Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice

New Lower Rivera / Upper East Townhomes with Ocean Views and Close to Downtown Santa Barbara

kevinschmidtchen — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:44:41 +0000

Looking for a new built townhome or condo close to Downtown Santa Barbara? with views etc.?

Welcome to Bella Riviera.

Bella Riviera is a brand new community located here in Santa Barbara sandwiched in between The Upper East and The Lower Riviera neighborhoods. Bella Riviera just opened this past week for sales with a total of 115 residences being offered. Not all of these wonderful homes will be open to the public, as a portion have been set aside as housing for Cottage Hospital. The site of Bella Rivera itself sits atop the old grounds of the St. Francis Hospital. Santa Barbara Cottage hospital bought the land years ago with these exact plans…to offer wonderful housing to the community of Santa Barbara with a portion of the residences set aside for sale exclusively to employees of Cottage Health System.

Santa Barbara Bella Riviera

Most of the units look to have a combination of both good indoor and outdoors spaces. Square feet varies falling roughly between 750 and 1570 sqft, 1 to 3 bedrooms with 1 to 3 baths. Some of the homes will overlook the entire community as well as have wonderful panoramic ocean & city views from both living levels. The residences are being marketed as townhomes, villas, and cottages with two-and three-story designs.

Bella Riviera Santa Barbara site plan

So far everything looks very nice with the first finished units scheduled to close around May 2012. Right now there exists 3 finished show homes. Other units will continue to follow and the entire community should be completed sometime in the Fall of 2012. Bella Riviera is also a development built to Santa Barbara green standards.

Prices so far are set around $600,000 to $985,000.

If you have any further questions about the properties, would like to view more pictures, look at design details and/or would like to view the homes in person etc….please feel free to give me a call at # 805-689-6877.

Additionally, there are 2 other newer smaller complexes (8 units and 15 units) being developed here in Santa Barbara that will be a little more spacious and higher end with prices around the $1.1 to $1.5 million range and sqft around 1500 to 2400.

View: Santa Barbara Condos and Townhomes $300,000 to $750,000

View: Santa Barbara Condos and Townhomes $750,000 to $1.5 million

View: Santa Barbara and Montecito Condos and Townhomes $750,000 to $4 million

Further Reading:

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.

Subscribe to Receive Personal Listings of Santa Barbara Area Properties

Search the Santa Barbara Area MLS

Is Your Santa Barbara Dream Home Also a Green Home?

kevinschmidtchen — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:32:08 +0000

I read a recent real estate survey the other week done by Yahoo that clearly showed that owning a home is still a major part of the “American Dream”. 4 out of 5 surveyed said yes to this reality.

One of the major differences these days though is that the so-called “American Dream Home” is not a super-sized McMansion…but instead a “Green Home”. Green, energy-efficient homes built with “sustainable” materials, that yield a lower carbon footprint and give the owner a cleaner conscience is what is driving the dream home.

Often people who can not build or buy their desired dream home turn to the next best thing…remodeling their home with energy-efficient appliances and eco-friendly home products.

Santa Barbara Green Energy Efficient Home

Here in Santa Barbara we are seeing this aspiration and reality in all price points across our town. Having energy efficient appliances has almost become a must in today’s remodel or new home purchase. Sustainably harvested wood products, low to zero VOC paint products, less grass and more drought tolerant landcape are often on the list of homeowners for desired changes.

According to the Home Horizons 2012 study:

 50% of people consider green/energy efficient appliances/materials as a requirement of their dream home – it is now more popular than perennial favorites such as “building a custom home” (38%); “water views” (38%) and “mountain views” (32%)…all which are options here in Santa Barbara.

Further Reading:

Subscribe: To Receive Personal Listings of Santa Barbara Real Estate

Search: The Santa Barbara Area MLS

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.

For more information on Real Estate here in Santa Barbara, Montecito and/or our surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in the Santa Barbara area, please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin Schmidtchen at Sotheby’s Int’l Realty.

New 3 Bed 2 Bath San Roque Real Estate Listing in Peabody School District – Price $775,000

kevinschmidtchen — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:27:59 +0000

Wonderful New Listing in San Roque

Exceptionally well-cared for remodeled single level 3 bedroom 2 bath home located in the Peabody School District. Located in a well established neighborhood in San Roque, mountain views, mature landscape, great street, minutes to downtown and uptown Santa Barbara.

