There is some positive news with this update of Santa Barbara Real Estate sales year to date. The number of sold properties is up by 16% over last year at this time. The median sales price is down however, by about 6%.  The Santa Barbara median sales price is down by 37% from the peak of 2007 – wow this is great for Buyers! Plus with interest rates being so low, currently fluctuating around the 4% mark, this may very well be the best time to get into the Santa Barbara real estate market and have affordable payments! Looking at the  high end, Santa Barbara luxury market ($2,000,000 and up) this segment is still showing signs of weakness with ONLY 10% of the sales in October being above $2,000,000. There are some incredible opportunities for high end buyers in Santa Barbara and Montecito with some very motivated sellers especially as we approach the holidays and end of the year! Click here to search for homes and estates for sale in Santa Barbara.

Roxy walking at Shoreline

Incredible custom home inspired by plantation style homes of Hawaii and blended with Santa Barbara touches. This spacious home for sale in Montecito has a dramatic entry with 20′-30′ soaring wood beamed ceilings, open floorplans, 4 sets of French doors that flow seamlessly to the covered lanai – a fantastic home for entertaining. Located a stone’s throw to Montecito’s Lower Village with all its wonderful shops and restaurants and just minutes to Butterfly Beach. The lush grounds include a stunning magnolia tree and lots of colorful plantings plus a greenhouse for the true garden enthusiast. An added bonus is the ultra charming 2 bdrm guest cottage. No need for the San Ysidro Ranch when you own this wonderful Montecito home. Offered at $2,699,000

This exquisitely remodeled home is open today! 623 Alston is near both the Upper and Lower Villages of Montecito with easy access to downtown Santa Barbara, too. Reminescent of a country home in the South of France, this home is a perfect blend of old world charm with today’s modern amenities. Charming features include leaded glass windows, high wood beam ceilings, antique inspired fireplaces, gleaming wood floors, gorgeous master suite with relaxing spa tub. French doors flow out to the expansive brick courtyard with beautiful gardens. Approx 3000 s.f.  with 3 bdrms and 3 full baths, formal living and dining rooms, kitchen, family room, breakfast nook, office/den. Just reduced to a great price of $1,595,000.  Hurry on this one!

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!

It was a beautiful day for viewing estates for sale in Montecito! There were 21 properties in Montecito on the broker tour this week.  The newest estate listing is a spectacular Mediterranean on 20 gated acres complete  with 7 bedrooms,  8.5 baths, media/screening room, fantastic gourmet  kitchen, 4-car garage, gorgeous pool, incredible ocean and mountain views, a guest house with its own gated entrance, bocce ball court, lawn, fruit trees, and Koi pond. This Montecito luxury home is located on one of the most desirable streets in Montecito. It  is offered at $12,700,000. On the other end of the spectrum there lies a  wonderful opportunity to purchase a Montecito property via a short sale. This single story, ocean view home set amidst larger estates,  overlooks red tile roofs and the Montecito Country Club. The 1/2 acre Montecito property is gated, has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and boasts lush landscaping and magnificent ocean views.
This is a rare opportunity to purpose a Montecito property in a distress sale. Whether you are looking for a high end luxury property or an entry level Montecito home now may be the best time to start your search! There are some great deals to be had!

Santa Barbara is world renowned for its gorgeous coastline and stunning beaches as well as its luxury real estate. Santa Barbara has an extremely limited number of homes directly on the beach or on the bluff top thus making those lucky enough to own them part of a truly exclusive group. There are just 28 oceanfront properties currently for sale in Santa Barbara. Click here to view them: Santa Barbara Oceanfront. Two oceanfront estates are now in escrow. The first is an 8 acre Mediterranean Estate in Hope Ranch complete with pool, cabana, tennis court, guest house, putting green, and path directly to the beach. Definitely your own private resort! This Hope Ranch Property came on the market in February at $28,500,000 and was reduced to $23,500,000 in June. It went into escrow in September. The other oceanfront estate in escrow is in the gated community of Sand Point. It is a gorgeous Cape Cod style beach home with a pool and guest house on 1.5 oceanfront acres. It had been on the market for over a year when it went into escrow in August. Its original list price was $15,900,000 prior to a price reduction to $13,800,000. If you would like to know the final sales prices of these properties or want further information about Santa Barbara real estate please contact me at patsaraca@gmail.com or 805-560-9951.Oceanfront estates in Santa Barbara have been selling at 50% off original asking prices so now may just be the perfect time for to buy a Santa Barbara home.

 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.

The first half of 2010 has shown to be an active one for the Hope Ranch real estate market as the number of sales compared to the same time frame in 2009 increased by an impressive 42%. The price range for home sales in Hope Ranch went from $1,600,000 on the low end to a high of $7,300,000 with 4 being under $2,000,000, 3 over $5,000,000 and the remaining 3 in between. This compares to 2009 when there was just 1 sale above $5,000,000 and also just one below $2,000,000. Hope Ranch is a beautiful area of Santa Barbara (click here for a quick view of Santa Barbara Real Estate for Sale) consisting of approximately 750 properties.  Hope Ranch has a private beach, tennis courts, a country club with golf course, and equestrian trails meandering thru-out the community.  Most lots are in excess of an acre affording lots of privacy. Views are quite varied and can be panoramic taking in the mountains, Laguna Blanca Lake, the golf course, and ocean and islands, too! There are currently 28 properties for sale in Hope Ranch starting with a 4 bdrm ranch on 1.5 woodsy acres priced at $1,895,000 up to one of the most spectacular oceanfront estates in Hope Ranch for sale at $29,000,000.  The incredible 14 acre grounds will take your breath away – like being in your own private park surrounded by towering oaks and redwoods.  The estate is gated of course and includes a 6 bedroom, 10 bath residence, exquisite  pool & pavilion, volley ball court, sprawling lawns and 1000 ft of  bluff top ocean front.  If Oprah is looking to expand her real estate portfolio this would be a wonderful addition!