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.
Montecito Real Estate values average around $ 1.75 to $ 5.5 million. Spectacular view homes, estates and ocean front property start at around $ 3 million and can exceed this amount fivefold, tenfold or more..
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
Search: Properties in Montecito
Receive: Personal Listings of Montecito Properties
Read: Testimonials
View: Map of Montecito Area
View: Photo Tour of Montecito and Santa Barbara
Schools in the Montecito Area:
View: All Schools in the Entire Montecito and Santa Barbara Area
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Santa Barbara CA Real Estate - Montecito CA Area Sales Statistics Year End 2008
February 16th, 2009 Categories: Market Statistics / Updates, Montecito
Montecito CA Real Estate - Year End Sales Statistics for 2008
I have summarized below an easy to look at brief outline of the overall Santa Barbara MLS statistics for both single family homes and condos in the Montecito CA. area for the year 2008. The comparisons are drawn against the previous year’s statistics (2007) for Montecito CA Real Estate.
SINGLE FAMILY HOMES:
- Single family home listings were up 21% from 336 listings to 408 listings compared to 2007
- Single family homes sold were down 18% from 191 to 156 single family homes sold
- The average sales price was up 16% from $3,690,095 to $4,316,684
- The median sales price was up 12% from $2,900,000 to $3,275,000
CONDOS:
- Condo listings were down about 17% from 52 listings to 43 listings compared to 2007
- Condos sold were down 37% from 29 condos to 18 condos
- The average sales price was up 3% from $1,658,448 to $1,713,692
- The median sales price was up 13% from $1,300,000 to $1,480,750
The lowest sale in Montecito was a townhome for $735,000 on North Jameson Lane. The highest sale in Montecito was an ocean view estate for $31 Million on East Mountain Drive.
View: Map of Montecito
View: Current Active Listings in Montecito up to $ 3 Million
View: Current Active Listings in Montecito $ 3-7.5 Million
View: Current Active Listings in Montecito $ 7.5 Million and above
For a complete summary of the Santa Barbara Real Estate Market in 2008, information in general on Santa Barbara Real Estate, Montecito Real Estate and/or our surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in our area, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s International Realty.
Further Reading:
- Is My Realtor a Santa Barbara Neighborhood Specialist?
- Santa Barbara Real Estate Market Statistics
- Santa Barbara Real Estate - General News
- Santa Barbara - The Oceanfront Areas
- Santa Barbara - Community Events
- Montecito Luxury Real Estate
- Montecito CA. - General Information
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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Things to Do in Santa Barbara, California - Montecito and Shopping
December 10th, 2008 Categories: Lifestyle / Things to Do, Montecito
Whether you are a local, in town visiting family and/or friends, or here on vacation in Santa Barbara, California, there is never a lack of activities and things to do in our wonderful seaside resort community. Here below is the fourth installment in a series of articles that point out some of Santa Barbara’s most prominent local attractions. Some of these will be cultural, some dining, some active pursuits and some I am still deciding on. This fourth installment will be focusing on…
The Montecito Area and Shopping:
Montecito has taken a huge accent into the high-end luxury real estate world in the last 10 years. This lush area filled with mature landcape, great estates and an abundance of mature nature is a true paradise. The rise of Montecito started in the 1920’s and 30’s when the rich and famous from all over came to relax and ended up staying and building large estates and ranches.
Casa del Herrero: This wonderful historic home was designed by one of Santa Barbara’s most famous architects, George Washington Smith. The home has still remained almost unchanges and offers a peak look into life in Montecito during the 1930’s. The gardens span 11 acres and is one of Santa Barbara’s prime examples of Spanish Colonial Revival Architecture.
Lotusland: Lotusland is a truly unique estate and botanic garden set at the base of the foothills in Montecito, CA. Spread out over 37 acres, the gardens were created by Ganna Walska who owned the property until her death in 1984. Treat yourself to a wonderful half-day or day visit to this peaceful themed property.
Shopping:
Some of the most enjoyable things to do are simply stroll the streets of Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland and beyond and enjoy all the local stores and offerings. Filled with pleasurable architecture, small plazas and cafes, some of the most prominent shopping areas are…
1) La Cumbre Plaza 2) Paseo Nuevo 3) Coast Village Road - Montecito 4) State Street - Santa Barbara
Further Reading: Lifestyle/Things to Do Articles in Santa Barbara, California, Things to Do in Santa Barbara, California - The Downtown Area, Things to Do in Santa Barbara - The Waterfront, The Oceanfront Areas, Summer Arts, Festivals and Culture in Santa Barbara CA
For information on Santa Barbara Real Estate, Montecito Real Estate and/or our surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in our area, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.
