Montecito
Full of beauty, history and grandeur, Montecito, approximately eight square miles of hidden neighborhoods and expansive estates, has been the destination of choice for celebrities and millionaires for over one hundred years. Montecito offers an unhurried pace of life, breathtaking scenery and two very quaint shopping and dining “villages” that make locals feel that even the trip a few miles east to Santa Barbara is a small journey.
Montecito is certainly a desirable second and third home location for big city dwellers, but mostly the town is filled with locals who live in Montecito year round and feel truly fortunate. Two of the finest public schools in the country serve Montecito, and there are three golf courses (two are private), a private tennis club, YMCA, luxury spas and several spectacular beaches within the immediate area. Five private schools are also within the town of Montecito as well as Westmont College, a smaller liberal arts college. Montecito gently slopes up away from the ocean with gorgoues tree lined streets, great for walking and riding bikes. Many homes have ocean views and/or mountain views, with most homes hidden behind mature foliage, hedges and trees.
If you are interested in real estate here in Montecito, Santa Barbara, and our surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life here, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.
Read About: Montecito Oceanfront Areas
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Any Decision on The Miramar Project in Montecito CA? Update August 4, 2008
August 4th, 2008 Categories: Montecito, Real Estate News
Despite a marathon meeting last week, no decision has been made on the hottest topic in Montecito Real Estate…Will Mr. Caruso have his proposed plan for The Miramar project be approved. For a complete story, Chris Meagher from The Independent, has the latest update and information on where the project stands.
Further Reading: Real Estate Market Update for Montecito CA - First 6 Months 2008, Concerns Rise Again About the Proposed Development of the Miramar Hotel in Montecito CA., The Secret of Santa Barbara and Montecito Oceanfront Property and Estates
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to contact me or comment below with any thoughts.
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Dreaming of Ocean View Homes and Estates in the Santa Barbara and Montecito CA Areas!!
July 28th, 2008 Categories: Campanil Hill Neighborhood, Carpinteria, Hope Ranch, Luxury Real Estate, Mission Canyon Neighborhood, Montecito, Santa Barbara, Summerland, The Mesa Neighborhood, The Oceanfront Areas, The Riviera Neighborhood
Santa Barbara with OCEAN VIEWS!!!
Some of the most prized real estate to be found here in the Santa Barbara and Montecito areas is the abundant ocean and island view homes and estates that exist. With numerous hills and bluff tops throughout the town, the back drop of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the gorgeous coast line and local islands that stretch out to the horizon, it is no wonder that ocean view homes are extremely desirable in our area.
With so much varied terrain, I have tried to outline below the many options when looking for a property with an ocean view.
Montecito- Full of beauty, history and grandeur, Montecito, approximately eight square miles of hidden neighborhoods and expansive estates, has been the destination of choice for celebrities and millionaires for over one hundred years. Montecito offers an unhurried pace of life, breathtaking scenery and two very quaint shopping and dining “villages” that make locals feel that even the trip a few miles east to Santa Barbara is a small journey. Montecito has numerous hills but mainly slopes gently away from the ocean up towards our local mountains. Because of this gentle slope and the abundance of mature growth, I would estimate that 1 out of 5 homes in Montecito are ocean view homes where as most all homes have a wonderful private setting and views of the local Santa Ynez Mountains. Montecito Real Estate values range from $ 2 Million to $30 Million and above with ocean view homes starting at around $5 Million.
The Riviera- Bridging the two mile span which separates Mission and Sycamore Canyons, the sylvan uplift which the padres knew as the “mission ridge” has for the past 65 years been known as “The Riviera” due to its resemblance to slopes along the Mediterranean coasts of France and Italy. Probably 2 out of 3 homes on The Riviera boast wonderful coastline and island views. For many, this is one of the mos
t prominent locations when looking for a ocean view home. The Riviera Real Estate values range from $ 900,000 to $ 8 million, with ocean view homes and estates starting at around $ 1.5 Million.
Hope Ranch - This wonderful area has an abundance of lush and gently rolling hills hosting approximately 700 homes, most of them luxurious Hope Ranch estates with gorgeous landscaped grounds. Many of these estates sit perched on these low hills that provide expansive views of both the Santa Ynez Mountains and The Pacific Ocean. Hope Ranch Real Estate values range from $2.5 Million to $30 Million, with ocean view homes starting at around $5 Million.
