LOCATION,LOCATION,LOCATION! This one-of-a-kind Don Pedersen designed custom home is located steps from the wonderful shops and restaurants of Montecito’s Lower Village and Butterfly Beach. Inspired by tropical plantation style homes and integrated seamlessly with charming Santa Barbara details this home is impressive! The dramatic entry and open floor plan boasts soaring 30′ beamed ceilings, warm maple floors, and is flooded with natural light from an abundance of windows and skylights. A fantastic property for entertaining with multiple sets of French doors opening to an expansive veranda. The generous sized master suite has his and her baths and walk-in closets and is located on the main level. There is an elevator for easy access to the lower level with additional rooms and hugh 3 car garage – a perfect place for autos and hobbies. The beautifully landscaped grounds feature a magnificent magnolia tree, colorful and mature plantings, a charming stone wall and pathways plus an enchanting 2 bdrm guest cottage. For the garden enthusiast there is also a wonderful greenhouse which could serve as an art studio. A rare opportunity for so much in such a prime Montecito area. Offered at just $2,699,000.

For more details contact Pat Saraca at 805-886-7426, Distinctive Real Estate

Dramatic Living Room

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.

Enchanting entry

I am pleased to announce a pocket listing in Montecito, California. This Montecito luxury home is located with easy access to the Upper or Lower Villages. This French Country home has a classic, vaulted roofline with stately fluted chimneys. The hedge and flower-lined walkway leads to the brick entry. The spacious living room boasts high beamed ceilings, hardwood floors and an antique inspired fireplace. The tastefully remodeled kitchen opens to a breakfast nook and a spacious family room  with a charming stone fireplace. The formal dining room and the breakfast area have French doors flowing to a delightful brick patio and lush grounds – ideal for entertaining large crowds or for more intimate gatherings. Thereare 3 bdrms and 3 full baths – the romantic master suite opens to a private patio complete with spa, one bedroom suite is upstairs separate from the others, and there is a wonderful office/library which could serve as a media room. Decorator colors and designer touches are found through out this home creating a perfect blend of casual elegance! A must see for those seeking a Montecito luxury home! For more information on this Montecito property or Santa Barbara

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!

There were 26 properties on the agent caravan this week in Montecito. There were 3 new listings ranging from at the low end of the price range a  5 bedroom home on a hillside location with fantastic ocean and city views with an asking price of $1,725,000. Though in the city of Santa Barbara this Via Alicia home does have a Montecito zip code.  This home was previously listed at $2,295,000 so presents a good buying opportunity for someone seeking a Santa Barbara view home. At the high end of the price range is a wonderful property on Cima del Mundo. This Santa Barbara  luxury home sold about 1.5 years ago for $18,000,000 and is now priced at $22,000,000. This is a great opportunity to purchase one of the finest luxury homes in Montecito. The buyers did put some exquisite upgrades into the home which was brand new at the time they bought it and it is essentially brand new still as they have rarely come to the property.  For someone wanting a premier Santa Barbara property this is it. It offers privacy, incredible quality, unbelievable views and all the amenities on could want. It is truly one of the  finest Montecito properties currently available.

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.

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!

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/