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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The Premier Gated Golfing Community of Birnam Wood Country Club, Montecito CA.
October 30th, 2008 Categories: Golf, Montecito
Birnam Wood is located in the heart of Montecito CA., and is considered the premier gated golfing community within Santa Barbara. Birnam Wood first started development in the early 1970’s and is made up of only single family homes and estates and consists of a total of 142 unique homes with currently 2-3 vacant lots left to build on.
Most of the homes in Birnam Wood are very private feeling and line the golf course. All homes primarily sit on 1 acre parcels (although the net land of these parcels is less as easements often extend into the golf course and/or road). All homes must be single level with a footprint of 3,000 to 6,000 sqft. 
There are no true restrictions on styles of homes within Birnam Wood and you will find a large variety consisting of French Normandy, Cottage, Ranch, Contemporary etc. Most of the estates within Birnam Wood also enjoy wonderful views of the local Santa Ynez Mountains.
When purchasing a home within Birnam Wood, you are also required to purchase a corporate membership to the club which currently stands at $85,000, with monthly dues of $545 for the membership and $285 for the Home Owner’s Association.
Real estate prices within Birnam Wood range from a starting point of around $3 Million and go up to about $8 Million.
The course itself is very challenging because of its numerous small, fast, and potentially deceiving greens. Several water hazards are spotted throughout the course while well placed sand bunkers protect the fairways and greens. The course is 5,890 yards from the longest tees and is a par 70. The course rating is 68.7 with a slope rating of 121. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the course opened for play in 1968. There are also 4 hard court tennis courts at the club as well as two clay court surfaces.
View: Map of Birnam Wood
View: Current Homes for Sale in Birnam Wood
View: Current Montecito Homes for Sale up to $7.5 Million
View: Current Montecito Homes for Sale $7.5 Million and Above
Further Reading: Golf Courses in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Luxury Real Estate Articles, Santa Barbara Oceanfront Areas, The Secret of Santa Barbara and Montecito Oceanfront Property and Estates, Santa Barbara Rated Amongst the Best Mid-sized Downtowns in California
For information on Real Estate here in Santa Barbara, Montecito and/or our surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in our area, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.
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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Montecito in the Top 10 Most Expensive Real Estate Zip Codes in the United States
October 13th, 2008 Categories: Luxury Real Estate, Montecito, Real Estate News
People in general will always be attracted to beautiful areas within the United States when it comes down to real estate. For many, these places are also a great place to invest in when times are as uncertain as they have been in the last 18 months.
One reality about the real estate market in the more exclusive and expensive areas in our country that seems to hold true is this — values tend to rise the fastest when times are good and these areas also hold onto their real estate values the best when times are not as good.
Over the last year here in Montecito and Santa Barbara CA., I am often asked about how the real estate market is doing. This is a loaded question, but the quick answer when it comes to our high-end ($3 Million and above) is that the market is doing very well. The nicer areas in our town are some of the most exclusive areas in California and offer a wonderful lifestyle filled with culture, outdoor activity, fine shopping and a dreamy climate. With all that our town has to offer, the Montecito zip code here in Santa Barbara continues to find itself amongst the top 10 most expensive zip codes here in the United States.
The Top 10 Most Expensive Housing Zip Codes In The United States
- 33109 – Fisher Island, Fla., Miami-Dade County Median sales price: $3.85 million
- 07620 – Alpine, N.J., Bergen County Median sales price: $3.59 million
- 11765 – Mill Neck, N.Y., Nassau County Median sales price: $3 million
- 92657 – Newport Coast, CA. Orange County Median sales price: $2.8 million
- 11976 – Water Mill, N.Y. Suffolk County Median sales price: $2.72 million
- 94027 – Atherton, CA. San Mateo County Median sales price: $2.7 million
- 93108 – Santa Barbara, CA., Santa Barbara County Median sales price: $2.7 million
- 11975 – Wainscott, N.Y. Suffolk County Median sales price: $2.56 million
- 92067 – Rancho Santa Fe, CA., San Diego County Median sales price: $2.47 million
- 90210 – Beverly Hills, CA., Los Angeles County Median home price: $2.41 million
Information provided by Forbes
In the last several weeks with Wall Street almost spiraling out of control and with many people feeling fed up with their stock portfolio, I have received numerous phone calls from clients wanting to buy into real estate here in both the Santa Barbara and Montecito areas. Who knows exactly what the future holds, but high-end real estate in areas such as Santa Barbara seem to be on most radars when it comes to investing in luxury real estate.