Campanil Hill and Yankee Farm area- Located on the sea-cliff just outside the boundaries of Hope Ranch, Campanil Hill and Yankee Farm is a gorgeous private feeling neighborhood filled with larger homes and estates. Most of these homes have expansive views of the ocean and Channel Islands and sit on nicely landscaped parcels of .5 acre to 6 acre lots. The entire area is relatively small and sits on a gently sloped hill just outside the gates of Hope Ranch. The Campanil Hill and Yankee Farm Real Estate values range from $ 1.7 million to $ 6 Million, with ocean view homes starting at around $2.5 Million.
Summerland- Summerland is a rather relaxed, tiny, hillside community snuggled on the coast between Carpinteria and Montecito with breathtaking ocean and island views. Summerland Real Estate values range from $1 Million to $15 Million, with ocean view homes starting at around $1.3 Million.
The Santa Barbara and Goleta Foothills - The beautiful mountains that sit as our local backdrop stretching roughly 15 miles from Goleta to Santa Barbara have abundant view properties. Each canyon has its own distinct name and price range of homes, with many sitting on wonderful perches with ocean and island views. Real Estate values in The Foothills range from $1 Million to $8 Million, with ocean view homes starting at around $1.3 Million.
The Mesa - Half of The Mesa is relatively flat while the other half sits on a hillside (a smaller and less steep version of The Riviera neighborhood). Many view homes on The Mesa have dramatic prominent views of the ocean and islands because of the close proximity to the ocean. Real Estate values on The Mesa range from $900,000 to $6 Million, with ocean view homes starting at around $1.2 Million.
The Oceanfront- This pretty much goes without saying. The lucky few that live directly along the coastline and oceanfront here in the Santa Barbara area enjoy a gorgeous ocean front presence. Roughly half the oceanfront homes sit directly onto the sand while the other half sit on bluff tops ranging from roughly 20ft - 80ft above the beach. Oceanfront Real Estate values range from $3 Million to $35 Million.
View a sample list of current ocean view homes and estates from $1 to $5 Million
View a sample list of current ocean view homes and estates from $5 to 10 Million
View a sample list of current ocean view homes and estates from $10 Million and above
Please contact me if you would like a sample list of past sales of ocean view homes as well as if you would like to be set up with personal listings of ocean view homes.
Further Reading: The Secret of Santa Barbara and Montecito Oceanfront Property and Estates, The Luxury of Santa Barbara and Montecito Oceanfront
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to contact me or comment below with any thoughts.
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Santa Barbara Real Estate Market Update for the Montecito Area - First 6 Months 2008
July 11th, 2008 Categories: Market Statistics / Updates, Montecito
I have summarized below an easy to look at brief outline of the overall MLS statistics for the Montecito CA area through the first 6 months of 2008.
- The total number of single family homes sold in Montecito was 93. The number of current pending sales for single family homes is 18. The number of current active listings for single family homes is 135.
- The total number of condos / townhomes sold in Montecito was 9. The number of current pending sales for condos / townhomes is 2. The number of current active listings for condos / townhomes is 14.
- The total number of PUD’s sold in Montecito was 1. The number of current pending sales for PUD’s is 0. The number of current active listings for PUD’s is 1.
The lowest sale in Montecito was a condo for $799,000 on Coast Village Road. The highest sale in Montecito was an ocean view home for $31 Million on East Mountain Drive.
Please feel free to contact me directly if you have questions or would like more in depth information and statistics about:
1) The Montecito area
2) The area around your personal home
3) A specific area, street or home in Montecito
Further Reading: Overall Market Statistics for the Santa Barbara Real Estate area, Market Statistics for the Montecito Real Estate area
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to contact me or comment below with any thoughts.
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Need Baby and Toddler Equipment on Your Next Santa Barbara CA Vacation?
May 28th, 2008 Categories: Montecito, Rentals / Vacation Rentals, Santa Barbara
Are you planning a vacation or visit here soon to the Santa Barbara and Montecito CA areas and are worried about all the items you have to haul. Why not Relax and let Santa Barbara Baby Company help you take care of the family.
Santa Barbara Baby Company offers premium brand rental equipment and supplies. Their service is designed to help parents enjoy their visit to the Santa Barbara area. Start your vacation by traveling with the luxury of minimized baggage. From infants to toddlers, they’ll make your stay in Santa Barbara more enjoyable. Free delivery of baby and toddler rental gear to Santa Barbara, Montecito, Goleta, Summerland and Carpinteria areas.
Why Rent?
Traveling with a child or children can be a challenging experience. Baby equipment is not tailored for the nuances of travel and often becomes cumbersome and bulky luggage.
For those on flights, airlines often require you to pay surcharges for extra luggage – especially on international flights. In addition, excessive luggage creates a longer check-in process, and more baggage to manage, in addition to your child. Loose equipment checked onto flights can lead to damage or loss. Claims with airlines are tedious to file and rarely cover the actual damage or loss.
