 4 bdrm turn-key home near the beach in Santa Barbara!! Hurry on this one.

Santa Barbara

Watched the Fourth of July fireworks from a magnificient bluff top location on the Mesa in Santa Barbara. This oceanfront (click to view Santa Barbara Ocean Front homes for sale) location is a prime spot for a Santa Barbara luxury home. Plans are in place for a gorgeous Tuscan Villa. This remodel opportunity is a rare offering. This locale has a unique orientation facing south and east over the Santa Barbara coastline allowing incredible sunrise views plus ocean, city, harbor, mountain, and island views. Just steps to Shoreline Park, Leadbetter beach – great for surfing and paddle boarding, Santa Barbara Harbor and Santa Barbara Yacht Club plus restaurants and shops. Also close enough for a stroll to State Street and downtown Santa Barbara. Directly in front of you is a favorite local surf spot, for your own live surfing extravaganza. Watch kayakers and paddle boarders from Santa Barbara Harbor, a regular Regatta of international visits from the most spectacular sporting yachts in the world, weekly sail boat races, occasional cruise ship visits and visits from the USS Ronald Reagan, a state of the art U.S. Naval Aircraft Carrier. You may also be delighted with the appearance of dolphins and whales! This is what Santa Barbara beach homes are all about! Build your dream home on one of the most spectacular view properties in Santa Barbara! For additional details on this fantastic offering go to www.BeachFrontSantaBarbara.comAct now and you can watch next year’s fireworks from your very own Santa Barbara beach front home!

The luxury home segment in Santa Barbara has seen a very active spring! Fourteen estate properties have closed escrow at the $5,000,000 +  price since April 1. This compares to 8 properties closing in this price range for the same time period last year. That is an astounding 75% increase in closed sales! Perhaps the money is coming out of gold and into real estate again! The highest priced sale is an oceanfront estate which sold for $16,250,000. Located in a guard gated community this gorgeous 7000 s.f. Cape Cod style home has 5 bdrms, 7 baths and 190’ beach frontage on 2+ acres. And yes it has a guest house and a home theater! Originally priced at $32,500,000 when it hit the market in 2008 – it sold at an impressive 50% discount – I’d say well worth the wait!

Another notable luxury estate that recently closed escrow is a 1930’s Dutch Cape on 3.5 acres with dramatic mountain and ocean views in Montecito. Located just a stone’s throw from Oprah’s little place this property was written about in a previous blog about Montecito ocean view estates! It came on the market at $23,900,000 a year ago and just closed escrow at an even $15,000,000. Some great deals have been made in the Santa Barbara luxury market. Sellers are showing lots of motivation as can be seen by looking at the list to sales prices. Watch for an update on the Hope Ranch estate market next!

Newly listed Santa Barbara luxury home for sale is in the desirable San Roque Park neighborhood.This spacious gem is on a beautiful tree-lined street. Enjoy the scent of jasmine and roses as you enter the flower lined brick walkway. An inviting front porch greets you where you can sit and take in the gorgeous mountain views. This coveted location is near a beautiful neighborhood park and Santa Barbara shops and restaurants. The large living room features coved molding, a wonderful picture window and a fireplace. The adjoining family & dining room flow out to a saltillo tiled deck overlooking the lush grounds. The chef’s kitchen has lots of room for creating gourmet meals and a charming breakfast nook in which to savor them. Specialty grocery stores are mere minutes from this home – so convenient! The master suite is on its own wing providing great privacy from the other two bedrooms. The huge yard is a gardener’s delight with an abundance of colorful flowers, plants, mature trees, lawn & patio areas, and a relaxing spa. Now is a fantastic buying opportunity as rates are incredibly low and predicted to go up. Offered at $1,280,000! Click here to view this home or search for other Santa Barbara luxury homes at http://santabarbarapocketlistings.com/

Rare opportunity to live in an exquisitely appointed Montecito luxury home  in a most desirable Montecito location. A stunning and very spacious 3 BR 3 bath restored French Country estate home in a prime location near Coast Village and all it’s wonderful shops and minutes to Downtown Santa Barbara, State Street, Stearn’s Wharf, and the beach. Recently restored with luxury appointments, beamed vaulted ceilings, and custom finishes, this home is a professional’s dream, with spacious rooms, high ceilings and exquisite, hard wood floors. There is a wonderful office suite or media room. There is also a spacious, well appointed guest suite as well on a floor of its own. The beautifully adorned, generous Master suite  with a elegantly marbled tiled bath and glass enclosed shower along with ample closet area, opens to a private patio with spa. Custom cabinetry adorns the high function,  updated kitchen with granite counter tops, marble tile and state of the art appliances, an informal breakfast/dining area flowing easily to a beautifully landscaped brick patio for entertaining and relaxation. This French Country home has a classic, vaulted roofline with stately fluted chimneys.  There are 3 bdrms and 3 full baths.This home is a perfect blend of casual elegance! A must see for those seeking a Montecito luxury home! Offered at $2,185,000.

I recently saw the movie “Its Complicated” , a romantic comedy set in Santa Barbara, directed by Nancy Meyers and starring a Santa Barbara resident, Steve Martin and a Classic Santa Barbara estate. In an interview in Santa Barbara Magazine, Nancy Meyers says she chose a Santa Barbara property for the locale in the movie due to its natural beauty and the peace of mind and calm she feels when she comes here. She further states “It feels as close to the good life as you can get”.  Yes, we feel rather the same way. Santa Barbara is not just a place – it is a lifestyle! There were lots of Santa Barbara property scenes in the movie such as the spectacular Santa Barbara Courthouse, the historic El Paseo, and several Montecito property locations, including the scene where Meryl Streep is having her morning jog – on one of the Montecito area’s charming country roads. Many Santa Barbara Estates were within steps including Oprah’s Montecito luxury property. The house in the movie is the quintessential Santa Barbara home full of charm and character with a red tile roof, adobe brick, archways, terra cotta tile, wrought iron, and a great indoor-outdoor flow to covered verandas and lush gardens. As a matter of fact, if you happen to be looking for a similar Santa Barbara property may we be so bold as to offer our considerable Santa Barbara estate expertise to acquire your Santa Barbara dream home. Its “not” Complicated – Its Simple – just click here.