Category: Uncategorized

Posted November 18, 2014

Santa Barbara’s beauty keeps the market trending!

At the end of 3rd quarter we had an INCREASE in Inventory, a HIGHER median price and a DECLINE in closed escrows. The median price was $909,000 in September of 2013. It was $1,199,000 in September of 2014. That is a 32% increase. There are more higher priced homes going under contract this year than last. With more people pricing their homes higher due to the median price increasing and inventory decresing, Buyers may hold out on Buying and wait for that perfect home. This will be interesting to see. Here is a picture of South County Sales for the month of October for the past 12 years. For October 2014 the median price is lower, but the average price is higher with a higher number of sales. The total number of sales over $1,000,000 is greater as well. This can only mean the market is strong and people are willing to spend money on that perfect home. Lets hope it continues through the new year and Sellers don’t get too greedy with pricing their home. 

 

The Market Trends for the Santa Barbara South County from 2006- 2014.

Lets try and beat last years numbers!

 

Posted December 15, 2014

 

#LiveBeyond

We are all so lucky to be living here in Santa Barbara, let alone the United States. One of my passions is to help others in other countries that are less fortunate than us. One organization in particular I was taught about at my church is called LiveBeyond.

In 2010 there was a 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti. It killed 300,000 people in 6 seconds. 1,000,000 locals were injured and 30,000 children orphaned. 45,000 ended up dying from cholera and 500,000 people lost their home. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. And with this catastrophe it only made matters worse.

The non-profit humanitarian organization brings help to those in third world countries. They brought medical and maternal healthcare, clean water, orphanage support and community development. They have established a long term presence in the community and created an operative hospital with a medical clinic, surgical suites, an OB/GYN clinic and an inpatient hospital.  LiveBeyond hosts monthly medical missions where American doctors and nurses can help treat the people.

Knowing the facts can make a difference. Donations are always helpful. You can also volunteer your time or sign up for a mission. To find out more information on this matter and how to help, you can go to their website at  www.livebeyond.org/Get-involved.html. 

Posted December 22, 2014

Nick Churton from Mayfair International Realty tells a heart-warming
Christmas story.

Scrooge had been trying to sell his home all year – but to no effect. He was fed up with cold winters
where he lived and longed to move to Florida where he had found a large condo at a very
reasonable price. Now it was Christmas again and there was still no sign of a buyer for his own
property. Scrooge hated Christmas.
Bob, at the local real estate broker, Cratchit and Company, had almost given up on ever selling the
house. Scrooge was far too mean to put the lights on inside or light the fire to make the house look
cosy and inviting. Instead it was unwelcoming and cold. A better word would be frigid. He refused
to let people see his house when they wanted to and only allowed showings when it was very
convenient for him. The few offers he had received he had treated with contempt – even though
the asking price was really far too high – which put everyone off taking it any further. Scrooge was
even insisting that any buyer would have to purchase, at extra cost, the threadbare carpets and
filthy drapes.
That night Scrooge had three disturbing dreams. The first vividly reminded him of what life had
been like before he had become so mean and his wife had left him. The second dream showed
Christmas dinner at his real estate agent’s home. It was a jovial family affair with Bob, his wife and
their small son, Tim, all enjoying themselves. But slowly the scene changed. It showed what life
would be like if Bob couldn’t sell any real estate and had no money. The third dream showed
Scrooge’s grave. He had died an embittered old man who had never sold his mausoleum of a house
or moved to sunny Florida.
Waking up in his bed Scrooge realised that wasn’t too late. He raced round the house putting lights
on and setting the fire ablaze in the living room. He then rushed down to see Bob at Cratchit &
Company, and told him to reduce the price immediately and to tell everyone that he would heartily
entertain any reasonable offers. Scrooge even told Bob that he would increase the commission if
the house sold quickly.
So Scrooge did sell his house and moved to Florida where he enjoyed many long years in the sun.
He even met an attractive widow in the local waterside restaurant that he liked to go to often.
Scrooge never forgot to send Bob a Christmas card, as without all Bob’s hard work he would never
have had his new life.
The moral of this story is to be as accommodating with potential buyers as possible, make your
home as inviting as you can, be reasonable and always try and find a real estate agent like Bob.
Happy Christmas everyone – with apologies to Charles Dickens.