Start your vacation by traveling with the luxury of minimized baggage. Arrive at your destination with all the amenities you need to make your vacation with your child more enjoyable!
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to contact me or comment below with any thoughts.
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Cort Report for Santa Barbara, Montecito, Goleta and Carpinteria CA. Areas - April 2008
May 20th, 2008 Categories: Carpinteria, Goleta, Market Statistics / Updates, Montecito, Santa Barbara
Here is the Santa Barbara cort report for closed sales for the month of April 2008. The cort report lists all closed sales of property regardless of whether they were reported in the Santa Barbara MLS or not. This includes for sale by owners, transfers of property between family members etc. Upwards of 95+ % of all sales are reported in the MLS, where as 100% are reported in the cort report.
If you would like further info about a certain month or area, please let me know so that I can be of help.
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to contact me or comment below with any thoughts.
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Concerns Arise Again About The Proposed Development of The Miramar Hotel in Montecito CA.
May 14th, 2008 Categories: Montecito, Real Estate News, The Oceanfront Areas
First it was Ian Schrager, the big city boutique hotelier…
Next it was local billionaire Ty Warner, the famous toy maker and hotelier…
And now developer Rick Caruso is learning first hand about the long path it will take to please all sides for a proposed development to “revamp” The Miramar Hotel located on the beach in Montecito CA.
From the start in 2006 when Mr. Caruso purchased the property from Ty Warner, he has pleased many residents and the city by holding open forums and meetings with community members regarding the development plans for The Miramar Hotel. The problem is, that to date it simply seems too hard to please everyone while also leading a profit turning adventure for Caruso Affiliated. Ben Preston, from The Independent writes a great article updating the latest concerns and news about the project being proposed.
Time is the only guarantee that we know will happen and it continues to look like any development for The Miramar Hotel will need plenty of time. The one thing that seems to be agreed upon is that everyone wants the project to happen…it is just how and on what terms.
Further Reading: The Luxury of Santa Barbara and Montecito Oceanfront Real Estate, The Secret of Santa Barbara and Montecito CA Oceanfront Property and Estates, Montecito CA Beach Property in High Demand
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to contact me or comment below with any thoughts.
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Santa Barbara Luxury Property Sales Continue to Set Records Year After Year
April 15th, 2008 Categories: Luxury Real Estate, Montecito, Real Estate News, Santa Barbara
One market that has not been effected by all the negative national news with regards to the credit crisis and sub-prime fallout is the high-end homes and luxury estates in Montecito and Santa Barbara CA, particularly along the coastline.
This high-end real estate market is referred to as property sales in excess of $10 Million.
To illustrate the pace and volume of these sales, I have included some statistics below that show the year over year increase in sales.
- 2002 reported in the MLS approximately $42 Million in sales
- 2003 reported in the MLS approximately $65 Million in sales
- 2004 reported in the MLS approximately $72 Million in sales
- 2005 reported in the MLS approximately $94 Million in sales
- 2006 reported in the MLS approximately $219 Million in sales
- 2007 reported in the MLS approximately $255 Million in sales
View Current Montecito and Santa Barbara listings of high-end properties in excess of $10 Million
In my humble opinion, having traveled much of the world, Santa Barbara will always rank as one of the most beautiful places to live. Once you arrive here it is not hard to understand this conviction. Seemingly encapsulated in a relatively perfect maritime climate, Santa Barbara is an oceanfront resort like community with wonderful architecture, clean air and limited traffic, long stretches of gorgeous and accessible coastline and an abundance of outdoor activity including surfing, golfing, hiking, rock climbing, sailing, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking and much more. For people wanting more than just an active community, Santa Barbara also boasts a wonderful mix of art, culture, live performances and dining.
On the real estate side of the equation, this quality of life that Santa Barbara and Montecito offers will continue to drive high-end property values. What the above statistics simply show is that the wealthy have located Santa Barbara and Montecito as a desirable place to both live and own property. Movie stars, industry titans and the newly rich circulate around Santa Barbara without attracting much attention and without dressing up. Multi-millionaires are able to maintain a relatively private existence here that can often allude them in other areas. This along with Santa Barbara and Montecito resident’s casualness to this vast wealth is part of the allure for the wealthy.
Further Reading: The Secret of Santa Barbara and Montecito CA Oceanfront Property and Estates, The Luxury of Santa Barbara and Montecito Oceanfront Real Estate, Montecito CA Homes For Sale - Market Update March 2008
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to contact me or comment below with any thoughts.
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