Numerous upgrades including:

A/C and heating in 2011
Paint and landscape 2011
Sewer lateral in 2008
Roof, extension of home adding master and master bath plus dining in 1997
Remodeled kitchen 1997
New copper plumbing throughout 1997
Almost complete new electrical 1997.

For many, San Roque is Santa Barbara’s quintessential family neighborhood. The entire area is relatively flat and great for walking or biking and seemingly minutes to most all that Santa Barbara has to offer.

Address: 2949 Valencia Drive, Santa Barbara CA 93105

Price: $775,000

Santa Barbara Real Estate - San Roque

San Roque Real Estate - 2949 Valencia Drive Santa Barbara

View: Current Active Real Estate Listings Peabody School District

Further Reading:

Subscribe: To Receive Personal Listings of Santa Barbara Real Estate

Search: The Santa Barbara Area MLS

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.

2011 Santa Barbara Real Estate Market Wrap up for The Peabody Elementary School District

kevinschmidtchen — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:07:00 +0000

The main areas for the Peabody Elementary School District encompass the neighborhoods of San Roque, some of the Santa Barbara Foothills and a stretch of Downtown Santa Barbara West of State Street. For many people here in Santa Barbara, San Roque has become one of the quintessential “family neighborhoods” and has often been voted for as “Best Neighborhood” in a local paper’s poll.

Much of the housing in The San Roque area consists of older character single family homes. Many of these homes are smaller in size running in the 900 to 1400 sqft range, although there are plenty of larger homes as well. One of the big draws to this area though is the Peabody school, proximity to downtown and uptown, the “family feel” the weather and the many varied styles of homes, colorful homes, character homes, etc.

In San Roque, the average price for a single family home tends to be between $600,000 and 1.1 million, but prices can easily go up to $2 million for the nicest homes. Additionally there are also some true fixers and /or smaller homes in the $600,000 to $700,000 range.

In the Downtown part of the Peabody School District you have a mixture of older homes, condos, duplexes and everything that you get from Downtown. Most of these homes also tend to range in price from $600,000 to $1.1 million.

The Santa Barbara Foothills part of Peabody School will be a mixture of view homes, homes with decent land etc. Because of the big variety, homes here will range generally from $900,000 to $3 million.

Peabody School Map

In 2011, there were a total of 72 closed sales in the Peabody School District ranging in price from $325,000 to $2.18 million. The cheapest single family home that sold in the San Roque area was a 2 bed 1 bath home located at 3039 Lucinda Lane that sold for $500,000. This was by far one of the best deals of the year in my opinion. The most expensive home was a stunning craftsman home built in 1910 located at 2685 Puesta del Sol that sold for $2.18 million.

Peabody School District Home Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Real Estate Peabody School

Currently as of today there are 27 homes active for sale and 15 homes pending sale. The active homes for sale range in price from $300,000 for a condo up to $3.3 million for a wonderful older estate on a nice larger property behind The Mission.

View: Current Active Real Estate Listings Peabody School District

Further Reading:

Subscribe: To Receive Personal Listings of Santa Barbara Real Estate

Search: The Santa Barbara Area MLS

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.

Wonderful New Listing, Hope School, Single Family La Colina Park Area

kevinschmidtchen — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:03:08 +0000

New Listing: 917 Cocopah, Santa Barbara CA 93110

Price: $775,000

Exceptionally well-cared for single level 3 bedroom 2 bath single family Ranch style home with high ceilings. Well established neighborhood in La Colina Park area, mountain views, pleasant gardens, Hope School district. Access to community pool and 3 acre greenbelt.

917 Cocopah Santa Barbara Real Estate

View Map: 917 Cocopah

Subscribe: To Receive Personal Listings of Santa Barbara Real Estate

Search: The Santa Barbara Area MLS

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.

2011 Santa Barbara Real Estate Market Update for The Monroe Elementary School District

kevinschmidtchen — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:29:06 +0000

The main areas of the Monroe Elementary School District encompass the neighborhoods of The Mesa, Campanil Hill and Yankee Farm and then stretches over and grabs a small swath of Downtown.

Monroe School Map - Santa Barbara

The Mesa area in Santa Barbara stretches from the Santa Barbara City College on the east and extends two and one-half miles to Arroyo Burro County Beach (or “Hendry’s/The Pit” to locals). The Mesa is an extremely desirable neighborhood and has often been voted the “Best Neighborhood” in a local paper’s poll.