View: Current Santa Barbara and Montecito Luxury Inventory $3-5 Million
View: Current Santa Barbara and Montecito Luxury Inventory $5-10 Million
View: Current Santa Barbara and Montecito Luxury Inventory $10 Million and Above
Further Reading: Articles on Luxury Real Estate, Articles About the Oceanfront Areas
For information on Santa Barbara Real Estate, Montecito Real Estate and/or our surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in our area, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.
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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Any Decision on The Miramar Project in Montecito CA? Update August 4, 2008
August 4th, 2008 Categories: Montecito, Real Estate News, The Oceanfront Areas
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
View: Map of Miramar Hotel
For information on Real Estate here in Santa Barbara, Montecito and/or our surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in our area, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.
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
View: All Market Statistics
For information on Real Estate here in Santa Barbara, Montecito and/or our surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in our area, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.
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: Any Decisions on The Miramar Project - August 2008, 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, Looking for a Qualified and Ethical Real Estate Agent in Santa Barbara CA?
View: Map of Miramar Hotel
For information on Real Estate here in Santa Barbara, Montecito and/or our surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in our area, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.
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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Who Else Wants to Buy Into Montecito CA Real Estate?
April 10th, 2008 Categories: Market Statistics / Updates, Montecito
I was not real surprised when I saw this latest chart of real estate values here in Montecito CA., but sometimes you do have to just sit back and be in awe. The Pacific coastal gem that we know as Montecito CA continues to impress with ever increasing real estate values. Framed by coastal mountains and gorgeous beaches, the lifestyle here in Montecito offers its residents wonderful cultural entertainment, plenty of outdoor recreational activities, fine dining, warm weather, ocean breezes, sunsets and an overall relaxed atmosphere.
Montecito real estate is filled with grand and luxurious estates, many of which were inspired by the architecture and homes that are found in the countries of France, Spain, and Italy.
If you are interested in learning more about Montecito CA and all that it has to offer, please feel free to contact me.
View Current Inventory in Montecito CA for Prices $ 10 Million and Above.
View Current Inventory in Montecito CA for Prices $ 5 - 10 Million.
View Current Inventory in Montecito CA for Prices up to $ 5 Million.
For information on Real Estate here in Santa Barbara, Montecito and/or our surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in our area, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.
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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Montecito CA Real Estate Market Update - First Quarter 2008
April 3rd, 2008 Categories: Market Statistics / Updates, Montecito
I have summarized below an easy to look at brief outline of the overall statistics for the Montecito CA area through the first quarter of 2008.
- The total number of single family homes sold in Montecito was 44. The number of current pending sales for single family homes is 14. The number of current active listings for single family homes is 88.
- The total number of condos / townhomes sold in Montecito was 3. The number of current pending sales for condos / townhomes is 2. The number of current active listings for condos / townhomes is 11.
- The total number of PUD’s sold in Montecito was 0. The number of current pending sales for PUD’s is 1. The number of current active listings for PUD’s is 1.
The lowest sale in Montecito was a unit in a four unit complex for $1.36 Million on San Ysidro Road. The highest sale in Montecito was an Estate site for $21 Million on Ortega Ridge.
Please feel free to contact me directly if you have questions or would like more in depth information and statistics about:
2) The area around your personal home
3) A specific area in Montecito
Further Reading: Information and Articles about Montecito
For information on Real Estate here in Santa Barbara, Montecito and/or our surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in our area, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.
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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Montecito CA Homes For Sale - Market Update March 2008
March 17th, 2008 Categories: Market Statistics / Updates, Montecito
I have summarized below an easy to look at brief outline of the overall statistics for the Montecito Real Estate market through Mid- March 2008. These statistics are for the Montecito area only.
These numbers were broken down into activity for single family homes, condos / townhomes and PUDs (Planned Unit Developments). Please feel free to contact me with any questions that you may have about these statistics, the Montecito area or the market in general for the Santa Barbara Real Estate area. If you would like specific information about a certain area or the area around your personal home, please let me know directly so I can be of help.
For information on Real Estate here in Santa Barbara, Montecito and/or our surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in our area, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.
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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