Posted December 30, 2014

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning,

but anyone can start today and make a new ending. 

    -Maria Robinson on letting go of the past and moving forward

The New Year is almost here. Everyone including myself is busy putting together their list of New Year resolutions. Let’s hope this year we can all accomplish at least one of our resolutions. I thought it would be nice to end the year with a quote that I love to help bring in the New Year with hope and promise for a healthy, amazing New Year. Inspirational quotes always make me look at lifes circumstances, bad or good, differently. May the New Year bring you much happiness.

Happy New Year!

Posted January 8, 2015

 

Posted March 9, 2015

Lovely Cape Cod two-story home located on a serene, peaceful cul-de-sac in the Kellogg School area. This beautiful home, showcased by soaring ceilings, plantation shutters, gleaming hardwood floors and French doors is flooded with natural light that creates a warm and casual atmosphere.

The first floor includes a dramatic living room with vaulted ceilings that adjoins the formal dining room.  A gourmet kitchen with wood island and granite counters is highlighted by a spacious family room with breakfast area. French doors lead to the outside entertaining area giving a wonderful indoor/outdoor flow. A 4th bedroom/office with skylights, built-in Murphy bed and cabinets is also on the first floor.

Three additional bedrooms and two baths are located on the second floor. The gracious master bedroom has a generous walk-in closet and bright bathroom with marble and tile accents.

The tastefully landscaped private outside area features a beautiful trellised patio area for entertaining, colorful flower beds, green lawns and a vegetable garden space replete with chicken coup.

This fabulous neighborhood has no HOA fees and is located near Fairview gardens, library, schools, parks, Calle Real shopping, restaurants, athletic clubs and movie theater.

…………………

 

Posted April 14, 2016

First Quarter Statistics

          2016’s first quarter statitics are in. Looks like there were a few less home sales in 2016 compaired to 2015, but prices went up which is great for Sellers. Homes are selling at a faster rate now than in 2015 with an avergae of 8 less days on the market. With these statitics no wonder more people are puttign their home up for sale. Listings rose 6.2%. As for Condos, prices have gone up, but sales dropped slighlty. Condo sales are moving fast, spending less time on the market compared to 2015 and selling 0.63% within the list price. It will be interesting to see what second quarter has in store for Santa Barbara. 

Single Family Homes

                                 2016                         2015                   % change

Median price:        $1,318,500               $1,175,000               +12.1%

List/sales price:        95.38%                     94.69%                  +.69%

Days on market:         54                              62                       -12.9%   

# of sales:                  212                            229                      -8.0%

New listings:               431                           406                       +6.2%            

                  

Condominiums

                                  2016                         2015                   % change

Median price:          $652,500                 $589,000                  +10.8%

List/sales price:         97.53%                    96.90%                   +.63%

Days on market:         55                              73                       -24.7%

# of sales:                   79                             108                      -26.9%

New listings:              148                             147                      +0.7%

Posted April 7, 2016

New Listing 

1440 N. Fairview, Goleta, CA 

     Pristine single level home situated on a peaceful and serene 5 acre ranchette in the foothills of Goleta. Magnificent mountain views abound from almost every room of this lovely 3 bedroom, 3 bath home framed by the Santa Ynez Mountains.

The property consists of the main home of 2300 +-square feet with a two-car garage, a 2 bedroom 2 bath 1200-+ square foot guest house with a 3-car garage and a very large workshop/storage barn of 2200-+square feet. There are approximately 4 acres of producing avocados and an additional acre of hardscape and landscaping. The avocados are on their own agricultural meter and both the main house and guest house have separate water meters.

This special property is just minutes to shopping and restaurants; yet maintains a country atmosphere. It is serviced by three outstanding schools: Mountain View elementary, Goleta Valley Jr. high, and Dos Pueblos Sr. high.