The Mesa would be considered by most “a family neighborhood” although you get your mix of everyone it seems. Much of the housing on The Mesa consists of single family homes, but there are definitely numerous condo and apartment complexes as well as some scattered income properties (duplexes / triplexes).

On The Mesa the average price for a single family home tends to be between $700,000 and 1.1 million, but prices can easily go up to $2.5 million. So far this year (through the first week of December) there have been 33 Closed Sales on The Mesa area (in the Monroe School District) ranging in price from $525,000 to $1.55 million. Currently as of today there are 6 homes pending sale and 7 Active homes for sale in the Monroe School District on The Mesa. The active homes for sale range in price from $625,000 to $1,350,000.

The Campanil Hill area is located on the sea-cliff just outside the boundaries of Hope Ranch and 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.

In the Campanil Hill and Yankee Farm area the average price for a single family home tends to be between $1.1 million and $5 million. So far this year (through the first week of December) there have been 4 Closed Sales in The Campanil Hill area ranging in price from $1,485,000 to $4.85 million. Currently as of today there is 1 home pending sale and 3 Active homes for sale in the Monroe School District in The Campanil Hill area.

View: Current Active Real Estate Listings Monroe School District

Further Reading:

Subscribe: To Receive Personal Listings of Santa Barbara Real Estate

Search: The Santa Barbara Area MLS

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.

Santa Barbara Real Estate Benefits From Fixed Mortgage Rates Continuing Near Record Lows For 6th Straight Week

kevinschmidtchen — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:09:46 +0000

This weeks average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage continued to hover just above its record low. Freddie Mac reported this week that the rate on the ever popular 30-year home loan sat just below 4% at 3.99%. The record low for the 30-year mortgage rate was set about 9 weeks ago when it dropped to 3.94%.

The average rate of the 15-year fixed mortgage has been sitting around 3.27 %, down from 3.30 % the last few weeks. The record low for the 15-year mortgage rate was also set about 9 weeks ago at a low of 3.26 %.

Here in Santa Barbara, these low rates are helping to continue a fairly strong real estate market.

If you talk to most people in the business as well as active buyers and sellers, the overall thoughts are that the market is very steady with “lot’s pending and closing”. Buyers know the price points and when a home comes on the market that is priced well (at market), it seems to be going into escrow on average anywhere from 1-6 weeks after being listed. Some homes are coming on and even getting 2-3 offers in the first week.

The hottest part of the market seems to be in the lower end from around $300,000 to $750,000. Often we are seeing these well priced homes sell within 1-2 weeks. The second hottest part of our real estate market is then from around the $750,000 to about $1.5 million. I would then say that the slower part of our market seems to be in the $1.5 to $3 million price point, mainly because of lack of new inventory.

View: Santa Barbara Real Estate Listings $750,000 to $1.5 million

View: Santa Barbara Real Estate Listings $250,000 to $750,000

Further Reading:

Subscribe: Receive Personal Listings of Santa Barbara Real Estate

Search: The Santa Barbara Area MLS

2011 Santa Barbara Real Estate Market for The Adams Elementary School District

kevinschmidtchen — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:13:35 +0000

The main areas of the Adams Elementary School District encompass the neighborhoods of Samarkand, San Roque Gardens and Hidden Valley. All 3 of these areas in Santa Barbara would be considered by most “family neighborhoods”. Most of the housing in these 3 areas are single family homes, but there are definitely a few condo and apartment complexes as well as some scattered income properties (duplexes / triplexes).

In the Samarkand area of the Adams School District, the average price for a single family home tends to be between $700,000 and 1.1 million. So far this year (through the end of November) there have been 10 Closed Sales in this area ranging in price from $510,000 to $1.24 million. Currently as of today there are 4 homes pending sale and 6 Active homes for sale. The active homes for sale range in price from $500,000 to $1,575,000.

In the San Roque Gardens area of the Adams School District, the average price for a single family home tends to be between $500,000 and $750,000. This is a smaller area than Samarkand and prices also tend to be more uniform. So far this year (through the end of November) there have been 4 Closed Sales in this area ranging in price from $255,000 (a condo) to $607,000. There are currently 2 condos pending sale as well as 2 Active homes for sale in the $950,000 price point.

In the Hidden Valley area of the Adams School District, the average price for a single family home varies greatly as the area has some distinct changes. Prices for single family homes can be as low as $550,000 and as high as $1,900,000. So far this year (through the end of November) there have been 10 sales in the area ranging in price from $475,000 to $790,000. Currently there are 3 homes pending sale as well as 5 currently Active for sale. The active homes for sale range in price from $500,000 to $1.9 million.

