Tag archives: homes

Homes in the $4 to $5 Million Range
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   July 23, 2020

The months of May and June, and now into July 2020, are proving to be the most active real estate months that many can remember in Montecito during the past 15+/- years. Whether it be Boomers flexing their buying muscle and finally committing to a place in Montecito, perhaps Ellen’s celebrity friends, the Bay Area […]

$8 and up… Million, That Is
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   June 25, 2020

To say it has been an active spring in the Montecito Real Estate market would be an understatement. Without even taking into considering the recent, national challenges, and even when comparing to most 45+/- day periods, regardless of market conditions in recent years, it has been a good six weeks in the Montecito Real Estate […]

How Hot is Today’s Real Estate Market?
By Michael Phillips   |   June 18, 2020

The Montecito Heat Index measures present demand for Montecito single-family homes. By focusing upon buyer contracts, rather than closed escrows which typically lag a month or longer from accepted contracts, the Heat Index provides a forward-looking indicator of both market strength and direction. At five distinct price points, we look at where value is most […]

Montecito Across the Board
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   June 11, 2020

It was a good May in terms of home sales in Montecito and the greater 93108. In fact, some agents are even saying the market is basically on fire and in most price ranges. Indeed, we have had a few of the usual under-two-million-dollar sales, as well as a few in the $3-$5-million range as […]

New Listings in Montecito
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   May 21, 2020

I hope everyone is staying safe and enjoying “at-home time” as much as is possible. Perhaps by the time this article is out on the streets, there will be more people out and about. In the meantime, regardless of being somewhat back to normal or not, we are all spending more time at home and […]

Best Buys SOLD!
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   April 23, 2020

While there are many listings from “pre-stay-at-home order” days, and there are some few new listings on the market, I thought it might be a good time to focus on what has been selling here in Montecito since the stay at home order fell into place. Of course, many of the sales between March 15 […]

Newer Listings in Montecito
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   March 26, 2020

The homes that comprise the Montecito Real Estate market offer great diversity in terms of style, price and amenities, as well as the varied topography and neighborhoods this lovely area offers to homeowners. From a canyon side home to a level lot in a private setting, a hill top view home, a historic property resting […]

Montecito & SB Real Estate Update Amid Covid-19
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   March 26, 2020

It goes without saying that the last few weeks have been a tumultuous time for everyone, and the global pandemic and associated social distancing and quarantines have had far reaching consequences for nearly every type of trade or commerce. The local real estate market in Santa Barbara and Montecito is no exception; here’s what’s happening […]

Estate Offerings in Montecito
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   February 27, 2020

2018 and 2019 saw solid years for sales in the $10,000,000+ range. In 2019 there were 10 homes that sold over $10,000,000 in the Montecito, 93108 zip code, and 14 over $10,000,000 if you include homes sold in the Padaro Lane area. In 2018 there were seven sales in Montecito over the $10,000,000 price point. […]

How Hot is Today’s Market?
By Michael Phillips   |   February 20, 2020

The Montecito Heat Index measures present demand for Montecito single-family homes. By focusing upon buyer contracts, rather than closed escrows which typically lag a month or longer from accepted contracts, the Heat Index provides a forward-looking indicator of both market strength and direction. It also shows us at five price-points where value is most recognized […]

The $2.2’s… Million, That Is
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   February 6, 2020

As we move further into the New Year, we are seeing new homes come on the market, as well as listings that had expired at the end of last year and are coming back on. Inventory is generally low right now, but not far off averages for past years overall. Additionally, many of the homes […]

The $7.9s… Million, That Is
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   January 16, 2020

When a seller lists their home for sale the most important question that must be answered is, at what price to offer the property. While some go with a flat number, say five or eight million, most agents and sellers might offer a home for just a bit less, perhaps to entice, to catch people […]

Homes With Ocean Views
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   November 26, 2019

Whether one moves to Montecito for the weather, the beaches, or the Santa Barbara lifestyle, one thing we as Realtors know is that most buyers, if they can afford it, either must have, want, or would like to have an ocean view. When suggesting a home a client might like, the question that follows is […]

Homes on One Level
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   October 24, 2019

Housing trends change with some regularity, although perhaps not as frequently as fashion trends change. Housing style trends can take longer to shift as changing the style or look of a home is a very costly undertaking. Maybe that is why we tend to refer to housing styles in terms of eras, other than type […]

Interesting Buys
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   October 10, 2019

Over time, or sometimes when a new listing hits, a specific listing or a smaller group of properties can stand out as what agents might collectively see as good buys or, Best Buys. This is not a term meant to imply that a property for sale is necessarily “cheap,” but perhaps by my definition, it […]

East Montecito
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   September 12, 2019

In the past half dozen or so articles we have worked our way across Montecito, looking at different neighborhoods and homes for sale within these pockets. We have covered areas such as western Montecito’s edge on the border with Santa Barbara, the Cold Spring School area, the now-open-again, San Ysidro Ranch and Montecito Union School […]

New Upper Village Shop
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   August 29, 2019

Interior designer Marc Normand Gelinas has opened up shop in the upper village, opening in the space formerly occupied Blake Ashley Design next to Montecito Executive Services. “It was a fitting way to mark my tenth year in business in Montecito,” he told us during a recent visit to the store.  The shop, which opened […]

East Montecito above East Valley Road
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   August 15, 2019

In our continuing look at the various neighborhoods around Montecito we have recently taken a look at western Montecito, homes in the Cold Spring School District, estates near the San Ysidro Ranch and beach area homes. Now let’s direct attention to homes just a mile or two from the upper village in Montecito, all within […]

How Hot is Today’s Market?
By Michael Phillips   |   August 8, 2019

The Montecito Heat Index identifies demand for Montecito single family homes. By measuring buyer contracts (pending sales) rather than sales (closed escrows) lagging typically thirty days, the Heat Index provides a forward-looking indicator of both market strength and direction. It also shows us the price point(s) where value is most recognized by buyers and the […]

Homes in the Cold Spring School District
By Mark Ashton Hunt   |   May 30, 2019

Just inside the western edge of Montecito is an area commonly referred to as the Cold Spring School District (CCSD). This area reaches from the hills around Coyote Road and West-East Mountain Drive, down through neighborhoods including the streets around Westmont College, the estates at Riven Rock, homes on Pepper Hill, Sycamore Canyon and Cold […]