Adams School District Boundary

View: All Real Estate Listings in Adams School

Further Reading:

Subscribe: To Receive Personal Listings of Santa Barbara Real Estate

Search: The Santa Barbara Area MLS

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.

2011 Santa Barbara Real Estate Sales for Campanil Hill – Braemar – Yankee Farm

kevinschmidtchen — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:14:18 +0000

In the semi secluded private feeling neighborhoods of Yankee Farm / Braemar and Campanil Hill, there has been a normal amount of real estate activity and sales in 2011. Usually this area only sees on average around 4-6 transactions per year. So far in 2011, there has been the “usual” with 4 closed sales as well as 1 current pending sale.

Braemar Yankee Farm Campanil Hill Real Estate - Santa Barbara

There are currently 3 active homes for sales on the market:

3359 Braemar Drive is a California Hacienda sitting on just shy of 1.5 acres. It is a beautiful home and has wonderful landscape and has been successfully used as a vacation rental in previous years. The current list price is $2.65 million, down from an original list price of just over $3 million.
3215 Campanil Hill is a newly listed home priced at $4,495,000. It is a wonderful French style estate with decent ocean views and seemingly designed for entertaining.
The highest priced home is located at 3349 Cliff Drive with an asking price of $6.99 million. The home has been on the market though for a few years.

Santa Barbara Real Estate - Campanil Hill

Both of the beautiful Mediterranean Estates overlooking the ocean that sit between Cliff Drive and Marina Drive as you ride into Hope Ranch sold this year. Sales prices for these magical estates were $4.65 million and $4.825 million.

View: All Current Active listings in Santa Barbara MLS from $1.5 million to $7 million

Further Reading:

Subscribe: To Receive Personal Listings of Santa Barbara Real Estate

Search: The Santa Barbara Area MLS

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.

Santa Barbara Real Estate – Montecito Real Estate Market Update 3rd Quarter 2011

kevinschmidtchen — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:36:56 +0000

Where is the Montecito real estate market as we approach the last few months of 2011? A quick glance back throughout the year with regards to real estate in Montecito has shown up and down changes almost monthly. Some months the market feels very strong, other weeks there seems to be a lull etc. As I talk and share with many agents currently about their buyers and where they are at, their thoughts seem to also change monthly with some high end clients on hold while others don’t know where else they would put their money these days except to buy real estate.

With all that said, sales have continued to happen and most all homes that are priced well and at market are getting offers.

Here is a quick check of where Montecito Real Estate was for the 3rd quarter.

Closed Sales in the Montecito Area

During the 3rd quarter, Montecito had approximately 55 Closed sales of single family homes and town homes / condos. The lowest priced sale naturally was a town home located at 1932 North Jameson Lane that sold for $533,000. The lowest single family home sale recorded was an older small cottage located directly on East Valley Road that closed for $825,000.
The highest recorded sale was an ocean front “fixer” located at 1473 Edgecliff Lane that closed in 1 day for $10,750,000. This is once again a representation across all price points that if a home is priced well, there are buyers waiting.
The majority of all sales in Montecito seem to now be between the $1 and $3 million price point. Whereas $3-5 million was the heart of all sales only 3 years ago, the “average home” in Montecito now seems to be selling somewhere in the $1.5 to $3 million price point.

Montecito Ocean View Homes - Kevin Schmidtchen Realtor

Current Active Homes for Sale in Montecito

Currently as of November 1st, 2011, there are approximately 235 homes available for sale or pending sale in the Montecito area. The lowest priced available home is once again a town home located on North Jameson whereas the lowest single family homes available are priced mainly between $850,000 and $1.2 million.
Currently there are 15 active homes for sale priced above $15 million in Montecito.

Montecito Real Estate - Santa Barbara

Montecito Luxury Real Estate - Santa Barbara

Montecito High End Real Estate Homes for Sale - Kevin Schmidtchen

Montecito is located a few minutes southeast of Santa Barbara and is essentially one of the 2 very high end neighborhoods here in Santa Barbara.

View: All Current Active listings in Montecito in the Santa Barbara MLS

Further Reading:

Subscribe: To Receive Personal Listings of Santa Barbara Real Estate

Search: The Santa Barbara Area MLS

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.